What are some of the pros and cons of mountain bikes?

Question

What are some of the pros and cons of mountain bikes?

Answer 1

I use a road bike and a mountain bike so I can give a good comparison. A mountain bike is a lot more stable and comfortable in comparison to a lightweight roadbike. The thick tyres will bounce over ruts and pot holes in the road that would cause pinch punctures on my road bike tyres so it is also safer if you ride on less than perfect surfaces. The drawbacks are that it's a lot less responsive than a road bike- it's hard to get the rapid burst of acceleration that you can get on a light racing bike. Also as the frame is heavier and the tyres are wider it can be harder work if you want to pedal long distances but I'm in my forties now so maybe that would be less of an issue for younger riders.

Answer 2

Pros:  wicked fun to ride.   Cruising in the woods, etc. is by far the best way to enjoy yourself on a bike.   Cool components:  wide variety of knobby tires, wheels, handlebars, forks, seatposts.   They look cool.   The better ones can take about anything you can dish out.   Learning the skills you need off road like bunnyhopping, carving corners, riding wheelies, etc is a blast when you do master them.  Flying down hills and launching off bumps/hills.  Riding over dirt, rock, logs with no worries.

Cons:  fatter tires aint the best if you ride distance on paved trails...........

Answer 3

Pros:Good time with your friends. Out in the open air. Enjoying nature.                                                                                               Cons;Road rash

Answer 4

PRO: Mountain bikes are rugged. They rarely pinch flat. The low end gearing will let you climb really steep hills by sitting down and spinning. The frames will usually support racks and/or fenders which can make them useful for other purposes. Mountain bikes are usually a better value per dollar than road bikes because the market is more competitive.

CON: Mountain bikes are heavier. They won't accelerate like road bikes. MTBs usually have a suspension in the front and often in the back which is not necessary for most riders. Those suspensions add weight and complication. Mountain bikes have very few hand positions which can lead to numb, tingly hands. Mountain bikes also lack high end gearing found in road bikes where you can really get up serious speed on the flats and down hills. When you do get up speed on a mountain bike, you are in an upright position with a lot of air drag.

HTH