It can be a bit frustrating as well as time consuming

when you buy a mountain bike.  Below, you'll find

some tips and things to be aware of before you lay

down the cash and buy a mountain bike.

 

Determining your price

 

There is really no limit as to how much money you can

spend on a new mountain bike.  To help you keep your

spending under control, you should figure out what

your price range is and how much you're willing to pay

for a new bike.  When you buy, you shouldn't buy from

mass merchant stores such as Wal-Mart.  You should

instead support your local bike shop and get a much

better bike and much better service.

 

Finding your style

 

All mountain bikes are designed with several different

riding styles and terrain types in mind.  You'll need

to figure out what type of riding you will be doing

the most.  Smooth riding, cross country racing,

mountain cruising, or lift accessed downhill is

something you need to figure out.  Make sure that

the bike you select fits your personal style and not

that of the sale's staff.

 

Full suspension or hard tail

 

If you can afford it, a full suspension mountain

bike is always worth the purchase.  A hard tail,

without rear suspension, is much lighter weight

and pedal more efficiently, although full suspensions

offer more comfort and overall better control.  You'll

want to make that decision based on your price range,

riding style, and the type of terrain you'll be

riding on the most.

 

Finding your favorites

 

Comparing mountain bikes component to component is

nearly impossible, as there are far too many combinations

available.  The best way to go about doing this is

finding a few components that are the most important

to you and making sure the rest or the minimums fall

within your price range.  You can start with the fork

then look at the wheels and rear derailleur.

 

Sales and seasons

 

During the year, the prices of mountain bikes can

fluctuate quite a bit.  Spring through summer is the

main buying season.  If you can wait until the right

price pops up, normally in the fall and winter, you can

save a couple hundred dollars.  Many bike shops will

also offer discounts or other accessories if you buy

from them. 

 

Finding a good dealer

 

Finding a good bike dealer is more important than finding

the best price.  You should always find a dealer that

cares more about selling you a great bike than selling you

a high priced one. A great dealer will have a clean repair

shop and give you the impression that you can really

trust them.

 

Test ride

 

You should test ride as many bikes as you can within

your price range and riding style.  You'll find that

some bikes will feel right, while others won't.  The more

bikes you can test drive, you better you'll understand

what works and what doesn't.

 

Doing the research

 

Product reviews and bike reviews are some of the best

ways to find out about a mountain bikes reliability and

overall performance.  You should always look at what

other owners and reviews think about a bike before you

make that final purchase.