For this reason, carbon mountain bike frames are less likely to bend and break than other frame materials. However, most MTB manufacturers only specify the ideal height for their bikes. Since working for MBUK, Alex's focus has moved to bike tech. It is one of the best mountain bikes for heavy riders with a high-tech frame, air spring fork, and suspension lockout. As a result, you may wonder: is tubeless sealant bad for the environment? The wheels were exceptionally comfortable during the testing period and impressed us. Fitting and seating tyres is a cinch. The Halo Vortex MTC Enduro wheels have a firm ride. For the money, it should be better. The 42-point engagement hubs that have been redesigned since the first iteration to fix issues we highlighted engage plenty quick enough and create a loud buzzing sound when youre freewheeling. This mountain bike has an aluminum frame along with high-quality Schwinn suspension forks. However, theyre a tad less comfy than some and feel less compliant than many of the alloy wheels despite having only 28 spokes. Ill tell you in this article The REAL Difference between MTBs and Fat Bikes Explained. He's one of BikeRadar's lead testers, knows how to push bikes and products to the limit, and wants to search out the equipment that represents the best value for money. But if you want a durable yet affordable MTB, you should opt for ones with steel or alloy frames. It even features multiple frame mounts for a better riding experience. Despite their extra grams, the wheels feel positive when pedalling thanks to the freehubs 120 points of engagement and fast pick-up. As a popular OEM (original equipment manufacturer the parts specced on off-the-shelf bikes) choice, thanks to its performance and price, the E 1900 has proven to be a tough, reliable and comfortable set of wheels. This gives a comfortable feel and means you dont get knocked off-line easily. Would you like to receive offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher Our Media Ltd (an Immediate Group Company)? David Humphries is the creator of DIY Mountain Bike. (source). High Timber 27.5, Schwinn. While the best mountain bikes for heavy riders feature durable wheels, too much weight will damage them in the long run. Bicycling Magazines Cycling for Health and Fitness: Use Your Machine to Get Strong, Lose weight, and Feel Great. A fat tire bike is among the best mountain bikes for heavy riders. (source). Tyax Sport 29, Mongoose. For this reason, a heavyweight is not a problem for high-quality mountain bikes. Accessed March 16, 2022. Additionally, this mountain bike comes with a seven-speed Shimano rear derailleur so that you can pedal uphill with ease. Overall, this mountain bike provides convenience when taking on rough terrains, thanks to its stable gearing and lightweight parts. Trail and all-mountain riders will want to balance strength and weight, looking for the perfect compromise for their individual riding styles. Hub and wheel manufacturer DT Swiss recently speculated that a higher number of engagement points on a mountain bike hub can actually increase pedal kickback (depending on the bikes suspension kinematics). Although we tested the limited-edition Sam Hill Deemax Pro, these wheels are identical to the normal Deemax Pro, except for the graphics. Roscoe 8, Trek Bikes. Over off-camber roots, we could hold higher speeds with control over line choice. Industry Nines incredible Hydra freehub has no lag. There is still room for weight more than specified. So, it can support a heavyweight while making the entire ride comfortable. They can reduce contact vibrations and soak up bumps to help you ride comfortably. Another hub with 120 points of engagement will have three degrees of movement until it engages. It features an out-front steering construction for stability regardless of your speed. As a result, you will need to replace the wheels one after another. For example, a hub with 36 points of engagement will have 10 degrees of free play. You can use it to ride on snowy off-road paths or even sandy trails. At the back, the fast pick-up of Hunts own alloy hub proved reliable throughout testing. Fat bikes are one of the best mountain bikes for heavy riders. The wheels have a rating of 150kg for bike and rider. Its tubeless valves, which channel air past tyre inserts and have a valve-core tool in the cap, are a nice touch. It is essential to note that this mountain bike is ideal mainly for moderate terrains. While it is not common knowledge, many mountain bikes fit well for heavy riders. Theyre lightweight yet strong, hand-built in the US and UK with 28 Sapim Race double-butted spokes per wheel, and adorned with beautiful Industry Nine 1/1 hubs, which have a snappy pick-up, are easy to maintain and almost silent. Ride quality is good but we couldnt notice any significant performance improvements over the five-star scoring and less expensive E 1900. With a 30mm internal rim width and 180-level hubs with the reputable Ratchet System freewheel, this is DTs 29in enduro wheelset. The tyre stayed inflated with its bead locked in place, and it was a simple job to straighten the rim. The tires and the other parts of the bike are made of sturdy material, allowing it to hold extra weight while withstanding abuse. The damage will show mainly on the mountain bikes wheels. Advantages of Fat Biking. While not the smoothest, they have a similar firm-yet-muted feel. While it does not have a front suspension, it has wide tires perfect for trail riding. Nukeproof claims the rim material has the hardness of a 7-series alloy but the ductility of a 6-series, to balance strength, stiffness and weight. Read . Although the 10-degree, 36-point engagement ratchet freehub isnt the quickest to transfer power into forward motion, the wheels are light enough for this to not be a problem. Here are two points for you to focus on when finding a mountain bike: When choosing mountain bikes for heavy riders, the first thing to consider is the frame material. Hunt will sell you the wheels with Schwalbe or Maxxis tyres pre-installed, but tyres are easy to fit and blow up with just a track pump. Everyone wants a new bike, find out when its time to buy with this article: Dave King, and Michael Kaminer. Mountain bikes with steel, aluminum, and carbon frames are also ideal. Carbon material makes the lightest frame for mountain bikes. Each wheel has 32 bladed, J-bend spokes and five spoke lengths are used. Ours had a 29.6mm internal rim width; a 25mm option is available, too. At 2,445g they are heavy, but the pay-off is reliability. Pine Mountain, Marin. The brands representative states, Bike weight limits vary by model, not wheel size.. ENVEs more accessibly-priced (for the US brand) Foundation hoops are still expensive but have a communicative, firm and refined ride that isnt jarring. And when talking about bike manufacturers, Mongoose is a brand that can provide the best mountain bikes. For me a relaxing day involves riding my mountain bike to decompress after a long day. Hope offers a ton of options, including six hub colours. The rim profile makes it a bit of a challenge fitting, inflating and seating tyres. The Marin Pine Mountain 2019 features incredible features. Alex is also a regular on the BikeRadar Youtube channel and BikeRadar podcast. The hubs are centerlock but the wheels are supplied with adaptors should you want or need to run six-bolt disc rotors. It also features a three-speed crank and seven-speed cassette. We appreciated the 4mm rim walls, though, and fitting tyres is a doddle. Carbon frame bikes are among the best mountain bikes for heavy riders. Alex moved to Morzine in the French Alps at 19 to pursue a career as a bike bum and clocked up an enormous amount of riding. You can ride your bike even when you are a few pounds more than the manufacturers stated weight limit. With a weight limit of 120kg, heavier riders on e-MTBs may need to look at DTs e-specific range instead. Accessed March 16, 2022. The wheels of this mountain bike can absorb shock and vibration, so you dont need front suspension. Accessed March 16, 2022. In all, the M1900s are a solid pair of wheels for the money, with plenty of hub adaptability and easy set-up. As one of DTs top alloy wheels designed for enduro, these are a popular option regularly specced on more expensive all-mountain and enduro bikes by a lot of manufacturers. More points willresultin fewer degrees and a faster freehub. We felt a noticeable (if slight) uplift in performance when using these wheels. The Nukeproof-branded WTB rims have a 29mm internal width and resisted dents well. But it should still work fine even if you are taller than 57. Already have an account with us? The only problem is that brands are not very clear about the weight limit of their mountain bikes. However, doing such can decrease the lifespan of your fat bike significantly. Nukeproofs Horizon V2 hub has heftily-sealed bearings and a satisfying buzz. We did find the wheels to be pretty stiff but this seemed to be the compromise for an exceptionally tough set of hoops. Crankbrothers theory that a softer front wheel aids grip and comfort isnt unique, and while any difference in feel is marginal, these wheels do ride well, so maybe the idea has legs. The twist gear shifters are also an excellent feature as it lets the rider change gears quickly. The Nukeproof Horizon V2 wheels have a slightly damped feel that takes the edge off square-edged hits and gives plenty of grip over matted roots. The freehub has 120 points of engagement and makes that satisfying buzz when youre freewheeling. Its buzz is fairly loud, though, and servicing the rear bearings requires cone spanners. In all, a quality build. Compared to aluminium, carbon rims can be as stiff or stiffer at a lower weight. (source). It would be best to have a comfortable mountain bike when cycling on bumpy paths. This mountain bike has a set of extra-wide tires for more traction. They didnt need truing during our test period. Finding the best mountain bike wheelset for trail, all-mountain or enduro riding can be a tricky job because wheels are arguably one of the best upgrades you can make to your mountain bike. The Diamondback hardtail MTB makes a convenient mountain bike for the big guys. As such, we were able to hold our lines easily over off-camber roots and never felt as though we were being pinged all over the place. It has a rugged steel frame and fork that can support the weight of heavy riders. Spokes are custom Mavic ones, too, and six are included with the wheels. Built from stronger 6069-T6 aluminium, the Enduro Wides are heavier than some, as youd expect for their intended purpose, but only by a small margin. You will have more control over your mountain bike, especially when taking corners. Santa Cruzs Reserve 30s have an accurate feel without being as harsh as most carbon fibre wheels used to be. This means theyve got Mavics own spoke nipples that thread into the rim externally (rather than in the rim bed). However, it would be best if you didnt put too much weight on your bike, as the extra weight can make the bike collapse while you are on the trail. Moreover, the compact design of the Diamondback MTB provides it with a fantastic riding performance on technical trails, making it one of the best mountain bikes for heavy riders. Accessed March 16, 2022. Overdrive 29 1, Diamondback. The flipside is that on a full-sus bike there might be more leeway before pedal kickback comes into play. Schwinn Bonafide Mens Mountain Bike, Amazon. He started racing downhill at the tender age of 11 before going on to compete across Europe. (source). This means the hub flanges are further apart compared to a standard 142mm axle hub. SUMMER SALE | Try 3 issues of Cycling Plus magazine for 5 + Get a pair of Lusso cycling socks! Riding those famous tracks day in, day out for eight years, he broke more bikes than he can remember. Rim width has increased for both road and mountain bikes. We found the 28mm internal width to be a good compromise for most tyre widths, especially if youre planning on using 2.4in or 2.5in tyres. The hubs come ready for Center Lock rotors. If youre a hard-charger, you may want a higher spoke count than 24, but the build is good for the money. RSD Bike. These ones, built around its 370 hubs, are some of its cheapest MTB hoops. (source), DIY MTB Tip: Ive called out a couple Schwinn Bikes in this article. You've been subscribed to our newsletter. These are what the Salsa Mukluk SX Eagle Fat Bike is famous for amongst riders. The aluminum frame and 24-speed Shimano EZ-Fire trigger shifter ensure that you can go to your destination without any hindrance. Fortunately, the Cannondale Fat CAAD 2 is a durable and comfortable mountain bike for the big guys and gals out there. Here are some rough guidelines to get you started: If you have a favourite tyre width and tread pattern, keep in mind which rim width you want to pair it with when buying a new wheelset. Tubeless tyres are more expensive and if you do get a flat, youll have to deal with a bit of a mess. The clicky freehub has an 8.2-degree engagement angle, giving a reactive feel under power. DIY MTB Pro Tip: Whats the best wheelbase for an MTB? The Roscoe 8 has excellent stability and grip, allowing you to travel technical trails without difficulties. The front wheel has a wider rim bed and lower spoke count (28) than the rear (32). A hub with a high number of points of engagement will allow you to get back up to speed quickly after coasting with less lag. Also consider how hard you ride. We found ride comfort to be similar to most other alloy wheels and more comfortable than a lot of carbon hoops on offer. For a given tyre, a wider rim will increase tyre volume and give the tyre a flatter, squared-off profile. Alex Evans is BikeRadar's mountain bike technical editor. Suspension frames, for instance, are worth more than you need. USA: Rodale, 2000. The Crossmax XLs feature Mavics UST rim bed system, which means if you snap a spoke you need their specific spokes and nipples two spare sets are supplied per wheel. If youre a lightweight rider or if you use a lot of finesse on the trail, you can probably get away with running a lighter-weight wheelset or one with fewer spokes. You also have to tape the asymmetric carbon rims yourself. Because the rims are 33mm wide, theyre best suited to wider tyres such as 2.8in and can square off the profile of skinnier rubber. It would be best if you also considered your cargo weight. Wider hub flanges cause the wheels spokes to be braced from a wider angle, too. It suggested a hub with 36 points of engagement, and therefore 10 degrees of free play, is the best compromise. Weve destroyed carbon rims from a number of other brands in the past, and this is the only Reserve wheel weve damaged since they started appearing on test bikes a few years ago, so we dont feel theres a reliability issue. The wheels come with a Micro Spline freehub for Shimano 12-speed cassettes. Going too wide can cause the knobs on the sides of a tyre to sit too high, resulting in less grip through turns. So you can roll and climb hills efficiently. You can figure out the degrees of engagement by dividing the points of engagement by 360. They come pre-taped for tubeless-ready compatibility and the rim beds are 29.8mm wide. Mongoose Dolomite Mens Fat Tire Mountain Bike, Amazon. Fat tire bikes have thicker wheels that provide better traction on snow, sand, and smooth roads. Built with 32 spokes, the wheels are sufficiently stiff without being harsh, providing a predictable ride feel. Fitting tyres posed no particular issues, and they inflated easily. Find out in this article -> HERE. One often overlooked wheel feature is how fast the freehub engages. Carbon and aluminum are the best materials for mountain bikes made for heavy riders. Wide wheels can support weight better. However, most of the time, out on the trail, this proved to not be a problem. Theres a slightly damped feel on landings. Lulu Press, 2020. Hopes Pro 4 hub has won many fans with its ease of maintenance, and the Lancashire brands legendary backup means spares are well-supported, so were confident youll be able to run these hubs for years. This question has always been the topic of debate for many mountain bikers. The first thing you should consider when buying a new set of wheels is what sort of rider you are. Unfortunately, we cracked the rear rim while ragging it down a particularly rocky track, writing it off. The direct, accurate feel means the A30s dont give the smoothest ride. As a bonus, they spin particularly well when freewheeling. A new wheelset can also be the most expensive upgrade youll make. It is also durable and high-quality, which allows it to resist harsh riding conditions. Besides supporting your body weight, the fat tires can also get you through rough terrains. Henry Holt and Company, 1996. The wheels are laced with 32 J-bend spokes. Big and tall riders may find it challenging to find a bike that can support their weight. Get a Syncros iS Coupe bottle cage when you subscribe. Click -> HERE, This site is owned and operated by River Traditions LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in Michigan, USA. The best mountain bikes for heavy riders should come from a top-rated manufacturer. Freehub engagement is slower than most here, making them feel a bit sluggish when you want to power out of corners. The result is more speed, comfort and control. In addition to a three-year warranty, Hunt offers a 35 per cent crash-replacement scheme. Shimanos cup-and-cone bearing system allows easy access to the hub bearings, but youll need cone spanners and some patience to get them just so. The 100x15mm front and 142x12mm rear thru-axles were common a few years ago, but the desire to increase wheel stiffness has led manufacturers to move to the wider Boost axle spacing, which uses a 110x15mm front axle with a 148x12mm rear thru-axle. Additionally, this fat bike has a Suntour XCR fork with 100mm of travel, Kendra tires, and WTB alloy rims. Carbon is also an excellent material if you like riding on rugged, technical trails. More recently, Super Boost spacing, found on a growing number of bikes, is becoming more common. Read more about David HERE. Otherwise, if you want to know more about choosing the perfect set of wheels for your bike and budget, read the full buyers guide at the end of this article, covering riding style, axle standards, material, rim width and more. Wider rims can also increase tyre stability, which can make your bike feel more predictable through corners. We measured the asymmetric rim at 29.3mm. The Mountain Bike Experience: A Complete Introduction to the Joys of Off-Road Riding. However, this mountain bike is built for guys with a height of 54 to 57. The hub is one of the best, and its easy to access the well-sealed bearings. Try 3 issues of Cycling Plus magazine for just 5! The stem length and handlebar weight are also perfect for heavy riders. Therefore, heavy riders need to find a bike with wide wheels, such as a fat tire bike. Carbon is lightweight, efficient, and durable, working well as an MTB frame. For the price, these are a solid option. It has a long travel fork for mountain bikers looking for fun and challenging off-road rides. The problem is that most mountain bike manufacturers do not mention a weight specification for riders. Despite having just 24 spokes per wheel, theyre well-built with a snappy, direct feel. The Mongoose Dolomite can support up to 370lbs with its heavy-duty frame and extra-wide tires. Schwinn is one of the top-notch brands when it comes to mountain bikes. Accessed March 16, 2022. They are a touch softer than some when youre really pushing them hard into corners, or where super-precise lines are needed. The Crankbrothers Synthesis wheels have a wide 31.3mm front rim with 28 spokes, designed to provide a bit more flex to aid comfort and line choice. Mavic also gives you a special tool to access the hub bearings. Instead, it will gradually show up in the form of minor problems. The truth is that your weight matters when purchasing a mountain bike. Frostbike: The Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling. As a result, it will be easier for you to pedal uphill. The critical dimension to keep in mind is the internal width. Mountain biking is undoubtedly an excellent sport for many people. This might be down to the Motos single-wall rim, which pivots laterally around the spoke bed for improved traction, impact protection and comfort. They also tend to be louder and can have more drag, although this isnt always the case.