Every year bicycle manufacturers make better, lighter and cheaper mountain bikes which make them more attractive to consumers. Do you want to buy a full suspension mountain bike? If you do below is a list of items that you might want to considered before buying a new mountain bike.
One of the most important questions to ask yourself is what type of terrain will you be riding on? If you are going to be riding cross country maybe a full suspension mountain bike is not warranted and a hardtail will better suit your needs. However if you are going to be riding downhill or on rough terrain a full suspension bike might be right up your alley.
Determine your budget and stick to it. Consider buying the best bike you can afford within your budget. Many riders suggest that if you have less then $700 to spend on a bike you might want to consider a hardtail because full suspension bikes are more costly. However you could consider buying a used full suspension bike at a good price on a mountain bike classifieds site.
If you determine that a full suspension mountain bike is what you need and want then consider the different frame designs. Single-pivot, sweet-spot and horst-link are a few popular designs and each has their advantages and disadvantages. The best way to truly understand the difference is to go to a few bike stores and test ride the different designs. The bike store guy will be more then happy to explain and point out the pros and cons of each design.
Remember that full suspension bikes are heavier then hardtail bikes. Full suspension frames are a little heavier and they carry more parts then hardtails so be prepared to pedal around a little more weight on the trail.
Read some of the online forums to determine what other riders like and don’t like about their bikes. You can learn a lot from other rider’s opinions.
Do not forget to factor in your maintenance costs into the equation. Full suspension bikes require a little more maintenance and for the do it yourself type you will need a few extra tools.
Finally, test ride as many bikes as you can before buying. Also do not forget to test ride a full suspension mountain bike with the front and or rear shock locked out.
See you on the trail
Watch the video related to mountain bike
Unbelievably sick mountain bike trail built by Dangerous Dan out on Bowen Island. Watch as the Drop In crew tackle the super narrow balance beams along this sick trail with drops and gaps. Way sick, a MUST WATCH. Check out more clips from www.rip.tv too
Help answer the question about mountain bike
What is a good, solid mountain bike for not too much money?My family has just started going mountain biking at various parks and other locations and I realized my old bike is a little small. I need a full sized men's mountain bike with full suspension and (preferrably) disc brakes. I am hoping to spend around $300.00 but if it's worth it, I can spend more.
Any insight about a mountain bike around this price will be very helpful.
Thanks
Also, I found a cool Kawasaki mountain bike, but I don't know if it's any good.
About Author
Experience with full suspension and hardtail mountain bikes, bike parts and organizing race events for mountain biking.
Posted in 
Tags:
I think i just got a boner
Nick, most cycle fanatics end up with multiple rides. most folks I know have at least 3, road bike, MTB, town beater. if you own a bike currently, maybe that one is destined to be your beater. slap some slicks on it, and clean up the drivetrain. as to your next ride, if you want to ride single-track, than your friends are right, get a mid-range MTB hardtail. if you don't have a bike that can work as your town beater, look into getting a cheep wheel set, and put slicks on that. if you can only afford a second set of tires, and not the wheelset, thats ok, it's just easier to work the quick release, rather than swap a tire..