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

A mountain bike is a bicycle with a strong frame, wide tires with large treads, horizontal handlebars, and gearing, in essence. Off road, they offer enhanced traction and stability 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 cross country, or on trails with no surfacing or with gravel. They're also good for city streets that have uneven or broken paving. Just look out for large rocks and roots. For any application where you will need strength and stability, select 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 Good Quality Build

As well as using good materials, top of the line mountain bikes will offer quality construction. While many manufacturers will try to sell you frames and components based purely on the materials that make them up, don't be fooled. Just as it's possible to make a good bike frame from steel or aluminum, it's possible to make a bad one from titanium. While prestigious materials certainly cost a lot more, quality of manufacture is more important, whether you're buying a frame, some gears, or new wheels. In place of of rim brakes like the ones on road bikes, look for bikes with higher quality disc brakes and good suspension.

Light-weight Frames are In

Lighter frames mean there's less for you to pull up steep slopes. In some materials, however, lightweight frames and wheels also mean that you sacrifice strength. A certain loss of stability is also unavoidable. That is why mountain bikes are typically heavier-built than road bikes. The newest and hottest composites used to make trail bicycle frames are materials like Kevlar (the same material used for bullet proof vests. These materials are also utilized for other parts of the bike, as they are intensely light-weight and very powerful. However, it is very difficult to repair bike frames made from carbon fiber and Kevlar when they are damaged.

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

Robust Suspension is a Must

Good suspension can reduce the "whippiness" you sometimes encounter with lighter materials like aluminum and titanium. Front only or both front and rear supension are available on top of the range mountain bikes. Be sure to try it out to make certain that you have the right fit, and that the weight feels good, when you select your bike. If you decide you want to have a bike put together elsewhere, such as an online order, make certain you know exactly what you're getting, in terms of frame size, weight, and materials.