Diamondback

Lux Comp Complete Mountain Bike - 2016

We believe buying a bike to start exploring singletrack doesn't have to cost several months of rent, and luckily, Diamondback shares our sentiments. With the Lux Comp Complete Mountain Bike, the brand created a budget-friendly option for women that doesn't skimp on quality in the right places. The snappy chassis and 27.5in wheels are spec'd with dependable Shimano components and offer a women's-specific geometry for the ideal mix of dependability and line-testing abandon.

Beginning with the frame, Diamondback constructs the Lux Comp out of 6061-T6 aluminum, a treated version of the metal with an ideal blend of low weight and strength. The 70-degree head angle keeps the Lux Comp responsive and quick while climbing or accelerating out of tight corners, while providing some stability to keep you feeling controlled during high-speed descents. A lower top tube gives the frame a lower stand-over height to better accommodate shorter women, and women's-specific grips on the handlebars show extra thought to actually adapting the bike for women.

Diamondback stayed with a theme of reliability and affordability when building up the Lux Comp, which means the company avoided the pricier big names and went with more reliable, less flashy options. While the Rock Shox XC 30 fork is far from the top of the enduro race line, it's unfussy and light. You'll get 100mm of travel to add some plushness to your ride so you can actually seek out root lattices and mild rock gardens on the trail.

For the drivetrain, Diamondback uses Shimano's Deore componentry, an under-appreciated, reliable option that has been continuously improved upon each year. The result is a groupset that now offers many of the features seen in its higher-end siblings with a price tag that's still budget-friendly. The 10-speed triple crank offers plenty of gear ratios for a variety of terrain, with Shimano's BR-M447 hydraulic disc brakes and rotors to provide you with control when you need it.