Mountain Bike Brands: Information to Help You Choose the Best

I am happy with my mountain bike for now, but I am in the process of researching all of the most reputable mountain bike brands out there to make the best possible decision when I decide to upgrade and buy my next mountain bike.

I would like to share with you what I have learned and what I continue to learn along the way.

Skip my yapping and go straight to brands!

Important Tips

If your budget is limited, get a mountain bike with a good quality frame. The frame is very important because it is the foundation of your bike. You can always upgrade to better components later. A low quality frame will always ride like a low quality frame no matter what you add to it.

For more information on choosing and fitting a frame, check out my page on Mountain Bike Frames and then click your back button to come back to this page.


It is also important to consider the amount of suspension you need. If you think you may want to upgrade later, make sure that the frame can accommodate a different sized shock.

How This Site Will Help You

For example, what does Specialized FSR stand for and what advantage will it give me?

FSR stands for Future Shock Rear, which is the multiple pivot suspension system that Specialized uses to separate the drivetrain and braking from the main pivot. This type of design allows the rear suspension to compress and rebound without being impacted by chain or brake movement. Bottom line: it improves the effectiveness of the shocks when pedaling and braking.

For each mountain bike brand that I research, I attempt to sort through this jargon so that we can make informed decisions when choosing a mountain bike. This way we are able to get the options we want, but not pay for options we don't need.

I also list the different models of mountain bikes that each company offers. Most companies offer some cross country models, trail bikes, all mountain options, and downhill/freeride bikes.

Some mountain bike brands include a line-up of 29er mountain bikes, while others do not offer this option. Some companies offer a nice selection of women specific designs, others have a more limited selection, and some offer none. I also provide information on 29ers and women specific design options with each company.

Brands of Mountain Bikes

As I research each bike company, the list below will grow so please check back later if you don't see the brand you are interested in. If you want to be notified when new pages are added, you may wish to subscribe to our Bike Blog.


Cannondale
Gary Fisher
Giant
GT
Marin
Specialized
Trek
Yeti

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