Most of the time, you get what you pay for in the case of mountain bikes. While investing in the best bike you can afford is a good idea, figuring out which top of the line downhill mountain bike really is a good buy can be harder. To decide on the right model, as a rule, it is best to look at the quality of the components, and exactly how the bike fits you and the way you ride.

Basically, a mountain bike is a bicycle with a rugged frame, wide 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. 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. City streets that have uneven or broken paving are also suitable for these bikes. Just look out for large rocks and roots. For any application where you will need toughness and stability, select a mountain bike. 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 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 frames and components based purely on the materials that make them up, do not be fooled. It is possible to make a bad bike frame from titanium, just as it is possible to make a good one from steel or aluminum. Whether you’re buying a frame, some gears, or new wheels, quality of manufacture is more important, even though prestigious materials certainly cost a 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.

Light-weight Frames are In

There is 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. They also require a certain loss of stability. That’s why mountain bikes are usually heavier built than road bikes. The hottest and newest composites used to make trail bicycle frames are materials like Kevlar (the same material used for bullet proof vests. Because they are extremely light-weight and very strong, these materials are also used for other parts of the bike. However bike frames made with Kevlar and carbon fiber are extremely difficult to fix when damaged.

Titanium, the best and most high-priced 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 is also the most corrosion-proof. All these benefits come with an extremely high price ticket, as you would expect.

Good Suspension is a Must

Good suspension can reduce the “whippiness” you sometimes encounter with lighter materials like titanium and aluminum. Front only or both front and rear supension are available on high-end mountain bikes. 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. Make certain you know exactly what you’re getting, in terms of materials, frame size and weight, if you decide you want to have a bike built elsewhere.

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