How to Assemble a Mountain Bike
80Where to begin...
In this hubpage you will find a description of every step required for assemble a mountain bike from scratch and every thing you will need during that process.
I remembered to make this page when I started to assemble my newest full suspension mountain bike and began to photograph every step of the process.
This guide will help those who are beginning to assemble a mountain bike for the first time but it will also help everyone who need to make some maintenance on their bicycle and never tried to dismantle it and put everything together again in the end. Almost everything on a mountain bike can be easily fixed or changed by any average biker and as you all must know - you will save lots of money doing it by yourself.
The best thing about being able to assemble your own mountain bike is the fact that you can choose every component and in the end you will get your unique dream bike!
How to assemble your mountain bike
Chapter 1 - Assembling the Headset and Suspension Fork;
Chapter 2 - Assembling the Bottom Bracket and Crankset;
Chapter 3 - Assembling the Handlebar and all the Commands;
Chapter 4 - Assembling the Brakes, Front and Rear Gears (soon);
Chapter 5 - Assembling the Seat post and Saddle (soon);
Chapter 6 - Assembling the Wheels and Tires (soon).
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The frame
First thing you need to do is choosing your mountain bike frame and you should not forget this is the most important part of your bike. Almost every other parts are going to be replaced sooner or later after some usage but the frame will go on being the same as long as you have made the right choice when you bought it (frame materials, general quality, finishing, size of the frame, etc.).
My choice went to the beautiful Carver frame from the Italian brand MDEbikes. Their frames are handmade by request and you can choose anything from size of the frame to its finishing. This time I decided to try the polished finishing and as you can see it makes the frame shine like a star but more important it makes the frame much more resistant than any kind of painting.
When you decide to "built" your own mountain bike with all your favorite components you must know it will cost you more than if you bought a complete bike from a bicycle shop. But this way you will have a unique bicycle and most of all your mountain bike will have all those components you like the most (at least if your wallet allows it).
Full Suspension Mountain Bike Frames
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Mountain Cycle 06 Zen Frame w/ 5th Element Air Shock, Small, Annod Black
Price: $1,249.95
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Titus El Guapo Mountain Bike Frame Gold, M
Price: $1,096.99
List Price: $1,994.95 |
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Rocky Mountain Slayer SXC 70 Frame Gunmetal/White, 18.0in
Price: $2,098.95
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Intense Cycles Spider FRO Frame Stealth Black, LARGE
Price: $1,566.50
List Price: $2,410.00 |
Hardtail Mountain Bike Frames
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Azonic 08 Steelhead Pro Dirt Jumping Mountain Bike Frame (Black, XL)
Price: $379.00
List Price: $379.00 |
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2009 Corratec Super Bow Titan Titanium MTB Mountain Bikes Bicycle Frames 42 16.5", 44 cm 18"
Price: $1,549.99
List Price: $1,799.99 |
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LOOK USA 986 Origin Pro Team Mountain Bike Frame Black/White, 53
Price: $1,499.95
List Price: $1,999.95 |
Bicycle tools
Tools you will need to begin with
Before deciding which frame or which components to buy you should get some tools to be able to assemble your bicycle properly. I will start by showing the essential ones and then I will describe other tools which can help you simplify some of your tasks.
The first thing to do is to buy one of those bicycle tools box which bring almost every essencial tools to work on your bike. In my case I also bought a good set of hex key wrenches because they are needed for almost every part of the bike and the ones which came with the box were not very good.
Bicycle Tool Kits
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Brand New! Home Mechanic Bike Bicycle Tool Kit!
This is useful for you to repair the bicycle. Different tools in a quality carrying case, convenient for you to carry.
Price: $32.50
List Price: $49.99 |
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TOOL KIT ACTION BOX-SMALL PRO 15 TOOLS IN A CASE
TOOL KIT ACTION BOX-SMALL PRO 15 TOOLS IN A CASE PLASTIC CASE W/WINDOW
Price: $49.86
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Avenir Home Mechanic's Tool Kit
This Tool Kit holds everything the home bicycle mechanic needs in a convenient carrying case. The molded plastic case has special molded tool imprints to securely hold tools in individual sections.
Price: $49.99
List Price: $79.99 |
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M-Wave Universal Bicycle Tool Set (44-Pieces)
Price: $98.25
List Price: $99.99 |
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Park Tool PH-1 P-Handled Hex Wrench Set
These thoughtfully designed P-handled hex wrenches fit the task at hand, as well as hey fit in your hand. The PH-1 set includes 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10mm sizes.
Price: $44.89
List Price: $71.99 |
Other important bicycle tools
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeMore tools
There are much more bicycle tools that can be used during a mountain bike assembling and which can make the all process much easy.
One of the most important for me it is the foldable aluminum workstation where I can put the frame or the entire bicycle and be able to work on it without having to stay on strange and tiring positions while I am working.
Of course there are many other ways to hold your bike during assembling or maintenance of your bicycle but few give you the stability and safety as a good bicycle repair stand.
Bicycle Repair Stands
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Racor Pro PSB-1R Single Folding Bike Rack
Two arms support the frame of the bike upright for reliable storage and easy access. A handy shelf is a great place to set helmets or bike shoes, and doubles as a light-duty mechanics workstation.
Price: $7.09
List Price: $20.00 |
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Park PCS-9 Home Mechanic Repair Stand
With a stable three-point leg system, adjustable height and a 360deg rotating clamp, you`ll find it easier to get your work done. With adjustable clamping pressure, you can safely clamp your thin-walled frame without the worry of over tightening. Folds to compact 41" for easy portability and storage. Clamp fits tubes from 7/8" to 3".
Price: $102.57
List Price: $124.00 |
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Feedback Sports Recreational Bicycle Repair Stand (BRS-50)
Ultimate's Recreational Repair Stand is affordable and packed with features including Ultimate's Spinner-Knob clamp that's simple to use and grips great, yet won't damage even thin-wall tubing.
Price: $109.99
List Price: $129.99 |
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Park Tool PCS-10 Home Mechanic Repair Stand
The PCS-10 has all the features of Park's popular PCS-9 Home Mechanic Repair Stand but with special upgrades to make set up, take down, and use faster and easier. The PCS-10 works well with many recumbents and bikes with odd shaped tubing.
Price: $121.99
List Price: $217.99 |
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Park Tool PRS-15 Professional Race Stand
The PRS-15 is designed to be the finest folding repair stand made. Manufactured from the best materials to provide years of reliable service, the PRS-15 is lightweight, portable, and fully adjustable. The PRS-15 works with any bike and can be quickly turned into a complete mobile workstation by adding the optional Truing Stand, Bucket Tool Kilt, and Paper Towel Holder accessories.
Price: $268.99
List Price: $409.99 |
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I will show you more bicycle tools during all the assembling steps. Some of them are very important to facilitate several operations as you will notice later along the process.
Finished Mountain Bike
How to assemble your mountain bike
Chapter 1 - Assembling the Headset and Suspension Fork;
Chapter 2 - Assembling the Bottom Bracket and Crankset;
Chapter 3 - Assembling the Handlebar and all the Commands;
Chapter 4 - Assembling the Brakes, Front and Rear Gears (soon);
Chapter 5 - Assembling the Seat post and Saddle (soon);
Chapter 6 - Assembling the Wheels and Tires (soon).
Mountain bike maintenance bibliography on Amazon
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The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance and Repair: For Road and Mountain Bikes(Expanded and Revised 5th Edition)
Whether they own the latest model or a classic with thousands of miles on it, beginners and experienced cyclists alike can depend on this book to get their bikes out of the shop faster and keep them on the road longer. With troubleshooting sections to quickly identify and correct common problems, 450 photographs and 40 drawings to clarify all the step-by-step directions so even the complete neophyte can get repairs right the first time.
Price: $11.72
List Price: $21.99 |
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Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance
The most concise, well-organized, and clearly illustrated reference available, Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance gently guides the reader - regardless of mountain bike experience or mechanical prowess - through every aspect of maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting in a succinct and easy-to-read format and presents the latest technological advances and equipment in mountain bike components.
Price: $15.65
List Price: $24.95 |
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Zinn's Cycling Primer: Maintenance Tips and Skill Building for Cyclists
The book includes routine bicycle maintenance tips, simple tricks to fix troublesome quirks, and tutorials to help increase cycling performance. The focus is on both learnable skills and understanding components and hardware. Aimed at road and mountain cyclists as well as triathletes, this book presents valuable information in a format that's fun and easy to grasp.
Price: $11.19
List Price: $24.95 |
Kaibot building his new Giant NRS
I will be here to help you
If you need some advise or if you have any doubts, please feel free to ask me through the comment box bellow or using the Contact funride link. I will try to guide you through the process the best I can and if by any chance I could not help I will forward your questions to a much more experienced bicycle mechanic.
Have fun!
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Comments
Hey Eovery, it`s great to have you here. Every time you feel like "talking" in Portuguese you can always contact me, I`ll be very glad to help you ;)
I love Póvoa do Varzim (you`re wrong because you spelled it right lol) and I´m sure you showed them not to annoy you anymore. Some times people from bicycle shops think they are the only ones who can repair or substitute some part on a bicycle without ruin it. I have been repairing my own bikes and assembling my bicycles for several years now and I never had any problem (contrarily I had enough problems after having my bicycles repaired by them in the past).
If you ever return to Portugal remember to tell me so we can meet and ride together ;)
Vau funride, you are really an expert!
I can't wait to get warmer so that I can start riding my bike.
Oh Happy World, you`re too kind but I don`t see my self as an expert - perhaps someone who really loves bicycles and everything that relates with it. Here at Portugal we already got some good weather this year but I´m afraid the heavy rains are still to come...
Have fun and enjoy your rides.
you riding again sweetie?..we have had our rains and are looking towards sunshine now...I hope...How is my Angel doing anyways??? G-Ma :O) Hugs & Peace
That´s right my dear, I started really cautious but now I´m riding very often and already of roads. Weather it´s much much better now indeed. As you see I´m fine and very happy because I am working and able to ride my bikes once again. Big hug...
Great hub on mountain bike assembly!
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'09 Marin Mount Vision 5.8 Bicycle Frame & Fox RP23 XL
Current Bid: $649.99
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Sticker part your GT Mountain Bike frame or fork NEW!
Current Bid: $1.95
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SCHWINN ALUMINUM COMP FRAME OLD/NEW STOCK
Current Bid: $49.00
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Cannondale 1FG Single-speed Mountain Frame cracked weld
Current Bid: $45.00
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2008 Redline Monocog Flight 29er- 19in frame
Current Bid: $362.00
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'09 Marin Mount Vision 5.8 Bicycle Frame & Fox RP23 Med
Current Bid: $649.99
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Mountain Bikes in the News
- Mendham middle-schoolers donate bikes to developing countriesDaily Record25 hours ago
MENDHAM — In many countries, bicycles are a dominant form of transportation, especially in relatively poor or developing countries. Realizing there exists a high demand, students at Mountainview Middle School, along with their families and friends, donated their bicycles to Pedals For Progress.
- Vail Daily Editor Don Rogers: That's not just an engine whiningThe Vail Trail25 hours ago
If the Hidden Gems wilderness proposal is fully imposed, snowmobiles and motorcycles and mountain bikes will hardly be "locked" out of the national forest. They'd still have a million acres of where they actually go available. A million acres. That's a lot of room to ramble. They've got to have the 400,000 acres they don't use so much now or wouldn't be able to use anyway, too? The majority of ...
- Downhill double act prove cycling talent runs in the familyThe Scotsman23 hours ago
CYCLING fans could be forgiven for thinking they were seeing double at the latest mountain biking championships.
My MOUNTAIN DIMENSION ENGINEERING bikes
- Time out...
I have not been riding lately because I went through another surgery, this time to my left wrist. That is the main reason of all this time without posting here. It is true I made several very good rides before the surgery but time was too short and I didn´t managed to find the time to write :( During the last three weeks I had the time but I didn´t want to think about bikes... I believe I´ll
- Why can´t we live life in slow motion!?
Sometimes I feel like time is never enough... why? Why can´t we live our lives in slow motion!?Things would be much easier, tasks would never be postponed and we would have time to keep our blog posts updated... ehehehehehLast month has been full of work but fortunately also great rides. After buying the Garmin Edge 705 HR I started to play with it and enjoying all the info it gives me.The first
- The return of the blogger...
I want to start by apologizing to all of you for all this time without any update. This does not mean that I haven´t rode lately, matter of fact I have been riding more than ever, the problem has been my work which has taken almost all my time. Let´s see, since my last post I have made several mountain bike crossings and also some marathons. First I started by going through the first two stages














eovery says:
9 months ago
Bom Dia, meu amigo Portuguese.
Yeah, I get a chance to practice my portugues. Been over 25 years, I need a lot of practice.
Good idea for a hub.
I remember when I was in Povoa de Varzim (I know I spelled it wrong) I have a bike and the wheel bearing were out of it. Dona Maria from where I was staying pointed me a repair shop where I was able to buy the bearings. Then the guys started teasing me, as an dumb american I could not fix it. So I had to impress that having lived on a Big Fienza, I repaired big farming equipment as I grew up. They calmed down a little after that.
Keep on hubbing. I am awaiting your next hubnuggets.