Let me start by level setting. I LOVE bikes and components. I get UGI with the best of them and probably should go to rehab for it. I geek out on new bikes and components so much that there are times that I love it as much as riding. It’s ok. I’m a gearhead. I always have been and I really enjoy technology and new products. I also fully realize that I am not going to become a professional rider or get any better at all by obsessing over parts and bikes. It’s a hobby and the only one that doesn’t enjoy it is my bank account.
That said…
You can waste a lot of money, really quickly without actually creating a positive impact on your ride. So let’s say you have an entry level bike that has good bones but can use some upgrades. Also, while it is tempting to sell your cheaper parts when you upgrade…don’t. When you go to upgrade your bike at a later date put it back to its stock form and either use your upgrades on the next bike or sell them on their own. They are worth a lot more alone than packaging them with the bike.
Where do you start? Here is my list of priorities when it comes to mountain bikes and where you should start upgrading first…to last.
BIKE198’s Guide To Upgrading Bike Components
So let’s get into the order of operations here and what you should be looking at upgrading first…
Side note: If you don’t have a dropper post already…get one. I don’t put it as #1 because most bikes come with them now but a dropper post is life changing if you don’t already have one.
1. Bike Saddle, Pedals and Grips
I know…this is actually three parts but let’s just call this “contact points”.
The first thing I always look at is the saddle. Most budget bikes come with a really cheap version and even a lot of the expensive built up bikes come with saddles that may not fit you correctly. There might be nothing more important to your comfort on your ride than getting a saddle that correctly fits your ass. Everyone is shaped differently and that is why there are so many different shapes and sizes out there.
It isn’t a sexy upgrade but it will improve your ride quality immensely by keeping you comfortable throughout the ride. So here I am not talking about going to buy the most expensive, light version…just a quality saddle that fits you correctly. I tend to like the ones from Specialized and Ergon personally…
Grips are also a cheap upgrade that can increase the comfort of your ride and get you something that better fits your hands. Cheap grips can have a real negative effect on overall comfort.
Cheap pedals…especially platforms…can really create a bad experience while riding. Most builds do not come with pedals but if they do…throw the black ones with reflectors in the trash and get a set that actually grip your shoes. There are plenty of poly versions that aren’t expensive that are exponentially better.
2. Wheels and Tires
I have written about this in length in a previous video and article but there might not be another bike component that can make as much of a difference in your ride than wheels. Budget bike builds (including my Cervelo Aspero build) ALWAYS cheap out on wheels. It is almost criminal. They will put a semi fancy rear derailleur on for no reason and leave you with some boat anchor, under performing wheels to save on the build.
Upgrading your wheels does several different things.
- Decrease Rolling Weight – By decreasing rolling weight, you are saving energy in your legs by saving weight where it is the most important. Race cars do everything they can to save “unsprung weight” because it is literally like adding horsepower to the car. You will INSTANTLY feel any weight you loose off of your wheels…especially the farther you get away from your hub with rims and tires.
- Stronger Wheel Build – Stronger wheels track better with less deflection. That means a more stable bike over rough terrain and through turns.
- Faster Engagement – Your power from your legs have less waste as your revolutions get the dirt faster. It also helps in technical situations where you have to clutch the pedals. Less gap without movement.
- Better Tires – Better tires can have less weight but you can also match them to the trails you ride for better comfort, control and traction.
3. Brakes
Outside of wheels, brakes are one of my favorite parts to change out and upgrade on bikes. There are several different reasons for this but here is what you get out of brake upgrades.
- Better Power and Modulation – How fast and controlled you ride is directly correlated with how you can slow down and control your bike when it is at speed. The more controlled your braking…the more speed you can carry and the more technical terrain you can ride. You can also go with bigger rotors without a weight penalty to get even better performance. With the increased power, you also don’t have to grip the brakes as hard creating less hand fatigue on your ride.
- Better Lever Design and Adjustability – High quality brakes have a much better lever feel and you can adjust them to your hands for more controlled braking and less hand fatigue.
4. Suspension Components
For me, it is really a toss up on 4 and 5 depending on your situation. Your tires, wheels and suspension are your bikes connection with the trail. The issue here and why sometimes I go to the next option first is because suspension technology has come a long way. Even entry level forks these days are much better than what we had even a couple of years ago.
If you have an older bike that still has modern standards, this can be a great go to as there have been great strides in even budget options these days. But also keep in mind…it might feel like you need to upgrade these when you might just need your current ones serviced or adjusted correctly.
Upgrading your suspension components do obvious things like give you a better ride, better stiffness, more control, more adjustability and often less weight.
5. Carbon Handlebars
There are 3 places your connect with your bike. Your seat, pedals and bars. Really cheap aluminum bars can vibrate and cause hand fatigue in ways you aren’t even aware of. When you go to a nice set of carbon handlebars, they dampen those vibrations for a more comfortable ride and reduce that hand fatigue.
6 and Lastly. Drivetrain Components
I know…the latest component groups out of SRAM and Shimano are sexy. They come in exotic materials, crazy colors and they are REALLY visible on any bike. For a lot of people, it can be one of the first things they notice at the trailhead. People also love to debate on which is the best and brag about what they have.
I might be in the minority here…but I think most of it is BS.
If you have ridden a properly adjusted Deore group, you know that the performance of that group is actually pretty damn good and works for 90% of riders.
While I do love geeking out on the latest and greatest…there is one big problem with rushing to upgrade your shifting. It is very expensive without a huge performance increase. The amount of money that you would spend on doing this would be much better served out of investing in any of the other parts above that would return a lot more performance for your investment.
I really see upgrading shifting components as a function of either building your own bike for the first time or just upgrading your bike at a later date. I think back at the money I wasted back in the day on rear derailleurs and other drivetrain components that once I was on the trail were really just eye candy. I didn’t ride faster, my bike didn’t handle better, my last shifting options still worked fine. It just wasn’t worth it.
Unless you have a part that is worn out or some kind of fitment issue (like with cranks), you are better off spending your money on a trip than you are upgrading your drivetrain. Out of all of the components on your bike…this is the worst ROI even if it is one of the most heavily marketed in the industry.