Deciding Between Full Suspension Mountain Bikes And Single Bikes

It is a known fact that full suspension mountain bikes are made with, as the name says, both front and rear suspension. Because of this specialized manner they carry with them not only a smoothed out ride but also a hefty price tag.

The largest benefit these new designs have over the more rigid hard tail or single design of bikes, is a much more comfortable ride. With this comfort comes better control as well as a more enjoyable ride. However as with all things it is not all benefits when dealing with these bicycles as there are trade offs and the main one being the cost, a full suspension bicycle will run over one thousand dollars so they are not for a rider who has a tight budget.

Aside from the higher price tag, a mountain bicycle is also heavier due to added hardware so it is less efficient. The issues of efficiency and weight really become a discussion depending on what the goals of the rider are.

The Hard tail bicycles are lighter and more efficient when terrain is smooth but once that changes the perfectly designed bicycle begins to take over. With that in mind if a lot of hill work is coming then the suspension makes much more sense.

Even after determining that such bicycles are the proper riding experience, there are multiple builds to even further fulfill riders needs. There are four major designs that should be considered; single pivot, sweet spot, horst-link and rocker design. Each has its benefits, the single pivot is simple but the downside is pedal activation so location is extremely important, the sweet spot is a solid all purpose but only full active when seated, the horst-link is the best suspension type but requires more maintenance and is more costly, and finally the rocker design tends to be best for downhill riding.

Given their benefits, full suspension mountain bikes are perfect for those who can fully utilize them and afford them but are not for all riders. Make sure you pick the bike that best fits you for the best riding experience.