Rating of the best mountain bikes according to buyers' reviews

Problems with traffic jams in many large cities are forcing an increasing number of Russians to seek alternative methods of transportation. One of the best options for this task is a bicycle that has such positive qualities as low cost of purchase and maintenance, compactness and mobility. Moreover, many fans of cycling prefer to buy mountain models, which have a higher cross-country ability than a city or road bike. But the comfort of riding on such a bike largely depends on its fitness for the needs of the owner. That's why this article is devoted to the rating of mountain bicycles, distributed according to the style of driving.

Which bicycle to choose

On the Russian market are representeddozens of popular brands of mountain bikes, so an inexperienced buyer to make a choice among them is quite difficult. However, in this segment of the market, as in all others, there are recognized leaders who supply quality goods at affordable prices.

Stels

This manufacturer has extensive experience in the domestic market, where it appeared in the 90's. The main feature of the brand is the careful attention to the quality of all bicycle components, most of which are made in the Netherlands. Also, the company pays much attention to the design of its products, for which often voting is held among cyclists.

Giant

Taiwanese company, which every year more actively conquers the Russian market. Has a fairly narrow specialization - produces bicycles only for extreme driving, which allowed to create an extensive range of this type of transport. Many enthusiasts say that the Giant Group was able to achieve the impossible: with the high quality of their products, the price for them remains quite democratic.

Stark

Stark is a general Russian-German project, but the main production facilities are in Taiwan. Its sphere of interests extends only to the space of the former USSR.Domestic developers and cheap production in Asia made it possible to create very cheap bicycles, which, however, possess all the necessary properties of a modern mountain bike. The company is engaged in the production of all types of bicycles, but its main developments are mountain models.

Gary Turner

The main advantage of the products is their high processability. Gary Turner produces ultra-light bicycles from the carbon frame, but such a pleasure will cost a fortune. Also, all models of this brand have a unique carriage securing system, created by patented technology.

Rating of the best mountain bikes

Analysis of different types of transport, even bicycles, is not an easy task, because in this case it is necessary to take into account the properties of many technological elements.

Therefore, in our rating, we paid attention only to the main technical nodes:

• Specific design of the frame;
• Efficiency and transmission features;
• Wheel design and their fitness for various tasks;
• Additional important technological solutions;
• General versatility and adaptability to different types of riding.

Analysis of a large amount of information allowed us to identify several models that, thanks to their properties, collected the maximum number of positive reviews in various categories.

Best mountain bike for cross country

Bicycles of this type were originally designed for high-speed driving on rough terrain, which required a radical reduction in weight. However, it was soon noticed that such a design makes models for cross-country quite suitable for other conditions, first of all it is a city and a highway. Therefore, these bicycles are at the moment the most unique, and if you talk about a specific model, Russian bike enthusiasts definitely choose STELS Navigator 900.

Possessing the following advantages:

• A shock-absorbing fork that significantly reduces the load on the legs on flat sections of the road;
• Qualitative disc brakes that show themselves well both in dry and rainy weather;
• Comfortable saddle with gel inserts, providing high comfort even with long bike rides for a distance of more than 100 km;
• The transmission design is very close to the road models, which facilitates the control at medium and high speeds.

But the hybrid essence also generates some disadvantages:

• Too thin tires that are not suitable for off-road driving;
• Wide steering wheel, reducing maneuverability in urban traffic jams;
• Long, compared to other models of mountain bikes, a frame that requires some adaptation;
• Too "inelastic" transmission system 24 /34/ 44, adversely affecting the speed of driving on rough terrain.

Ambitious amateurs say that this model is good for its versatility, for which it was necessary to sacrifice a number of important elements for mountaineering. But now very few people use a separate bike exclusively for out-of-town travel.

Best mountain bike for downhill

Downhill - downhill bike from the mountain. It was for this purpose that the first mountain bikes were created. Such an intensive mode of use requires the increased strength of all elements, primarily the frame, transmission and amortization. And the best choice for such an extreme pastime is Giant Glory 27.5 2.

This bike has everything you need for downhill, namely:

• Large 27-inch wheels and a very low carriage give this model very high stability, which is critically important for downhill speedingmountains;
• A number of technological innovations( increasing the landing length and adding the bearing to the upper cushioning) significantly increased the sensitivity of the suspension;
• External rope laying, which allows the operative repair of these elements without resorting to a bike workshop;
• Low overall weight: even aluminum frame variations Giant Glory 27.5.2.Exceed competing models from carbon.

However, this high-tech transport is still not perfect:

• The increase in wheels has led to an increase in their weight, which in turn led to some reduction in control over the bike;
• The general construction is not suitable for slow driving on rough terrain, especially for sharp turns.

The responses of cyclists are unanimous: Giant Glory 27.5.2.is a good professional model for downhill, which many amateur athletes dream of. But the deep specialization of this bicycle can be a serious drawback for a wide audience.

Best mountain bike for freeride

Freeride is usually meant when talking about driving on rough terrain. Since such a bike has to cope with a variety of conditions, whether it be steep turns, a sharp climb / descent or a hummocky surface, then the main requirement in this case is to become good controllability. For this purpose, STARK Beat Pro is best suited.

Combining such positive qualities:

• Two-wheel cushioning with a large stroke of 180 mm, provides a good adaptation to almost any surface;
• The system for regulating the speed and rigidity of the rebound allows you to achieve maximum control over the bike;
• Hydraulic brake disc type - a good addition to any bike for freeride;
• Professional gearshift system based on SRAM X5 technology, increasing the flexibility of changing the speed mode.

But there are no perfect bicycles, and STARK Beat Pro is no exception to this rule:

• Only 9 gears are a pretty controversial decision, while the standard for bikes of this type is the 24- and even 27-speed transmission. Obviously, this factor negatively affects the speed characteristics of the model.
• General inability to ride on flat surfaces, making it difficult to use this bike in a city or highway.

A lot of reviews on the Internet in most cases come to a single conclusion: this model just perfectly copes with its functions as a mountain bike, but its versatility leaves much to be desired.

What mountain bike to buy

1. Buying such a vehicle as a mountain bike, it is necessary to clearly define its tasks. As our review shows, the best models that have collected a large number of positive characteristics often have very narrow specialization.

2. Too specific bike is not suitable for most amateur athletes who often use it not only for extreme rest, but also for trips to work, movement on the highway, etc. Therefore, if we talk about a universal solution, then they willSTELS Navigator 900 and other models of the STELS Navigator line, which, despite their "mountainous" nature, are good at coping with any other type of terrain.