The Advantages of a Fully Rigid Classic Mountain Bike

Riding a rigid bike is a great way to brush up on technical riding skills.


If you're a seasoned mountain biker with a lot of trail hours, you know how a suspension system can affect your ride. Rigid mountain bikes forgo a suspension for a tighter, more precise ride. This makes a fully rigid mountain bike catered to a very specific type of rider, but the advantages of this classic mountain biking frame make it an excellent choice for intense technical riders and some beginners.

Rigid Mountain Bikes

A rigid mountain bike has no suspension system. This means that the fork and rear triangle of the bike are solid, with no hydraulic shocks to absorb the bumps and obstacles in difficult terrain. Rigid mountain bike frames are most often made from steel, although other materials like titanium and aluminum are not uncommon. A rigid mountain bike is often considered the classic off-road bicycle since it predates the hydraulic suspension systems found on the majority of mountain bikes today. Rigid mountain bikes still feature the flat bars, aggressive tires and burly components of suspension bikes.


The biggest advantage of a rigid mountain bike is its precise handling. The rigid frame and fork on these bikes allow the rider unprecedented control, which cannot be matched by a full suspension bike for technical riding, rock gardens for instance. Rigid mountain bikes have no travel from suspension, so there's no chance of the bike bouncing or compressing on an obstacle. Despite the less comfortable ride when compared to a full-suspension bike, this precision makes a rigid bike the best choice for riders who want to attempt a highly precise course, since there's no dynamic movement in the frame.


The suspension systems in modern mountain bikes are, by nature, complex. They involve hydraulics, moving parts, pressure systems and locks. All of these parts can potentially fail on a rider if the bike is abused during a ride. Eliminating the potential for technical failure is a big advantage of a rigid mountain bike, since it is relatively simple in its construction. These bikes can even be rigged as a single speed, with no derailleur to malfunction. A minimalist bike like a rigid mountain bike is the choice for riders who need to rely on their hardware.


A fully rigid mountain bike is usually a cheaper alternative to a suspension bike. Suspension bikes often run several hundred to several thousand dollars more than a rigid mountain bike, since the cost of the suspension system factors into the total cost. Rigid bikes are also cheaper to repair, since there's no expensive suspension system to potentially be damaged.

Long Distance

The growing bikepacking trend among mountain bikers in the United States focuses specifically on rigid bikes. The rigid bike is ideal for long-distance travel over several days because the extra weight required by riders carrying full camping gear is easily compensated for by a rigid frame, which won't compress and bounce like a full-suspension bike. Rigid frames also have more room for frame bags and fork-mounted bottle cages since there's no suspension to get in the way. Many manufacturers design rigid mountain bikes specifically for bikepacking, with custom frame bags available to match the dimensions of the bike.


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