What to look for when buying a mountain bike

The mountain bike is a fantastic type of bicycle. Even a beginner can conquer almost any terrain with it: through the woods, over small hills and tree roots, or on asphalt and gravel paths through the dunes. Before you decide to buy a mountain bike, it’s important to know which parts really matter and what you should look out for!

Types of mountain bikes

Mountain bikes are divided into two categories: hardtails and full-suspensions.

1. Hardtails have suspension in the front fork of the bike (on both sides of the front wheel). You can switch this on and off with the lockout, a small lever on the handlebar. When the suspension is on you have to pedal harder, because part of your energy is lost in the up-and-down movement of the fork. The big advantage is that you roll much more smoothly over bumps, holes and rough ground. It’s therefore important that the suspension is always on when you’re riding off‑road. On tarmac you can switch it off so you maintain the same speed while putting in less effort.
2. Full-suspensions also have rear suspension at the back wheel. This makes your rides even more comfortable, but it usually can’t be switched on and off. These bikes are also more expensive to buy and to maintain.

Mountain bike components – what should you check?

Most mountain bikes are equipped with components from Shimano or SRAM. Even within these brands there’s a big difference between the cheaper ranges and the top-end groups. If your bike is going to be ridden hard, you might choose the Shimano XTR group, for example. For mainly road use, the Shimano Alivio group is more than good enough. With SRAM, the XX series is the most suitable for racing conditions, while the X3 series is much less robust. Pay close attention to this when buying a bike! Product descriptions or ads often say that a bike is, for example, equipped with Shimano XT. In reality that sometimes applies to just one component, while the rest is mid-range or even entry-level. It’s always smart to ask about this.

Quality level	Shimano	SRAM
Race level	XTR	XX / XO
Top range 1	XT	X9 / GX
Top range 2	SLX / LX	X7 / NX
Mid-range	Deore	X-5
Lower range	Alivio	X-4
Entry-level	Tourney / Acera / Altus	X-3

It’s generally recommended to look for a mountain bike with a rear derailleur (on the cogs of the back wheel) that says "Deore". This is a great middle ground and a solid starting point. It’s also the most important part of the groupset, so it’s not a waste of money if it’s higher quality than the rest.

   

Brakes

Mountain bike wheel size – how do you choose?

A larger wheel size has the advantage that once you’re up to speed you can ride faster more easily. The disadvantage is that it takes longer to get going, which means you’ll be the last to pull away at the traffic lights (so to speak). A smaller wheel has the advantage of being more agile. If you like lots of tight corners and short climbs, 26" is a better choice. Can’t decide? No problem – a relatively new player on the market is the 27.5-incher, which combines the best of both worlds and is therefore a very popular option.

Now that you know more about mountain bikes, it’s time to figure out what you personally need. A good site for new bikes is 12gobiking.nl. Thanks to their good service and friendly staff you’re in safe hands if any issues come up, and there are often great deals on previous-year models. Giga-bikes.nl is also recommended. Want to spend a bit less? Then check Marktplaats, Gamma.nl or Facebook. Type in something like “SRAM X-5” and you’ll see plenty of mountain bikes with that groupset. If the photos don’t clearly show the parts, just ask the seller for an extra close‑up photo. Always read the description carefully first, because sellers don’t appreciate being bombarded with questions they’ve already answered. If you approach it well, you might even be able to haggle a few extra euros off the price. I do recommend taking any second‑hand bike to your local bike shop afterwards to ask whether it needs a service.

One last tip: if you’re unsure about something, look it up! The internet is full of information about mountain bikes and how to maintain them.