Six Things to Look For When Buying A Mountain Bike

Choose The Best Mountain Bike

Buying a mountain bike can seem like a big decision but you can help yourself by getting educated about the important aspects of the bike. When looking to buy your next mountain bike consider the following six points of interest.

6 Points:
1.  Price
2.  Frame
3.  Brakes
4.  Shifters
5.  Tires
6.  Size/Fit

Price:
To get the best mountain bike you can expect to pay several thousand dollars. It is a good idea to determine your price range before you begin your search. A good beginner mountain bike will cost between 400 and 800 dollars depending on where you buy it. I’m sure you may be able to find a less expensive mountain bike at your local Walmart but the question you have to ask yourself is will it hold up. This is one of the biggest mistakes I see people make when they buy a mountain bike or any bike for that matter. Rather than getting the inexpensive mountain bike in the beginning and replacing it within a year, you would have been better off with the higher priced mountain from the start. The Iron Horse MKIII Sport Mountain Bike is a good example of a popular mountain bike at an affordable price.

Brakes:
The higher the quality of the bike the higher the quality of the brakes. The choice of rim brakes or disk brakes is a decision you will have to make. The cost of disk brakes are higher but the braking power is superior. Rim brakes are generally lighter and cost less but there is a performance consideration to take into effect in wet weather. The Diamondback Overdrive Mountain Bike is a fine example of a popular mountain bike that has dual disk brakes.


Shifters:
Rapidfire and Gripfit shifters are the two main types of shifters on the market today. The Rapidfire shifters are located under the brake lever and Gripfit shifters are incorporated into the handlebars that work similar to a motorcycle. The more experienced riders seem to like the Rapidfire shifters better but ultimately it will be a matter of choice.

Tires:
It is important to have the larger knobby tires if you are going to be spending most of your time off road. You will get better traction and more control on the uneven terrain. The smaller knobs on the tires will allow for a smoother ride on a paved surface. If you are going to use the mountain bike for off road and on road then look for a tire with a ridge in the middle and medium sized knobs on the side of the tire.

Fit
For the mountain bike to suit you well it must fit you well. While straddling the bike try and maintain a two to three inch clearance above the top tube. The terrain you are traveling will be a determining factor. If you are going to be riding a bit more aggressively you can increase this to four to six inches of clearance to allow for ease of operation over very uneven surfaces. While sitting on the bike adjust it so your down leg has a slight bend at the knee. Generally speaking 30 degrees of knee bend is a good place to start.

These are several considerations to think about before you purchase your next mountain bike. You can expect to get many years of riding from your mountain bike if you choose wisely in the beginning. If you are looking for a popular mountain bike that exceeds the highest standards of many advanced riders than you need to checkout the Smith & Wesson Custom Police Mountain Bike