8 Common Type of Bicycles in Malaysia

Bicycles are a type of transportation. But in Malaysia, bicycles are more of a hobby than transportation due to our weather. 

Today, I would like to tell you about 8 common types of bicycles which you can find in Malaysia.

Road bikes

As the name suggests, road bikes are designed to ride on the road. You might ask, eh, Aren’t all bicycles designed to be ridden on the road? 

Although all bicycles could be ridden on the road, road bikes design are to be best used on the road. They are usually faster and lighter than other types of bicycles. 

If a person is looking to race or spend time working out over long miles on the road, a road bike is the choice. 

A road bike has a lightweight frame, skinny tires, drop handlebars, and a high gear ratio.

If you want fast and efficient cycling on normal roads, a road bike is your choice.

Mountain bike

Mountain bikes are designed for riding rough off-road trails. They have flat or upright handlebars and a very low gear range for pedaling up steep trails. Most mountain bikes have some type of shock absorber or suspension. 

There are 3 types of mountain bikes.

The first is a mountain bike with front suspension only. They are called hardtails.

The second type is mountain bikes with both front and rear suspension. They are called full-suspension mountain bikes or they are called duallies. 

The third one is without suspension. They are called rigid mountain bikes. 

While mountain bikes can be used on roads for everyday riding, they are heavy and slow to ride on normal roads if compared to other types of bikes.

Choose a mountain bike if you want to go mountain biking or mainly off-road.

Hybrid bike

Hybrid bikes or commuter bikes are a mixture between road bikes and mountain bikes. They provide the advantages of both road bikes and mountain bikes. 

Hybrid bikes offer a more friendly design for riders who are looking to get from point A to point B without many workouts. These bikes typically have a laid-back seat position which is comfortable for most riders. 

Hybrid bikes have flat handlebars instead of drop handlebars.

They have wider wheels to improve handling and they have disc brakes to improve braking efficiency. They do very well on busy city roads.

Hybrid bikes are best for casual riding around the neighborhood or on bike paths. It is good for short-distance commuting, as well as occasionally going off-road or mountain biking.

You should choose a hybrid bike if you spend more time on the road while occasionally you like to have fun off-road.

E-bike

E-bike is one of the latest trends in cycling. Technology comes into play in e-bikes. Electric bikes have become increasingly popular, especially among bike commuters. 

When you paddle, the electric motor provides an assist and gives you a push so that you go faster, and going uphill is a lot easier.

E-bikes are available in many types of bicycles including mountain bikes, road bikes, and hybrid bikes. 

Basically, they are bikes with a battery and a motor and because of that, they’re heavier than other bikes.

You can essentially go anywhere at a steady pace without much sweat with an e-bike.

If you want a bike for daily commuting without sweat or if you want to go twice the distance for half the effort, get an e-bike.

Folding bikes

Folding bikes are designed to fold up into a compact size easily so that you can store them away when you’re not using them or you can carry them around conveniently.

Folding bikes are easier to carry upstairs, fit into a lift, and also into your car. 

It is easy to store at home too, as it doesn’t consume much space.

These bikes are suitable for anyone who has very little storage space for a bike. Or to anyone who needs to carry the bike to a certain destination to enjoy cycling.

Folding bikes typically have small wheels and this downside limits them to flat roads only. 

Although they cannot match the performance of a road bike or a mountain bike, you can still have lots of fun riding a folding bike.

So, don’t choose a folding bike if you want to go off-road or to go really fast.

Fixie / Fixed Gear Bike

A fixie is a short form for fixed gear. Although most fixies have drop handlebars, some riders outfit theirs with flat or upright handlebars. 

Their key feature is that they have no freewheel mechanism, and they contain only a single fixed gear. 

The pedal is always moving whenever the bicycle is moving. Fixies are not meant for beginners, you need a particular degree of connection and control to get yourself familiar with the pedal movement.

The advantage of this is that you can slow down the bike by pushing back on the pedals, the disadvantage is that when you are going very fast downhill you have to keep your legs up with the pedal movement.

A fixie has fewer parts to purchase and maintain, which means the cost is lower.

Fixie bikes are not very popular in Malaysia. If you live in a relatively flat urban area like KL, you might consider buying a fixie bike.

Kids bike

Kids bikes are for kids, but I can tell you, it is very fun to play with. You should try it out yourself but make sure you do it quietly so nobody will laugh at you.

The most basic of kids’ bikes are the Balance Bike, a simple two-wheeled bike with no pedals, no gears, or no brakes. 

When seated, your kids can keep their feet firmly on the ground. They push to get going and they stop to stop. 

This is ideal for 2 to 3 years old to learn how to balance and learn to play at the same time.

Other than balance bikes, There are also road bikes, mountain bikes, and hybrid bikes for kids, which are smaller in size.

It’s important to buy a bike that fits well now rather than one that is too large that it can grow into. 

A properly sized bike will be easier for kids to handle, a lot safer and more fun to ride.

Gravel bike

Gravel bikes look similar to road bikes in appearance, yet they are very different.

A gravel bike is a combination of a road bike that is good on normal roads and a cyclocross bike that is good on off-road. 

They use wider tires and have slightly flared drop handlebars that offer wider hand positioning. The drop bars provide a more natural position for hands, and there will be less fatigue over a long distance ride. 

They have a more upright geometry and provide a relaxed riding position.

Gravel bikes are more durable than a road bikes and much faster than mountain bikes. They can be ridden almost anywhere, on the road and off the road.

So, if you want to have one bike to cover both on-road and off-road, a gravel bike would be the ideal choice.

In a nutshell

Now that you have a rough idea of what types of bicycles are available out there, which one do you think suits you the most?

Think about these questions:

Who do you ride with? 

What type of bicycles do they ride?

What is your cycling preference? 

Where would you like to ride your new bike? On-road or off-road?

If you are buying a bike to ride with a group of friends, buy something similar to what they ride, don’t buy something different then you will have a problem catching up with them.

So, regardless of whichever bicycle you choose, remember to pick one that you truly need and one that perfectly fits your cycling requirements. If you’re still unsure about what type of bike you need, talk to us or any SLM Bicycle dealers in Malaysia.

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