How to Choose Mountain Bikes

Get into mountain biking with the DRT 1.1 from Co-op Cycles. With a modern, trail-worthy design and versatile components, it's made for off-road adventures and wherever your ride takes you.
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Imported.
Best Use | Mountain Biking |
---|---|
Frame | Co-op Cycles 6061 aluminum |
Mountain Bike Style | Trail |
Bike Suspension | Front Suspension |
Fork | SR Suntour SF23-XCM32 |
Fork Travel | 100 millimeters |
Crankset | Shimano Altus 36/22T |
Bottom Bracket | Cartridge bearing square |
Shifters | Shimano M315 Rapidfire Plus, 2x8-speed |
Front Derailleur | Shimano Altus FD-M315 2 x 8-speed |
Rear Derailleur | Shimano Tourney RD-TX55 8-speed |
Rear Cogs | Shimano 8-speed; 11-34T |
Number of Gears | 16 gear(s) |
Brake Type | Hydraulic Disc Brake |
Brakes | Tektro hydraulic disc |
Brake Levers | Tektro 2-finger with reach adjust |
Rims | Co-op Cycles double-wall, 32-hole |
Front Hub | Solon alloy 6-bolt disc |
Rear Hub | Solon alloy 6-bolt disc |
Wheel Size | XXS: 27.5 inches XS: 27.5 inches S: 27.5 inches M: 29 inches L: 29 inches XL: 29 inches |
Tires | Kenda Kadre K1027 wire bead with reflective sidewall |
Tire Width | 2.1 inches |
Handlebar Shape | Riser Bar |
Handlebar | Co-op Cycles Alloy |
Stem | Co-op Cycles 3D-forged 6061 aluminum, 31.8 mm clamp. +/-7 deg. rise, size-specific length |
Seat Post | Co-op Cycles die-cast alloy, 2-bolt, 15 mm offset, 30.9 mm diameter, size-specific length |
Saddle | Co-op Cycles vacuum-molded with ED black steel rails |
Pedals | Alloy platform with 9/16 in. chromoly spindle |
Headset | Threadless semi-integrated; 1-1/8 in. |
Chain | KMC 8-speed |
Gender | Unisex |
Sustainability | From a Climate Label Certified brand |
XXS | XS | S | M | L | XL | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Height Range | 4'9" - 5'0" | 5'0" - 5'3" | 5'3" - 5'6" | 5'6" - 5'9" | 5'9" - 6'0" | 6'0" - 6'3" |
Reach | 356 | 383 | 410 | 443 | 458 | 481 |
Stack | 557.2 | 570.8 | 580.2 | 609 | 623 | 641.6 |
Effective Top Tube | 518 | 547 | 576 | 617 | 636 | 665 |
Seat Tube Center-Top | 330 | 360 | 395 | 430 | 465 | 500 |
Standover Height | 640 | 660 | 677 | 695 | 700 | 705 |
Head Tube Length | 90 | 100 | 110 | 110 | 125 | 145 |
Head Tube Angle (degrees) | 67.5 | 68.5 | 68.5 | 68.5 | 68.5 | 68.5 |
Seat Tube Angle (degrees) | 74 | 74 | 74 | 74 | 74 | 74 |
Wheelbase | 1055 | 1075 | 1105 | 1160 | 1180 | 1211 |
Chainstay | 440 | 440 | 440 | 455 | 455 | 455 |
Fork Offset | 46 | 46 | 46 | 46 | 46 | 46 |
Measurements are stated in millimeters unless otherwise indicated.
From feedback to field testing, all of our gear is dialed-in by REI Co-op members. Their adventures informed every stitch and detail—making for better, longer-lasting gear.
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I got this bike for my wife, who likes to ride on easy mountain bike and dirt trails. The XS was just barely big enough for her at 5'3, though her seat was set to the highest recommended setting. Like the sizing says, anyone 5'4 or taller would probably want the S size. The bike rode really well, especially at this price point. The front suspension was cushy and could be adjusted (though the preload knob was a little hard to adjust), and the shifting was fluid and easy, even while going uphill. The seat was also comfortable enough. The internal brake cabling is a nice touch for this entry-level bike too. The thing I'd recommend when taking this bike on slightly tougher trails would be to get slightly nicer tires. It probably won't be long before we upgrade to a dropper post as well, but for this price, the features are hard to beat. It's a nice looking bike too, with nice sharp/straight lines (it looks better than the old version of the DRT 1.1) and we had the "Meyer Lemon" color which also looks pretty sharp.
Great bike for anyone new to mountain biking or trail riding. Mechanical disc brakes means mud won’t gum up your brakes so you can stop safely. High visibility shifter to see what gear you are riding in as you learn. Comfortable seat. Front suspension can be adjusted to your liking and makes for a smooth ride. 27.5” wheels to easily go over rocks and terrain but not too big so the bike can fit in your vehicle if you don’t have a bike rack. Nice matte finish too, not glossy paint which looks really stealth. The Co-op decal is also highly reflective if you are night riding home from a friends house. The pedals are also metal and not plastic, so they work great as is. Awesome bike!
There are going to be compromises in a mountain bike <$500 but I would say REI made the right ones for this hard tail. An aluminum frame is the best choice for durability. I can throw this in the back of a SUV and not worry about holes in a delicate carbon fiber frame yet the total bike weight is probably less than most full suspension machines! Components, while entry level, are reputable manufacturers with Shimano drivetrain, Tektro brakes, and Suntour shock. The brakes are not the quickest stop, the rear gears are only 7 speed, and the shock may need replacement if the bike is taken on anything other than flow trails but, hey, it's less than $500 and far better than a bike from a big box store! I miss a dropper seatpost but an external routed post could be easily added for a few hundred $. One thing that really caught my attention is that there appears to be inserts in holes in locations where a bike rack might mount - some near the rear gear cassette and some near the seatpost. If these are indeed brazed and threaded inserts than this might be the ideal machine for a bike packing adventure!
The DRT 1.1 is a solid, versatile mountain bike for moderate riders. I'm no pro, but this bike was well-suited for all the terrain I have been interested in using it for including mud, rocks, dirt, logs, hills, gravel, and streets. The wide tires and sturdy frame held up well when going fast downhill on off-road terrain. It's also light and easy to transport and the wide handle bars helped me feel in control when I was navigating tricky spots. I'm used to a 27-speed bike and with this 16-speed I felt like it was a little harder for me to get up hills in the dirt than I was expecting. It's possible I was just doing a "this goes up to 11" thing in my head, and the issue was really the rider and not the bike, but I did end up walking up hills a few times when I expected to be able to ride all the way. For street riding, it didn't feel any more difficult to get up hills than my other bike which is closer to a hybrid. Overall it's fun to ride and felt solid. If you are trying to train for the X games, you'll probably wan't something more advanced, but I doubt you'll be able to find it in the DRT 1.1's price range.
Once again this REI Bike Shop team raises the bar. Danny and Jake are the best, and take care of me and my family every time we are in. Jake assembled his DRT 1.1 for my daughter, so I know it's bulletproof. When she wanted a quick release clasp installed on the seat tube, he had it on in less than a minute. I took it for a spin in the parking lot and can confirm that this bike will shred. This bike is great for a beginner biker that wants to start pushing the limits a bit. I love that it is also upgradeable, so down the road upgrades to the fork, addition of a dropper post, are all easy upgrades to make as you progress. REI nailed it again, and Jake and Danny will keep me coming back to REI for all of my future bike shop needs
I don't know what the other reviewers are talking about. I have more then enough grip ripping downhills or technical slow uphill climbs,even in the rain. The co op drt is a tank. The suspension has been getting beat to a pulp with my fat 200lbs dadbod on it. Its like making it go 10 rounds with Tyson everytime I get on it. Absolutely no complaints. No noises other then me gasping for air. People are way too picky! The bike was $480 on sale last week and I just so had an extra $480 laying around. Awsome bike for price point!!!
Sick basic bike. Coil forks, 100mm travel, not great - but at the price point, just right. A tire went flat half an hour into my first ride - probably a thorn under some leaves - and the rear brake line has an air bubble (day after buying) but this bike is quick, precise, comfortable, and the 2x Shimano drivetrain is absolutely adequate for some light duty ripping around. Two things stood out for me about the frame that set it aside from most coil fork, 16-speed hardtails. One, TONS of mounting points. 3-pack mounts inside the frame, top tube mount, bottom tube mount, AND bottle cage mounts in two places inside the frame. And fender mounts. You want to give bikepacking a quick shot on an inexpensive hardtail, you're golden. The other thing is that it has a tapered head tube, which means if you decide you want nicer forks, alllllll your nice forks will be compatible. This is NOT true on any entry hardtail I have ever seen. The industry expectation is that once you realize 100mm travel foil forks are a baseline and have a lot of room to grow, you need to buy a whole new bike. For once, that's not true. Drop big money on some sick air forks, slap a new groupset in there with some wider tires, and this thing is ready to ride hard on a much bigger scale. Oh, and it came off the floor with metal pedals and lock-on grips. REI killed it with this one.
I finally got decent weather to take this out to some local trails and has a blast. The brakes were super responsive and the tires were very grippy. The gears made the climbs manageable and an all around awesome day The shifters are large and easy to reach and use with gloves on. The brakes provided a ton of stopping power and gave me confidence to tackle some steeper sections.
I really like my bike. It feels solid with nice features like hydraulic brakes and in frame cables. Only minor problem is the quick release skewers on both front and rear wheels making them easy to steal. I called REI and the only option is to replace them with pinhead locking skewers ($70)
I bought this as my first bike to get into mountain biking, but after just a week, I realized it’s not suited for trails. The chain kept coming off, the tires didn’t grip well around corners (and I wasn’t even riding aggressively), and the brakes felt weak. When I went to return it, the staff told me this bike is designed more for paved roads—not mountain trails. Then why call it a mountain bike? If you’re a beginner looking to ride on trails, don’t make the same mistake I did. This isn’t the right bike for that purpose.