The new Batch M.2 fills an important — and IMO, underserved — niche: a rider’s first mountain bike. The $699.99 hardtail comes with a smart spec that promises a short learning curve and minimal frustration. It also looks pretty dang good for the price.
The hydroformed alloy frame is dropper-post ready
Batch starts with a hydroformed aluminum frame for the M.2 mountain bike. The frame features internal routing and is dropper post-ready. However, complete M.2 bikes do not ship with a dropper post, and the seat tube diameter is 27.2mm, which limits upgrade choices to mostly short-travel posts.
The M.2 frame is not UDH-compatible, and that’s probably a good thing. After all, this is meant to be a first mountain bike, and buyers won’t be tempted to sink too much money into a drivetrain upgrade.
Looking at the bike, the geometry appears to sit toward the modern end of standard XC hardtail geo, though it’s certainly not progressive. Batch was unable to provide frame measurements beyond recommended rider heights and inseam sizes.
A lot of budget hardtails are produced in limited sizes to minimize production costs, but the Batch M.2 is available in six sizes from XXS to XL. The smallest frame comes with 26″ wheels, while the extra small is built up with 27.5″ wheels. Sizes small and up feature 29″ wheels. Even the crank lengths vary with frame size, from 165mm to 175mm. Bikes are said to fit riders between 4’5″ and 6’5″ tall.
The M.2 is available in two colors: Tennis Ball Yellow and Matte Pitch Black. The less expensive Batch M.1 is available in Cobalt Blue and Warm Charcoal.
The build features tubeless tires, though the fork won’t wow anyone
Looking at the Batch M.2 build, there’s a lot to be excited about. For starters, the bike comes with tubeless-ready tires and rims. That’s not a given for bikes in this price range, though don’t expect name-brand tires to come stock. At least tires are a wear item and an easy, fairly inexpensive upgrade.
The 9-speed Microshift Advent drivetrain comes with a 30T chainring and an 11-46T cassette. Unless you’re planning to ride the Colorado Trail, the gear range should be adequate for most local trail rides. Tektro hydraulic disc brakes with 160mm rotors provide stopping power.
The one component that will likely disappoint riders is the SunTour XCT30 fork. The XCT30 has 100mm of travel, which is fine, but it’s a coil fork with extremely limited adjustment. I’ve tested several bikes with similar forks and they feel incredibly harsh compared to a bike with a proper air-sprung fork. They’re heavy, too.
Singletracks reached out to a Batch representative for M.2 bike weights and did not receive a response as of press time. We will update this article once that information is available.
There’s an even less expensive Batch mountain bike, the M.1
For $100 less than the M.2, buyers can pick up the $599.99 Batch M.1. The difference? The M.1 comes with mechanical disc brakes instead of hydraulic, a Micoshift Acolyte 8-speed drivetrain, and tubeless-not-ready tires and rims. My recommendation? Spend the extra $100 on the M.2. The tubeless-ready wheels and tires alone are worth the extra expense. You’ll save at least that much by not having to buy replacement tubes, ha!
How does it compare to other bikes in this price range?
The Batch M.2 is priced $300 more than the $398 Ozark Trail Ridge 29″ mountain bike sold by Walmart. That bike has a similar Suntour coil fork and a 9-speed drivetrain, though the Ozark Trail’s derailleur is a TWOO instead of a Microshift. The Ozark Trail bike doesn’t claim tubeless-ready tires or wheels and ships with mechanical disc brakes. The Ridge is dropper-post compatible like the M.1 and M.2, though the bike is only offered in three sizes.
In 2021, I tested the Schwinn Axum DP, priced at $499. That bike has a pretty similar spec to the M.2, with the exception of a dropper post, which was included. The Axum DP has external cable routing, and overall, it doesn’t look quite as good as the Batch M.2. The Schwinn came with mechanical disc brakes, and like the Ozark Trail, it’s available at Walmart. If the M.2 rides like the Axum, it’s a fine choice for beginning riders.
The Batch M.1 and M.2 are available online at the Batch website. Batch offers free shipping and 30-day returns. A lifetime warranty is provided for frames; parts and accessories are warrantied for one year.
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