Attributes of Top Mountain Bikes
When it comes to mountain bikes, you get what you pay for much of the time. Figuring out which top of the line downhill mountain bike really is a good buy can be quite hard, even if buying the best bike you can afford is a good idea. As a rule, it’s best to look at the quality of the components, and how the bike fits you and the way you ride to decide on the right model.
A mountain bike is a bicycle with a rugged frame, broader tires with large treads, horizontal handlebars, and gearing, essentially. Off road, they offer much better traction and stability 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 on trails with gravel or no surfacing, and cross country. City streets that have uneven or broken paving are also suitable for these bikes. Just watch out for roots and large rocks. Choose a mountain bike for any application where you will 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 Construction
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 only on the materials that make them up, do not be fooled. Just as it’s possible to make a good bike frame from steel or aluminum, it’s possible to make a bad one from titanium. Whether you are buying a frame, some gears, or new wheels, quality of manufacture is more important, even though prestigious materials certainly cost a great deal more. Look for bikes with higher quality disc brakes and good suspension, in place of of rim brakes like the ones on road bikes.
Lightweight Frames Are In
There is less for you to pull up steep slopes, with lighter frames. However, lightweight frames and wheels also mean that you sacrifice toughness, in some materials. A certain loss of stability is also unavoidable. Mountain bikes are normally heavier built than road bikes, for these reasons. Composite materials like Kevlar (the same material used for bulletproof vests) and carbon fiber are the newest and hottest composites used to make trail bicycle frames. Because they are intensely light-weight and very powerful, these materials are also utilized for other parts of the bike. However bike frames made with Kevlar and carbon fiber are extremely difficult to fix when 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. For mountain bike frames, it’s also the most corrosion-resistant. As you would expect, all these benefits come with an astronomical price ticket.
Good Suspension is a Must
With lighter materials like titanium and aluminum, good suspension can reduce the “whippiness” you sometimes get. Top-of-the-range mountain bikes are available with front only or both front and rear suspension. Be sure to try it out to be certain that you have the right fit, and that the weight feels good, when you pick out your bike. Make certain you know exactly what you are getting, in terms of materials, weight and frame size, if you decide you want to have a bike made elsewhere.
