How to choose a MTB?

How to choose a MTB?

There are some elements you should think about before you buy a mountain bike (MTB). what type of MTB you want? how much is your budget? do you want to be a professional MTB rider? or you just want it to be a hobby?
this text will introduce you different structure and feature of various knids of mountain bike. Then you will able to choose the bike you want according to your budget.

1. Frame.
Wheather a MTB comfortable enought for ride, light enought for control, strong enought for support; weather it can be upgrade; how long time can be used; they are all depend on the frame of a MTB. Frame can be divided into two types: hard frame, full suspension frame.
Hard Frame: more effort and more light when ride up; inexpensive.
Full suspension frame: more comfortable, don't have to slow down when in bumpy mountain road. but it not suitable for run long-distance, and it have higher prices, especially if you choose a really good rear shock, then the price of  rear shock and frame phasewill roughly the same.

2. front fork.
Front fork is in the high-tech components in a MTB, hard front fork has been rare. the fork with suspension is more common recently,  There are several worldwide brands produce  good fork, such as Suntour, DDN, RockShox, Marzocchi, Manitou, FOX and so on.
Anatomy of a fork:
Crown – Most mountain bike forks are single-crown models, with just one cross brace (the crown) holding the two legs together below the head tube of your frame. Long-travel downhill bikes often have double-crown forks, with a second cross brace at the top of the head tube for added stiffness. Materials vary and some crowns are hollow for increased stiffness-to-weight performance.
Steerer tube – This is the upper tube of the fork that slides into the head tube. Most are alloy but steel (cheap) and carbon fibre (super-light but also super-expensive) steerers appear on some forks. Most forks use conventional 1-1/8in steerers but some use tapered or oversized versions for extra stiffness; these will only work with appropriately sized head tubes. We’d thoroughly recommend you use a tapered steerer if your bike is compatible.
Spring – Air springs (essentially pressurized air chambers) are light and easy to adjust for different rider/ride preferences just by changing pressure, but resistance will always increase as they reach full compression. Metal coil springs are significantly heavier and less adjustable, but are invariably cheaper and they feel super-smooth, particularly over small bumps. Some forks use a primary air spring backed up by a coil spring or elastomer block used as a secondary negative spring or bottom-out bumper.
Legs – The telescopic legs are the moving structure of the fork. The lower legs are joined together by at least one brace to stop them moving independently. The upper legs (stanchions) have increased in sized dramatically in recent years, with up to 40mm diameters used to boost stiffness, especially on longer-travel forks. Lengths, wall thicknesses and external finishes vary. Seal heads are used to keep the internals clean. The stanchions house the spring on one side (usually left) and the damping on the other.
Damping – Without damping, forks would just bounce up and down on their springs. Fork movement is controlled by pushing oil through a series of valves and/or shims. By altering the size of the holes and the speed of the oil flowing from one side to the other, it's possible to control, or 'damp', the impact. Compression damping controls the impact strike, while rebound controls the post-impact speed of the fork as it returns to its static length. High-speed damping deals with big, blunt trauma like boulders and landings from jumps. Low-speed damping controls smaller, slower-applied forces like pedalling bob or cornering/braking loads. Basic forks just have rebound damping, while advanced forks have separate damping circuits to handle different shaft and impact speeds.
Axle – Forks are increasingly being offered with 15mm or 20mm axles that slide right through the hub and screw or clamp into the fork leg. These increase fork tip stiffness and steering accuracy dramatically compared to traditional quick-release skewers, and they're more secure, too. Cam systems like RockShox's Maxle setup mean they're just as quick to tighten/undo. You'll need a compatible front wheel, but we'd still recommend a through-axle to anyone thinking of upgrading their fork.

3. Brake system.
Braking system including brake, handebar, brake cable.
MTB include two types of brakes: V-Brake, Disc-Brake.
V-Brake: with great force, because it is braking by friction wheel, so be sure to adjust the wheels in place, and not easily deformed.
Disc-Brake: Compared to V-Brake, it is not easy to tire locking, when bike in high speed, locking is very dangerous and can lead to skidding. Disc-brake is very expensive.
There are two types of Disc-Brake: hydraulic disc-brakes and cable pull disc-brakes, hydraulic disc-brakes rely on oil produce  pressure, get a huge brake force, this kind of brakes is very common in downhill ; cable pull disc-brakes brakes by finger strength.

4. drivetrain
drivetrain system include crankset, bottom bracket, chain, cassette.
bottom bracket: There are plum blossom hole axis and the axis of the square hole are two lengths are different, must follow the plum blossom hole or square hole crankset purchase.
Chain: This is a consumable, breaking the chain is a common thing, when riding long distance, it's better take another chain with you.
cassette: there are 8-speed (24), 9-speed (27).  the more speed in transmission system, the more gears drivers can choose for their more accurate.

5. Transmission system
Variable speed transmission system including shift lever set, front derailleur , rear derailleur, shifting cable.
Transmission , the most common three brands are, Shimano ( Japan ) ,SRAM, and MAX.
SRAM is one of the originators of transmission system production , design more rigidity and durability.  Shimano is the only manufacture that can equated with SRAM
Speed ??line : the same brake lines .
P.S.: Shimano levels in descending order are XTR, SAINT, Deore XT, HONE, Deore LX, Deore, Alivio, Acera, Altus, Tourney
SRAM levels in descending order are X.0 , X-9 SL, X-9, X-7, SX5, SX4, 3.0

6. Wheel
Wheel including rims , spoke, front and rear hub, tires.
Rim: MTB should use double circle . Because double ring circle stronger than single , more withstand harsh terrain for cycling performance test.
spoke : There are two types, one is a common , cross-section is circular ; other flat cross section , this can reduce the drag positive .
hub : Friends who use disc brakes should choose disc-brake hub, because disc film is fixed ; friends with V-brake , can use common hub.
Tires : very important because it directly affects the handling on a specific road face. different tires fit to different type of road.


From english taobao agent: shopitchina.com