Why Buy A Full Suspension Mountain Bike?
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.
It is usually best to strat your search for a new mountain bike by considering the sort of riding you will be doing – what type of terrain will you cover? For typical cross country (XC) riding a full suspension mountain bike may not be necessary and the extra weight could slow you down. A hardtail bike (no rear suspension) could be a good alternative. However for downhill riding or over very rough terrain a full suspension bike would be the preferred choice.
Decide on the amount you want to spend a keep to this figure. Ideally, you should aim to buy the best bike that fits within your budget. It is often suggested that if you have less than 500 euros to spend on a bike you might want to look at a hardtail bike as full suspension models are more costly. Another option would be to look at buying a second hand full suspension bike at a reduced 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.
Take a look at some online mountain bike forums, where you can learn a lot from what other riders are saying about their own bikes. You can find out many useful things 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 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.
For a whole load more ideas about selecting the best mountain bike, visit Roue VTT, a really great website full of great articles on all aspects of mountain bikes and related equipment. Also take a look at Roue VTT which has an additional selection of useful facts and figures.
