Buying your first real mountain bike Full Suspension

The main things to look for in buying a bike that actually performs well on a trail. A bike that will be ridden and used well. A bike that can last you years and not by collecting dust like a big box store “mart” bike, where you can also get groceries and medication for that rash you don’t want to talk about. A real mountain bike, meant for actually riding trails.

Suspension design, not the shock, is the important part. Shocks are interchangeable, but you cannot put a Yeti rear suspension triangle on an Ibis without a welder and an engineering background. They do not interchange like the shock.

For a list of bikes that I think are worth looking at:

https://www.singletrack101.com/bikes-worth-considering/

Here is the 27.5 SX version of my bike, but I prefer the 29er still: https://bit.ly/1QSCbHd

With the exception of the Yeti 575, these bikes all have decent rear suspensions, and are worth considering: https://bit.ly/1J8XKwk

The current 575 does not address pedal bob without the shock. Not that it’s a bad bike, I’ve ridden one several times, and it’s a blast downhill. Uphill however…

These are also some bikes with rear suspension designs worth looking at: https://bit.ly/1GBehFe

You’ll notice I don’t link every brand a particular retailer sells, and there’s a reason for that; rear suspension design. As you can see, I do love my Giant, but they aren’t the only bike that has a good rear suspension, and while their Stance is an excellent value, it does not have Maestro. Each suspension design has it’s merits and weaknesses. Do you feel like there is a bike on there that shouldn’t be because rear suspension sucks? Let me know in the comments so that I can remove it.

Some of the best things I have done to this bike was go tubeless and a Minion tire up front with an Ardent in the rear. Also, wider bars, shorter stem, Ergon grips and SPD pedals. A lot of you have messaged me, asking about my mods to this bike, so I put together the list below.

Here are links for the modifications I really like:

Easton Haven Stem: https://amzn.to/1MO69I0

Easton handlebars: https://bit.ly/1fIfll0

Minion 2.5 inch front tire: https://bit.ly/1FE1zVh

Ardent rear 2.4 inch rear tire: https://amzn.to/1MO6uud

Ergon Grips: https://bit.ly/1J1hNyo

WTB Pure V saddle: https://bit.ly/1TQGcLr

Shimano SPD pedals: https://bit.ly/1Hj576Y

Lizard skins chain stay protector:

https://bit.ly/1QSAVUs

If you’re new to biking, some of these things may seem high priced, but I don’t buy anything for bling or weight, so in comparison these items are less expensive than most other parts. I buy it for performance and durability, and when you are new into mountain biking, cheap and tough trumps light and expensive. When you bomb a derailleur learning to shift or tweak your bars after kissing a tree, do you want to spend $60 to fix it, or $180 to fix it?

That’s also why I have downhill bars on an XC bike. I’m a big guy, I need the strength!

I started a website for new riders, www.singletrack101.com and I will be adding my videos there, as well as new topics for newer riders. It’s my first website, so go easy on me!

Thanks for watching!