Mountain bikes are designed to go on mountains or off-road trail riding, which means they're chunkier, have knobbly tyres on them, and a frame geometry which makes a mountain bike better suited for seriously uneven terrain.

Defining characteristics: Wide, knobbly tyres for traction, and a wide range of gears to help you get up and over mountains or across fields. Some mountain bike ranges have front suspension but are rigid at the back (‘hardtail mountain bike'), and some have front and rear suspension for cushioning jumps and drops (‘full suspension' or ‘full sus'). Others have neither. Here's our Guide to full suspension vs hardtail mountain bikes.

Hardtail bikes are generally a little cheaper and more efficient on the climbs whereas full suspension bikes are more focused on the downhill riding to the sacrifice of uphill efficiency.

Sub-Types of Mountain Bikes: 

• Hardtail: As the name suggests, these often have suspension forks on a rigid frame. They are typically the most affordable type, but there are also high-end versions for racing and heavy duty versions for trail riding.
• XC Full-Suspension: Features a shorter-travel (120mm or less) rear suspension designed to prioritize low bike weight and efficiency under power, especially on climbs.
• Trail Full-Suspension: Mid-travel (120-160mm) suspension that balances climbing efficiency and descending abilities. Tires get wider, with larger brake rotors for stopping power.
• Enduro/Gravity/Downhill Full-Suspension: With 160mm or more of rear wheel travel, powerful brakes and aggressive tire treads, these bikes are intended for maximum control when descending, especially on steep, technical terrain or in lift access bike parks.
• Dirt Jump: These are a sort of mashup between a traditional hardtail mountain bike and a BMX bike. They feature larger wheels (traditionally 26-inch, but a few dirt jumpers now have 27.5-inch wheels). Like BMX bikes, most have a single gear and rear brake only, but they can be fully rigid or come with front suspension.
• Slopestyle: As with dirt jump bikes, frames are built compact to keep the seat out of the way. So what’s different? These models feature full suspension (usually less than 100mm), multiple gears (often fewer than the 10 to 12 found on most modern mountain bikes), and front and rear brakes.

What It’s For:

Mountain biking means a lot of things to a lot of people. Depending on the style, a mountain bike can be used for everything from unpaved roads to steep, goat-path singletrack. Generally, the more technical the trails, the more rear suspension you want. Smaller riders may benefit from bikes with the 27.5-inch wheel size.

Get a mountain bike if: You want to go mountain biking or mainly off road.

Don’t get a mountain bike if: You want to go fast on tarmac roads, cycle long distances, or mostly knock about town.