Most of the time, you get what you pay for when it comes to mountain bikes. Figuring out which top of the line downhill bike really is a good buy can be quite hard, even if owning the best bike you can afford is a good idea. Usually, it's best to look at the quality of the components, and just how the bike fits you and the way you ride to decide on the right model.
A mountain bike is a bicycle with a sturdy frame, wide tires with large treads, horizontal handlebars, and gearing, essentially. Off road, they offer better stability and traction than a street bike's narrow tires and lightweight frame can. While these bikes are called mountain bikes, that's not all they're for. 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'll need toughness and stability. These bikes are probably heavier than you're looking for, if you do most of your cycling on flat areas with smooth pavement.
Look for High Quality Build
Top of the line mountain bikes will offer quality construction, as well as using good materials. While many manufacturers will try to sell you components and frames based purely on the materials that make them up, do not be fooled. 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 come with a much higher price tag, quality of manufacture is more important, whether you are buying a frame, some gears, or new wheels. Look for bikes with higher quality disc brakes and good suspension, in place of of rim brakes like the ones on road bikes.
Light-weight Frames are In
There's less for you to pull up steep slopes, with lighter frames. In some materials, however, lightweight frames and wheels also mean that you sacrifice toughness. A certain loss of stability is also unavoidable. That's why mountain bikes are nearly always more heavily built than road bikes. Composite materials like Kevlar (the same material used for bullet proof vests) and carbon fiber are the hottest and newest composites used to make trail bicycle frames. Because they are extremely light-weight and very powerful, these materials are also utilized for other parts of the bike. However, it is extremely difficult to fix bike frames made from Kevlar and carbon fiber when they are damaged.
Combining the light weight of carbon fiber with strength that may surpass that of the toughest steel alloy frames, titanium is the best and most costly material for bike frames. It is also the most rustproof material for mountain bike frames. Expectedly, all these benefits come with an extremely high price tag.
Robust Suspension is a Must-Have
Good suspension can reduce the "whippiness" you sometimes find with lighter materials like aluminum and titanium. Top of the range mountain bikes are available with front only or both front and rear suspension. When you select your bike, be sure to try it out to be certain that you have the right fit, and that the weight feels good to you. If you decide you want to have a bike made elsewhere, such as an online order, make certain you know exactly what you are getting, in terms of materials, weight and frame size.
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