Buying a mountain bike for recreation and travel- what to look for?

My current mountain bike has just about had it, I'm sure the repairs would cost as much as a new bike, so I'm looking for a new one.

Before I go and buy one, I was wondering what specifications I should be looking out for, what they mean etc. Any guidelines/ advice/ recomendations greatly appreciated.

I will be using it for recreation (including jumping), and for travel to University. Therefore I am looking for something where the suspension is good, but won't make traveling on a road surface harder (I know the suspension often wastes a lot of the energy)

These are my thoughts:
* Frame all aluminum so it's is light
* Hardtail is better for traveling, a rear suspension will make traveling more work
* Look for a good drivetrain, such as Shimano or SRAM. I'm partial to Shimano for hybrid (road and off road) use. So I would consider anything DEORE or higher
* If you're "jumping", what does this mean? What kind of drops? Anyway, RockShox Tora, Marzocchi or Manitou are all good suspension forks. But again depending on the distance.
* Tires, well if you are jumping and doing some major off road you can't compromise so you will need a sold mountain tire like Kenda Nevegal, 26x2.35 (I like these)

Go to a bike shop and get some more advice, this is just a general overview not knowing what you need. I would suggest a Giant or Trek.

the first guy is the guy u wanna listen to. but for tires i would recommend Serfas Gator MTB Tires (front and back) they work decent on the street because there not super nobby and are amazing on the trails.

The answer to this question can depend on several factors. The most important of these factors is your personal riding preference. Probably the second most important factor is where you live.
You will find that most mountain bikes will fit into a set of fun categories: Cross Country (XC), All Mountain (Trailbikes), Freeride, and Downhill (DH).

As for personal preference, you need to decide how you want to spend most of your time on your bike. Do you want to ride smooth flowing trails, climb big mountains, ride stunts, descend technical downhill courses, or just have all around fun.

Thinking about where you live and ride helps narrow your decision by making you take another realistic look at where you will be riding your bike. If you want to ride crazy downhill shuttles, but all you have is flat and smooth trails in your neck of the woods, a true downhill bike is probably not going to be your best choice.

For most people, the All Mountain (Trail Bikes)category makes the most sense. These bikes are truly made to be the most fun in the largest number of situations. They can take you almost anywhere, and they won't wear you out doing it.

Cross Country (XC) bikes are the lightest and most efficient pedalers, but aren't necessarily the best for rough terrain or the most comfortable.

Freeride bikes are great for hard hitting trails, jumps and stunts. They are built to get you up the hills as well, but not very easily. These bikes are heavy and tough.

The least common bikes are the Downhill (DH) specific ones. These bikes are built just for downhill racing. Don't expect to have too much fun on these bikes without a different way to the top of the mountain, but once you are there, you won't find a faster way to get down no matter how rough the trail is.

After some consideration, most people can come to a confident decision about exactly what kind of bike is right for them. The trick is to be honest with yourself about how you will spend most of your time riding, and then choosing a bike that is designed to make the best of it.


Good Luck!