7 Reasons You Should Buy an "Expensive" Mountain Bike

Should you buy an “expensive” mountain bike? You might be shocked by the price tags at your local bike shop. Even the base models can go for thousands of dollars. So what’s the difference between cheap vs expensive mountain bikes?

1. Durability – More Years Of Riding

More expensive bikes are made the highest quality materials and precise engineering. This makes them much more durable and longer-lasting than low-end bikes. That’s showcased on the frames, parts, and finishes.

High quality frames should last better through crashes instead of breaking. High quality components should last longer, both in miles and in years, meaning you won’t need to go out and replace them as quickly.

By comparison, cheap mountain bikes are typically built with lower-quality materials, which means they wear out faster. This means you’ll likely have to replace the entire bike sooner than you would with a more expensive model, which increases your overall cost.

2. Durability – Don’t Get Stuck On The Trail

The second-to-last thing you want is for your bike to break down 10 miles from the trailhead. And the last thing you want is for it to break down 20 miles from the trailhead. A more durable bike also means you’re more likely to be able to ride out with a grin plastered on your face instead of walking out exhausted, hungry, and carrying your busted bike on your back.

Failure of a crucial component, such as the brakes or suspension, could also lead to an accident. This could be as simple as the front fork bottoming out and throwing you over the handlebars, or even something like having a crankset arm snap off at a critical moment.

3. Performance – Does Your Bike Make You Want To Ride?

High-quality components, the latest innovations, and tuned-in bike geometry just make a better bike. Things like a perfectly functioning chainset, optimized gear ratios, a dropper seat post, and even electronic shifting can make all the difference between fighting your bike and flowing down the trail. Expensive bikes definitely have the upper hand here.

If you buy a bad bike in order to save money, you might not ever find out what mountain biking is all about. Having a bad experience with a cheap bike can make mountain biking feel like it’s not even worth it, or make it hard to get started with the hobby. With a high quality, “expensive” bike, your own skills will be the limit and you won’t be held back by your bike.

An “expensive” mountain bike is probably also going to be noticeably lighter than a cheap bike. You’ll see weight savings across the whole bike, from the frame to the pedals. A lighter bike makes a big difference for your riding. By contrast, a heavy frame can be pretty fatiguing to ride and will accelerate more slowly.

4. Actually Get Customer Support

Expensive bikes usually come with better warranties that cover defects and wear, and customer support you can actually get a hold of. Most respected mountain bike brands will ultimately have you bring your bike back to the original dealer or bike shop you bought it from for warranty support, where you can directly talk to a human face to face.

Cheaper bikes may have limited or no warranties, meaning you’ll have to bear the repair costs yourself. Budget brands often lack the customer support that premium brands offer. This means you might struggle with repairs, replacements, or service if something goes wrong. If you buy a bike from a unknown brand off AliExpress, Amazon or some other online direct to consumer marketplace, you should expect to pretty much be on your own.

5. Avoid Constant Upgrades

Cheaper bikes often don’t come with high-performance parts like disc brakes, grippy tires, good suspension, or high-quality drivetrains. You may find yourself upgrading these components for better performance, which can be costly.

In the end, after getting lighter wheels, better tires, a drivetrain that shifts reliably, and an improved front fork, you might just find yourself with an expensive bike with a cheap frame.

6. Fit – Especially For Riders Who Are Shorter Or Taller Than Average

With high-end bikes, the whole frame geometry is often fine-tuned for each size instead of just scaling the bike up or down in one or two dimensions. Especially for riders who are shorter or taller than average, this can make a big difference in whether the bike feels like it’s a perfect fit for you, or like you’re riding someone else’s bike. Standover height, reach, top tube length, seat tube angle, head tube angle, rear center… these can all be customized independently and the combinations are endless.

7. Higher Resale Value

Premium mountain bikes tend to hold their resale value over time. If you want to upgrade or switch brands in the future, you should get back a larger part of your initial payment, ff you’ve taken good care of it and have the receipts.

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