Single-Speed Mountain Bike Buyer’s Guide: Our Top Picks for 2023

Are you a cyclist who’s ready to unlock the adventure and simplicity of single-speed mountain bike riding? Say goodbye to the complexity of multi-geared bikes and embrace the beauty of a single-gear ratio.

This article explores the benefits and features of single-speed mountain bikes. We’ll review the best single-speed (SS) mountain bikes for 2023 and provide essential tips for customization, maintenance, and transitioning to most single-speed bikes from multi-geared bikes.

Let’s dive into this unique type of mountain bike and discover a new way to conquer the trails!

Riding Single-Speed: The Basics

Single-speed biking is a thrilling way to take your riding to the next level. With just one gear ratio, cyclists experience the simplicity, efficiency, and pure joy of conquering the trails on a bike stripped down to its essential components.

Various types of single-speed bikes are available, including urban bikes, do-it-all single-speeds, SS road bikes, track bikes with frames, and SS mountain bikes.

When putting together your bike, you should consider the frame material, gear ratio, and quality of the components.

Riding a single-speed bike requires mastering the drivetrain, ensuring your tires have enough clearance, getting the right amount of bosses, and understanding the importance of front braking.

As for maintenance, keep an eye on the chain tension, tire pressure, and brakes to ensure your bike stays in tip-top shape.

Choosing the right SS MTB can be an exciting journey. From selecting the perfect frame material and gear ratio to mastering the art of single-speed riding, you’ll experience the freedom and satisfaction of conquering the trails with just flat pedals and a single gear.

So visit your local bike shop, test out some single-speed mountain bikes, and embark on a new adventure in serious mountain biking itself.

Best Single-Speed Mountain Bikes for 2023

Prepare to rule the trails with one of these top 2023 singlespeed mountain bikes: the Surly Karate Monkey, Pivot LES Singlespeed, Surly Lowside, Spot Rocker SS, and Kona Unit. Each of these single-speed mountain bikes offers a unique combination of features and benefits to help you easily tackle intense rides and steep inclines.

Remember, when choosing your SS MTB, consider weight, frame material, and style of riding. In the following sections, we’ll explore the features and benefits of these top-notch bikes to help you make the best choice for your style and preferences.

Surly Karate Monkey

The Karate Monkey played a pivotal role in popularizing the 29-inch wheel size, being one of the pioneering production models to feature this larger wheel option. It successfully brought the 29” platform to the attention of a wide audience, offering an accessible price point that appealed to numerous cycling enthusiasts.

Specifications:

• Frame: Surly 4130 CroMoly steel
• Fork: 4130 CroMoly, 483mm axle-to-crown
• Wheels: 29” Alex MD40 Rims
• Tires: Surly Dirt Wizard, 29 x 3.0”
• Brakes: Avid BB7 Mechanical Disc
• Handlebars: Surly Terminal Bar
• Saddle: WTB Volt Sport

Features:

The Surly Karate Monkey represents a harmonious blend of rugged durability and agile performance. Its 4130 CroMoly steel frame and 483mm axle-to-crown fork are designed to withstand the demands of aggressive trail riding while offering a responsive feel.

Equipped with 29-inch Alex MD40 rims and wide 3.0” Surly Dirt Wizard tires, the Karate Monkey provides superior traction and stability, making it a reliable choice for a variety of terrains. The large wheel size ensures a smooth ride, helping riders to overcome obstacles with ease.

Avid BB7 mechanical disc brakes offer precise and powerful stopping power, ensuring rider safety even in challenging conditions. The unique Surly Terminal Bar handlebars contribute to an upright riding position, providing comfort and control.

The WTB Volt Sport saddle adds to the bike’s overall comfort, ensuring that riders can stay on the trails for extended periods without discomfort. With its robust construction and performance-oriented design, the Surly Karate Monkey stands as a premier choice for serious single-speed mountain bikers.

Pivot LES Singlespeed

With its elegant simplicity and surprising speed, the LES Singlespeed excels at the strategic art of riding with just one gear. By combining the sporty and lightweight DNA of the LES SL with our reliable Swinger II dropout system, they’ve built a dream ride for Singlespeed enthusiasts.

Specifications:

• Frame: Carbon Fiber
• Fork: Fox Factory 32 Step-Cast, 100mm Travel
• Wheels: 29” DT Swiss M1900
• Tires: Maxxis Ardent Race, 29×2.20”
• Brakes: Shimano XT M8100 Hydraulic Disc
• Handlebars: Phoenix Team Low Rise Carbon
• Saddle: Phoenix WTB Volt Pro

Features:

The Pivot LES Singlespeed is a testament to how far single-speed mountain biking has come, offering a lightweight, agile, and high-performance ride. At the heart of this bike is a state-of-the-art carbon fiber frame, providing a stiff yet responsive ride. This material choice significantly reduces the bike’s overall weight, ensuring that riders can easily maneuver through challenging trails and uphill sections.

The Fox Factory 32 Step-Cast fork with 100mm of travel offers a plush ride, adeptly absorbing shocks and bumps along the trail. This feature is particularly noteworthy for SS riders, as the lack of rear suspension on many models can lead to a harsher ride. The inclusion of this high-quality fork helps mitigate that, providing a more comfortable experience.

Rolling on 29-inch DT Swiss M1900 wheels, the LES Singlespeed maintains momentum with ease, making it easier to tackle steep climbs and maintain speed through technical sections. The Maxxis Ardent Race tires, at 29×2.20”, provide excellent traction and stability, ensuring that riders can confidently navigate various terrains.

Shimano XT M8100 hydraulic disc brakes offer exceptional stopping power and modulation, a crucial aspect of mountain biking that becomes even more paramount when riding a single-speed. The Phoenix Team Low Rise Carbon handlebars add to the bike’s overall lightweight design while providing ample control and responsiveness.

The Phoenix WTB Volt Pro saddle ensures comfort throughout your rides, and the overall aesthetics of the LES Singlespeed exude a sense of speed and precision. With its top-tier components and attention to detail, the Pivot LES Singlespeed is a premium choice for riders who demand the best from their single-speed mountain bike.

Surly Lowside

The Surly Lowside embodies the matured version of the bike you cherished during childhood when dreams were abundant, and ambition was alive. Whether it’s conquering singletrack trails or being parked outside your beloved watering hole, Lowside thrives in both environments.

Specifications:

• Frame: Surly 4130 CroMoly Steel
• Fork: Surly 4130 CroMoly Steel, 100mm travel
• Wheels: 26” Alex Rims
• Tires: Surly ExtraTerrestrial, 26×2.5”
• Brakes: SRAM Level Hydraulic Disc
• Handlebars: Surly Sunrise
• Saddle: WTB Volt Sport

Features:

The Surly Lowside is a testament to the brand’s dedication to creating unique, durable, and versatile bikes. Designed with a robust 4130 CroMoly steel frame and fork, the Lowside is built to withstand the rigors of mountain trails while providing a responsive and lively ride.

The bike rolls on 26-inch Alex Rims, a nod to traditional mountain biking wheel sizes, ensuring quick handling and agility on tight trails. The Surly ExtraTerrestrial tires, at a wide 26×2.5”, provide ample grip and stability, allowing riders to confidently tackle a variety of terrains.

Equipped with SRAM Level hydraulic disc brakes, the Lowside offers reliable and powerful stopping performance, a crucial aspect for the safety and control of any mountain biking adventure. The Surly Sunrise handlebars provide a wide and comfortable grip, enhancing bike control and reducing rider fatigue over long rides.

The WTB Volt Sport saddle ensures rider comfort, and the overall design of the Lowside reflects Surly’s signature rugged and utilitarian aesthetic. This bike is perfect for riders who value durability and versatility, making it an excellent option for both trail riding and urban adventures.

As a single-speed mountain bike, Lowside proudly carries the legacy of Surly’s DNA since its inception, tracing back to the legendary 1×1 Rat Ride. Despite bidding farewell to the 1×1 after numerous memorable Homie Fall Fests and countless remarkable achievements, Lowside continues where its predecessor left off, taking the torch and carrying it forward.

The Lowside is a one-of-a-kind single-speed MTB that offers a unique riding experience. In 2017, Surly revamped the Lowside, adding modern features like dropper post routing holes and the versatile “Gnot Boost” hub spacing, which can easily handle 135mm, 142, or 148mm (boost).

Spot Rocker Singlespeed

The Spot Rocker SS covers you if you want to go all out on a single-speed mountain bike purchase. The 6-star build level on this bike offers premium components at a premium price. This bike is for serious mountain bikers ready to tackle the most challenging terrain and downhill tracks. 

Specifications:

• Frame: Carbon Fiber
• Fork: RockShox SID RL, 100mm travel
• Wheels: 29” Stan’s NoTubes Crest MK3
• Tires: Maxxis Ikon, 29×2.2”
• Brakes: SRAM Level TLM Hydraulic Disc
• Handlebars: Spot Carbon Flat Bar
• Saddle: WTB Silverado Race

Features:

The Spot Rocker Singlespeed stands out as a high-performance option for riders who demand the best from their equipment. With a lightweight and stiff carbon fiber frame, this bike offers an incredibly responsive and efficient ride.

The RockShox SID RL fork provides 100mm of travel, delivering a plush and controlled ride, effectively absorbing bumps and shocks from the trail. This feature is particularly beneficial for single-speed riders, as it enhances comfort and control on rough terrains.

Rolling on 29-inch Stan’s NoTubes Crest MK3 wheels, the Rocker maintains momentum with ease, aiding riders in conquering steep climbs and navigating technical sections. The Maxxis Ikon tires, at 29×2.2”, offer excellent traction and rolling efficiency, ensuring a fast and stable ride.

The SRAM Level TLM hydraulic disc brakes provide top-tier stopping power and modulation, ensuring rider safety and bike control. The Spot Carbon Flat Bar handlebars contribute to the bike’s lightweight design while offering a comfortable and controlled grip.

The WTB Silverado Race saddle provides ample support and comfort for long rides, and the bike’s overall design exudes a sense of speed and precision. The Spot Rocker Singlespeed is a premium choice for riders seeking a high-performance single-speed mountain bike that doesn’t compromise on quality or features.

Kona Unit

The Kona Unit is a must-have bike for thrill-seekers looking to take their adventure and exploration to the next level. This bike is designed for riders who are seeking a change from the local trails and a chance to push their limits. Whether you want to enhance your skills or crave top-notch performance at an affordable price, this bike is for you.

Specifications:

• Frame: Kona 6061 Aluminum Butted
• Fork: Kona P2 29er Disc
• Wheels: 29”
• Tires: Maxxis Ikon, 29×2.2”
• Brakes: Tektro Novela Mechanical Disc
• Handlebars: Kona XC/BC Riser
• Saddle: Kona XC

Features:

The Kona Unit is a single-speed mountain bike designed for riders who demand versatility and performance. The 6061 aluminum butted frame provides a lightweight yet sturdy base, ensuring that the bike is both responsive and durable.

Equipped with 29-inch wheels and Maxxis Ikon tires, the Unit offers a smooth and stable ride across diverse terrains. The large wheel size helps in maintaining momentum and easily rolling over obstacles, a crucial aspect for single-speed riding.

Tektro Novela mechanical disc brakes provide dependable stopping power, ensuring rider safety in all conditions. The Kona XC/BC riser handlebars offer ample control and maneuverability, allowing riders to confidently navigate challenging trails.

The Kona XC saddle adds to the bike’s overall comfort, ensuring that riders remain comfortable during long trail rides. With its combination of durability, performance, and affordability, the Kona Unit stands as an excellent option for single-speed mountain biking enthusiasts.

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Customizing Your Single-Speed MTB

Now that you’ve chosen your perfect single-speed MTB, it’s time to make it your own. Customizing your bike allows you to tailor it to your riding preferences and the terrain you’ll be conquering.

In the following sections, we’ll delve into frame material choices, suspension vs. rigid forks, and gear ratios and wheel sizes to help you create the ultimate single-speed biking machine.

Frame Material Choices

When choosing a frame material, you have several options, including hi-tensile, chrome, aluminum, carbon fiber, or titanium. Steel and an aluminum frame are the most common choices for single-speeders, offering a balance of durability and affordability.

Single-speed racing bikes often use tubing similar to that found on road bikes, while BMX cruisers typically feature chromoly steel frames. The right frame material for your single-speed mountain bike will depend on your riding preferences and budget, so be sure to consider all the options before deciding.

Suspension vs. Rigid Forks

When it comes to forks on your single-speed mountain bike, you have two main choices: suspension and a rigid fork. Suspension forks offer a more comfortable ride on bumpy trails by absorbing shock, while rigid forks provide a lightweight and efficient option.

The choice between rigid and suspension forks will largely depend on how you ride, the terrain you tackle, and your preferences. Remember that while suspension forks offer a smoother ride, they may add weight and require more maintenance than their rigid counterparts.

Gear Ratios and Wheel Sizes

Choosing the right gear ratio and wheel size for your single-speed mountain bike is essential for optimizing your riding experience. Typical gear ratios for these types of bikes include 42:16, 42:17, and 42:18, though the perfect ratio will depend on your riding skill, fitness level, and the terrain you’ll be conquering.

For on-road single-speed bikes, a ratio between 2.3:1 and 2.75:1 is ideal. Fixed gear ratios, on the other hand, typically hover around 2.75:1. Experimenting with different components and gear ratios can help you find the perfect balance for your needs.

As for wheel sizes, SS bikes can accommodate a range of options, from 700c to 26″, so be sure to choose the size that best suits your preferences.

Maintenance and Upkeep

One of the major benefits of SS MTBs is their relatively low maintenance requirements. With fewer components to worry about, you can spend more time enjoying the trails and less time tinkering with your bike.

To keep your SS MTB in tip-top shape, regularly clean and lube the chain, check tire pressure, and inspect the shock at least once or twice a year.

SS bikes are generally easier to keep clean and lubed than their multi-speed counterparts, thanks to their simpler drivetrains. This means you can spend less time on maintenance and more time enjoying the thrill of the ride.

Remember, a well-maintained bike will last longer and perform better on the trails. So invest some time and effort into regular maintenance and upkeep to ensure your bike stays in peak condition and ready for adventure.

Advantages of Riding Single-Speed

A single-speed mountain bike offers numerous benefits, including simplicity, cost savings, improved fitness levels, and a better understanding of momentum. The simplicity of this kind of bike comes from its lack of complex components, making it lightweight and easy to ride. They are often more budget-friendly than multi-speed bikes due to their fewer parts.

Riding a single-speed bike can also help improve your fitness levels and give you a better understanding of the physics of momentum. Fixed-gear bikes, in particular, are great for building fitness, as they require constant pedaling and can help you conquer even the toughest climbs.

Additionally, riding a SS bike can help you develop better control and agility on the trails as you learn to maintain speed and momentum through proper body positioning and technique.

The advantages of riding a single-speed mountain bike make it an attractive option for riders looking to simplify their cycling experience, save money, and improve their fitness and riding skills.

Transitioning from Multi-Geared Bikes

If you’re considering switching from a multi-geared bike to a fixed-gear bike, you may wonder how to adjust to the new ride. Converting your multi-speed bike to a fixed gear is relatively easy, with the help of the original rear hub and a single BMX freewheel. You can also modify the front rear wheel dropout to accept a rear derailleur hanger for versatility.

One of the main differences between a fixed-gear bike and a multi-geared bike is the lack of components, such as cassettes, chainrings, gear cables, derailleurs, and gear levers. This simplicity can make riding a fixed gear feel like an entirely new bike experience, requiring you to adjust your riding technique to account for the lack of gears.

Practice shifting your weight and using your body to control the bike, braking, and cornering to master the art of single-speed riding.

Transitioning from a multi-geared bike to a single-speed mountain bike can be an exciting and rewarding experience. With some practice and patience, you’ll soon enjoy the simplicity, efficiency, and thrill of conquering the same trails again with a fixed-gear ride.

Single-Speed MTB for Different Terrains

Single-speed mountain bikes are versatile machines capable of tackling various terrains, from road and mountain to gravel and track. Choosing the right SS MTB for your terrain preferences is essential for optimizing your riding experience.

For example, if you’re looking for a bike to tackle cross-country, downhill, or trail riding, ensure you choose a single-speed mountain bike designed for those specific terrains.

When it comes to bottom bracket sizes, the standard size for mountain bikes is 73mm, providing a stable and comfortable ride on various terrains. Mid-priced single-speed bikes are also well-suited for rough terrain, city streets, and light gravel, offering a versatile option for riders who enjoy urban and off-road adventures.

No matter what terrain you plan to conquer, a single-speed mountain bike is designed to meet your needs.

Beginner’s Guide to Single-Speed Mountain Biking

You may wonder where to start if you’re new to SS mountain biking. The key to getting started lies in understanding the basics of gear ratio, terrain, and technique.

A gear ratio between 2.7 and 2.8 is a good starting point for beginners, providing a balance of ease and challenge. If you plan to tackle steep climbs, consider a higher gear ratio, such as 44:16 or 46:18.

Experimenting with different components and gear ratios will help you find the perfect balance for your riding style and needs.

Choosing the right bike and accessories is also crucial for beginners. Visit your local bike shop to test out various single-speed mountain bikes and find the one that is most comfortable and suits your riding style.

Invest in essential gear such as helmets, shoes, and clothing to ensure a safe and enjoyable riding experience. With the right gear, knowledge, and practice, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the art of single-speed biking.

Accessories and Gear for Single-Speed Riders

To enhance your single-speed mountain biking experience, investing in the right accessories and gear is important. Some essentials for every rider include lights, locks, fenders, and racks to keep your bike safe and functional. In addition, pay attention to the three contact points between your body and your bike – the handlebars, saddle, and pedals – to ensure optimal comfort and control during your rides.

Bar tape is a popular accessory for single-speed bikes, especially those with curved ‘drop bars’ and ‘bull horns’. Padded bar tape can help cushion your hands against shock on bumpy roads, reducing discomfort and fatigue during long rides. Consider investing in a sturdy ‘D-Lock’ or similar locking device to secure your single-speed bike.

Equipping yourself with the right accessories and gear will make your riding experience more enjoyable and help ensure your bike’s safety and longevity. So gear up, hit the trails, and discover the thrills.

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Summary

In conclusion, biking on a SS MTB offers a unique and exciting way to experience the trails, combining simplicity, cost savings, and improved fitness levels with a better understanding of momentum.

From choosing the right bike and customizing it to suit your preferences to mastering the art of single-speed riding and transitioning from multi-geared bikes, a world of adventure is waiting to be unlocked. So gear up, hit the trails, and discover the thrill of conquering the terrain with just one gear!