Mountain Biking - Hardtail or FS?

The question is...to get a new hardtail or FS complete bike. I want to get into some good freeriding, and I was wondering what would be best. I know Hardtails are a bit lighter than the FS bikes, but can they handle the big drops FS bikes can?...I just finished watching Down, and Double down, mostly Freeride/Downhill, and its usual that when someone goes to hit a 7,8 + foot drop, they always have a FS bike. Would the frame just SNAP under the pressure or what...any advice would be awesome...thanks...

Umm.. what's your budget?

Yeah we need some numbers here.

Did you watch the first round of UFC III on raceface.com?? Wayne Goss does huge gaps on his hardtail with an SC fork...damn I forget what he was riding, I think it was a .243. If you're on a budget, get a strong hardtail frame, something like a .243, Banshee, Le Toy, Evil Imperial, or a Norco Sasquatch/Manik/Rampage... etc. The Norcos are your cheapest option, they'll fit a DC fork on nicely. If you have the cash a full suspension is going to be a nicer ride and they're easier to land big hucks/drops. I see you're from Ontario, most DH (if you can call it that) around here can be done with a hardtail and 6" of travel. Also, if you get a hardtail now and go big, you'll have way more confidence going even bigger when you get on a dually.

oh thats aweosme...paul...thats EXACTLY what i wanted to hear...

Budget....2000 - 2500 CDN

Funny...I just answered this on ridemonkey...

You can do it on a ht, but the body does eventually give you payback...(well to most people)...I like a full sus...feels much better and doesn't hurt anything (unless I fall)

I have several friends who go huge on ht's (pretty common here)...but when they messup...well, it is generally a lot more painful looking.

That said...starting with a ht is very helpful. You get a feel for timing in the air and you learn how to ride well...I just don't believe in it as a lifelong choice :)

Did you watch the first round of UFC III on raceface.com?? Wayne Goss does huge gaps on his hardtail with an SC fork...damn I forget what he was riding, I think it was a .243.
it was a le toy.

Funny...I just answered this on ridemonkey...

You can do it on a ht, but the body does eventually give you payback...(well to most people)...I like a full sus...feels much better and doesn't hurt anything (unless I fall)

I have several friends who go huge on ht's (pretty common here)...but when they messup...well, it is generally a lot more painful looking.

That said...starting with a ht is very helpful. You get a feel for timing in the air and you learn how to ride well...I just don't believe in it as a lifelong choice :)


HAha...yeah maelstrom....i have this posted on ridemonkey...and hcor....i wanted to get a whole bunh of different opinions... :D

2000-2500?!

Okay you know what, go to a cyclepath, if there's one near you, or for that matter any LBS. For that price range, I like cyclepath, because their mostly in the higher price range (1000-4000) and they have got good bikes. For that price, you can get an amazing HT. Depends on how you ride. If you ride downhill, and rarely on road with that bike, then a full sus would be Nice. However, if it's your do-everything-bike, get a hardtail. That way you can get around faster, and more easily, because for 200 you can get an amazing bike with great deraillers, shifters, frame, cranks, etc. Ht's are obviously lighter so that if you're not doing anything intense, you won't have that heavy load of a bike restraining you to be the real Speed Devil inside.

Ht:
Do everything
Fast & Light, for a 2000 dollar price
Great Shifting, if you choose the right deraillers
Try to get a warranty and free tune-ups

FS:
Mostly Offroad
Heavier, but still quite fast for 2000-2500
great Shifting is possible if you choose the right deraillers, others can help you with that, I don't know much about them
Try to get a warranty and free tune-ups


And if you're not going intense either way, try getting a 1000 dollar hardtail. Why have the best and pay the most when you really don't need it. Of course get your bike to exceed your current limits, for you will probably learn alot on the bike.

And to answer your question: Good ht's will handle the drops well but you will feel the impact, if you want to have more comfort and less manueverability, then the FS is for you.

I know some of you alrteady know...but I was looking at the '04 torrent....with the Saint RD, with a Truvativ Crank....etc....blah blah......but the thing is....that bike is pretty heqavy...like...i was surfing over at ridemonkey, and many people have a EVIL imperial...i dont know if there meant for as aggresive freeriding, downhill , jumping or such....but does anyone have an alternative to the Torrent, or do you think its great...Im into freeriding, some trails...some downhill...(ontario...lol)...and wanted to get further into urban riding...ive been told the frame geometry is good for all...but what do you guys think/?...

The evil is heavy but a killed bike. But in canada the frame is 1100$...

Look at Kona. Bike are usually lighter for the same quality. Keep in mind the torrent is heavy because of the parts on it not the frame. Saint cranks are heavier than just about anything on the market, the jrT isn't exactly a light fork and the wheels are strong but heavy too. It you want an urban bike you are looking at 35 to 40 pounds on average for a ht.

well I've had my brodie holeshot for 3 days now, and I can say that for the price (I paid 2400$cnd (with tax and a bunch of free ****)) that I am extremely satisfied :D the biggest drop to flat I've taken so far is 4ft not much and I'm just starting, but it feels amazingly great.

Im 6'2 so I picked the 18" frame, fits like a glove.

The bike is quite heavy to my standard though (which doesn't mean **** cause I use to ride roadies). It has 26" double track sun rim with a 2.7" maxxis highroller tire and same setup in the back but in 24".

If you can put your hands on one I definitely recommend to at least try it :) plus it would make you stand out a little from the mass of norcos ;)

Yea, the Holeshot's are pretty nice but expensive. Look at the Devinci Hucker too, for $1400 it is a really nice hardtail and as the guy above me said, you'll stand out a bit more too.