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Things to keep in mind before buying an All-Terrain Bike (ATB)

#BuyingGuide Hero Cycles Team | Feb 16, 2021

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All Terrain Bikes

Searching for the right companion to accompany you on an adventurous trail? Look no further! All-terrain bikes are a one-stop solution. 

An all-terrain bike (ATB) is made up of sturdy frame and fat tyres. It is apt for muddy and gravel filled routes and is the first choice of cycling lovers who wish to create memories along their journey. Their build, look, and feel is quite different from the bikes used for cycling on the roads. Its design allows it to be ridden in a variety of situations other than rough mountain routes.  

If you are also enamoured by an all-terrain bike and are planning to get one home for your next adventure, we suggest you follow these pointers before investing your hard-earned money.

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All Terrain Bikes Suspension

1. Choose the right suspension

Before you fall in love with an all-terrain bike, at first sight, make sure to check its suspension. The decision of choosing a suspension depends on what type of mountain cycling you are interested in. If you are looking to ride on mountainous trails, then a hardtail or rigid suspension bike would fit the purpose, but if you need a mountain bike for driving on rocky terrains with steep climbs and descents, then it is better to opt for full suspension bikes. Hero Black I is one of the best options. The cycle is armed with a rigid suspension. Hero Bonfire 26T ( S. Speed) is also another great option since the cycle has a central suspension.

Caliber 27.5T is yet another option. It is equipped with a threadless and coil spring suspension. 

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All Terrain Bikes Wheel

2. Choose the right wheel size

The wheel size of the bike is important. The bigger the wheel is, the faster the bike will be. The most common wheel size is 26". It is a decent wheel size for bikes and makes bikes easier to manoeuvre through tricky terrains but does create some issues while riding over rough terrains.Hero Hustle 26T, Hero Ceralo 26T, Hero Compass 26T, Hero Trot 26T and Hero Voltage 26T are some of the best cycles in our catalogue.

The second type is the 27.5" wheel. These provide better traction over uneven terrain but might be a little difficult to manoeuvre as compared to the 26" wheel bikes. The 27.5" wheels are usually found in hardtail and full-suspension mountain bikes. Hero Compass 27.5T, Hero Salamander 27.5T and Hero Howler 27.5T (21SPD) are some of the cycle options we offer in the 27.5 wheel size range.

For people looking for speed and long-distance biking, the 29" wheel bikes are ideal. They are mostly favoured by cyclists who use mountain bikes for racing purposes. They are compatible with all three kinds of suspension bikes. Hero Howler 29ERHero Hustle 29ER and Hero Compass 29ER (21SPD) are some of the options in the 29 wheel size range.

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All Terrain Bikes Frame

3. Choose the right frame material

Apart from suspension, the most important feature in an ATB is the frame material. Steel is inexpensive- it gives the bike strength and durability but adds weight to the bike, thus making it difficult to ride in the hills. Hero Hustle, Hero Voltage and Hero Massive are equipped with steel frame.

Titanium, on the other hand, keeps the frame light as well as gives the bike strength to endure tough terrains. However, titanium is very expensive. Carbon fibre frames are common for ATB but are also expensive.

This leads us to the Aluminium Alloy frame- it is the perfect frame material as it offers strength and delivers good performance. Most importantly, this type of material is affordable.

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All Terrain Bikes Gear and Break

4. Choose the right gears and breaks

Before finalising your ATB, do check out its gears and brakes. ATBs come with a variety of gear options ranging from none to as many as twenty. The choice between opting for a fewer number of gears or more is based on your riding skills and the kind of terrain you cycle on. If you are buying the bike to ride on steep terrains, then opt for a cycle with a greater number of gears. However, if you wish to ride on flat terrains, then few gears will serve the purpose.

As far as brakes go, ATBs usually feature hydraulic disc brakes or cable-activated disc brakes. 

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Choose right ATB Bikes

5. Choose the right cycle

Lastly, before you make the payment, do remember to check out the seat’s height, handlebars, etc. to get the maximum comfort while riding. There is nothing more distressing than buying a great bike which makes you uncomfortable. Now that we have shared some insights on what you should keep in mind before buying your first ATB, we assure that you will make an informed decision.

Happy riding!