In the case of mountain bikes, you get what you pay for much of the time. While picking the best bike you can afford is a good idea, figuring out which top of the line mountain bike brand really is a good buy can be harder. To decide on the right model, usually, it’s best to look at the quality of the components, and the way the bike fits you and the way you ride.
Basically, a mountain bike is a bicycle with a robust frame, wider tires with large treads, horizontal handlebars, and gearing. They offer more traction and stability off road than a street bike‘s narrow tires and lightweight frame can. But that’s not all they’re for, even though these bikes are called mountain bikes. They can also be ridden cross country, or on trails with no surfacing or with gravel. They’re also good for city streets that have uneven or broken paving. Just look out for large rocks and roots. Choose a mountain bike for any application where you will need strength and stability. If you do most of your cycling on flat areas with smooth pavement, these bikes are probably heavier than you’re looking for.
Look for High Quality Construction
Top of the line mountain bikes will offer quality construction, as well as using good materials. Do not be fooled, even if many merchants will try to sell you components and frames based only on the materials that make them up. It is feasible to make a bad bike frame from titanium, just as it’s possible to make a good one from steel or aluminum. While prestigious materials certainly command a higher price tag, quality of manufacture is more important, whether you are buying a frame, some gears, or new wheels. Instead of rim brakes like the ones on road bikes, look for bikes with good suspension and higher quality disc brakes.
Light-weight Frames are In
Lighter frames mean there’s less for you to pull up steep slopes. However, lightweight frames and wheels also mean that you sacrifice strength, in some materials. They also require a certain loss of stability. That is why mountain bikes are often more heavily built than road bikes. The newest and hottest composites used to make trail bicycle frames are materials like Kevlar (the same material used for bulletproof vests. Because they are extremely light-weight and very robust, these materials are also utilized for other parts of the bike. However, it is extremely difficult to repair bike frames made from Kevlar and carbon fiber when they are damaged.
Titanium, the best and most pricey material for bike frames, offers the light weight of carbon fiber with strength that may exceed that of the toughest steel alloy frames. For bicycle frames, it’s also the most corrosion-resistant. All these benefits come with an astronomical price ticket, as you would expect.
Decent Suspension is a Must-Have
With lighter materials like titanium and aluminum, good suspension can reduce the “whippiness” you sometimes get. Front only or both front and rear supension are available on top of the range mountain bikes. Be sure to try it out to be sure that you have the right fit, and that the weight feels good, when you choose your bike. If you decide you want to have a bike put together elsewhere, such as an online order, make certain you know exactly what you are getting, in terms of materials, weight and frame size.
