Different Types of Mountain Bikes

Last Updated on March 30, 2020

A few days ago, we reviewed different types of mountain bikes. These bikes have evolved markedly in the past two decades. Although in the 90s there was only one type of mountain bike, today we have a wide variety on the market that will surely adapt to our tastes and needs. We are going to describe one by one of the different types of mountain bikes that exist today.

Different Types of Mountain Bikes

Mountain biking is a sport that has evolved a lot, and if 20 years ago, there was practically only one type of bicycle. The rigid, and little more than a modality, today the market offer is of the most varied and can find different types of mountain bikes adapted to the type of mountain biking that we practice.

You just have to go to a bicycle store like amazon to check the wide variety of models and modalities of a mountain bike. Or someone starting out in mountain biking, it can be difficult to understand why there are different types of mountain bikes from different features and designs to perform almost the same sport.

We could say that there are as many types of mountain bikes and as many types of modalities since the area where it is regularly used. And the personality of the cyclist greatly influences the use of the character of a bicycle.

We can summarize the varieties of mountain bikes that exist in large groups:

Rally,
Trail,
Enduro,
Downhill,
Fat bikes, and
Electric bikes

Which does not mean that they are totally different types of mountain bikes? Any bike can be used for any modality. Still, obviously, not all bicycles adapt equally, and it is best to carry a bike suitable for the cycling modality that we practice.

Bicycles of Rally or Cross Country (XC)

To this group of bicycles we know as mountain bikes, they are rigid bicycles, especially on terrain that is not very complicated. Depending on the level of the cyclist, their goal ranges from maximum performance, both climbing, descending, and leveling to mountain biking, especially by terrain without complications, by clues. However, some people like to complicate it a little more.

Rally bikes are typically lightweight aluminum or carbon stiff with front suspension and 29 or 27-inch wheels. There are also double suspension rally bikes. Suspension travel is usually limited to 100mm with lock. The wide and flat or double-height handlebars and as for the changes the top of the range are usually single-plate 10/11 speed while in medium ranges, we find double and triple chainrings. The disc brakes are always 160 mm.

They are made of aluminum/carbon, and since they do not have a rear suspension, they are lighter bikes than those destined for enduro or trail. If the first mountain bikes were completely rigid, the current ones have front suspension, whose travel is usually 100 mm.

As for the developments, it will depend on the range of bicycles. Those of higher range will mount a single plate with 11 speeds, and those of the lower range will mount three chainrings with 8 or 9 sprockets.

Enduro

Enduro bikes are those that are specifically designed for difficult descents. In fact, its front fork can have a journey of up to 180 mm, with which it will allow us to overcome practically any obstacle that gets in the way.

Enduro is today the most fashionable discipline in mountain biking, the objective of this discipline of mountain biking is always to seek maximum fun downhill, the suspension routes even go up to 160-180mm. Regarding the size of wheels today, the use of 27.5 wheels in enduro is widespread.

In enduro, the objective is to pedal up to the highest as a way to get to the road. Or the most fun descent we can find. It is not about going fast at all times, but going fast on the descents. Enduro bikes are heavier. Carbon is the main component of the frames. And the use of these bikes is accompanied by protections and full-face helmets.

The trend in changes in the single-plate at the top of the range and double chainring in medium ranges, the brakes measure 180 mm on both wheels, the telescopic seat posts, and the very wide and double-height handlebars.

Enduro bikes are heavier than rally bikes, although weight is not a fundamental factor in these types of mountain bikes. The size of the disc brakes will also be larger than that of rally bikes.

Descent Bicycles

They are specifically designed to lower with wide travel forks and rear suspensions (180-200mm) and heavy and highly reinforced frames. The descent wheels are usually 26 inches, although there are more and more decent bikes with 27.5 wheels. Inches.

They are not bicycles for pedaling or intended, their ideal use is the Bikes Parks (ski resorts in summer), where you climb on a ski lift and enjoy the descents fully equipped with protections and a full-face helmet.

Trail

Trail bikes are double suspension and would be halfway between rally and enduro bikes. Its suspensions could go up to 140mm at most. They would be located halfway between the rally bikes and the enduro bikes, and they are double suspension bikes. Their suspension travel would reach up to 130-140 mm at most. The frame material is mainly aluminum and carbon; they would be that type of bicycles oriented to all use.

Regarding the size of the wheels, we find both 29 and 27.5 inches. And They are oriented both to climb quickly and to go down the mountains. These bikes were among the most popular until the advent of enduro bikes. The handlebars are double-height, usually, the double or triple chainrings and the seat posts are telescopic in some cases, the disc brakes usually combine sizes 180mm front with 160mm rear.

Downhill

These types of bikes are even more aggressive than enduro bikes. They are those that are used to perform extreme descents. They also have double suspension, and the rear suspension travel can have a travel of up to 200 mm.

They are not bicycles that are designed to pedal but to jump through impossible places. People who practice this modality are protected with an integral helmet and protections throughout the body.

Fat Bikes

Their tires and ride characterize these bikes. They are very simple bicycles, and many of them do not have a front suspension, since the tire itself, having so much ball and being able to carry it at very low pressure, makes it a suspension.

Fat bikes are the best option for those who want to carry something different from the common bikers, Characterized by the wide ball of their tires. They are generally rather simple bikes rather simple without suspensions.

Although each time it is more frequently with front suspension and aluminum or steel frames. We can find several types of fat bicycles with different wheel sizes from Fat with 26 or 27 wheels to lighter 27+ and 29+, its traction qualities, and Its spectacular nature captivates many bikers. They are designed to roll on snow, sand, or mud since their traction is unmatched.

E-bikes

Finally, we have electric bikes, which assist us when we are pedaling. They are ideal for people who have some kind of physical limitation and do not want to stop practicing this sport. The limitation that these types of bicycles have is the duration of the batteries, so if we want to make an excessively long route with them, we will end up running low.

Electric bicycles or e-bikes are the great bet of the industry. Their main characteristics precisely have an electric motor that assists the pedaling, facilitating the practice of cycling for people with some type of limitation or who do not want to perform a very demanding sport, the battery life will mark its only limits, we can find today electric bikes of all kinds, both rigid and double enduro, and even Fat bike, if you want an electric bike, choose the modality you practice, and you will find it.

The correct choice of a bicycle according to the type of mountain biking that we practice and in the appropriate size will help us to have a better performance on it, feel more comfortable and obtain greater satisfaction for kilometers and kilometers. You can find all these types of mountain bike bikes.

Last Words

The classification that we have made would be the classification of mountain bikes that we can find and the differences between them according to the use that we want to give it. However, it must be said that in the previous classification, there would not be all the types of mountain bikes that exist, Well, we can also find Bmx or trial bikes specific for the practice of these disciplines, but most of them would be.

Keep in mind that mountain biking is a sport in constant change and evolution, new modalities and materials are continually emerging that revolutionize the types of mountain bikes. Remember that in Tactical Gears Lab, you can find some best review regarding mountain bikes and it’s accessories. Some of our expert’s review is bellowed.

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