Most of the time, you get what you pay for in the case of mountain bikes. Figuring out which top of the line downhill mountain bike really is a good buy can be quite hard, even if picking the best bike you can afford is a good idea. As a rule, it is best to look at the quality of the components, and the way in which the bike fits you and the way you ride to decide on the right model.

At base, a mountain bike is a bicycle with a strong frame, broader tires with large treads, horizontal handlebars, and gearing. They offer more traction and stability off road than a street bike's narrow tires and lightweight frame can. But that's not all they're for, even though these bikes are called mountain bikes. They can also be ridden on trails with gravel or no surfacing, and cross country. City streets that have uneven or broken paving are also suitable for these bikes. Just look out for large rocks and roots. For any application where you'll need sturdiness and stability, choose a mountain bike. These bikes are probably heavier than you're looking for, if you do most of your cycling on flat areas with smooth pavement.

Look for High Quality Construction

As well as using good materials, top of the line mountain bikes will offer quality construction. Don't be fooled, even if many vendors will try to sell you frames and components based exclusively on the materials that make them up. It is feasible to make a bad bike frame from titanium, just as it is possible to make a good one from steel or aluminum. While prestigious materials certainly will set you back more, quality of manufacture is more important, whether you're buying a frame, some gears, or new wheels. Look for bikes with good suspension and higher quality disc brakes, instead of rim brakes like the ones on road bikes.

Lightweight Frames Are In

There's less for you to pull up steep slopes, with lighter frames. However, lightweight frames and wheels also mean that you sacrifice sturdiness, in some materials. A certain loss of stability is also unavoidable. That is why mountain bikes are typically heavier-built than road bikes. The hottest and newest composites used to make trail bicycle frames are materials like Kevlar (the same material used for bullet proof vests. These materials are also made use of for other parts of the bike, as they are extremely light-weight and very robust. However bike frames made with Kevlar and carbon fiber are exceedingly difficult to repair when damaged.

Titanium, the best and most expensive material for bike frames, offers the light weight of carbon fiber with strength that may exceed that of the toughest steel alloy frames. For bicycle frames, it is also the most corrosion-resistant. All these benefits come with an extremely high price ticket, as you would expect.

Robust Suspension is a Must-Have

Good suspension can reduce the "whippiness" you sometimes get with lighter materials like aluminum and titanium. Top end mountain bikes are available with front only or both front and rear suspension. When you choose your bike, be sure to try it out to ensure that you have the right fit, and that the weight feels good to you. If you decide you want to have a bike made elsewhere, such as an online order, make certain you know exactly what you're getting, in terms of frame size, weight, and materials.