Upgrading your MTB

Have you had your bike for a while and your equipment is ageing or no longer suited to your riding style? Do you want to upgrade it to improve your comfort, performance or optimise your build? We are going to give you some tips on how to upgrade your MTB.

The modifications you can make will depend on the following factors:

• your bike model;
• your riding style;
• your frequency of use; and
• your riding style.

For small budgets up to €200

Think about your choice of MTB tyres and take the opportunity to go directly Tubeless by adding a Tubeless Kit (depending on wheel compatibility): you can save weight, improve traction and achieve better puncture resistance. As standard, manufacturers often install unsuitable or poorly resistant tyres in terms of puncture protection or rubber quality. Yet this is a fundamental aspect of MTB riding. By upgrading, you can improve grip, rolling efficiency and durability.

Opt for more suitable components. For example, bikes are often fitted with leisure pedals as standard. Switch to flat aluminium or composite pedals to save weight; or to clipless pedals if you are looking to improve foot retention and power transfer to the crankset.

At the cockpit level, you can personalise your bike by adjusting the length of the MTB handlebar or its shape (upsweep, backsweep, rise…), as well as the length of the MTB stem and the grips, all to improve comfort. A carbon handlebar or a CNC-machined aluminium stem will help reduce weight and improve overall stiffness. You can also easily save grams on a low budget with silicone grips, for example.

The MTB saddle determines comfort on long rides. If painful sensations intensify, do not hesitate to replace your original saddle with a model better suited to your body shape.

You can also work on the drivetrain: change the rear derailleur, install a new MTB cassette, a new crankset or new MTB gear shifters to save weight, improve shifting smoothness and increase wear resistance.

For budgets between €200 and €400

The dropper seatpost has become an essential piece of equipment on MTBs for All-Mountain or Enduro riding, providing comfort in technical sections and an undeniable time saving. If you do not already have one, it would be worth investing in this upgrade first.

It can also be worthwhile to look at components such as MTB brakes, which have a real impact on performance and safety during riding. Better braking will mean greater responsiveness and more confidence. If the original setup on your bike is not suited to your riding style, upgrading will allow you to gain braking power, more comfort by choosing a different type of calliper (2 or 4 pistons), more responsiveness and bite by opting for a different size or type of disc.

The diameter of the brake disc depends on the bike and the discipline. The larger it is, the more power you will have. Switching to a larger diameter can therefore prove useful, or even necessary, especially if you enjoy descents. But before making a decision, it is important to check compatibility with the frame (for the rear) and the MTB fork.

Finally, improving your drivetrain is also an option. The single chainring setup is ideal for the vast majority of riders, as it offers simplicity in use and maintenance while retaining the gear ratios you had with a double or triple chainring MTB setup. So don't hesitate — it's a simple and quick upgrade. Complete entry-level groupsets start from €300.

For budgets over €400

Suspension components are key parts for precise and comfortable riding. The damping system can vary greatly between ranges and influence the overall behaviour of the bike. Depending on riding style and intensity of use, an upgrade may prove necessary.

The ideal is to invest in an air spring, whether at the fork or the MTB shock absorber, with an air chamber to save weight, with the advantage of being able to accommodate a wider range of rider weights. In addition, you can gain in manoeuvrability and acceleration. For finer adjustments, it is also beneficial to have compression and rebound damping settings. A suspension can also be improved by changing internal parts, air volume spacers, or by replacing the spring.

With a budget of over €400, you can also consider acquiring new MTB wheels, which are among the most important parts on a bike as they concern the rolling chassis and the dynamism of the bike. By choosing higher-end Tubeless wheels, you will optimise with a weight saving — you can easily shed 500 g — superior lateral stiffness, better acceleration and, in general, improved responsiveness.

Of course, for budgets over €1,000, carbon wheels are an interesting alternative that can offer significant weight savings, maximum lateral stiffness and very good fatigue resistance compared to aluminium.

In more demanding disciplines, such as Enduro or DH, robustness must not be overlooked. It will be necessary to opt for a wider rim in order to be able to fit large-section tyres.

Finally, here too, upgrading the drivetrain is worth considering, with the aim of achieving smoother and more precise shifting, as well as saving weight.

Pay attention to details, settings and maintenance

Of course, you can upgrade your MTB to improve performance or comfort; but it is also possible to do so purely to personalise your bike and give it a different look.

Don't be afraid to add some colour! All the peripheral components such as the handlebar, stem, grips, pedals, seatpost collar, headset, seatpost and saddle can be changed for the pleasure of having a unique look.

There is also a wide range of spare parts available in different colours, such as derailleur pulleys, bolts, discs, cable housing, hydraulic hoses… Also consider titanium parts or ceramic bearings for weight savings or improved smoothness.

Upgrading your MTB allows you to quickly evolve your ride, but a well-tuned and well-maintained bike remains essential and necessary to get the most enjoyment out of it.

We have all experienced it on a ride — a mechanical problem can give you a cold sweat. Setting your suspension to your weight is strongly recommended.

Make sure to follow the manufacturers' recommendations for the maintenance of your suspension, brakes and other components to keep them functioning optimally.

As you will have gathered, upgrading is a broad subject that depends on several factors.
online advisers to provide you with a personalised solution for your needs.