The Best Bikes for Wheelies And Stunts In 2023

If you’re in a hurry, we found the Huffy Stone Hardtail mountain bike to be the best option for wheelies (beginners and intermediates.)

Being able to pick a suitable bike requires years of experience to be able to tell all the specs apart. Thankfully, you don’t have to do all the lengthy comparisons and trials yourself. We’ve done all the heavy lifting for you.

If you’re looking for a guide on the best bikes for wheelies, this article’s for you!

Let’s begin!

Best Bikes For Wheelies Overview

• Huffy Stone Hardtail – Best Overall 
• Mongoose Dolomite – Best Fat Tire 
• Dynacraft Krusher – Best for Kids 
• Tommaso Forcella Endurance – Best for Daily Commuters 
• Schwinn Discover 2 – Best for Hybrid Use 
• Schwinn High Timber – Best for Young Adults 
• Highland H2000 – Best for Budget 
• Dynacraft Slick Rock Trails – Best Design 

Best Bikes for Wheelies: Top 8 Picks

We’ve reviewed eight of the most trendy bikes out there to find the best bike for wheelies and stunts.

Some of them were more fitting for commuters with an adventurous side. Meanwhile, others were suitable for heavy-duty biking.

Depending on your body build, budget range, and biking needs, the best option for you will vary drastically.

Huffy Stone Hardtail Mountain Bike – Best Overall

Read More: 7 Best Beginner Mountain Bikes In 2023: Reviews And Buyer’s Guide

The Hardtail provides 21 speeds with smooth shifting, thanks to the Shimano TZ-31 rear derailleur.

We get that the 21-gear option might seem too overwhelming, especially for beginners, but you can always get the Huffy Stone Hardtail mountain bike in a 6-gear model.

We do appreciate the fact that Huffy sends the package with all the tools needed for the assembly.

The handlebars measure 23” from one end to the other while the brakes on the handles are much shorter. This can cause a bit of an ergonomic challenge when braking or shifting gears.

Features:

• All-terrain bike (ATB)
• 24” wheels
• 1.95” tire width
• 21 speeds
• 41.1 lbs
• Steel frame
• Shimano TZ-31 rear derailleur
• Removable rear derailleur guard
• Slight-rise handlebars
• Linear pull hand brake system
• Front suspension
• Suitable for young adults around 5’

Pros:

• Comes with a limited warranty
• The assembly tools are included in the package
• Knobby tire for rough terrains
• Handlebar design reduces muscle straining
• Sturdy frame handles up to 250 lbs

Cons:

• Seat cushions are a little thin
• Brake design hinders the gear shifts
• Doing stunts might null the warranty

Our Verdict:

This all-terrain bike suits young adults with smaller figures and intermediate skill levels. It’s a well-rounded option for younger bikers who are eager to do stunts.

While the bike is crafted for regular cycling, the linear-pull brakes provide an added sense of safety for stunts.

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Mongoose Dolomite Fat Tire Mountain Bike – Best Fat Tire

The Mongoose Dolomite mountain bike is one of the most affordable fat-tire bikes out there. It’s sturdy, durable, and comfortable.

The wide tires make the hike suitable for snow, hills, and grit. Despite having only 7 gears to choose from, the Mongoose Dolomite suits many purposes.

The twist shifter is quite sensitive, which can be a double-edged sword.

On one hand, it’s really easy to change gears at a moment’s notice. On the other hand, you might shift gears unintentionally if you’re not careful.

The rear disc brake is reliable. However, the brake and crank require lubing often.

Features:

• Fat tire, all-terrain bike (ATB)
• 26” wheel diameter
• 4” tires width
• 7 gear speeds
• 48 lbs
• Steel frame
• Rigid suspension
• Disk brake system
• Suits adults up to 6’2”

Pros:

• Budget-friendly
• Extra-wide tires suitable for rugged terrains
• Easy shifting between gears
• Sturdy frame for heavy-duty use
• Comes with a limited warranty

Cons:

• Heavy frame
• Doesn’t come with the needed assembly tools
• Doing stunts might null the warranty

Our Verdict:

This Mongoose fat bike is ideal for people looking to cycle through rough terrains, all year round. It’s suitable for bikers with intermediate experience.

If you’re looking for something with a more advanced suspension, this bike might not be the best for you.

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Dynacraft Krusher Fat Tire – Best for Kids

Read More: The 7 Best BMX Bikes To Get In 2023

Despite being labeled as a “men’s bike,” the Krusher is a fat tire BMX bike for kids and young adults.

It’s an affordable option with a long-lasting frame and sleek design. It combines a mountain-style handlebar with 4” tires, making it ideal for rugged terrains.

Some models come with a rear coaster brake while others come with a dual disc. Confirm the specs before proceeding with your purchase.

Overall, this fat tire is akin to the Mongoose Legion Freestyle BMX series. Since the Legion series is a bit hard to come by nowadays, the Dynacraft Krusher bike is a good alternative.

Features:

• Fat tire mountain bike
• 26” wheel diameter
• 4” tire width
• 20” rims
• Single-speed
• Deluxe steel frame and aluminium rims
• Rear coaster brake
• Suitable for young adults around 4’9”

Pros:

• Affordable
• Easy assembly
• Suitable for heavy-duty cycling

Cons:

• More expensive than the Mongoose fat tire
• No suspension
• No gear shifting options

Our Verdict:

We would’ve liked to see more gear speeds and maybe some suspension, but otherwise, it’s a decent bargain.

Once again, it’s a smaller bike intended for kids and young adults. If you want an adult bike, this one won’t do.

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Tommaso Forcella Endurance Road Bike – Best for Daily Commuters

The Tommaso Forcella Endurance is a lightweight road bike with advanced features.

The light frame makes tilting back for a wheelie easy. However, it’s not a stunt bike and it might not be able to handle a lot of rough play.

Tommaso offers 5 size choices for this model, ranging from 4’10” for the smallest size to 6’5” for the largest. We’ve decided to review the XS size model.

Using carbon as a building frame material is something that we exclusively see in high-end bikes. It’s refreshing to see a carbon fork on a bike at this price point.

One thing that disappointed us in this bike is its assembly procedure. You might want to pay a professional at a bike shop to put it together for you, it’ll save you the trouble.

Features:

• Road bike
• 24 speeds
• Semi-compact aluminium frame
• 22.7 lbs
• 50T chainring
• Carbon fork
• Rigid suspension
• Rim brakes
• Suitable for adults/young adults between 5’2” and 5’6”

Pros:

• Lightweight and practical
• Full Shimano Claris R2000 groupsets
• Great for day-to-day use
• Easy to add racks and holders to the frame

Cons:

• Sharp bike pedals
• Tires not suitable for heavy-duty use
• Complicated assembly

Our Verdict:

The Tommaso Forcella Endurance is suitable for beginners and intermediate bikers. We’d recommend it to people looking for a practical commuter bike that’s capable of the occasional stunt.

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Schwinn Discover 2 Hybrid Bike – Best for Hybrid Use

Being a hybrid bike means that it suits different terrains and multiple biking styles. The Discover 2 bike attempts to balance between road and mountain biking.

Yet, you might find it more suitable as a road bike.

On the plus side, this means that it’s comfortable since it’s made for commuting. On the downside, this means that you won’t get a lot of heavy-duty features that enable stunts and wheelies.

Features:

• Hybrid road bike
• 28” wheels
• 1 3/8” tire width
• 35 lbs
• 21 speeds
• SRAM grip shifter
• Front suspension
• Aluminum frame
• 4 finger brake levers
• Promax linear-pull brake systems
• Suits adults between 5’4” and 6’2”

Pros:

• Easier brake grip than the Hardtail
• The rear rack that handles up to 50 lbs
• Comes with a limited warranty
• Easily controlled and reliable brake system

Cons:

• Thin tires are more suited to paved roads than rugged paths
• Doing stunts might null the warranty

Our Verdict:

Like most hybrid bikes, the Schwinn Discover 2 tries to balance rugged with urban. However, we found it more leaning towards communing than BMX or mountain trailing.

It’s a good option for biking around town and doing wheelies occasionally. Just don’t expect fancy stunts out of it regularly.

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Schwinn High Timber Youth/Adult Mountain Bike – Best for Young Adults

The High Timber mountain bike is more of an affordable ATB option. Despite having a Shimano Tourney derailleur and Revoshift, it’s still at a very competitive price point.

The bike comes in four size options ranging from a 24” to a 29” wheel. For this review, we choose an average 27.5” model.

A recurrent issue we saw in Schwinn bikes was the installation failures and the High Timber mountain bike was no exception.

It might be a wise move to get a professional bike shop to finish up the process for you. Once the assembly is done, the hard part is over and you can easily get used to the bike’s features.

Features:

• Mountain trail bike
• 27.5” wheel sizes
• 2 1/8” tire width
• 21 gear speeds
• 35 lbs
• Hybrid aluminium and steel frame
• Dual spring suspension
• Alloy linear-pull hand brakes
• Alloy crank
• Suitable for adults between 5’4” and 6’2”

Pros:

• Very affordable
• Lightweight and easy to tilt back for wheelies
• Comes with a limited warranty
• Knobby tires that handle multiple terrains
• Easy seat high adjustment

Cons:

• Requires lithium grease
• Gear shifting might be a bit noisy
• Doing stunts might null the warranty

Our Verdict:

We’d recommend this bike for someone on a tight budget. It cuts around some specs to save on money. It’s still a good enough option for communing, trailing, and light wheelies.

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Hiland H200 Mountain Bike – Best for Budget

Hiland offers this mountain bike in several models with wheel spoke options (3, 6, or multi-spoke)

Highlands describes its mountain trail bike (MTB) as a bike for a “rugged commuter.” The bike is suitable for many terrains and has a little kick for stunts.

The suspension works beautifully to absorb any pumps and makes the frame sturdier for wheelies.

Features:

• Mountain trail bike (MTB)
• 25” wheels
• 1.95” tire width
• 33.39 lbs
• 21 speeds (Shimano DriveTrain)
• 42T chainring
• Aluminum frame
• Shimano Ty21 Tourney derailleur
• Dual suspension
• Dual disc brake
• Suitable for adults between 5’ and 6’

Pros:

• Budget-friendly
• 85% pre-assembled
• Suitable for multi-purpose uses
• Efficient and smooth gear shifting

Cons:

• The pedal is too close to the wheel
• Disc brake rotors bend easily

Our Verdict:

If you value design, this bike might be the one for you. The wheel spokes and the frame paint job are bright and bold.

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Dynacraft Slick Rock Trails Bike – Best Design

The Dynacraft Slick Rock Trails bikes cater to experienced bikers. They’re designed to handle rough terrains without demanding the bulk of a fat tire.

For young adults looking to do wheelies, this bike is a good place to start. It’ll handle minor stunts while still being suitable for regular trails.

Unfortunately, the Slick Rock Trails bike comes in one size only. We would’ve loved to see more wheel measurements from this model.

Features:

• Mountain trail bike
• 26” wheels
• 1.96” tire width
• 21 gear speeds
• 38.28 lbs
• Dual suspension
• Steel frame
• Shimano grip shifters
• Solid steel kickstand
• Front and rear linear-pull brake systems
• Suitable for young adults around 4’9” and 5’5”

Pros:

• Good value for money
• Decent shock-reduction
• Easy set-up

Cons:

• Uncomfortable seat
• Tire innertube pops easily

Our Verdict:

The Dynacraft Rock Trails is a very modern-looking bike. It has an impressive suspension and deluxe paint job. If you want something affordable and eye-catching, this might be for you.

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What to Look for in a Bike for Wheelies

Buying a bike with wheeling in mind can be a bit complicated. Before you commit to a new bike, here are some factors to consider:

Bike Type

Usually, mountain bikes and BMX bikes work best for doing wheelies. They have durable frames and can handle stunts.

However, it’s not unheard of to find a road bike that’s good enough for some action. The Tommaso Forcella Endurance is a good example of this.

On the other hand, you can get a hybrid bike that caters to different needs. The Schwinn Discover 2 is a decent hybrid bike to consider.

Brake System

As a general rule, the rear brake is the focal point when it comes to rear wheelies. Usually, hydraulic disc brakes are good enough for stunts. A dual disc brake is even better.

There are modern brake systems like the linear-pull and direct-pull. For wheeling, the linear-pull system is more common than the direct-pull system.

However, it’s still a matter of preference. The end goal here is to get decent brake modulation to be able to tip the bike backward.

Just remember to never bike without a reliable brake and always test your brakes before biking.

Durability

On one hand, steel and aluminium are a fair balance between price and durability. On the other hand, carbon and titanium are considered high-end and will cost a pretty penny.

If you’re a beginner or even intermediate biker, we’d recommend sticking to steel. It’s sturdy enough without being extravagantly expensive.

Wheel Stability

Wider tires can provide better support. The Mongoose Dolomite and the Dynacraft Krusher are both fat-tired mountain bikes with excellent tire reinforcement.

By the same logic, thinner tires are more suitable for paved roads. Go for this option if you’re going to bike only on plain terrains like daily commuting or neighborhood biking.

Also, tires with textured grips can handle rough terrains. We liked the knobbiness of both the Schwinn High Timber and the Huffy Stone Hardtail.

Suspension

Suspension is good for rugged terrains and BMX. It absorbs any shocks and helps keep the back wheel (and you!) steady.

While it’s not impossible to do wheelies without suspension, it can be a challenge. The Dynacraft Krusher overcomes this hurdle nicely with 4-inch tires.

Comfort

Just because you’ll be doing stunts with your bike doesn’t mean that it has to be uncomfortable. You can find an edgy bike that’s still easy on your bones.

A well-padded seat makes all the difference when you’re biking for long distances.

For the sake of stunts, an adjustable seat can make your posture better. We recommend starting at the lowest height setting first.

A recurrent problem in most bikes (even brand ones) is uncomfortable saddles. This is easy to overcome with a well-padded seat covering or replacing the seat altogether.

FAQs

Here are some of the frequently asked questions regarding bike wheelies:

Q. Can wheelies damage my bike?

A. Yes. Stunts can wear down the frame easily. That’s why we recommend going for something that was made to handle heavy-duty biking.

Q. Is it possible to upgrade my bike to do wheelies?

A. Most bikes are highly customizable. Don’t vibe with the original seat? You can easily replace it. Similarly, you can adjust the bike frame to your liking, from the spokes to the pedals.

Some people might choose to neglect the pedals during wheelies. They add pegs to the rear wheel and do peg-stands.

Enhancing your rear brakes is also a good idea if you’re into wheelies. However, we wouldn’t recommend adding fork suspension to a bike that isn’t modeled for it.

Q. Can I safely do wheelies?

A. Pulling any stunt on a bike can be risky. You can minimize this risk by wearing protective gear and taking all necessary precautions.

For young bikers, we recommend the presence of an experienced mentor, at least initially.

Conclusion

When we’re talking about the best bikes for wheelies, different answers will come up to suit different needs. Yet, the Huffy Stone Hardtail managed to capture our eyes quickly.

With a simple assembly guide and ATB style, the Hardtail is an overall winner. Its frame is sturdy but still lightweight enough to lift off the ground.

Other all-terrain bikes might come close to the Hardtail’s features. However, the Shimano TZ-31 rear derailleur really sealed the deal for us.