Choosing A Full Suspension Mountain Bike
Written by Hazel Wig on December 25, 2009 – 8:38 am -Full suspension mountain bikes are usually the top of the range models and every year manufacturers make better, lighter and cheaper full suspension bikes. If you are in the market for a full suspension mountain bike, read on and find out the most important factors to consider.
Before you go out and look at some bikes it is important to consider what type of terrain will you be riding on? For normal cross country (XC) riding a full suspension mountain bike may not be justified and the extra weight may be an issue for you. In this case a hardtail might better suit your needs. However if you are going to be riding downhill or on rough terrain a full suspension bike might be a better choice.
Define you budget for the purchase of a bike and try to stay within it. Ideally, you should aim to buy the best bike that meets your budget. If you have less than 500 pounds (750 dollars) to spend on a bike you might be better to consider a hardtail bike as full suspension models are more costly. Another option would be to consider a used full suspension bike at a knock down price.
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.
Don’t forget that full suspension bikes can be significantly heavier than hardtail bikes. Full suspension frames are also a little heavier and they carry more parts than hardtails.
Browse through some of the many online mountain bike forums, where you can learn find out what other riders are saying about their own bikes. You can learn a lot from the experiences of other people.
Remember to take account of maintenance costs. Full suspension bikes will require more maintenance due to the more complex linkages involved. If you are a do it yourself type you will need a few extra tools as well.
Finally, test ride as many different mountain bikes as you can before buying. And remember you can also test ride a full suspension mountain bike with the front and or rear shock locked out, to simulate the effect of a hard tail.
For a lot more information about selecting the best mountain bike, visit Roue VTT, a really interesting site full of great articles on all aspects of mountain bikes and related accessories. Also take a look at Roue VTT which has an additional selection of useful facts and figures.
Tags: bike riding, bike shopping, cycle touring, Cycling, fitness, leisure, Mountain Bike, mountain bike suspension, mountain bike tyres, mountain bike wheels, Sports
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