FRAMES

Hardtail or full suspension?

• Hardtail: simple, light and low-maintenance. Ideal for cross-country and flowing trails.
• Full suspension: more comfort and grip on rough ground. Rear travel ranges from 100 mm for cross-country to 170 mm and more for enduro.

A frameset often comes with the rear shock, sometimes with the fork or headset: the product page says so.

Size

The size depends on your height and inseam, but also on each brand's geometry. Above all, compare the reach (horizontal distance from the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube) with that of your current bike. If in doubt, the manufacturer's size chart is the reference.

Standards to check

• Wheel size: 29", 27.5" or mullet (29" front, 27.5" rear).
• Rear axle: usually 12x148 mm Boost, 12x157 mm Super Boost on some enduro and downhill frames.
• Bottom bracket: threaded BSA, PF92 or BB92, to match your crankset.
• Head tube: tapered on almost all recent frames, for a fork with a tapered steerer.
• Seatpost: diameter (30.9, 31.6 or 34.9 mm) and internal routing for a dropper post.
• Rear shock: dimensions (eye-to-eye length x stroke, for example 210x55 mm) and mounting type, if you change the shock.

Carbon or aluminium?

Carbon is lighter and allows more sculpted shapes, at a higher price. Aluminium costs less and handles direct impacts better. Both are reliable: the choice mostly comes down to budget.

Frequently asked questions

See also: MTB forks · MTB wheels · MTB drivetrain · MTB components