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Honestly, even if you’re new to biking – how do you think you can go wrong with a name like “Specialized”? Mountain bikes under this label have been patronized by discriminating cycling enthusiasts – and not just because the name is catchy, but because this brand has a performance history that’s no less than good and solid.

Specialized mountain bikes of the Rockhopper line, for example, have remained at the top of consumer rankings for a long time, contending with equally popular classics like the Trek 4500 and the Gary Fisher Marin. These “hardtail” bikes are lightweight and perfect for use by cyclists with different body types, which makes it a favorite for most kinds of rugged trails.

The average weight of a Specialized bike is 30 pounds. The aluminum frame helps greatly in reducing weight and increasing speed. And because aluminum is tried and tested for its durability, it is also the material of choice by Specialized manufacturers. You can test the worth of a bike of this name by putting it through a trail bike test; see how well it performs and how easily it is to transport during normally arduous uphill climbs.

Mike Sinyard, creator of Specialized Bicycle Components, founded his company in 1974, with the intent to “give everyone the best ride of their life.” Since then the professional mountain bikes turned out by the company have made the top picks, and in the past years the company’s success in developng its mountain bike lines was driven by the presence of its independent suspension FSR frame.

Specialized is also known for producing quality “budget” bikes – and by this, we mean trail bicycles that are slightly cheaper than industry standard, for their caliber. They’re still more expensive than you could expect a regular bike to be – for example, a “cheap” competition-grade Specialized model could still cost a little over $1000. Before you balk at this price, you must remember that Specialized bikes are known to compete with big-name brands like Marin, Trek and Giant, some of which definitely sell their “budget” models at much higher costs! But you could look forward to top of the line service and performance from Specialized mountain bikes. You could save a little more if you buy previous years’ models, which almost invariably drop in prices as new and shinier models enter the market. If you’re able to take advantage of special offers, you can grab a special deal on a firsthand full suspension, cross-country trail bike.

They say brand name doesn’t matter, but in the real world, it clearly does. Brand names are like a summary of the virtues of the products being sold, and more often than not, the more famous brands are the ones that have proven themselves to be most worth the public attention and clamor; their performance is well worth the buzz. This is how you know you can’t go wrong with brand names. Your riding experience can be greatly enhanced with brand name bikes like Trek, Giant, and Specialized mountain bikes.

Each brand comes with its unique set of virtues. Consumers rank these bikes among themselves for ease of use, speed, design, and other factors, often in combination. Specialized mountain bikes, for example, are known for their superior maneuverability. The first production mountain bike ever made was the Stumpjumper from this manufacturer, and since then it has only ever grown stronger in the market. The Specialized Stumpjumper’s agility and ease of handling continues to improve through the years.

Trek mountain bikes, on the other hand, are known for their lightness. Lightness gives a mountain bike a remarkable advantage, as lightness also defines speed and ease of use. Also, lightness is one thing you would want from something you’re going to be carrying, when you’re not riding it! Weight is not its only advantage, however. Trek is a manufacturer of high-end bikes that perform excellently in many ways.

Giant bikes are true to their name: they are big on the market, and big on the trail. They don’t make any bones about being one of the more established brands in the market, and it shows on the bold, streamlined designs of their bikes. One disadvantage though is that some of their more high-end bikes may be heavier. And why? It is all about the fear. Higher-end Giant bikes are fitted with the Maestro suspension system – and as experts know, suspension makes the bike. Maestro is a dual suspension system formulated by the manufacturer of Giant bikes, and as dual suspension systems go, they also tend to be a bit on the heavy side. Not too heavy for a good run through the trail, though!

If you’re looking for good bikes, branded bikes are the first you should look into. However, if you’re looking for cheap bikes, you may wish to look elsewhere. But be warned – you will be getting what you pay for. The more famous a brand is, the more expensive it usually is, and that means more work and effort is put into creating a bike that is one-of-a-kind and uniquely enjoyable. The way people create a “buzz” around the most popular bikes in the market is proof not only of the prominence of these bikes, but also of their high standards. Specialized mountain bikes stand as evidence.

There are many makes and models of mountain bikes on the market today. In fact, you can usually find exactly what you want – right off the showroom floor – without ordering specialized mountain bikes. However, sometimes specialized mountain bikes can offer more of what you want in a ride!

Bikes can be specialized in a variety of ways – depending on what type of performance you want from the bike. Some bikes are even specialized simply to look a certain way, and the specialization has little or nothing to do with performance. Again, it all just depends on what you want and what you need – and how much you are willing to pay for it.

Many people request or make very small changes to the bike – but certain changes turn an ordinary mountain bike into a specialized mountain bike – no doubt about it! For instance, many people want specialized frames, but everything else about the bike is factory standard. A large majority of people want specialized ultra-smooth suspension seat posts or fully adjustable handlebars made of alloy.

Specialized suspensions are common requests and modifications that a large number of mountain bikers make. Specialized tires, which are suited to specific types of terrain, are popular as well. Of course, specialized paint jobs or designs are the top requests and modifications made by those who place a great deal of importance on the look of the bike as well.

Specialized parts and components cost a lot of money in most cases, but some specialization and customization can be done affordably, if you are willing to do the work yourself and only pay for the needed parts. Having to pay a shop to do the work starts driving the costs up quickly! So, if you want to customize your bike in anyway, try to learn what you need to know to do the work yourself to keep costs down.

Some people have major specialization work done, and by the time the work is complete – the bike rides and looks like a totally different bike! Of course this type of specialization should be reserved for expert riders who know exactly what they want, and how those customizations will affect their ride or their techniques. This type of specialization runs into the thousands of dollars – over the cost of the bike without the specialization!

Beware of the word specialized! It doesn’t always mean what you think it means. For instance, many bike shops use the word ‘specialized’ in their business name – this doesn’t necessarily mean that they sell specialized bikes. It is also important to note that a specialized bike, in most cases, does not mean that you are the only person in the world with that type of bike – unless you’ve ordered a specialized bike that is guaranteed to be one-a-kind (most bike shops will not make this guarantee, but you could get such a guarantee from a major manufacturer).

Beginners do not need specialized bikes. Again, the average rider can find exactly what they want and need in a bike shop, or at an Internet bike store. Some bikes arrive at the store for resale already specialized – in almost every case you have the option of getting a bike that you see in a store customized to suite your needs, but it usually costs quite a bit, and you have to wait for the parts to come in and the work to be done before you can take the bike out of the store and onto the trails.

The best way to get a specialized mountain bike is to order one at an online bike store, or directly through the manufacturer. This is the best way to ensure that you are getting the right specialization to suit your needs and desires. Just make sure that you have enough experience with mountain bikes to know what kind of specialization you want before you just start adding or changing components without fully planning or thinking things through – sometimes specialization can ruin your ride, as opposed to improving it – which is what specialized mountain bikes are supposed to be all about!