Deciding which full suspension mountain bike to buy can be time consuming and stressful. So in an effort to make the process more enjoyable I put together some tips to consider before purchasing a new bike.

Tip # 1 ? Determine your riding terrain. It is important for you to know your typical riding conditions. Will you be riding cross country, down hill or a combination of both? This question is very important to answer and will have a big impact on the type of bike that you purchase because some bikes are designed to accommodate specific riding conditions.

Tip # 2 ? Determine your budget and stick to it. Buying a new full suspension mountain bike can be very expensive. Bikes, parts, and accessories vary in price and when added together can be costly.

Tip # 3 - Buy the best bike that you can afford within your budget. After you determine your budget buy a bike that meets your needs and has the best components that you can afford. Buying a base bike and upgrading later might sound like a good alternative but it will be more costly in the end.

Tip # 4 - Decide on what type of full suspension bike you want to buy. There are different types of full suspension bikes and each has their pros and cons. I am not going into detail about each suspension type so just know there are differences and be sure to ask about them when you visit the bike shop.

Tip # 5 ? Buy your bike from a specialty bike shop. The people that work in specialty bike shops are knowledgeable and can explain to you the differences between bikes, components, etc. Do not feel intimidated when asking for assistance. They will help you find a bike that fits your budget and also setup the bike to your specifications.

Tip # 6 - If you know exactly what you are looking for you can get a great deal on a bike and/or parts online via a store or a mountain bike classified website.

Tip # 7 - Test ride as many bikes as you can. The bike shop will let you test ride their bikes to help you determine which one is right for you. Take advantage of this option and ride as many bikes as you can. Test riding will help you measure different bike specifications and help you pick the right bike.

Good luck