Mountain bike basic buyers guide
Mountain bike basic buyers guide.
Many people ask me for an advice about what bike to buy, so I decided to make a mini-guide. It is mainly based on the wheels size, which is that most worries people who ask me.
Almost every article I’ve read explain a lot of concepts, comparing components, and at the end … they don’t say you what kind of bike to buy.
This guide is my opinion. It may be good or bad for you, but is that I would advise a friend at the time of purchase.
Right now there are 3 standart market measures; 26 “, 27.5” and 29 “and a lot of modalities of bikes, XC, allmountain, Enduro, DH … if you know all these terms, probably you do not need my advice and you know what you have to buy ….
I have prepared an easy board to choose a bike.
Here it goes:
Now it’s time to my arguments. I put them after the board … is volunteer to read it anyway. As I am characterized, I’ll be short, direct and I will say my opinion clearly …
About wheel sizes:
26 “are an extinct species. Not because they don’t work fine, it’s just because brands have opted for the 27.5″ and 29″ to force people to change their bikes. There are lots of different arguments… mine: $$$$$$.
The 27.5″are very similar to the 26″ we rode until now. Many people will tell you that they are much better than the 26 “, but that most have changed on bikes are geometries, steering angles … etc so we will never know how much of this improvement is either the wheel size or is the new bikes desing .
The 29ers have an good argument. Their larger size make them roll much better especially where there are many obstacles, roots, stones and any bumps. The main advantage for me is that they give you more security descending, so for those who have a hard time descending, the improvement is great.
About modalities and bikes:
XC. For me definitely the measure is 29 “. There are new models of XC bikes with 27.5 “wheels and sure many people love they, but for XC I’m 29er. For those who do not ride much and just use it to take a ride around your town or city, also 29 “. For those that only ride in tracks and occasionally down some path, but their strong is not the descent … 29 “. I think it is already clear … XC and tracks, 29 “.
XC-Marathon. The same if you practice XC or Marathon (XC more time…) 29 “, but full suspension. In addition to what I said before, the double suspension gives you more security descending and is less tiring for your body. And yes, those who win races ride rigid bikes, but they only want to win. If you give them a saddle with thumbtacks to win 1s per km, for sure they’ll mount it.
All Mountain. Also 29 “. A bike for everything. It will not be good at anything, but they will work fine in all situations. Suspension travel up to 140. They descent better than many enduro 26 “we know. If you can only have one bike, they are a very good option. If you have 2 or more bikes, discarded, because they are usually quite heavy (unless you spend a fortune) and it will be better to have a lightweight XC and an specific enduro.
Enduro. This is the most difficult discipline to choose a specific bike. 27.5 “or 29”?. After much testing and discuss about this issue, here’s my opinion.
The 29ers are a bit slow-witted in very specific circumstances; jumps and very sharp corners. Instead, they are more stable in other conditions. They are true stone-breaker pancers. It seems that the trails have been repaired before you ride through them. The 27.5 “are more agile, easier to move. They are much better to jumps and more fun to ride, but also less stable. Conclusion: If you will not jump, 29 ” . If you like jumping, drifting and to move a lot your bike, 27.5″.
DH. In DH discipline there is also a little dilemma, because right now most brands are updating their models to 27.5 ” with improvements in their measures and geometries. If you’re buying a new bike, look at a 27.5″ model. Used, you have no other choice than 26″.
Other modalities: I have not write anything about Dirt, rigid enduro, fat bikes … People who are looking for these bikes already know what they want and do not need a guide like this.
About the rider, mountainbiker:
What has been written until now is fine for almost everyone, but things are a bit complicated if you’re small ( less than 1.70 m ). In this case, things change a little for me. Especially in the 29er full suspension there are fine machines in M size, but there are very few full suspension models to choose in S size (although brands are increasingly doing better). You may have to choose a 27.5 “for any discipline. If riding a 29er you feel like a child riding his father bike, you know … 27.5″.
About $$$$ €€€€:
Hard to speak about money. To the point; if you have a lot of money you have no problem. In any category there are luxury light machines with very good components. This point is important for the rest, for those who scratch their pockets when buying a bike. If it hurts you spending money or you are always looking for the bargain Buy a 26 “. I said 26 “??? Yes. Why? Because as they are already “demodé” you’ll find real bargains, especially if you look used bikes. If you want to buy something new but do not have much money the problem is usually that cheap bikes are heavier. My recommendation is to pay attention especially in the frame and fork. Otherwise you’re going to eventually change transmission, brakes, and sometimes and wheels also give some problems. When you make maintaining operations in your bike, you can always go down a little weight improving components…or not, because if you don’t like to spend money, you’ll again buy cheaper and more heavy (and often more reliable). At least you will always have an excuse if you can not follow your mates.
About Where to buy a bike:
There are so many options to purchase online and there are even brands that only sell online. Everybody wants to buy a little cheaper. Well, this is easy. You know how to assemble, arrange and maintain your bike properly ?????? If the answer is yes, you can buy online with confidence. If the answer is not like most of the cases, forget to buy online, buy from a local store, even if you pay a bit more (in many cases they have prices as competitive as any online stores), you will always take advice, service, warranty and maintenance from people who know what do.
About Bike brands:
Usually the most popular brands have the best bikes. The arguments of less popular brands are usually that they have better components in the same range prices.As I said before, the most important thing for me is a well-deigned frame with a good geometry. This is very important to determine the bike performance. Top brands have geometries made collaborating with the best riders. They develop their bikes improving each angle and dimension with these bikers feedback. Each brand typically have their own suspension system, with his advantages and disadvantages, but this is another topic. You can find plenty of information online about the different systems.
Which bike should I buy?:
It’s time to decide. You have read a lot of opinions about suspensions and specific models but you still having doubts. You’ve been in five stores and do not know which one to buy … Do not ask; You have enough information to make a decision, but you are “scared”. Do not expect that other persone decide for you, decide for yourself what bike you are going to buy.
Brands:
Main bike brands by suspension system:
Virtual pivot: Giant, Pivot, Intense, Santacruz, Mondraker, Ibis, Banshee….
Split pivot: Devinci, Orbea, BH, Trek….
FSR: Specialized, cube, Lapierre, Transition, Canyon, YT industries….
Other systems: Cannondale, Kona, Scott, Yeti….
Conclusion:
Do not become crazy. Mountain Bike is about enjoying the mountain sports activities, friends, challenges and this can be done with almost any bike.
Everything you have read here is a personal opinion. Maybe you are not agree with me…only ignore my advices. If you think that there is a mistake or some I have written is wrong, please contact me or leave your comment.
P.D: I apologize for my English. I’m learning some months ago and I have to improve more … thanks for understanding.
See you
Ijurkoracing.com
Aitor
