JAMIS DAKAR SPORT

Off-the-shelf mountain bikes are tough to beat these days. Major brands stuff every possible feature into their lines in a life-and death struggle to woo the middle-price customer. This is great news for the rank-and-file enthusiasts – the kind of riders who would die for an Ellsworth Truth or Intense M-1, but must live within a strict budget. For this reason, the number ten spot goes to the Jamis Dakar Sport. Five hundred bucks, gets you a dual-suspension trailbike that handles like a champion and pedals as if it had a secret power source. For its paltry price, nothing can tough its performance.