Usually, you get what you pay for in the case of mountain bikes. Figuring out which top of the line mountain bike brand really is a good buy can be quite hard, even if getting the best bike you can afford is a good idea. As a rule, it is best to look at the quality of the components, and just how the bike fits you and the way you ride to decide on the right model.

Basically, a mountain bike is a bicycle with a sturdy frame, broader tires with large treads, horizontal handlebars, and gearing. They offer much better traction and stability off road than a street bike's narrow tires and lightweight frame can. But that's not all they're for, even though these bikes are called mountain bikes. They can also be ridden cross country, or on trails with no surfacing or with gravel. City streets that have uneven or broken paving are also suitable for these bikes. Just look out for large rocks and roots. For any application where you'll need strength and stability, pick a mountain bike. These bikes are probably heavier than you're looking for, if you do most of your cycling on flat areas with smooth pavement.

Look for Quality Construction

Top of the line mountain bikes will offer quality construction, as well as using good materials. Don't be fooled, even if many manufacturers will try to sell you components and frames based only on the materials that make them up. Just as it is possible to make a good bike frame from steel or aluminum, it is possible to make a bad one using titanium. While prestigious materials certainly command a higher price tag, quality of manufacture is more important, whether you're buying a frame, some gears, or new wheels. Look for bikes with higher quality disc brakes and good suspension, instead of rim brakes like the ones on road bikes.

Light-weight Frames are In

There's less for you to pull up steep slopes, with lighter frames. However, lightweight frames and wheels also mean that you sacrifice strength, in some materials. A certain loss of stability is also unavoidable. Mountain bikes are nearly always heavier-built than road bikes, for these reasons. The newest and hottest composites used to make trail bicycle frames are materials like Kevlar (the same material used for bullet-proof vests. Because they are extremely light-weight and very strong, these materials are also made use of for other parts of the bike. However, it is extremely difficult to repair bike frames made from carbon fiber and Kevlar when they are damaged.

Titanium, the best and most pricey material for bike frames, offers the light weight of carbon fiber with strength that may outdo that of the toughest steel alloy frames. It's also the most rust-proof material for bicycle frames. All these benefits come with an extremely high price tag, as you would expect.

Robust Suspension is a Must-Have

With lighter materials like aluminum and titanium, good suspension can reduce the "whippiness" you sometimes get. Front only or both front and rear supension are available on high end mountain bikes. When you pick your bike, be sure to try it out to ensure that that you have the right fit, and that the weight feels good to you. Make certain you know exactly what you're getting, in terms of materials, frame size and weight, if you decide you want to have a bike made elsewhere.