What is a good mountain bike to start with?

Question

I'm 15 years old and I want to start mountain biking and I don't know which kind i should get. I know I want with with full suspension though.

Answer 1

This is a hard question to answer without knowing your riding style or price range, but you might want to look into a Santa Cruz Heckler (that's what I'm riding), Kona Dawg, Specialized Enduro, Giant Reign, Cannondale Rize, Trek Remedy, and so on.  These are all bikes that are designed for all mountain riding, and range in price.  Hope this helps!

Answer 2

I would start by asking why you want one with full suspension.  Rear suspension means that every time you pedal, you also have to lift your own weight.

Also, ask yourself what you'll be using the bike for.  Mountain bikes are for rough trails, and are more bike than you need on roads and maintained trails, paved or gravel.  You can use mountain bikes on roads, but they have more rolling resistance, so you have to work harder to achieve the same effect.  10 years later, I'm still using the mountain bike I bought when I was 15 on a daily basis, and I can't think of any occasion in the past 10 years when I've gone somewhere a hybrid couldn't have taken me.

That said, brand wise, Giant probably offers the most bang for your buck, but Trek and Jamis are also great brands.