Learn About Downhill Mountain Bikes with JensonUSA
Downhill bikes are designed to instill confidence and stability in the steepest, roughest, and most unforgiving terrain. Downhill bikes are made to go downhill only and utilize components that have high durability. Due to their massive amounts of travel, these bikes don't pedal well and are rarely seen anywhere that doesn't have a lift service to take you back up to the top of the mountain.
What makes a bike a downhill bike?
Downhill bikes are most commonly found with 200mm of travel both front and rear but they can have as little as 180mm front and rear. Due to only riding downhill, downhill bikes have a limited amount of gearing and are usually found with a 7-speed drivetrain with a small range. Their components are all beefier than a traditional mountain bike’s components and focus on durability rather than less weight. A downhill bike is a heavy and stable machine, complete with very slack frame geometries and a long, stable wheelbase.
What is the difference between a mountain bike and a downhill bike?
Compared to other mountain bikes, downhill bikes have a relatively narrow range of uses and are rarely seen in places that don't have steep, technical terrain or jumps. A downhill bike is commonly found with a 200mm coil-sprung rear shock and a dual-crown 200mm fork, while a traditional trail bike maxes out at 140-150mm of travel front and rear. Nearly all components will be different from traditional mountain bikes components, like bigger, more durable tires and wheels, a smaller range cassette, and components and frames that generally don't use as much carbon fiber, if at all.
How do you tell if a bike is a downhill bike?
It is pretty easy to tell apart a downhill bike from any other type of bike. The first thing that catches your eye is the massive fork and rear shock. Most of the time a downhill bike has a coil-sprung rear shock, which helps with small bump sensitivity. The fork will be about twice the size of a traditional mountain bike’s fork and has two crowns. The frame of a downhill bike will be longer, slacker, and lower than a traditional mountain bike frame and will have more elaborate rear suspension systems.
How many gears should a downhill bike have?
A downhill bike has limited gearing compared to any other type of mountain bike due to its restriction from riding uphill. 7-9 gears are commonly found on downhill mountain bikes with a range of nearly half of what you would find on a trail mountain bike. A downhill mountain bike doesn’t need high climbing gears because there won't ever be a situation where you will need to ride uphill on this massive sled.
Which brands make the best downhill mountain bike?
There are many brands out there that make exceptional downhill bikes. Some of our favorite downhill mountain bikes come from brands like Specialized, Trek, Devinci, and Santa Cruz. Check out out selection of GT and Devinci mountain bikes.
