I've been riding for a couple of years now and have been happy with my Trek 4500 hardtail (I even put a ridgid Surly fork on it). I've been told that FS is great and that I'd love it but I am concerned that the suspension won't support a heavy rider adequately. I also feel like switching over to a bouncy bike will hurt my technique (I don't even know if I have a technique, but ridgid makes your work and finesse it a little).

I am considering buying another bike this summer and I am debating between a really nice hardtail or a FS xc bike (and just keeping the hardtail I've got for commuting). Maybe go with a downhill or freeride bike for the tougher components? I would rather spend less than 1500 but would spend a little more for the right bike.

The LBS s in the area carry Gary Fisher and Trek in one, and Raleigh, Specialized and DB at the other. I would like to go with one of these for the service.

Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.

P.S. Front Der. are evil. anything I get will be converted to 1x9 or 1x8

Thanks

I'm kind of in the same boat at ~200. To be honest though, the price tags on full suspension bikes scare me more than the suspension itself. :D

My big concern is how all those suspension pivots will hold up once I start mashing the pedals. At 240 I could bend steel seat rails just by pedaling up hills and my Hoss still creaked like crazy under load. Given that they'e usually placed such that they accumulate a lot of crud in the course of riding, I don't really have a lot of confidence that they'll last very long for me.

DH/Freeride bikes might be able to take a bit more abuse, but the geometry of those bikes just doesn't work for me at all.

PS- With you on the 1x9 setup. It's not that front derailleurs are really all that evil, just totally unnecessary around here.

Thanks for the feedback Askel, but I'm sticking to my guns, front der. are evil AND unnecessary for me

I have a XC FS bike and love it, I am 275 lbs, so I have some weight on you! You do loose a little on the climbs but the downhills and technical are super fun. If you do a fair amount of bumpy offroading I say do it, of you stay to smoother singletrack and a lot of road the hardtail may be the way to go!

I'm 230 and my best friend is close to 280 - we both ride Santa Cruz Superlights. OK neither of us are gonzo downhillers but we do get out and can do fairly technical climbs and descent - just no jumps etc. the bikes perform well. I have had no problems at all. The key I think is get a good bike with a good warranty and trust good components but don't be crazy.

A good solid bike to consider at a reasonable price is the Specialized Stumpjumper FSR. Price is around $2000 - 2500.

there's another category out there, between XC and FR/DH...it's called AM, "all-mountain", where the Jamis Dakar XLT's, the SC Nomads, the Titus El Guapo's, the Intense 6.6's live.

I ride an XLT, and I'm fully confident it can take my 225+ for a long time to come.

Whe you look to go full-suss, though, remember these words:

"coil, not air." unless you enjoy getting forks/shocks rebuilt for leaky air seals. I've blown 2 air shocks in three years just COMMUTING!