Each year bike makers make better, lighter and less expensive mountain bikes which make them more attractive to consumers. Do you want to get a full suspension off-road bike? If you do below is an inventory of items that you might want to considered before buying a new mountain bike.

One of the most significant questions to ask yourself is what type of terrain will you be riding on? If you are going to be riding cross country maybe a full suspension trail bike isn't warranted and a hardtail will better suit your needs. However if you're going to be riding downhill or on rough terrain a full suspension bike could be right up your street.

Determine your financial position and stick to it. Consider buying the best bike you can afford inside your budget. Many riders suggest that if you have less then $700 to spend on a bike you might want to consider a hardtail because full suspension bikes are far more expensive. However you could consider purchasing a second user full suspension bike at a great price on an off-road bike classifieds site.

If you determine that a full suspension mountain bike is what you need and want then think about the various frame designs. Single-pivot, sweet-spot and horst-link are one or two favored designs and each has their advantages and disadvantages. The simplest way to actually understand the difference is to go to one or two bike stores and test ride the different designs. The bike store guy will be more then pleased to explain and mention the good points and bad points of each design.

Remember that full suspension bikes are heavier then hardtail bikes. Full suspension frames are a little heavier and they carry more parts then hardtails so be prepared to pedal around a little more weight on the trail.

Read some of the online forums to ascertain what other riders like and don't like about their bikes. You can learn a lot from other riders ' opinions.

Never forget to take account of your maintenance costs into the melting pot. Full suspension bikes need a touch more maintenance and for the do it yourself type you will need one or two extra tools.

Finally, test ride as many bikes as you can before buying. Also do not forget to test ride a full suspension mountain bicycle with the front and or rear shock locked out.

Read more about intense bikes and santa cruz mountain bikes before making your purchase. We hope to help make the right choice.