Mountain Bike Review

Mountain bikes come in many categories

There are literally thousands of different mountain bikes on the market, ranging from $100 to well over $10,000 -- and at every price point in between. Mountain bikes are divided into various categories based on their riding purpose and are usually reviewed within these categories. See our What to Look For page for a discussion of the different types, each of which is suited for a different type of riding.

In short, trail bikes are the most popular and most often recommended for recreational riders. These bikes have suspension (travel) on both the front and rear of the bikes for the most comfortable ride over rough terrain. Cross-country, or XC, mountain bikes usually only have suspension on the front wheel. These mountain bikes are for racing or for relatively flat terrain. The last major type is all-mountain bikes. These have dual suspension and more travel than other types, and often have larger wheels for maneuvering over the roughest terrain. However, all-mountain bikes are heavy. Budget bikes are usually hardtail bikes -- like XC bikes they have suspension only on the front wheel.

Other popular mountain bikes categories include freeride and downhill. We don't cover these mountain bikes in this report, but see our Useful Links section for some ideas on where to find reviews for these bikes. We also don't cover mountain bikes over $5,000, but the buyer's guides from Bicycling or VeloNews magazines are good sources for reviews in this price range.

There are a plethora of reviews on mountain bikes. We found the best reviews in specialty publications like VeloNews, Bicycling, Bike, Mountain Bike Action and Outside magazines, as well as BikeRadar.com. Some publications conduct tests of comparable mountain bikes in a specific category, rating each bike on handling, performance or value and assigning an overall winner. Other publications publish helpful buyer's guides where they pick their favorite mountain bikes in each category. Owner-written reviews are also plentiful, especially on sites like MTBR.com. These user reviews help confirm what the professionals are saying in the major bike publications. When evaluating mountain bikes, we focus mainly on recent reviews written in the past few months. Recent reviews are especially important for bikes -- manufacturers issue new models each year and there can be significant changes in terms of design or components from year to year.

If you're looking for a new bike and plan mainly on road rides, see our companion report on road bikes. If you're looking for a casual bike for trips to the store or leisurely jaunts around the park, see our report on commuter bikes.