Mountain Biking - Hardtail vs. Full Suspension

I know nothing about mountain bikes except that they have fat tires and straight handlebars so... What is advantage and disadvantage of both choices?

(i already read most of the faq and I still don't know)

well, they all dont have flat bars.
i think this thread does a good job of summing it up
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=133919&page=1&pp=25

Well, it depends what you want to do on your bike. If you are going to be going off dirt jumps then you should get a hardtail. If you are looking for Huge drops, and trail riding. Then you might wanna hardtail. But I would suggest a Hardtail. Cuase you can do it all on a HT. It's harder to dirt jump on a Full Suspension cuase when you go off the jump your coil or spring sucks in all you lip. A HT Doesn't. The only big differnece is that you can't really go over to many rocks with a HT. But a FS can do that kinda stuff for you.

Well, that's my input.

it really depends on what you want to do.. if you want to use your bike for road and hit the trail every weekend.. then i would suggest a hardtail.. but if you want to get serious about mountain biking.. there are many acpects.. like downhill,XC,trail and so on.. but since your new.. i would asume that you would want to do some trail or XC riding.. FS could do more technical and eneven terrian than HT..

FS could do more technical and eneven terrian than HT..

As someone who rode a rigid hardtail for years, and recently got a full suspension bike, i think this is not really true.

What suspension does is lessen the jarring your body (and bike frame) gets from stuff you ride over. This means, basically, that you can ride faster before getting to the point that you are bouncing around too much..

You can ride the same stuff on a hardtail, but you have to be a bit more careful - if you just blast over stuff, it will hurt!

The funny thing is, i feel like i'm going slower on my FS bike sometimes, because it's smoother. It was actually more fun to ride the hardtail, since you had to pay a lot more attention, and it actually made it seem like you were going faster.

If you don't race, a HT is not a bad idea at all, i think.

thats why i said could.. and not can..

If you don't race, a HT is not a bad idea at all, i think.
FS = racing?

isn't this HT intended for racing?
http://www.feltracing.com/05_mtb/large_photos/images/05Felt_RXC_Team.jpg

HT seems more appealing to me because FS almost sounds like a comfort thing.... And when given a choice between comfort and speed/efficiency, I go with the speed. Keep in mind... no road ridng for my moutain bike, if it's going to have fat tires then it's has to use them.

i have found that you only need full boingers if it is really rocky where you ride, or if you do huge jumps and drops. i can go down any trail that any of the fs riders in my group can, yet i can out climb them on just about anything. full suspension lets you go faster with more control over bumpier terrain than a hardtail. the big deciding factor for me was price. i could get a hardtail with awesome components for way less than a full suspension rig with ****y components.


peace
harris

I don't like FS bikes. Maybe because I've never had one, only ever ridden crappy ones where you bounce around all the time.

I like my hardtail because it's handling is predictable and therefore dependable. I always fear that a FS bike could grip one minute then let go the next on the same corner. I may be paranoid, but that's my thoughts on it all!

I would just like to say there isn't a good FS bike out there. They all suck.

I would just like to say there isn't a good FS bike out there. They all suck.

All of them suck? How do you come to this conclusion? "Can't go over rocks on a hardtail" I beg to differ. I have done that and more. I would like to learn how you come to say that all FS bikes suck. Please educate me because I am thinking about buying a FS.

All of them suck? How do you come to this conclusion? "Can't go over rocks on a hardtail" I beg to differ. I have done that and more. I would like to learn how you come to say that all FS bikes suck. Please educate me because I am thinking about buying a FS.

With the 5 FS bikes I have ridden I go off the same drop to trany. FS bikes just throw you off. A Hardtail actuly lets to land and it won't throw you off. Unlike a FS. They are only better in that they can go over rocks. Big woop, if you aren't going to go on rocks with a Hardtail you are on the worng trail, or pick up your bike and walk over the rocks.

I would just like to say there isn't a good FS bike out there. They all suck.

that is total bs. fs not good for drops? yea that might be why most high end freeride bikes are fs. throw you off, it isnt a trampoline.

that is just ignorant comment.

All of them suck? How do you come to this conclusion? "Can't go over rocks on a hardtail" I beg to differ. I have done that and more. I would like to learn how you come to say that all FS bikes suck. Please educate me because I am thinking about buying a FS.


Are you complaining for or against, I just can't pick up a sense from this post.

With the 5 FS bikes I have ridden I go off the same drop to trany. FS bikes just throw you off. A Hardtail actuly lets to land and it won't throw you off. Unlike a FS. They are only better in that they can go over rocks. Big woop, if you aren't going to go on rocks with a Hardtail you are on the worng trail, or pick up your bike and walk over the rocks.

You're fighting a loosing battle here. Full Suspension is easier to drop with, it's harder to drop on a hardtail, because you have to be picky with the landings. The only thing a hardtail can't do is have the full pogostick feel. You just have to be smarter on a hardtail.

You must have went on a FS bike at first, because it sounds like the skills weren't there. Or, the first FS bikes were crappy designs.

Are you complaining for or against, I just can't pick up a sense from this post.

I read WannaGetGood's posts about all FS's sucking and then read his post about how a hardtail can't go over rocks. I wanted him to back up his posts with an intelligent response.

I read WannaGetGood's posts about all FS's sucking and then read his post about how a hardtail can't go over rocks. I wanted him to back up his posts with an intelligent response.

I'm just wandering.

What was awkward for me was that I argued for a FS bike and I'm a dedicated HT person.

FS do suck.

The only thing they are good for is downhill. period.

That being said I would like to own the new carbon epic...

FS do suck.

The only thing they are good for is downhill. period.

That being said I would like to own the new carbon epic...

All in one's taste I guess.
:D

I'd like to get my hands on a Transition Vagrant to try.

I'm 32 with a bad lower back. If a FS will take some of the pressure off and still allow me to power up hills (with pro-pedal or rear lockout's, then I'll take it). I ride at a park that has me standing on my pedals 80% of the ride due to excessive rock's. I'll climb anything but I'd rather have some comfort at certain points in the ride.

FS do suck.

The only thing they are good for is downhill. period.

That being said I would like to own the new carbon epic...

Where do you live? In the praries? :D...

FS = racing?

isn't this HT intended for racing?
http://www.feltracing.com/05_mtb/large_photos/images/05Felt_RXC_Team.jpg

HT seems more appealing to me because FS almost sounds like a comfort thing.... And when given a choice between comfort and speed/efficiency, I go with the speed. Keep in mind... no road ridng for my moutain bike, if it's going to have fat tires then it's has to use them.

FS is traction @ high rate of speed also. Tire goes down rear =more traction.
Comfort jumping fer sure. They suck climbing =lockouts.
Gravity racing is bike handling skills, XC indurance.

That bike....if alu..and I raced, one season and retired.
Bet I'd mess the frame in a year normal riding.

I'm just a little pissed cause I crashed on mine today. I went off a drop to trany, (4 Feet Down, 4 Feet Wide. I landed fine but then it threw me off. I was in the air from boucing up. And then hit another drop ( About 5 Feet) And then came down and hit my head on my handle bars. And now I can't see out of one eye. And 8 Hours later I still can't. And my arm has a long line of blood comeing from my elbow half way up my arm. And when I landed, my calf hit my un-guarded crankset. Not the whole back of my right leg was a long line of red going up it. And my head is throbing from hitting the ground so hard from falling from the drop. And it all happened cause I friggen cased my back tire from not going fast enough. And it pisses me off that all my friends can do it on all of thier hardtails, and I'm stuck with a trampoline. It's ture they don't all suck. I was just tryin to blow off some stem.

^soften the rear shock?^

not to start a war, but dont bag FS's because you cant control one.

out of curiosity, what bike are you riding?

^soften the rear shock?^

Or turn down the rebound.
Or replace the spring if you are under 140.
Or set the bike with more sag.

Sounds like you didn't set the bike up right. This isn't an "fs sucks" situation. Its user error.

Good luck with the injury and get better :D

out of curiosity, what bike are you riding?

Some stuiped Sport Mart bike.

WannaGetGood needs to learn to set up suspension.

Landing drops on my Heckler is smooth as anything with it dialed in right.

WannaGetGood needs to learn to set up suspension.

Landing drops on my Hecler is smooth as anything with it dialed in right.

I know my bike has had alot of problems. My crankset keeps doing something funny that I can't figure out, and like everyone else said I might wanna losin my spring.

well, i dont know how adjustable the shock on that pacific is. or how much more it will take with you doing 5 ft drops on it. those bikes dont usually have that much travel, and it usually isnt that smooth or predictable.

i would look into mybe getting a freeride ht.

well, i dont know how adjustable the shock on that pacific is. or how much more it will take with you doing 5 ft drops on it. those bikes dont usually have that much travel, and it usually isnt that smooth or predictable.

i would look into mybe getting a freeride ht.

Yeah, that's what I'm getting next summer when I can get a job.

What is advantage and disadvantage of both choices?In a nutshell, FS makes everything a bit easier, all other things being equal. On a FS, you don't have to work as hard to maintain traction, which means more energy can go into pedalling. You don't have to pick lines as carefully as you would on a HT, so you take a shorter path, which means your speed will increase. HT's will climb a bit better than FS on smoother ascents without root/rock steps, but FS rule on rutted, uneven terrain.

To summarize, HT is faster on predominantly smoother terrain, while FS is easier on rougher terrain and requires less skill in technical situations. Ultimately, it's the engine which determines how fast your bike goes.

listen to pinkrobe.
that was probably the most useful response of this thread.

consider your intended use for the bike.

i'd say only get an FS if you plan on being off-road more often than not.
or if you're older and need the cush for your joints and bones,
because an FS will definitely make the difference in that respect.

but for most part, a hardtail can do almost anything.

Some stuiped Sport Mart bike.

Theres your problem man, Super Store bikes are C-R-A-P. You gotta go to a store that deals with bikes only, and get a good bike. Sorry if I'm sounding like a prick, its not intentional. If you do lots of downhilling prepare for some serious road rash, it happens. And for the bike, if you have some serious cash, get a Kona Stab, they are awesome.

Keep ridin man and dont give up.

Is it true that only girly men ride FS bikes and real men ride HT????

I"m new to all this so I"m just wondering...:lol:

Is it true that only girly men ride FS bikes and real men ride HT????


I don't know if "girly" is the right word. Crazy, maybe? When I watch downhillers, usually the phrase that comes to mind is "what a maniacal, suicidal MF'er!"

Is it true that only girly men ride FS bikes and real men ride HT????

I"m new to all this so I"m just wondering...:lol:

Yep, all those guys going faster than most can imagine are girly men...uh huh...yep..



"what a maniacal, suicidal MF'er!"


Funny, thats just what I think when I going downhill...."holy crap am I trying to kill myself...$@&$@(*$@*$@*)$)$@" :D

Is it true that only girly men ride FS bikes and real men ride HT????

I"m new to all this so I"m just wondering...:lol:

Since I ride a HT with a rigid fork, by your logic I'm a superman, or as Nietzsche would say "ubermensch," Das radfahrer ist an Uberman!

I've been riding off-road for over 15 years. My first 3 bikes were fully rigid, the next 2 were hardtails, I've been riding FS for about 4 years.

I'd never, ever ride anything but an FS (unless I got into something really specialized like jumping). The control, speed and comfort are so far and away superior that they more than make up for the few narrow areas where a HT is superior (climbing), and even there, the big advances over the past couple of years in stable platform suspension have really closed the gap. I even commute on my FS, but living in Boston, a lot of the roads I ride are rougher than some trails ;-)

Now that's just me - I respect whatever it is you climb upon to get yourself up or down the trail. But if you've never been on an FS, or haven't ridden one in a while, you should at least give it a try - you might be surprised.

I know nothing about mountain bikes except that they have fat tires and straight handlebars so... What is advantage and disadvantage of both choices?

(i already read most of the faq and I still don't know)
This subject comes up quite a bit. Try searching before you post next time.
http://www.bikeforums.net/search.php?
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/1365/searchresultsone4xi.jpg
I tried a very specific search but you get the idea.

So did Downhill start with HT way back or did it start after FS bikes arrived on the market???

Has anyone ever did downhill on a HT??? That would a superman crazy Mofo in my mind. You just need some balls to do it on a FS bike. I'd love to do downhill on a FS bike, what a rush I'm sure. I wouldn't be the fastest guy going down but I wouldn't be skeeeert to do it by any means.... :D

There are guys that dh on hts, *usually* not above expert, there is the rare case though. Dh has morphed since way back when. Its a very different sport now.

There are guys that dh on hts, *usually* not above expert, there is the rare case though. Dh has morphed since way back when. Its a very different sport now.

I would DH on a hardtail right now, but a busted hand is holding me back.


:D

I know...I used to know a few others as well. For a while, maybe still, there was a whole ht class :)

I'm just a little pissed cause I crashed on mine today. I went off a drop to trany, (4 Feet Down, 4 Feet Wide. I landed fine but then it threw me off. I was in the air from boucing up. And then hit another drop ( About 5 Feet) And then came down and hit my head on my handle bars. And now I can't see out of one eye. And 8 Hours later I still can't. And my arm has a long line of blood comeing from my elbow half way up my arm. And when I landed, my calf hit my un-guarded crankset. Not the whole back of my right leg was a long line of red going up it. And my head is throbing from hitting the ground so hard from falling from the drop. And it all happened cause I friggen cased my back tire from not going fast enough. And it pisses me off that all my friends can do it on all of thier hardtails, and I'm stuck with a trampoline. It's ture they don't all suck. I was just tryin to blow off some stem.

Don't use fs bikes as a scapegoat for your obvious lack of talent on one. SLOW DOWN YOUR REBOUND DAMPENING and be happy, grom.

Don't use fs bikes as a scapegoat for your obvious lack of talent on one. SLOW DOWN YOUR REBOUND DAMPENING and be happy, grom.

Hold on now. I am for ridicule as much as the next guy, but how do you know it is lack of talent and not his Xmart bike?

I just wanted to qualify my comment from the beginning of the thread. I didn't mean that HTs are not for racing. Obviously, the majority of XC racers still ride HTs. However, on rough terrain, a FS will usually allow you to go faster. Climbing, a HT probably has the advantage (not sure about the 'better traction with FS' thing), and with smooth terrain, it makes little difference except that you need a smoother stroke with a FS to keep from bobbing.

I guess my comment was just from my subjective experience riding around here, where the trails tend to be really washed out and pretty much a mess of ruts and cobbles.

I suggest xome of the Cannondales out there. I have a 2001 Jekyl 600 Full suspension and i love it. It has lockout components on it for the rear and front shock. It's all on the fly. You ride and adjust. You do not need to stop. It's the ultimate if you want a hardtail and a softtail. Look them up.

Bike ON

Ride on! I am racing nrxt week..going to use my Stumpjumper '05 HT for speed, the uphill climb event on groomed gravel-road. 'Stump' is a MUCH lighter bike than my Rocky Mt. FS, less bouce to the ounce for sure.

For the MTB course event, I'm riding 'Rocky' . The upright seating puts my legs in great positioning for spontaneous hard pedal power when I need it..(still working on wheelies..give me a year, OK?)

Gonna have fun!!!! ..each bike has it's own advantage. Maybe I'll do some 'road' ridin someday and purchase a third bike. How many bikes do you own?