The 6 Best Mountain Bikes For Wheelies: Reviews
We tested top, in-demand mountain bike models from Mongoose, Schwinn, COSTIC, Ecarpat, and five other cycling brands to find the best mountain bikes for wheelies.
Wheelies on a mountain bike are one of my favorite riding skills. It is the art of balancing the bike on the rear tire while keeping the front tire in the air. Finding the best mountain bikes for wheelies is very simple but not easy because every bicycle’s balancing point and frame geometry are different.
If you want a wheelie mountain bike to practice balance riding and improve bike handling skills for getting over hard trail obstacles. You must need specific design models, such as those we recommend below, which have lower seat heights, wide tires, and shorter chainstays to perform wheelies easily.
In this comparison review, we have tested more than 20 mountain bike models of famous brands and briefly explained their features, advantages, and weaknesses in detail. Overall, we found that Mongoose Colton and COSTIC Youth are the best mountain bikes for wheelies because both models have excellent centers of gravity.
It doesn’t matter whether you are a beginner or have some knowledge of performing stunts. Choosing the right and suitable bike will help you fulfill your needs a lot. Here is the list of our top 6 picks for the best mountain bikes for wheelies. All the recommended models are relatively lightweight, which is essential for lifting the front wheel in the air.
Best Mountain Bikes For Wheelies
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
1  | Mongoose Colton Hardtail Bike | ||
2  | COSTIC Youth Mountain Bike | ||
3  | Ecarpat Full Suspension MTB Bike | ||
4  | Mongoose Fireball Dirt Jump Bike | ||
5  | Camping Survivals Mountain Bike | ||
6  | Outroad Wheelies Mountain Bike |
1. Mongoose Colton Hardtail Mountain Bike
Features:
- Rust-Proof Aluminum Alloy Frame
- Shimano 7-Speed Trigger Shifter
- Front & Rear Mechanical Disc Brakes
- Suspension Fork & Internal Headset
- 2.6-Inch Wide Knobby MTB Tires
- Aluminum Double Wall Alloy Rims
- Suitable For 5’4” to 6’2” Tall Riders
One of the top cycling brands in the United States, Pacific Cycles manufactures this Mongoose Colton Mountain Bike aluminum hardtail frame with a tapered headtube and uses full aluminum components to make it super light and ideal for adventure lovers.
This bike has a total package of advanced features, including double-wall aluminum rims and 2.6″ wide knobby tires that provide excellent stability on rough roads. Its 7-speed trigger shifter gives a good pedal stroke for wheelies.
We feel this is a more stable mountain bike with front and rear mechanical disc brakes. Its slope geometry provides an excellent center of gravity to push the front tire up in the air without any issue. We highly recommend the Mongoose Colton for riders needing top-of-the-line performance for ripping down rugged mountain trails.
2. COSTIC Youth Wheelie Mountain Bike
Features:
- Solid High-Carbon Steel Frame
- 21-Speed Gear Shifting System
- Large Sized Porous Disc Brakes
- Front Alloy Suspension Fork
- Double Wall Aluminum Wheels
- Wear-Resistance Off-Road Tires
- Best For 5’5” to 6’0” Feet Riders
The COSTIC Youth MTB Model is one of the affordable mountain bikes. It comes almost 85% pre-assembled and has a quick-release front wheel lever. Our Testers were impressed by its streamlined design and lightweight aluminum alloy wheels, which make it easy to handle wheelies and other cycling stunts.
Our testers hardly hit the front wheel on the ground and found that the bike’s high-tensile carbon steel frame and front suspension fork effectively absorbed that impact and were not deformed. The 21-speed shifter and larger-sized disc brakes also provide excellent speed control to balance the bike.
The plastic nylon seat is waterproof but not breathable. We do not recommend this bike to heavy riders. You should consider other options if your weight is more than 220 pounds. This Costic MTB model is one of the most secure and best mountain bikes for wheelies, accommodating 5’5″ to 6’0″ riders weighing less than 220 pounds.
3. Ecarpat Full Suspension Mountain Bike
Features:
- Alloy Steel Dual Suspension Frame
- Shimano 21-Speed Shifter & Derailleur
- Front & Rear Mechanical Disc Brakes
- Front Fork & Rear Shock Absorber
- Padded Seat & Ergo Grip Handlebars
- 26 x 2.3″ Non-Slip Wide Rubber Tires
- Easily Adjustable For 5’4” to 6’6” Riders
The latest version of the Ecarpat Full Suspension Series is a tried-and-true mountain bike in many ways. This newly upgraded bike is designed with a front-thickened suspension fork and a powerful rear shock absorber. Its 2.3-inch non-slip tires give excellent performance, and during testing, our reviewers took more than 6 miles of the longest wheelie ride on this model.
Its Shimano 21-speed gear shifting system and mechanical disc brakes can provide excellent speed-controlling power for wheelie and off-road mountain trail ridings. With
In the advanced features package, you will get 85% pre-assembled bikes and basic assembly tools. However, the company offers only a one-year warranty, which we think is insufficient. This bike weighs a little bit more than other models we tested. Its adjustable seat makes it suitable for 5’4″ to 6’4″riders who are adventure lovers.
4. Mongoose Fireball Dirt Jump Mountain Bike
Features:
- Tectonic T1 Lightweight Aluminum Frame
- Rear Hydraulic Disc Brake With Rotor
- Single-Speed With Solid 25T Alloy Crank
- Manitou Circus Expert Suspension Fork
- Double-Butted Aluminum Handlebars
- 26-Inch Double-Wall Aluminum Wheels
- Kenda Small Block 26×2.35-Inch Tires
- Suitable For 5’4” to 6’2” Adult Riders
The Mongoose Fireball Dirt Jump is an outstanding mountain bike built around a tectonic T1 aluminum frame. This frame makes it super lightweight for serious dirt jumps, suburban shredding, and other stunts.
The double-butted aluminum handlebars and double-wall aluminum wheels make it perfect for popping wheelies. Thanks to the Manitou suspension fork, it gives 100mm of travel to absorb and soak up the hard impact of landing on the front wheel after performing a stunt.
Our testers also appreciate the rear hydraulic disc brakes, long brake housing, Kenda small block tires, and alloy seat post’s position to easily provide balance and stability. Despite all these features, Mongoose delivers almost assembled bikes but does not provide basic assembly tools in the box. However, this is more expensive than other recommended wheelie bike models but gives quality rides.
5. Camping Survivals Mountain Bike For Wheelies
Features:
- Hi-Tensile Carbon Steel Frame
- Shimano 21-Speed Shifting System
- Front & Rear Mechanical Disc Brakes
- Thickened Lock-out Suspension Fork
- Soft Cushioned Seat Padded With Foam
- Lightweight Aluminum Alloy Wheels
- Non-Slip & Explosion-Proof MTB Tires
- Two Sizes For 5’5” to 6’5” Tall Riders
The Camping Survivals Mountain Bike is manufactured around a high-carbon steel frame and features progressive hardtail geometry. Its lowest seat position and Lightest weight make it the best choice for those riders who want the best Wheelie mountain bike without spending too much money.
Despite the low price, you will get a complete Shimano 21-speed gear system that allows you to quickly switch gears to easily adapt to riding situations. This bike also comes with dual-mechanical disc brakes, a soft-cushioned seat, non-slip pedals, aluminum alloy rims, and an explosion-proof tire.
We found two issues during the testing and assembly of the Camping Survivals Mountain Bike, for which we placed it in the down position in this review. First, the disc brakes are just responsive enough in rain. Second, the customer support is very lazy in responding to our Emails. Overall, suppose you can compromise on these issues. This will be the perfect mountain bike for you to perform wheelies for under 200 dollars.
6. Outroad Wheelies Mountain Bike
Features:
- Winded Carbon Steel Frame Material
- Shimano 21-Speed Shifter & Derailleur
- Front & Rear Mechanical Disc Brakes
- 11-Inch Long Adjustable Sports Seat
- 100mm Q.R. Front Suspension Fork
- Anti-Skid Tires & 26-inch Alloy Wheels
- Adjustable For 5’3” to 6’0’ Tall Riders
- Maximum Weight Limit: 330 Pounds
This Outroad Wheelies Mountain Bike is built around a lightweight carbon steel frame and equipped with a Shimano 21-speed gear system. It is priced under $200. In addition, the company uses invisible welding technology and internal cable routing design to make it wind-resistant and silky.
The most interesting feature for wheelie lovers is its 11-inch-long adjustable seat, which allows users to balance on one wheel and maintain a comfortable position easily. Its rigid, shock-resistant 100mm fork also helps absorb bumps and vibrations.
Its mechanical disc brakes are very helpful for riding in rain or bad weather. The wear-resistant tires provide excellent grip even on slippery roads. Overall, this mountain bike will be of great value for budget-conscious people at an affordable price of under 200 dollars.
Why You Should Trust Us:
Our pro-bikers have tested more than 560 bikes and up to 2600 cycling products for comparison review articles. Some of them have written many useful cycling books, guides, and notes for all levels of cyclists.
At Best Bikes Lab, we regularly research physical and online bicycle markets, interview bike shop owners, and consistently contact different cycling brand representatives to stay updated about newly released and in-demand bicycles.
Our team members have countless test rides on mountain, road, and electric bikes. They have extensive knowledge and years of experience in cycling. They use different riding methods and choose the most aggressive roads for testing to check the strength of bikes and other cycling products.
How We Choose Wheelies Mountain bikes:
We spent more than three months finding wheelie-friendly mountain bikes to purchase for testing. During market research, we especially focused on 2.1″ to 2.7″ wide tires because narrow tires will not provide the required balance and will make it difficult for beginners to do stunts.
In addition to this, we also consider the lowest possible seat height, the lowest number of gears, enough pedal stroke, shorter chainstays, and sloped frame geometry. All these features collectively make any mountain bike ideal for wheelies and offer low regular maintenance costs.
How We Tested Wheelies Mountain Bikes:
We have saddled up on a range of mountain bikes on flat roads in Hudson Valley, New York, and gravel roads in Wallkill Rail Trail, New York. Our reviewers continuously perform wheelie stunts on more than five-mile rides at a time. They use different riding methods to check the balance of these bikes, including sudden stops, quickly pulling up the handlebar to push the tire into the air, and slow pedal strokes.
During assembly and testing, we individually checked the strength of each provided component and the material used. We applied all possible aggressive riding styles from beginner’s level to high skill level to figure out whether these bikes are perfect for wheelies or not. Fortunately, we got fruitful results and shortlisted the top-rated wheelie mountain bikes in the above-recommended list.
Our Team Members:
Our expert bike races and mountain trail riders have a well-reputed record in the cycling industry. They still work as cycling coaches, bicycle mechanics, and cycling guidewriters. Some have participated in cross-country, UCI mountain bike, and other racing competitions.
Lon Schroeder is the senior and lead editor for mountain bike reviews. He has had very close relations with different cycling brands since 2010, when he started his own business of purchasing and reselling MTB bikes in Michigan, U.S. In 2018, Lon Schroeder started MTB coaching in the U.S. Boarding School for Mountain Biking Academy. Now, he leads our reviewers and mechanics in preparing the bike for testing.
Jason Jones is a freelance writer for our mountain bike reviews section and loves adventure ridings. He is also a wheelie expert and likes aggressive-style mountain biking. Recently, Jason has participated in Butte 100K Mountain Bike races in Butte, United States, and Montana Enduro Series 2024 Whitefish, United States. He published about seventeen cycling books, and “Mountain Biking—The Complete Guide To Mountain Biking For Beginners.” is his most popular guide. He regularly researches the latest MTB models and suggests our team buy them for testing.
Affiliate Disclosure:
Our independent cycling reviews contain references to cycling products from one or more bicycle manufacturing brands and suppliers who compensate us through affiliate commissions. We may receive a small amount of money when you click and buy any product through the links we provide at no additional cost to you. Terms apply to the bicycles listed in this review post. For more information, read our affiliate marketing policy.
Conclusion:
The art of bike wheelies quickly moves from BMX to mountain bikes. It is important to understand that not every bike is made for wheelies. Still, finding the right and suitable mountain bike to perform that task is not difficult. All you need to do is ensure some required features, such as a solid frame, downslope geometry, wide tire size, robust hubs, perfect gear ratio, pedal stroke, and shorter chainstays.
As this is an unsecured bike riding stunt, we suggest you perform it in a suitable place away from traffic and public gatherings. We hope this post helps you a lot in finding the best mountain bikes for wheelies.
