Mountain Biking - between two bikes...

im a road bike convert, and just starting into mtb's at the moment, im stuck between two bikes below, which is better? why? one is dual suspension, the second is a hard tail

2011 Motobecane 700DS

Frame Oversized Bearing Pivot, Custom Formed TIG Welded 7005 Aluminum Front and Rear Triangle with replaceable rear derailleur hanger
Suspension Fork NEW RockShox Dart2 long travel with hydraulic damping and LOCKOUT
Rear Suspension KS Axis CoilOver with adjustable preload, damping and LOCKOUT
Crankset TruVativ 5D almuminum arms, 175mm, Powershift Rings 22/32/44T
Bottom Bracket Sealed Cartridge Unit, square taper
Pedals Beartrap MTB with metal cage
Front Derailleur Factory UPGRADED to Deore
Rear Derailleur Factory UPGRADED to Deore XT
Shifters Shimano Deore Mega 9 Rapid-Fire STI Triggershift Pods
Cassette/Freewheel 12-32T 9 speed
Chain KMC IG Narrow 9 Speed
Hubs Formula Forged Aluminum Disc w/Q.R. and sealed bearings
Spokes Stainless Steel
Rims WTB SpeedDisc AllMountain, double wall 6061 T6 aluminum, Black finish
Tires WTB Velociraptor 26x2.1 inch (Front/rear specific tread designs)
Brakes Avid BB 5 BallBearing mechanical disc 160mm rotors
Brake Levers Tektro aluminum
Headset Cane Creek VP A42E Threadless 1.125 inch sealed bearing
Handlebar Skye 20° rise Aluminum
Stem Skye Comp Aluminum Threadless for 1.125 inch
Tape/Grip WTB Black dual compound
Saddle WTB Speed V with LoveChannel
Seat Post Skye Aluminum alloy MicroAdjust, 27.2mm
Seat Clamp Alloy Q.R.
Sizes Small fits up to 5'8", Medium fits up to 6', Large fits 6'1" and taller
(approx. sizing - please check against geometry to make your final choice)
Colors Ferrari GlossBlack with Polished Rear Triangle (as shown)





2011 Gravity 29Point2




Frame ALLOY 6061 Aluminum with TrailTested Design. D-Section, Hydroformed Downtube with reinforced Gusset, replaceable rear derailleur hanger, water bottle mount
Fork 29" SUSPENSION FORK, ROCK SHOX DART 3 29" 100MM W/LOCKOUT
Crankset SHIMANO ALIVIO FC-M430 22Tx32Tx44T(for 27-SP) x175mm, ALLOY BLACK CRANK arms
Bottom Bracket Sealed cartridge bearing, 68x113mm STaper
Pedals Mountain Platform
Front Derailleur SHIMANO DEORE FDM591, 31.8mm clamp
Rear Derailleur SHIMANO SLX RDM662SGSL, Shadow low-profile
Shifters Shimano Alivio, trigger shift
Cassette Cassette 11-32t 9 speed
Chain KMC Z99, for 27 Speed
Hubs Gravity by Formula Sealed Ball Bearing Disc with Quick Release
Spokes Stainless steel
Rims WTB SPEED DISC 29x32H, Black anodized Aluminum
Tires WTB PROWLER SL RACE, 29x2.1
Brakes Avid BB5 Disc Brake front and rear
Brake Levers TEKTRO ALLOY BLACK, Brake Levers
Headset CaneCreek VP-A42E Sealed Bearing threadless 1 1/8 in
Handlebar Black Finish Aluminum 6061 T6, 610MM
Stem Black Finish Aluminum threadless EXT:90MM(15.5"~17.5")/110MM(19"~21")x10 DEGREES
Tape/Grip WTB DualCompound
Saddle WTB SpeedV
Seat Post Black Finish Aluminum Mountain 27.2mm x 400mm
(insert min 2 inches below lowest top tube weld / maintain clamp collar tightness)
Seat Post Clamp Super Light Alloy with Quick Release
Sizes 13", 15", 17", 19", 21" Click for 29R Geometry
Colors GlossWhite

same as the hard tail above, but with slightly better parts and no 29's


Frame Kinesis X6Series Aluminum 3.2lbs Nominal weight, replaceable rear derailleur hanger, 2x H2O bosses
Fork RockShox DART 3 WITH ADJUSTABLE REBOUND (120MM) AND LOCKOUT
Crankset FSA DYNA-DRIVE 22/32/44T with Powerdrive
Bottom Bracket FSA PowerDrive Axle Sealed bearing
Pedals FREE Gravity DualStage Clipless/Platform
Front Derailleur Shimano Deore
Rear Derailleur Shimano LX long cage
Shifters Shimano Deore Rapid Fire 27 speed trigger shift
Cassette/Freewheel Shimano HG cassette 9 speed 11-32T
Chain Z9000 super narrow 9 speed
Hubs Gravity Disc Sealed Bearings with Quick Release
Spokes Double Butted Stainless steel
Rims WTB SpeedDisc Double Wall Aluminum
Tires/ Tubes Panaracer FireXC PRO 26x2.1 / Presta Valve
Brakes Avid BallBearing Mechanical Disc front and rear, 160mm rotor
Brake Levers Avid FR5 for Disc Brake
Headset Ritchey Sealed Bearing threadless 1 1/8 inch
Handlebar Ritchey Rizer SC Butted Aluminum 6061 T6
Stem Ritchey Comp Aluminum threadless
Tape/Grip WTB DualCompound
Saddle WTB SpeedV
Seat Post Ritchey Comp Mountain 27.2mm Aluminum
Seat Post Clamp Super Light Aluminum
Sizes 16", 18", 20", 22"
Colors MatteBlast(SlateGray) or GlossYellow

10 years ago I used to ride a full suspension gt rts. I sold it and bought a hardtail trek. My reasoning was that the gt was crazy heavy, yes bombing down the hills was alittle nicer than a hard tail but climbing back up was hell. Not just because of the weight but the "bob" of the rear end. I needed to keep my weight perfectly centered and my body as steady as I could otherwise the rear wheel would bounce off the ground and cause me to spin. No It wasnt impossible just more difficult.
I found the hardtail much more stable and not nearly as much wasted power. I found that the front suspension was plenty enough shock absorbtion for the downhills since Im usually standing anyways.
Admittedly I have not ridden a full suspension in many years, perhaps modern fs's have corrected for this. If I had to choose a mtb Id go with a hardtailed 29er. maybe disk brakes not sure (never ridden one)196896196897