I love riding a bicycle. I always have, maybe it’s a subtle reminder of the independence I would feel as a kid, being able to go places that were a little further, and get there faster than walking. I’m not really sure why it’s so special to me, but I have always enjoyed it.
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Best Mountain Bike Under $200
Mountain bikes can be expensive, but the Kent Thruster KZ2600 offers incredible value, check out our experience with it.

Lightweight – the entire frame is made of lightweight aluminum and the bike in total weighs about 40lbs
Appearance – This is a bonus feature. The Thruster KZ2600 is a good-looking mountain bike. It will stand out in a crowd, with its mix of colors and blue “white walls” on the tires. It even was able to get a “wow that looks cool” from my tween niece, and if a pre-teen thinks it looks good . . . well, I must be styling!
Gears – This is always an important aspect. The Thruster KZ2600 uses Shimono gears. Shimono is well known and makes a quality product. They offer 21 speeds to choose from, which is more than enough in my opinion. Shifting is nice and easy, one gear selects 1-7 and the other selects 1-3, the shifting is nice and smooth and easy to do in both directions.
Brakes – The Thruster KZ2600 uses a combination of disk brakes and linear pull (conventional pads on the tire) brakes. One main reason why I think this is the best mountain bike under $200 is the disk braking system on the front tire. Most mountain bikes at this price point use the more common linear pull, the disk brakes are a huge bonus.
Areas for improvement
The Kent Thruster KZ2600 is an incredible mountain bike at its price point. I would love to see disk brakes on the front AND back tires. Also, the seat could be a little more comfy, but I think I would say that about any stock bike seat!
Overall, the Thruster KZ2600 is a lot of mountain bike for under $200. Check it out here and order one for yourself, so you can look as stylish as I do riding around the neighborhood.
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