Firstly it is important to understand what is meant by and adapted mountain bike (A-MTB)
Simply put an A-MTB is any bike or attachment designed for off road use by a disabled person, in this section we will look at the three most popular types and outline the grade of trail they are suitable for but more types shall be added soon.
This is a guide and everyone is different so if you want to ride a specific type of trail and you are unsure if the equipment you have is suitable, you should check with the manufacturer as failure to do this may result in damage to your equipment and/or injury.

 So, lets have a look at the main A-MTB types:
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​Pictures courtesy of:
Clip on: Team hybrid
All others: Sport on

CLIP ON HANDCYCLE

These are designed to attach directly to a wheelchair and effectively turn it into a handcycle, some require additional brackets in order to fit correctly. they are great if space is an issue and you want to do social rides.

Pros:

• Small size, ideal for travel
• Easy to install and use
• Uses your wheelchair so ideal for social riding with café stops.

Cons:

• limited braking on single wheel
• potential to damage wheelchair if not used in accordance with manufacturer guidelines.
• higher centre of gravity making them more unstable off road

LONG SEAT HANDCYCLE

Long seat off-road  handcycles are designed with the drive wheel at the front and typically incorporate disc brakes on all wheels, they can be ether fully rigid or incorporate suspension depending on the supplier.
These are comfortable to ride and good for most trails, bike packing and touring.

Pros:

• Good for riders with less trunk or core strength
• More gearing options to suit your riding
• Front and rear disc brakes
• lower centre of gravity with enough ground clearance for most trails
• Can be used for bike packing and touring
• Some models have suspension.

Cons:

• Cost - higher cost but varies on specification
• Size - they are big so more difficult to transport
• Front wheel drive can lose traction on steeper surfaces, especially if wet or loose
• Prone to tipping when riding off camber sections if steering is required
• Jumps and drops are generally limited (depending on rider skill level and model specification)​

RECUMBANT FULL SUSPENSION

These off-road  handcycles are designed with the drive wheel at the rear and incorporate disc brakes on all wheels, they generally incorporate full suspension.
With the drive wheel at the rear and full suspension these are good for covering rough terrain and have good grip while climbing on loose surfaces.
Pros:

• Rear wheel drive gives better traction on loose terrain
• Can be fitted with a mountain drive for steeper climbs over difficult terrain.
• Front and rear disc brakes
• Plenty of ground clearance for more demanding trails
• Good control for technical trails.
• Can handle larger drop offs.

Cons:

• Cost - higher cost but varies on specification
• Size - they are big so more difficult to transport
• Higher centre of gravity​

Kneeling downhill A-MTB

These off-road  handcycles are designed with the drive wheel at the rear and incorporate disc brakes on all wheels, they generally incorporate full suspension.
To ride these you are in the kneeling position while sat in a formed "bucket" style seat.
Peddling is done below the A-MTB while stearing via a chest pad, then when going downhill stearing and braking is done via a standart MTB handlebar configuration giving better balance and control.

Pros:

• Rear wheel drive gives better traction on loose terrain
• Can be fitted with a mountain drive for steeper climbs over difficult terrain.
• Front and rear disc brakes
• lower centre of gravity with plenty of ground clearance for more demanding trails
• Better weight control for the rider meaning off camber sections are less likely to tip it over.
• Better control for technical trails.
• Can handle larger drop offs and jumps 

Cons:

• Cost - higher cost but varies on specification
• Size - they are big so more difficult to transport
• Possible to catch hands while peddling over rocks
• Rider generally needs good trunk control
• Must be able to get legs into kneeling position