What Makes A Mountain Bike Different?

Mountain bikes cannot be discussed without mentioning the components that build them up. Although it resembles a bicycle in general, a mountain bike has various unique components that will aid the cyclist's journey over off road terrain. Cyclists can also customize mountain bike components to ensure best performance. But, have you ever thought about why mountain bikes are different from other bikes? 

Here, take a look at the components of a mountain bike and what distinguishes it from other bikes. 

Mountain Bike Parts

Every bike has the same components. It has a frame, fork, brakes, wheel, groupset, handlebar, and more. However, mountain bikes have some components that distinguish them from other bicycles. These MTB components will help the bike to perform better on off road terrain. Knowing these details would help you during buying a new mountain bike or upgrading some spare parts. Who knows that you might get a great bike or sparepart without hurting your savings. Now, let’s talk about mountain bike components!

1. Mountain Bike Frame 

A mountain bike, as opposed to a road bike which only has hardtail frames, has two types of frames. The other type of mountain bike frame is known as full or dual suspension frame. The mountain bike that is built with a hardtail frame only has one suspension that exists on the fork. On the other hand, a mountain bike with a full-suspension frame would get two suspensions that exist on the fork and the middle of the bike. It has an effect on the bike weight. The more suspension, the heavier the bike is. 

Based on the geometry, the top tube of the mountain bike is shorter than a road bike and gravel bike. It aims to make the riders’ seat position more aggressive or upright.

Talking about the material, mountain bikes usually use alloy since it is more resilient. On the other hand, carbon is also a good material! Sayu Bella, a bike athlete, won Sea Games 2023 using Polygon Syncline C series that is built from carbon. Isn’t it amazing?

Hardtail frames are typically lighter than full suspension frames. Choosing hardtail frames would be beneficial if you want an easier mountain bike to maintain. It is also a great choice for beginner mountain bike riders. However, if you want to tackle all rugged and steep off road terrain, a full-suspension mountain bike is the best choice for you.

2. Mountain Bike Fork and Suspensions

Fork is a component that connects a front wheel with a steer. What makes a road bike and a mountain bike different can also be seen from the fork. A mountain bike has suspension on the fork, while the road bike does not have it. A mountain bike's suspension is a vital component that contributes to its performance. This suspension reduces the vibrations on a mountain bike. It prevents the cyclist's body from experiencing pain while cycling on the off road terrain.

Mountain bikes might have one or two suspension depending on the model. A full suspension mountain bike has two suspension: in the fork and in the middle of the bike frame. Meanwhile, a hardtail mountain bike has one suspension only on the fork.

Suspension travel might define mountain bikes models. The travel’s length could tell whether this bike is categorized into XC mountain bike, trail, enduro, etc. The length of travel ranges from 80 mm to 170mm and it still could be longer. This length affects the comfort, speed, stability, and the handlebar height. 

3. Mountain Bike Braking System

Mountain bikes, unlike road bikes, rarely use rim brakes since they are ineffective in wet conditions. However it is not impossible to find a mountain bike with rim brakes. Disc brakes are ideal for use on mountain bikes that can go through steep terrain that may be covered with water and mud. 

4. Mountain Bike Steering Components

Choosing a mountain bike handlebar is important since it is related to stability and comfort. Riding in off-road terrain requires good handling and steering especially when riding at high speed. The handlebars that are often applied on a mountain bike are a rise bar and flat bar. The rise bar is designed to keep the cyclist in an aggressive position, making it perfect for handling and steering control, especially when dealing with dangerous downhill terrain and fast speeds. Rise bars can also absorb vibrations better than flat handlebars. Flat bars are meant to allow the cyclist's position to lean forward more, enabling for improved stability and control when changing directions on a mountain bike.

The reason why a mountain bike does not come with drop bars like a road bike is because it makes the riders not sit in an upright position. That position makes the riders unable to control the mountain bike in an effective way. That would be dangerous, wouldn’t that? 

Not only the handlebar, but the seatpost and saddle also have an essential role in riding a mountain bike. Mountain bike commonly have a seatpost dropper which will be highly beneficial when riders face uphill or downhill terrains. An uncomfortable saddle will cause pain to the body. Therefore, mountain bikes frequently have saddles that include padding to make riders more comfortable. Of course, the riders should try it first to know whether the saddle is comfortable or not. 

5. Mountain Bike Groupset

The groupset is the component that makes your bike move. It consists of crankset, shifters, front and rear derailleur, chain, cassette, chainring, bottom bracket, etc. Mountain bikes and road bikes surely have different groupsets. Shimano released several series of groupsets for mountain bikes such as: Tourney, Altus, Acera, Alivio, Deore, SLX, Deore XT, and XTR. For downhill mountain bikes, Shimano made different ones: Shimano Zee and Saint. MTB usually has 1 up to 3 chainrings and 9-11 speeds for mid ranges. But, you can also find MTB with 12 speeds. 

For pedals on mountain bikes, there are two types. Flat pedals on a mountain bike will be good for beginners because of the wide pedal surface. However, clipless pedals will make the pedaling power more efficient because the riders would use the bike shoes with cleats. The cleats place the foot right in the middle of the pedal, the right position. 

6. Mountain Bike Wheel Components

Mountain bikes typically have wheels that are 26", 27.5", or 29", however there are several MTB that use 24" and 20" tires. The surface of the tire differs based on the type of route. Unlike road bikes, which have smooth surfaces, mountain bike tires have multiple knob patterns on the surface. This allows the mountain bike to ride on various types of off-road terrains because the knobs will offer better traction. If the mountain bike riders will be riding on a smooth to rocky surface, a tire with many small knobs would work well. Meanwhile, semi knob tires are more suitable for semi-offroad roads.

Conclusion

Now, you know what components make MTB different from another bike. If you want to buy a mountain bike or mountain bike spare parts, Rodalink Malaysia has your back. Rodalink has a wide range of mountain bike collections. You can find mountain bikes from great brands such as Polygon, Marin, Lerun, etc. You can also get spare parts, accessories, etc that will make your cycling activity better. Come to the nearest Rodalink outlet in your town or check out from Rodalink website to get your needs without hassle. Are you still confused about choosing a mountain bike? Contact our customer support here and we will help you wholeheartedly. Get the best product that suits your needs and happy cycling!

CHECK OUR MOUNTAIN BIKE COLLECTION