I'm a professional bike tester and I've hunted down the best budget mountain bike deals to hit the trails this summer

Specialized Fuse 27.5: Was $1,500, now $949.99 at Specialized
You're getting a lot of bike for under $1,000 with this Specialized Fuse deal. Sure, it may not have 29-inch wheels, but the capable component list, 130mm of front suspension, and decent geometry means this is a very affordable way to have a great time out on the trails.

Liv Lurra 2 27.5: Was $1,499.99, now $1,199.95 at Mikes Bikes
Liv Lurra 2 27.5 is a women's specific hardtail for riding singletrack, equipped with Giant's own Crest 34 RCL 130mm suspension fork and a Shimano Deore 12-speed drivetrain. Mike's Bikes only have x-small and small sizes, and stock is low so if you're interested, you'd best not hang about. 

Norco Torrent HT: Was $1,899, now $1,309.94 at Jenson USA
This properly rowdy hardtail from Norco has a big 31% discount and comes ready to send it on the trails right out of the box. Jenson USA has all sizes from Small to Extra Large available.

GT Zaskar FS Comp: Was $1,799.99, now $1,349.95 at Mike's Bikes
It's rare that you see a full-suspension mountain bike worth buying for under $1,500, but with a 25% discount this GT Zasker FS Comp is a great deal. If you currently have a hardtail and are looking for a way to take your riding to the next level, this is a top option.

Merida Big Trail 400: Was £1,200, now £729 at Tredz
The Merida Big Trail was developed specifically as a versatile hardtail mountain bike for maximum fun when riding singletrack and trail centers. Our tester-in-chief, Guy Kesteven, reviewed the Merida Big Trail 600 which shares the same frame and was mightily impressed with its performance.

Calibre Line T3 29: Was £1,300, now £999 at Go Outdoors
Go Outdoors own brand Calibre is known for producing excellent value and impressive performance. It gets even better when there's £300 knocked off the price.

Specialized Chisel HT Base 29: Was £2,000, now £1,199 at Tredz
If you're a regular reader of Bike Perfect, you will have read about Guy Kesteven waxing lyrical about how much he loved his Specialized Chisel. You can grab your own with this excellent Tredz deal with a hefty saving.

Orbea Laufey H30: Was £1,599, now £1,199 at Tredz
Orbea's Laufey H30 is an impressively specced hardtail with modern features. The frame has up-to-date geometry and internal storage for accessories in the downtube, equipped with RockShox suspension and Shimano drivetrain.