Most mountain bike shoppers don't require Olympic-level XC racers or World Cup-level downhillers; however, more boutique brands have recently come on to market with quality bikes for various disciplines.
At these small brands, each design is carefully tailored to excel in its intended discipline - for instance Yeti's full-suspension Process and hardtail Honzo models both deliver impressive on-trail performance.
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Best Selling MTB Bikes All the Time |
1. Ibis Cycles
Ibis Bikes of Tempe, Arizona has managed to establish itself quickly within the mountain bike industry while remaining true to their grassroots origins. Their 16 dirt-focused models range from hardtails and e-MTBs, with their most popular being Ibis Ripley V5, designed specifically for riders who like to cover lots of ground on their rides; with fast climbs and an equally capable descender capable of covering miles without leaving you feeling either under- or overpowered.
The new Ripley has several upgrades compared to its predecessor. Most notably, it eliminates eccentric "links" that functioned as compact links but didn't actually move, in favor of more conventional dual-link layout and thus becomes stiffer and lowers significantly. Another significant change was to revamp frame geometry - previously, large Ripleys featured steep front ends with short reach numbers; now medium versions feature 475mm reach with an ideal 76-degree seat angle for traversing tricky, rocky terrain.
Roxy Lo, Ibis' head designer and female-specific bicycle pioneer, does not believe in "pinking" bikes for petite women, yet that doesn't negate her focus on designing bikes that meet these specific requirements. Instead, her designs take advantage of frame size and geometry considerations to achieve this result - something evident in this year's Ripley model.
3. Pivot
Mountain bikes are designed to bring out and revive those moments of pure pleasure that come from weaving through tree-lined trails, plunging down technical descents or taking on singletrack with friends - but choosing the correct bike for each rider can make all the difference in enjoying every journey!
Pivot Bikes have made quite an impression in the mountain bike industry with their affordable yet high-quality carbon bikes that span many disciplines and price points. From hardtail and full suspension mountain bikes, to trail and enduro models, downhill machines, and even electric MTBs.
Consumer-direct powerhouse Canyon is also revolutionizing what it means to be a mountain bike company. While their initial lineup was fairly limited, they've since expanded it significantly with bikes of varying styles and price points available - most notably hardtail Process and full suspension Honzo models designed with fun in mind!
Santa Cruz was established in California when modern mountain biking was still relatively young; yet their late start has enabled them to gain an excellent understanding of riders of all skill levels and needs. One notable trend among their lineup is its trend toward mixed wheel sizes; specifically 29-inch up front and 27.5 in back. This helps the rider distribute his/her weight more evenly over larger wheels which makes for more stable rides on steep terrain while making maneuverability simpler.
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Best Selling MTB Bikes All the Time |
4. Yeti
Yeti Mountain Bikes was established in 1985 and is one of the oldest mountain bike brands. Their rider-owned company is widely acclaimed for identifying promising young talents to foster into major players within mountain biking (like John Tomac, Jared Graves and Aaron Gwin).
Yeti bikes are well known for offering incredible value for the dollar, even their top models such as the GHOST RIOT Trail Full Party costing less than $5,000 yet boasting high-end components. Yet despite being affordable options, Yeti bikes have earned high marks for trail performance.
Canyon was the pioneer of consumer direct mountain bikes in Europe and has now brought them over to America through 2017. Now they offer 11 mountain bikes at approachable prices without resorting to middlemen for customisation services.
Megatower bikes are their flagship model and offer maximum travel and relaxed geometry compared to any of their other offerings. Their performance on climbs is remarkable given their size; descents become enjoyable thanks to its comfortable suspension feel.
Polygon Bikes offers consumer-direct mountain and e-bikes at competitive prices, earning great reviews for durability at their price points and featuring a proprietary frame design. Furthermore, riders have access to various component choices so as to customize their ride as per individual need.
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