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A mountain bike is a robust, all-terrain bicycle designed for off-road terrains. It’s built to handle rough trails, steep descents, and rocky paths, offering unmatched versatility. You can ride it almost anywhere.
Mountain bikes have wider tires, a more relaxed frame geometry, and suspension to absorb shocks, making them ideal for off-road riding. They’re perfect for those who want to connect with nature, push their limits, and experience the outdoors in a whole new way.
However, their wide, knobby tires create high rolling resistance, and the upright riding position increases wind resistance, making them less efficient than road bikes for fast riding on paved roads.
Continue reading to learn more about their components, benefits, and disadvantages.
The Pros and Cons of Mountain Bikes
The following table summarizes the main features, benefits, and disadvantages of mountain bikes compared to other bike types.
| Feature | Road Bikes | Gravel Bikes | Hybrid Bikes | Mountain Bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geometry | Endurance or performance oriented | Endurance or performance oriented | Usually endurance or upright Sometimes performance oriented | Usually more upright |
| Suitable for | Paved roads | Paved, gravel, dirt, or forest roads | Paved, gravel, dirt, or forest roads | All types of terrains |
| Unsuitable for | Most terrains except paved roads | MTB-like terrain | MTB-like terrain | Paved roads |
| Versatility | Low | Great | Good | Great |
| Gearing | 2X Sometimes 1X | 1X or 2X Sometimes 3X | 3X or 2X Sometimes 1X | 1X or 2X Sometimes 3X |
| Suspension | No suspension | Sometimes front suspension Occasionally suspension seat post | Sometimes front suspension | Front suspension Rear suspension |
| Brakes | Disc or rim | Usually disc brakes | Disc or rim | Disc or rim |
| Maneuverability | Good | Good | Great | Great |
| Relative comfort | Bad | Good | Good | Great |
| Handlebars | Dropped | Dropped | Flat or curved | Flat |
| Tyres | Narrow | Narrow or wide | Narrow or wide | Wide |
| Wheels diameter | 700c | 650b, 700c | 700c, 26″ | 26″, 27.5″, 29″ |
| Browse | Road Bikes | Gravel Bikes | Hybrid Bikes | Mountain Bikes |
Frame Materials and Geometry
Mountain bike frames are typically made from materials such as carbon and aluminum. Steel and titanium MTBs are relatively rare. Beginner mountain bikes are made of aluminum, while the higher-end ones are made of carbon. Steel or titanium mountain bikes are usually custom-made.
The geometry of mountain bikes differs depending on the MTB type. The basic types of mountain bikes are cross-country, trail, enduro, downhill, and fatbike. You can learn more about each mountain bike type in my How to choose a mountain bike guide.
Cross-country mountain bikes feature aggressive geometry and a short wheelbase, making them ideal for fast-paced riding and climbing. In contrast, downhill MTBs are designed with a long wheelbase and a lower center of gravity, which enhances stability during descents.
Mountain bikes have a more relaxed riding position than hybrid bikes. For more details, read my comparison of hybrid vs. mountain bikes.
Wheels and Tires
Mountain bike wheels are the widest of all bike types (excluding fat bikes). Low-end MTBs have clincher wheels (tires + tubes), while the more expensive ones almost exclusively use tubeless-ready wheels.
TIP: Learn the differences between tubeless, clincher, and tubular tires.
The high-volume, knobby tires run on lower pressures and allow you to ride through rough terrain, ranging from gravel, dirt, and forest roads to singletracks and downhill. They are also one of the reasons why mountain bikes have high rolling resistance, making them unsuitable for riding long distances on paved roads. Road bikes are much better for these purposes.
TIP: Here is an in-depth comparison of mountain vs. road bikes.
You will encounter one of the following wheel sizes on mountain bikes:
- 26-inch
- 27.5-inch
- 29-inch
The larger the wheel diameter, the more stable the bike and the better it maintains its speed. However, the slower its responsivity and acceleration.
Drivetrain
A bike drivetrain typically includes the cranks, chainrings, chain, cassette, and derailleurs. Most modern mountain bikes use 1X chainring with an 11-spd or 12-spd cassette. However, exceptions like 2X or 3X groupsets apply (especially on low-end MTBs).
The 1X chainrings are simpler (you shift just the rear gears), lighter, and fewer things can go wrong (like a dropped chain). On the other hand, the jumps between gears are larger, and you have fewer gears to choose from.
Mountain bikes have easy gears, which allow you to tackle steep climbs. Easy gears are handy since you will often have to remain in the saddle to keep traction. They share similarities with gravel bikes.
See the following table that summarizes mountain bike groupsets and their price range.
| Shimano | SRAM | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry level | Tourney | Mechanical | |
| Entry level | Altus | Mechanical | |
| Entry level | Acera | X5 | Mechanical |
| Mid range | Alivio | X7 X9 | Mechanical |
| Mid range | Deore | NX GX | |
| Mid range | SLX | GX Eagle | Mechanical |
| Pro | XT | X1 | Mechanical |
| Pro | XT Di2 | X01 | Electronic |
| Pro | XTR | XX1 | Mechanical |
| Pro | XTR Di2 | X01 Eagle XX1 Eagle | Electronic |
Did you know there are two types of groupsets? You can buy a mountain bike with a mechanical or electronic groupset. The electronic ones are more convenient but also more expensive.
Suspension
Mountain bikes are hardtail or full-suspension. Hardtail mountain bikes have a suspended fork, while full-suspension MTBs have a suspended rear triangle and fork.
The suspension is what makes mountain bikes suitable for tackling demanding terrain. It absorbs bumps and vibrations, making your bike ‘flow’ over rocks, roots, and other obstacles.
I summarized the benefits and disadvantages of these two suspension types in the following table.
| Pros | Cons | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardtail | • Lower weight of the bike • Lack of rear suspension maintenance • Lower price • Lower energy loss when pedaling • Better for climbing | • Right riding technique for rough terrain needed • Not as comfortable as full suspension bikes • Doesn’t handle rough terrain as well as full suspension bikes |
| Full suspension | • Better comfort in rough terrain • More versatile (jumps, drops, rock gardens, roots…) • Easier to ride in more difficult terrain • Better for downhills | • Higher price • Higher overall weight of the bike • More parts that can break • Rear triangle maintenance |
Handlebars, Shifters, and Brakes
Flat handlebars are one of the main characteristics of mountain bikes. They allow easier handling but offer fewer hand positions than drop bars.
Shifters and brakes are mounted on handlebars but are not integrated into a single unit as on road or gravel bikes.
But both are easily accessible, so you don’t have to worry about not being able to brake or shift in time.
Mountain bikes usually have disc brakes, but entry-level models have rim brakes. The disc brakes are more effective in rougher conditions like mud, dirt, rain, etc. Read my comparison of disc vs. rim brakes for more details.
Conclusion
This was just a quick introduction to mountain bikes. You can learn more about them in my How to Choose a Mountain Bike Guide. It includes a detailed description of mountain bike types and the discipline they are suitable for.
I also recommend checking out my mountain biking guide to learn more about mountain biking as a cycling category. You will learn the basics of equipment, handling, nutrition, and clothing.
