There are two general types of mountain bike. The hardtail and the full suspension bike. Within these broad categories there are several sub-categories which you must be aware of before making your choice.
A hardtail bike is a lightweight, easy-to-use mountain bike which is designed to be tough and long-lasting. You have front suspension on a hardtail mountain bike and a rigid rear wheel which is attached to the frame.
A full suspension bike has front and rear suspension which is much smoother when the going gets tough. The main advantage of full suspension is that the bike is less ‘skittish’ on rough terrain which allows you to go faster with more confidence.
Whether you are after a hardtail mountain bike or a full suspension mountain bike, both will be useful for different techniques and trails which you plan on hitting. You need to be aware that there are other types of mountain bike which fall into these two broad categories. We explain these in detail below.