My Best Mountain Bikes for Men (Reviews & Buying Guide)

 

MY BEST MOUNTAIN BIKE FOR MEN COMPARISON:

MY BEST MOUNTAIN BIKE FOR MEN REVIEWS

YETI SB150

• TYPE: Enduro, Mountain, Trail
• WHEEL SIZE: 29”
• BRAKE TYPE: Disc, Hydraulic
• FRAME MATERIAL: Carbon
• PROS: Efficient pedaling platform – Comfortable ride over obstacles – Excellent traction – Stable ride through corners – Very responsive brakes with great stopping power
• CONS: Expensive compared to other bikes in its category- Sluggish at slow speeds

YETI SB165

• TYPE: Enduro, Mountain, Trail
• WHEEL SIZE: 27.5”
• BRAKE TYPE: Disc
• FRAME MATERIAL: Carbon
• PROS: Outstanding performance -Easy uphill pedaling – Stable on chunky terrain – Lifetime warranty – Chain line maintain its place – Smooth ride – Fits a bottle – Genuinely fast
• CONS: Expensive – Tires needs upgrading

SANTA CRUZ 5010

• TYPE: Mountain, Trail
• WHEEL SIZE: 27.5”
• BRAKE TYPE: Disc, Hydraulic
• FRAME MATERIAL: Carbon
• PROS: Comfortable riding over rocks and roots – Excellent stability – Fast and efficient climber – Easy-to-maintain bottom bracket – Smoothly rides over corners – Accelerate quickly – Nice traction – Agile handling – High-quality frame – Climbs well –
• CONS: Expensive price

CANNONDALE MOTERRA NEO

• TYPE: Electric, Enduro, Mountain, Trail
• CHARGE TIME: 4.9 to 6.5 Hours
• MAXIMUM RANGE: around 60 Miles
• TOP SPEED: 20 Mph
• WHEEL SIZE: 27.5”, 29”
• BRAKE TYPE: Disc, Hydraulic
• FRAME MATERIAL: Aluminum, Carbon
• PROS: Comfortable saddle – Great control – Great stopping power – Great stability – More range compared to similar e-bikes – Easy light adjustment – Easy to read display screen – Stable corners riding – Responsive Steering – Pedal assist with no lag – Easy handling – Very versatile
• CONS: Short seat tube – Battery cover becomes hard to secure when it’s dirty – 

SANTA CRUZ BRONSON

• TYPE: Mountain, Trail
• WHEEL SIZE: 27.5”
• BRAKE TYPE: Disc, Hydraulic
• FRAME MATERIAL: Aluminum, Carbon
• PROS: Space for a water bottle – Fantastic suspension – Feels planted to the trail – Adjustable bike’s geometry – Accelerate quickly with its centered pedaling position – Very responsive brakes – Lifetime warranty on the frame – Phenomenal on descents – Excellent suspension design – good but not a great climber
• CONS: Very expensive – Reduced climbing efficiency – Slow to engage rear hub – Chain comes off

IBIS RIPLEY

• TYPE: Bikepacking, Mountain, Trail
• WHEEL SIZE: 29”
• BRAKE TYPE: Disc, Hydraulic
• FRAME MATERIAL: Carbon
• PROS: Frame 7-year warranty – Efficient pedaling platform – Efficient rider climbing position – Very responsive – Climbs well – Rides over a great variety of terrain – Quick acceleration on flat and moderate climbs – Excellent wheel traction – Great protection against debris on the trail – Space for a water bottle – 
• CONS: Maybe expensive for some – Internal rattling

EMINENT ONSET

• TYPE: Enduro, Mountain, Trail
• WHEEL SIZE: 29”
• BRAKE TYPE: Disc, Hydraulic
• FRAME MATERIAL: Carbon
• PROS: Wide handlebars – No cable rattle – Efficient braking – Smooth-shifting – Space for a water bottle – Comfortable saddle – 
• CONS: Pedal strikes – Heavy compared to similar bikes – 

MARIN ALCATRAZ

• TYPE: Dirt Jump, Mountain, Single Speed – Fixed Gear, Teenagers
• WHEEL SIZE: 26″
• BRAKE TYPE: Disc
• FRAME MATERIAL: Aluminum
• PROS: Strong aluminum frame – Great hydraulic discs performance – Lightweight – Nice performance on pump tracks – Easy set-up – Smooth-rolling – Comes equipped with tools
• CONS: Spokes requires tightening sometimes – Noisy bottom bracket – 

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST MOUNTAIN BIKE FOR MEN

As when you are making any other crucial purchase today, there are quite a number of things that go into selecting the best mountain bike. The following are some of the things you need to consider as it will allow you to make a very informed choice.

Types of Mountain Bikes

There is a pretty good number of types. Usually, you can decide to buy one of them depending on your needs.

• Trail Bikes

These types of bikes are tough and can handle any tough terrain with so much ease. They have been designed to give you very little trouble while you are out there. They often come high above the ground, making it an amazing option for handling mountain trails

• Fat Bikes

As the names suggest; we are talking about wide tires and frames. These bikes have been designed to give you the best traction possible. So if you always have a problem maintaining impeccable traction while you are on the road, this is all you need.

• Cross Country Bikes

With this option, you just want to keep the weight as low as possible. For that, you will find these bikes come with the right suspension, as well as, drive train. They also come with an incredibly lightweight frame. They have been built to withstand and long use.

• Enduro Bikes

These bikes have been designed with downhill racing in mind. These types of bikes often come with useful features, which will allow you to maneuver those steep descents at a really high speed.  You can easily manipulate their drive train in order to achieve more speed and most important momentum.

• All-Mountain Bikes

This is basically a sort of combination of all the types of bikes. As the name suggests, these particular bikes have been designed to handle virtually every terrain. Ideally, it is a suitable choice if you are going on a ride and you have no idea about the terrain of the area you are planning on going.

Frames Materials

The kind of material that has gone into the constriction of the bike’s frame is very important. It can determine a number of things; durability and the kind of terrain you can use that bike in. We have three popular materials with each coming with its own properties

• Aluminum: If you are looking for something lightweight, but you still want it to be strong, aluminum frame is all you need. Because of its great properties, this material has found its way into a number of bikes, both low entry and those high-end bikes we see in the market.
• Steel: This material is all about strength and toughness. It can withstand any kind of abuse use, and that makes it an amazing option for Hardtail bikes.
• Carbon fiber: Quite an expensive material and you will find it in those high flying bike models. It is incredibly strong and with it, you can be sure of long years of service.

Wheel Size

Wheel size is another crucial factor. It will in a number of ways dictate your compatibility and where you can actually use that particular bike. Many times, the wheel size should directly correspond with your height. The taller you are, the higher in size you should actually go for

• 29-inch wheel: Because they are huge, it will take you a little bit of effort to have them rolling. Yes, you can have trouble rolling them fast, but once they start rolling, they gain speed much faster. These wheels are the best for rolling in the trail with tons of obstacles. You will find these wheel the best for cross country and trail bikes
• 27.5-inch wheels: These are the best wheels for those technical terrains; areas where you need to move really fast as you tackle those crazy maneuvers. You will see these types of wheels on trail enduro bikes.

Suspension

As the type of wheel size your bike comes with, its suspension is also key and must be considered at all times. Suspension style typically helps absorb vibrations that are not picked up by your shock system. Your bike’s suspension can dictate a number of things; where you can use the bike and basically how you need to ride it.

• Rigid: these bikes usually don’t come with any suspension. To help them absorb shock, the mainly rely on larger tires.
• Hardtail: You will find this type of suspension on the front fork.
• Full suspension: For better shock absorption capabilities, you will find these bikes comes equipped with suspension on the front and rear fork.

Tubeless or Not

Technology has advanced so much in the recent past; we have seen tubeless tires replace the traditional tube tires we have always known. Tubeless is the most suitable option. They are incredibly light and you can actually reduce its pressure if you want to achieve a better grip on rough terrain.

Braking system

The kind of braking system your bike comes with is crucial and must be taken into great consideration when making that purchase. It should be solid and able to stop your bike even when you are moving at incredible speeds. Most mountain bikes come equipped with SRAM brakes. This is not a bad thing. They are well built and can bring your bike to halt real fast.

• Disc brakes:

They come often equipped with a pad that can grip onto the brake rotor usually mounted on the wheel hub. This comes in two different designs. Hydraulic and cable controlled

Hydraulic brakes: This offers more solid and strong braking, with very little effort. One of the best things about this option is that they are self-adjusting for brake pad wear.

Cable activated: This needs some manual adjusting because the pads wear out.

One of the reasons why disc brakes are the most preferred braking systems is because they offer more consistent braking in virtually all conditions. They are also quite cheap to replace. Disc brakes do come with some few issues though. It can be really difficult to inspect pad wear. Replacement can also be a challenge.

• Rim Brakes

You will find this option in most entry-level bikes. They feature a pad that can grip onto the wheel rims

This option does come with one advantage. They are budget-friendly. You can also inspect the pad weariness with so much ease. However, it is not a great option when it comes to braking; it offers very less stopping power. It is also quite ineffective in wet and muddy conditions.

Gears

This is another crucial component and just like the brakes, you need to figure out the type of gearing system the bike comes with and what you need. Mountain bikes often come with different gearing ranging from a single gear to 30 or even more.

At this point, you need to factor in a number of things. First, it is important to consider where you will be riding and your fitness level. For example, if you know you will be dealing with very difficult terrains, a bike with more gears will make a lot of sense. In other cases, if you will be doing a lot of flat areas, obviously, you wouldn’t need more gears.

Weight

Most people are obsessed about weight; let that not bother you so much. Strength is what you should be on the lookout for. It doesn’t make sense to go for a lightweight bike that will not able to withstand abuse. With your mountain bike, obviously, you will have to hit those rocky paths at some point and you would want something that can handle all that with ease.

Fit

Lastly, once you have considered all the mentioned things, you need to make sure the bike does really fit. One of the best things you go about this is by trying it. Give it a test drive in the store as that will give you a clear picture of what to expect. If they don’t have a demo bike, like if you are buying it online, you may want to deal with a store that offers the best customer return policy to their customers. Should you find the bike not suitable, you can easily return it in exchange for another model.

Final Words

Nailing a perfect mountain bike for your next ride can be an uphill task. Other than just having to look at the prices, there are tons of features you need to be on the lookout for. However, take your time and get equipped with your needs in mind, finding the best is no going to be a hassle.  It is also advisable to try a bike demo in store before you dish out your money for any particular model.

Updated on March 16, 2022 by Ben