Bicycle worlds: Introduction to Mainstream Mountain Bike Models

Cross Country (XC): Off-road Bicycle

Off-road bicycles can be divided into two types: hardtail and full suspension. The hardtail weighs about 11kg, and the full suspension weighs about 13kg. Since the body is lighter than other bike types, it is more advantageous for climbing. It is suitable for use on roads where climbing is the main part, and on relatively flat roads. The XC off-road bicycle is one of the most popular mountain bike models, with the characteristics of being inexpensive, having a low threshold, and being easy to get started with.

Specifications of XC Mountain Bikes:
Front Suspension: Mostly use 80-100mm of travel, mainly air suspension.
Frame Material: Mainly aluminum alloy, carbon fiber, and titanium alloy.
Tire Size: 27.5×2.0-2.25

Bike Type
Trail Mountain Bike

The main riding environment of trail mountain bikes is mountain crossing. The front fork mostly has an adjustable travel of 120-150mm. It is 60% for climbing and 40% for descending, suitable for riding routes on forest trails. It focuses on the smoothness of riding, and the difficulty of the road conditions is slightly lower than that of Enduro.

Specifications of Trail Mountain Bikes:
Front Suspension: 120-150mm of travel, mainly oil-spring and air suspension.
Rear Suspension: 4-5 inches of travel.
Frame Material: Mainly aluminum alloy and carbon fiber.
Tire Size: 27.5×2.35 - 2.5

All Mountain (AM) All-Terrain Bicycle (formerly abbreviated as AM. With the rapid popularity of endurance races abroad, the previous name of AM has now become Enduro. The suspension travel and gameplay are basically the same).

The Enduro all-terrain bicycle is the new name for the All Mountain mountain bike. In fact, the suspension travel is exactly the same, just with a different name. This type of bike has a very diverse gameplay. It can climb hills and also jump over obstacles. Moreover, the Enduro model is not as heavy as a DH bike and has extremely strong compatibility with various road conditions. Unlike DH bikes, which need to be pushed up the mountain every time. In terms of the chainring, the mainstream is to use the 1*11-speed 1X single chainring series.

Specifications of All-Terrain Mountain Bikes:
Front Suspension: 160-180mm of travel, mainly oil-spring and air suspension.
Rear Suspension: 4-6 inches of travel.
Frame Material: Mainly aluminum alloy and carbon fiber.
Tire Size: 27.5×2.1-2.5

Downhill (DH) Downhill Bicycle

DH is the heaviest bicycle in the mountain bike world. The frame and front suspension of DH bicycles are designed and constructed to be stronger and more robust because they need to deal with difficult and very rough mountain roads and obstacles. Due to the high danger of riding a DH bike and the high downhill speed, relatively comprehensive protective equipment needs to be worn. The protective gear includes a full-face helmet, goggles, a neck brace, elbow pads, knee pads, and body armor. Therefore, DH is the most expensive bike type in mountain biking. If beginners want to join this activity, it is best to accumulate some mountain biking experience first, proceed step by step, and take good protective measures.

Specifications of DH Mountain Bikes:
Front Suspension: 200mm of travel, mainly air or oil-spring suspension.
Rear Suspension: 8-10 inches of travel.
Frame Material: Mainly aluminum alloy and carbon fiber.
Tire Size: 27.5×2.35-2.5