Al K

Hi MTB'ers,

I ride a variety of trails including steep, rocky ones, as well as easier dirt, rooty ones. At first, my dualie seemed better because it absorbed bumps better. But as I ride more and improve, I find that, to my surprise, I now like my hardtail better. The hardtail is more nimble and climbs better. Hardtail absorbs shocks nearly as well as the dualie since I get off seat to absorb rough stuff on both.

Perhaps I'm not using the dualie properly, as standing when I could be sitting. I have used my hardtail and dualie the same amount of time.

Which -- a hardtail or a dualie -- do you prefer for a wide variety of cross country trail riding?

Matt Gaunt

Me, me, I do!

I've never had a suspension bike of any kind and nor will I ever because the only riding I do is relatively easy going. Not so rocky, quite steep, plenty of hazards though. I just don't see the point of a suspension bike for my needs. I can handle my hardtail really well, catching it round corners just right etc. and I fear that a suspension bike would render this skill useless as there would be uncertainty as to where the gripping point would come in the turn.

Not for me - I'm sticking with old-school tried and tested gear!

Brian

I own a one-off custom FS frame that was made for a race team. Horst link, light, no expense spared. Shop project ugly, but it's a great frame. I built if up for my wife, as even though it performs great, I prefer a hardtail. I've been taking my 24" BMX for a bit of bush bashing, so maybe I just prefer the punishment.

Hopper

Sorry this is a bit off topic but Expatriate can you post a pic of this dually you speak of.

As for the topic... I like both. For fast DH I cannot go past a dually but this same dually will be terrible for DJing and street riding but this HT will be terrible for DHing and dropping and roun dand round it goes. What I am sying is they are both very important bikes. If I had it my way I would have a very large stable of bikes....

If I had 3 bikes, A HT with 75-150mm fork, Short travel dually, long travel dually

Brian

I'll take a photo this weekend.

shane45

The only reason I would have a FS is if I did a lot of hucking and jumping. I don't anymore, so a hardtail does everything I need it to now.

[bEn]

Hardtails can be good for long distance riding and can move faster on road.

kfb

I'm definitely a hardtail fan!

Had a full suspension Epic loaned to me for weekend, and while I must admit it was awesome how the suspension handled the rocks, roots, and ruts, I find I really enjoy the more sporty feeling of the hardtail. It forces you to pay more attention to the trail as you attempt to miss some of the nastier bumps, etc.

On the Epic I didn't hardly care what was in front of me as the suspension soaked up most of the force. I also feel faster on the hardtail, and love climbing with them. As many others have stated in other threads, I think honing your riding skills on a hardtail also make you a better overall rider.

Snuffleupagus

Well, well not much love for the full squish.

I'll say it, I prefer my FS rig to my old hardtail for XC riding/racing and endurance riding. For XC racing sure I'm a tiny bit slower on some climbs than I would be on a hardtail, but the NRS suspension setup causes the rear shock to extend under power, hence neglible bob while trucking uphill. On the flats, and especially the downhills I'm way more confident at the limit of control to just point and shoot the bike down techy stuff.

For trail riding and endurance stuff, the FS takes the edge off the ride a little bit, allowing me to continue the ride/race for hour upon hour.

I don't dislike HTs at all, but as long as I have only one XC bike, it'll be a full squish rig.

jz19

I do. I only ride XC and it is hard to beat a steel hardtail for this kind of riding. I think that most people that ride FS do not really need them. I would only consider a FS if my body were to start getting beat up or something but I don't see that happening anytime soon. For the moment I'll stay with the elegant lines and simplicity of a hardtail.

Maelstrom 

Hahaha neither is perfect. I don't ride roads and avoid concrete like the plague. On some trails I find my dually kicks butt. I can ride much faster on the technical trails than on my ht. However I do enjoy my ht and ride it more often on basic trails (sometimes the really tech steep ones just for fun)...

I don't know how anyone can say one is better than the other.

AzMntBiker

I own both a hardtail and FS. I've find each has it's own little niche. On longer technical and rocky terrain I prefer the the FS. When it's a faster smooth track, I prefer the hardtail. With a suspsension lock out though, my FS can pretty much take the duties of the hardtail, so I do find myself using it more these days.

joelsp

I like hardtails, but mainly because they are in my price range. I have test ridden a couple of full suspension bikes I would love to have, I just need to keep saving I suppose.

Squirrely144

I prefer full suspension over a hardtale but each one has its' place. I noticed a big increase in my confidence off road and urban when i went to FS and time and time again FS has compensated for my sub-par riding skills (bad landings, unseen drop-offs, drunken nightriding). On downhill sections i find myself looking for the line that appears to be the most fun/fastest instead of the one that is the easiest as i did on my hardtale.

phantomcow2

Well i like hardtails for my XC riding. I dont do many large drops or whatnot. The hardtail is almost always lighter if it matters but i like the feel. I feel like with a hardtail my energy goes more toward pushing me forward. I use my body to absorb shocks and that works wodnerfully. ANd on climbing i feel like theres no comparison. Also it doesnt hurt that they are cheaper and therse more simplicity, so less can go wrong. Keep in mind i have not ridden a dual squish very much

sarsparilla

I started out on a lower end full squish diamondback and when I got it I thought that there was nothing better than it. I then realized that my passion really lies in XC riding/racing so after a while I decided to go with a hardtail. I haven't looked back since. Sure, the rock gardens seem a little rockier but I still like the feel of my HT better. I've tried out some of my friend's higher end FS bikes but find that I still prefer my HT. As others have said though, FS definately has a place in the MTB world and works wonders in other riding disciplines.

blue_neon

Hardtails are easier to start on, better for longer distances, more affordable and are usually lighter. Hard Tails are the way to go unless your into spending $3000 on a FS and you do hardcore DH

RubenZ

The way I see it is, why have a Full suspension if according to most on this site in another thread you ride off the seat most of the time?

brandon14295

old school all the way

skdsl

full squish all the way. The tracks around here are pretty rough. A while ago I had to resort to using my old hardtail for a few weeks. I found on the downhills I was only marginally slower, but climbing? I was getting so frustrated with the HT I almost felt like leaving it in the bush and walking home. Spin, slip, slide. If my dually ever climbs like a hardtail I'd sell it. I'd much rather pedal my 15kg of dually up a hill than push a 12kg hardtail.

Tweek

Count me in for another person that prefers Hardtail over Full Suspension.

Al K

Hi Skdsl,

You're saying that DS grips trail uphill better than HT, and you may be right in that DS shock keeps rear tire in contact more with trail than HT. Is this your point?

What we usually hear about DS relative to HT climbing are negatives of pogo and weight. Do you think that DS superior grip outweighs pogo and weight disadvantages?

Maelstrom 

I think in technical area a decent suspension design 'could' be better. It would assist in getting over roots and rocks on really technical ascents. That in and of itself outweighs the pop/weight issues.

On some trails my bighit goes up better than my roast

Killer B

I like no suspension.... $500
I like front suspension.... $800
I like full suspension.... $1200

The Fact that I like all bikes.... Priceless.

"Get on your bikes & ride".... Fat Bottomed Girls.

Dannihilator

Hardtails for life.