Full-suspension Mountain Bikes for Every Trail
Don't let rocky, rooty trails get the best of you. Full-suspension mountain bikes take the harshness out of bumps big and small so you can carry more momentum over obstacles. When it comes to choosing your next bike, consider where you'll be riding most and match those conditions to the bike's intended purpose. Mountain bikes with less travel are designed to provide the greatest pedaling efficiency, while longer-travel bikes are designed to absorb big hits while gravity pulls you downhill. From cross-country to all-mountain to freeride, full-suspension bikes cover every corner of the off-road world.
Travel
A key factor to choosing the right full suspension bike is deciding how much travel you need. Travel is measured in millimeters and ranges from about 100mm up to 200mm. Cross-country bikes designed for pedaling efficiency will have less travel than downhill bikes designed to absorb big impacts, with trail models falling somewhere in the middle of the range. Choosing a bike with the right amount of travel will give you the best experience, so it’s helpful to think about where you'll be riding most and make an honest choice.
Wheel Size
Bike manufacturers are doing great at designing frames that fit a wide range of rider height. In many cases these designs use variable wheel sizes to ensure the bike rides similarly across all sizes. 27.5” and 29” wheel diameters are what you’ll mostly find these days and, thanks to careful attention by bike engineers, the difference in ride character between these two sizes isn’t much. Bigger differences appear when plus-size tires enter the equation. Plus-size tires have more volume thanks to increased width—so instead of the common 27.5 x 2.35” size, a plus-size tire goes up to 27.5 x 3.0”. Plus-size tires are great for providing extra traction and stability in situations where a skinnier tire might lose grip.
Experience
Are you new to the sport of mountain biking or a veteran looking to upgrade your ride? Experience plays a major role in choosing the right bike because it demands different needs and desires. Experienced riders will understand what features enhance their rides—like suspension adjustability, shock types, geometry—while novices need time to figure out what they like. The best way to learn is by starting at your local bike shop where knowledgeable staff can answer any questions you have, and set you up on a test ride.
Pricing
More adjustability requires higher-grade components, and more tech means more money. The good news is that in most cases, the full-suspension frame you want is the same no matter what components are added to it. This allows you to purchase a bike that fits your budget, and gives you the option to upgrade your ride as your experience and desires change. Additionally, while carbon bikes seem to be all the rage, you can get an equally great performing bike made from aluminum which will cost less than its carbon sibling. Carbon is great when you want the lightest bike possible, but in a lot of cases the components make more of a difference in overall weight than the frame itself. It pays to do your homework in prioritizing what’s most important to you.