If you're looking for a mountain bike, one that you should definitely test ride is a Specialized mountain bike. Specialized has two meanings here. First, a mountain bike is a specialized kind of bike, and second, Specialized is the company name that manufactures this line of well-known and very popular bikes.

Specialized mountain bikes come in several model lines based on skill level, terrain usage and personal needs. Rockhoppers are often chosen as a good beginner and intermediate line, while the S-Works Mountain bike is for the most advanced rider.

Other lines include Epic, SFSR, Enduro, Demo, BigHit, FatBoy, Hardrock and the Stumpjumper. Specialized mountain bikes are all built from a lightweight but very durable aluminum frame. The average weight of a Specialized mountain bike is 30 pounds, which is an attractive feature.

Mike Sinyard founded Specialized in 1974 with the intention of giving everyone "the best ride of their life." The first mass-produced mountain bike for Specialized was the Stumpjumper, which is still a popular choice today. Over time, the company has grown to become one of the major players in the bike industry, partly because of the company's development of an independent suspension FSR frame.

Pricing for Specialized mountain bikes is great for the quality. Starting at $330 and ranging up to $7100, there's a price point for everyone. They are slightly less expensive than the industry standard, but still maintain a high level of quality. Competitors are considered to be Giant, Trek and Marin. Reviewers seem to love Specialize mountain bikes, lauding their affordable price, comfort, lightweight aluminum frame and ease when climbing.