Mountain Biking - XC bike vs hardtail bike

im new to the mtb world so ive got a bit of a dumb question.
does anyone know what the difference is between a cross country mountain bike and a hardtail mountain bike?
thanks
ps. if anyone has ridden from lake mountain resort to keppels hut before, could u please describe the track from boundary hut trail to keppels hut to me please. thanks

im new to the mtb world so ive got a bit of a dumb question.


It's only a dumb question when you forget proper capitalization and sentence structure.

It's only a dumb question when you forget proper capitalization and sentence structure.

I barely post at all, but I read a lot. You seem to always respond the first and never with anything positive to say :lurker:

Most if not all hardtails are XC bikes. Jump over to MTBR for more and better info.

The two are not directly comparable terms.
Hardtail means no rear suspension.
XC is a style of riding.

I barely post at all, but I read a lot. You seem to always respond the first and never with anything positive to say :lurker:

I wish I could deny that statement.

Most if not all hardtails are XC bikes. Jump over to MTBR for more and better info.If that is where you hang out most of the time, I can understand how you came up with the preceding misinformation :rolleyes:.

Just stick around, carrotdude. A lot of good people - - and good answers - - here.

Most if not all hardtails are XC bikes. Jump over to MTBR for more and better info.
I have two hardtails, neither of which are XC bikes. Just sayin'. ;)

It's only a dumb question when you forget proper capitalization and sentence structure.
So,,,, You really don't know the difference do you?

So,,,, You really don't know the difference do you?

Ive seen some hella good answers from this fella. (chelboed)

Steev has it pinned.

The hardtail is a style of frame that has no rear suspension. An XC bike can be rigid, hardtail-front suspended, or dual suspension. Said frames can also be used for other styles of riding. Different angles, gussets, materials, yada...
So OP, are you looking to get a new ride or was it just a random Q? (I'm actually trying to be helpful now)

Steev has it pinned.

The hardtail is a style of frame that has no rear suspension. An XC bike can be rigid, hardtail-front suspended, or dual suspension. Said frames can also be used for other styles of riding. Different angles, gussets, materials, yada...
So OP, are you looking to get a new ride or was it just a random Q? (I'm actually trying to be helpful now)

if it was a random Q i wouldnt ask & waste mine & other peoples time. Im actually lookin for a new one, but i couldnt find the diiference between bikes marketed as hardtail & the ones marketed as XC apart from the XC bikes costing more.

Most people can get by with a standard "Trail Bike". Are you planning on jumping or doing big drops? Urban, stairs, ledges? Or just traversing off road trails?

off road trails

off road trails


Yeah...

that tells us absolutely nothing. Waht sort of trails? We need more useful info if you actually want any help. Or are you just trolling?

What are you not clear on? Some XC bikes are hardtails, but not all. Some hardtails are XC bikes, but not all. Some people ride XC on DH bikes. Some people ride hardtails for DH.

This is my XC bike, which happens to be a hardtail.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/scrublover/2011/March/Blue3-177.jpg

This is my XC bike, which happens to be a full suspension bike.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/scrublover/2010/August/Hunt8-167.jpg

i hate trolls n im not tryin to be one. Im planning on doing trails very similiar to the second pic (the colour one).Trails, not road, with smallish rocks & some small logs. I want something fairly light that will go uphill without too much trouble (& yes i know that that is impossible for some hills).
Im lookin at buyin a new bike. Ive seen hardtails & hardtails that are marketed as being XC but I (bein someone that doesn't know a heap about mtb yet) cant see the difference except that the ones marketed as XC are way more expensive. I guessing that it might have something to do with durability or handling (ie frame geometry related???), but im not sure. Hence, im askin if you know what the difference is and if so do you think it is necessary to get one marketed as XC for the trails i have described to u.

Go to your local bike (shops) and try to test ride every mountain bike their that is within your budget. Hardtail or otherwise. Try to grab some seat time on bikes of friends. Buy the one that fits and feels best. Go ride it. Until you ride some trail and develop a taste for how and what you like to ride (not what you plan on riding) any advice we give will be nearly useless.

There are cheap XC bikes, there are expensive XC bikes. Same is true of every other genre of the cycling world. Something marketed as an "XC" bike is going to run more than a run of the mill box store piece of crap. Why? Because it will ride better, handle better, be more comfortable, last longer, etc., etc. Some of the main differences are geometry. Google mountain bike geometry and start reading.

[/facepalm]


As well, some attention to grammar, spelling, clarity of thought, and coherency of writing would go a long way towards getting you more and better help.

Just a quick one.
I noticed the hard tail in your black & white picture has a close to vetical head stem (or whatever the bit between the handle bars & the front wheel hub is called) and a close to horizontal but slightly lower at the rear top tube. Is this good geometry for XC? A yes or no answer is fine.

those rides look fun

Just a quick one.
I noticed the hard tail in your black & white picture has a close to vetical head stem (or whatever the bit between the handle bars & the front wheel hub is called) and a close to horizontal but slightly lower at the rear top tube. Is this good geometry for XC? A yes or no answer is fine.

yes.

no.

for my XC? sure. for someone else? maybe, maybe not. my prior answer still stands. go ride bikes. see what you like. we can't tell you what will or won't work for you. and not even close to vertical or horizontal.
http://transitionbikes.com/Bikes_TransAM.cfm