The off-roader - The mountain bike
Hardtail or Fully?
If you are a mountain bike mainly for driving on well-paved roads field and forest trails and only now and then on a dirt road or downhill single trail, then a hardtail is the right mountain bike for you. In addition, a hardtail is usually cheaper to buy and has a lower weight. The range of use of a Fully, on the other hand, knows no limits. Whether single trail, bike park or a tour in the Alps, with a fully you are guaranteed to have fun. Fullys offer the driver more traction and facilitate steep uphill and downhill passages. Downhill, they absorb shocks better, thus offering more driving safety and fun. They also relieve the back muscles of the mountain biker.
How much suspension travel do I need?
Beginners are well served with a hardtail. They are usually equipped with forks around 100 mm travel. Touring bikers, who are also on narrow single trails, are best to reach for a full-suspension mountain bike. Depending on how high the downhill portion and the technical difficulty of the trail passages the biker rides, suspension travel of 100 to max. 150 mm is recommended. Mountain bikers who like to ride more technically demanding routes choose an MTB with more suspension travel. Race mountain bikers who want to use their MTB primarily in marathons and cross-country races are best served with light and stiff hardtails or fullys made of carbon. Suspension travel of 100 mm to max. 120 mm is the rule here. Enduro bikers prefer to ride downhill - and on steep, technically very demanding terrain. They go for mountain bikes with suspension travels between 150 and 170 mm. Pure downhill bikes usually have 200mm of suspension travel. With these, however, you can only go uphill very limited and they are primarily intended for bike parks and downhill races.
Which frame material is the best?
When buying a mountain bike you are spoiled for choice. Should it be a frame made of carbon or rather the aluminum variant. Which frame material is better? This question can not be answered so easily universally. Both materials have advantages and disadvantages. Frames made of aluminum are usually much cheaper than their carbon counterparts. However, a frame made of carbon is lighter than one made of aluminum. For climbs and flat rides, this is an undeniable advantage, as the rider on a carbon bike has to contend with less friction and a lower gravitational pull. In terms of stiffness, carbon frames are also superior to their aluminum counterparts. On the other hand, aluminum frames are more robust and less susceptible to damage in crashes.
Which wheel size is right for me?
The times are over where there were exclusively 26 inch wheels. Nowadays, mountain bikes with 29 inches are standard. In the enduro and downhill area, wheels with 27.5 inches are also installed. The large wheels have their advantages especially in terms of smoothness, traction and when rolling over obstacles.
Which circuit is optimal for me?
The shifting system is virtually the drive of a mountain bike. When it comes to choosing the right group or MTB shifting system, the basic principle is: the more you put in, the more you get - shifting groups in higher price ranges are more efficient, more durable and allow for smoother shifting, all at a lower weight. Top modern shifting systems from Shimano and SRAM, have only one chainring and a 12-pinion cassette, which offer a total gear ratio of 500 percent.
Which brakes should I choose?
The brakes are in terms of safety the most important component on a mountain bike. Especially on longer downhill passages, the braking system plays a special role. Only with a well-functioning and controllable brake it can be driven well downhill. In modern times, only hydraulic disc brakes are installed. They convince with optimal braking performance in all weather conditions and a stronger deceleration than the rim brakes, which are threatened with extinction. In disc brakes, the so-called brake fluid is pressed through a line to the pistons, which subsequently press the brake pads to the brake disc and provide deceleration. A properly sized brake disc is important for optimal braking performance. Heavier people should reach for larger discs.
Which manufacturers are there?
We offer a wide selection from reputable manufacturers like BMC, CUBE, Kross, Mondraker, NS Bikes, Santa Cruz, Scott and Storck. These brands impress with outstanding quality and the best riding characteristics.
How much does an MTB weigh?
Whoever races down the hills on a downhill mountain bike has a heavy load to carry: Downhill bikes usually weigh over 20 kilograms. Since you usually only ride downhill with such a bike, the weight is not a hurdle. Freeride and enduro mountain bikes have a similarly high weight. Similar to the downhill bike, the frames must be very stable, but with restrictions you can also complete longer uphill passages. Anyone who buys a freeride or enduro MTB should therefore not be surprised at around 18 kilograms in weight. The situation is completely different for cross-country bikes. These models are designed for racing on dirt roads. Therefore, the wheels must be light to save the rider power during fast sprints. Top models reach a maximum of 10 kilograms. Slightly heavier cross-country bikes, which are made for mass sports, usually reach a maximum of 13 kilograms.
What does a good MTB cost?
The choice in the mountain bike sector is huge. Accordingly, the price range is also large. Well-equipped hardtails start at just over 1000€. Fullys are correspondingly more expensive. Full-suspension mountain bikes with carbon frames start at around 3000€ and there are virtually no limits to the top. Also in the sector of downhillers and enduro bikes, the prices vary widely depending on the equipment.