Mountain biking is huge: start by defining your riding
Before looking at any bike, ask yourself the real question: where will you ride?
- Forest trails and casual rides: a basic hardtail is more than enough
- Technical trails, roots, rocks: a decent hardtail or entry-level full-suspension
- Bike parks, jumps, enduro: full-suspension mandatory, with at least 140 mm travel
Most beginners overestimate their need for travel and underestimate the importance of weight and component quality.
Hardtail vs full-suspension
Hardtail
- Front suspension fork, rigid rear
- Pros: lighter, cheaper at equivalent spec, less maintenance, better for learning technique (you must read the terrain)
- Cons: less comfortable and less grippy on very rough terrain
- Minimum budget for a good hardtail: €600-800
Full-suspension
- Front and rear suspension
- Pros: comfort, grip, confidence on technical terrain
- Cons: heavier, more expensive, rear suspension maintenance (annual service €80-150)
- Minimum budget for a good full-sus: €1,500-2,000
Simple rule: if your budget is under €1,200, get a hardtail. A full-suspension at €800 will have mediocre components and a rear shock that just bounces without damping anything.
Wheel size: 27.5 vs 29 inches
- 29 inches: better obstacle rollover, more stable at speed, dominant standard in 2026
- 27.5 inches: more nimble, more playful, preferred in bike parks and for smaller riders (< 1.65 m)
- Mullet (29 front / 27.5 rear): trendy compromise, especially in enduro
For a beginner, 29 inches is the default. Unless you're under 1.60 m — then 27.5 will be more proportional.
