Never has the market for suspension mountain bikes been crowder than before, for with every passing day brand new faces come jumping in the game and products that nobody has seen before make their way to the shelves. This might create a bunch of options for people whose preferences and budgets vary, but that does not translate that it leads to no problem at all.
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Surrounded by a sea of models and brands that just keep on multiplying, people find it hard to get the best full suspension mountain bikes, especially the first-time buyers. See yourself in them? Then coming to this list was a very good call indeed.
Table of Contents
5 Best Full Suspension Mountain Bikes
Mongoose Dolomite Fat Tire Mountain Bike - Best Overall
Of all the possible mountain bike providers with decent reputation and products, only a handful manage to emerge from the rest and become household names. Mongoose is one of the top, go through the Dolomite Mountain Bike, the very full suspension bike that sells like hotcake that the brand offers, and you will see why.
This sport bike is born to capture riders’ gaze, professionals and novices alike, with its second-to-none design that you can recognize with one glance up close.
We will give you a brief glimpse. One of its most noteworthy features is the frame. Secured with a spectacular layer of steel, it serves as a superior protection layer against all the possible situations that can come to pass halfway through your mountain-cross journey. On top of that, the glossy effect coming from the steel really comprehends the bike’s exterior look.
The unmatched structure is not the only thing to marvel at on this mountain-conquering unit. It comes with all sorts of top-notch features, enough to make your ride the time of your life.
Case in point, on your trip, your bike will be able to pass any obstacle while remaining in the ground thanks to the alloy rim. And you will be thrilled knowing that this full suspension bike does not ignore your thirst for something bold as it offers a 7-speed rear derailleur. Climbing hill is going to be as effortless as riding on even ground!
However, this bike weighs a bit more than others. This is, more or less, a weakness that will limit your acceleration as well as it's a bit difficult to control for female or elder riders.
Pros
Cons
2. Schwinn High Timber Mountain Bike - Best For Young Riders
Mongoose sounds fantastic, but you are in search of a full suspension bike for your kids and you think that the huge size and weight will be quite overwhelming for them? Then perhaps you will settle down to this instead.
This mountain bike offers all the perks that could ever be found in a children-oriented product. For a bike dedicated to mountain climbing and terrain crossing, it is unexpectedly light.
You might find this hard to believe, but overall, the whole thing only weighs 30 pounds! This is quite a surprise, given that the wheelset is entirely alloy. It seems that both of them hardly add up to the mass of the unit whatsoever.
It might target the young group of users, but its ability is by no means lesser than most best-selling bikes these days. High Timer is equipped with a frame of durable steel, more than enough to get it through all sorts of situations without a single scratch.
On top of that, it also features the exclusive Schwinn suspension fork, and so the whole bike can stay responsive on a wide range of terrains, from steep hills to smooth pavements.
But there is a limit. As it is a full suspension bike targeting young children, its quality only gets as far as their ability can get. In short, it should not be taken on on a rough ride, or extreme trails, but instead, it works out for family-friendly destinations.
Pros
Cons
3. Gravity 2020 FSX 1.0 - Best For New Riders
You have just dabbled in mountain crossing just recently and find all the ones on the highly recommended section a bit intimidating? Not quite sure if you are up for them (and your wallet is up for their price)? Then this newbie-friendly suspension bike might have something you will be into.
Being a bike targeting rookie, you cannot expect it to outperform the kickass features of the professional equipment. But it will suffice. Featuring a full dual suspension system that delivers effortless rides over road obstacles (rocks and roots and all) and, perhaps, performing some quick jumps. We ourselves have given it a test drive, and it goes beyond our expectations.
The disc brake is another thing that you are going to take a liking to. With precise braking and outstanding stopping power, it will pull your ride to a halt just the way you want. We find it brilliant in wet condition as well, which means you can use the bike amid a downpour with little issue.
Still, there is a catch for all of these merits. The wheelset is not one for mountain terrain. It is merely a pair of commonplace bike wheels, despite the fact that it can handle rough terrains fairly well. In any case, should you believe you will be graduating from the newbie phase soon, you should replace them with something more professional.
Pros
Cons
4. GYZLZZB Ten Knife Wheels Adult - Best For Safety
Ready to meet the fourth candidate of this best bike contest? We are sure you are just as eager as us! Let’s welcome GYZLZZB, a particular mountain bike catering to the needs of all careful riders who always precaution to ensure that nothing goes off track in the secluded mountainous areas.
We cannot stress the need to protect yourself while you are on your adventure enough. And that is exactly why we believe that this vehicle is essential should you often find yourself on extreme bike trails. It is equipped with a top-notch shock-absorbing frame, so hardly will you find yourself in an uncomfortable ride with nonstop up-and-down movement even when you enter a rough trail.
Aside from keeping you planted on the ground all the time, the brake of this very bike gives phenomenal performance as well. Built with the company’s advanced technology, it can offer precise stopping in all situations.
This works out for muddy, slippery paths, and no problem is likely to occur even if you ride in the middle of the rain. With this, the possibility of accidents is pretty much close to zero
Still, as ideal for your next mountain trip as it sounds, this product is not without flaw, which is the cost it charges you for. Falling in the high-end category, this one can have you fork out quite a fortune.
Pros
Cons
5. Schwinn GTX Hybrid Bike - Best Versatile Mountain Bike
You find the idea of getting the best full suspension mountain bike appealing. But it does not seem all that practical as you rarely have time for discovering the wild and getting one for daily commuting is hand down impossible as they are so heavy and slow? Then perhaps this product from Schwinn will resonate with all your needs.
The bike is really a melting spot of all the good qualities you might find in other types of bike. The shock-absorbing features and disc brakes emulate that of any mountain bike, offering superior durability as well as a safe trip. But its weight is acceptable, and you can experience high-speed riding - which is a highlight of most regular bikes.
On top of that, this bike offers an exceptional sense of comfort for all riders with the ergonomically designed grip and saddle as well as multi-condition tires. This is a big plus most of the times, mountain bikes will compromise the comfort factor to enhance durability.
Still, this one is not without flaw either. Apparently, the chain is not of the best quality, and it might snap at any time.
Pros
Cons
Full suspension mountain bikes- Buying Guide
Topographics
There are no laws or regulations that say you have to ride the right mountain bike for each different terrain type. You can completely use Trail bikes to join races, or you can also use racing bikes on other topographic sites.
However, we can all perceive the fact that the most suitable are often the best. Just like choosing a pair of sneakers, running shoes will be the best choice for fitness sessions for running competitions, not luxurious Gucci shoes!
Each type of mountain bike is designed specifically to have different features to support users with different terrains and uses as much as possible.
Overall, these full suspension bikes are a great choice if you often rail technical trails. With rough roads and rocky terrain, you will feel more comfortable when riding them instead of hardtail bikes.
Frame Material
Aluminum and Carbon are the two frame materials you need to consider when choosing full suspension bikes. Of course, each material has its pros and cons as well as different properties that you can base on to evaluate and choose the more suitable one.
About weight: Between these two materials, the carbon frame will have a slightly lighter weight than the aluminum one. This advantage makes the bike more flexible to use when it will be suitable for both flat or mountain terrains.
However, the slightly larger weight of aluminum will assist you to hold the center of gravity and achieve higher altitude when going downhill.
Stiffness: Carbon is a harder material than aluminum, so a bicycle frame made of this material will make the transmission more efficient, while the frame is also sturdy and durable.
On the other hand, Aluminum toughness with the ability to reduce the impact of force will give you a more comfortable experience on rough roads.
Cost: Normally, bikes with Carbon frames will cost more than Aluminum ones since Carbon thought to create a sturdy and durable chassis. However, each type will have its own features and will also be damaged under certain conditions.
In general, there is nothing better than another. So your choice of framing material will depend on your preferences, needs, and financial capabilities.
Read more:
- Best mountain bikes under $1,000
- Best mountain bikes under 500 dollars
- 10 Best Beginner Mountain Bikes
Suspension Design
There are four types of suspension designs that you should know before choosing, and certainly, each of them have their own pros and cons. Depending on your purpose of use, you can find yourself the most suitable one based on their characteristics.
Single-pivot suspension: This type has a simple design and requires less maintenance. However, it can create relationships between suspension characteristics and reduce performance.
High-pivot idler suspension: this type will reduce most pedal shock, which provides you with a more comfortable ride.
Twin-link suspension: the twin-link bikes are often valued for their flexibility when allowing for the adjustment of most elements of suspension.
Horse-link suspension: This type allows for a high level of tunability on the leverage ratio curve, anti-rise and anti-squat. However, because of its anti-squat design, its climbing performance will be inferior to other types.
Wheel Size
Normally wheel sizes will range from 26 inches to 29 inches. Previously the 26 inch was the most popular type but now it's no longer. Because according to users, this size is quite small which makes it difficult to ride on rough roads.
26 inches wheel: it's easy to achieve high speeds compared to other sizes. The 26-inch wheel is great for narrow and technical trail, but it may meet difficulty to roll over large obstacles.
27.5 inches (a.k.a 650b) wheel: This is the most popular type since it carries both outstanding features from 26-inch wheels and 29-inch wheels. This type of wheel helps you obtain the same speed as the 26-inch type but with the larger size, it will help you easily overcome obstacles.
29 inches wheel: This largest wheel size will be a great choice for crossing obstacles. However it will make the bike's weight heavier and this will limit your acceleration.
The Travel Suspension
Travel is the distance that the front suspension fork can compress. The longer you travel, the more shock it needs to absorb. This means you have to use more force if you want to accelerate.
80-100mm travel: this type is the lightest weight bike, about 20-26 lbs. This one is commonly used on off-road terrains because it's flexible and can perform technical skill.
120-140mm travel is commonly used for singletrack trails. It's preferred by users for its high acceleration performance.
140-160mm travel: bikes in this type are a bit heavier, which means you need to make more effort. It's extremely suitable for demanding terrain with many obstacles.
Conclusion
Overall, we’ve revealed to you the best full suspension mountain bikes that are worth your consideration! Besides, there are five important features that you have to pay attention to when choosing: topographics, frame’s material, suspension design, wheel size and the travel suspension.
To pick out the best one, we highly recommend the Mongoose Dolomite Mountain Bike. Because it meets all the requirements of design, functionality as well as quality that the best full suspension bike should have.
Anyway, consider carefully before making a buying decision and be a smart buyer!
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