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What is a hardtail?

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Old 08-08-06, 09:03 PM
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What is a hardtail?

I was just kinda wondering what makes a bike a hardtail. Feel free to explain any other types of bikes too. I am not sure what my bike is but its a mongoose D40R.
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Old 08-08-06, 09:05 PM
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The back end of the bike has no suspension.
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Old 08-08-06, 09:07 PM
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HT (hard tail)- front suspension...no rear
FS (full suspension, fully, squishy, dully, ect.)- but front and back suspensions
Rigid- no suspension
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Old 08-08-06, 09:12 PM
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Has no Rear Shock.
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Old 08-08-06, 09:38 PM
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Hardtail:


Full suspension:


(this one's for you gastro )

Last edited by Jason222; 08-08-06 at 11:00 PM.
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Old 08-08-06, 10:07 PM
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ahhh, the pictures for the ilertate people like me.
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Old 08-08-06, 10:09 PM
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Thanks for the replys guys, so i am guessing mine is full suspension, which i am assuming is good..lol

would you guys reply to my thread in bike mechanics? Please, if ya know.
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Old 08-08-06, 10:18 PM
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I did so.
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Old 08-08-06, 10:54 PM
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A hardtail is a throwback to an earlier time, like when motorcycles were regularly raced on board tracks at state fairs .
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Old 08-09-06, 11:20 AM
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Why are full sus better?
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Old 08-09-06, 11:50 AM
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Originally Posted by biker_lad
Why are full sus better?
Why are pneumatic tires better than solid rubber ones? Why are disc brakes better than coaster brakes? Because we are living in the 21st century now
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Last edited by dminor; 08-09-06 at 05:48 PM.
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Old 08-09-06, 11:57 AM
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Not all full suspension bikes are better than hardtails though. I would rather have a cheap hardtail than a cheap full suspension any day.
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Old 08-09-06, 11:59 AM
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Originally Posted by kyboyatheart
Thanks for the replys guys, so i am guessing mine is full suspension, which i am assuming is good..lol
As long as you are happy with it.
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Old 08-09-06, 01:10 PM
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Originally Posted by biker_lad
Why are full sus better?
It isn't always better. It's only better for more aggressive riding, but not always. The mass majority of dirt jumpers will take a hardtail over a full suspension bike anyday.
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Old 08-09-06, 03:57 PM
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riding a hardtail is more challenging!
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Old 08-09-06, 04:19 PM
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I'd take a hartail over a full suspention XC bike any day. Excpt for the Specialized Epic.
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Old 08-09-06, 04:49 PM
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Originally Posted by biker_lad
Why are full sus better?
Oh, oh, somebody just opened a can of worms...
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Old 08-09-06, 07:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Roxter
I'd take a hartail over a full suspention XC bike any day. Excpt for the Specialized Epic.
It all depends on the course. So far this year I have raced my Ellsworth Truth (fs) ten times and my Ellsworth Enlightenment (ht) zero times. An efficient full suspension is a thing of beauty.

Oh, I would take my Truth over an Epic any day as well. This is just personal preference though.
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Old 08-09-06, 09:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Jason222
Hardtail:


Full suspension:


(this one's for you gastro )
this one would be closer to gastro's ride:



Full Suspension a.k.a softtail...(note that the tail is suspended and this, soft, compared to a HARDtail...)



the 'tail' of the bike or rather the frame is not suspended, thus hard-tail.

each one has their own advantages, but starting out in most mountain biking disciplines i highly recommend a hardtail.
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Old 08-09-06, 10:34 PM
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Cream Soda, that's not what a soft tail is. A soft tail is a bike without pivots, and a very short amount of travel in the rear.


And I think my pic was closer to Gastro's because he has an 06 66 fork on his bike, and a new rear shock. But the colouring is different.
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Old 08-10-06, 12:34 AM
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Alright no fighting before this goes any further.

I currently own a full suspension, and I'm ditching it for a decent HT. KonaRider does downhill riding on a HT.

I see a HT as harder to handle then a FS. It's all in the skill, and the jelly legs!
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Old 08-10-06, 12:55 AM
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Originally Posted by Defiance
Alright no fighting before this goes any further.

I currently own a full suspension, and I'm ditching it for a decent HT. KonaRider does downhill riding on a HT.

I see a HT as harder to handle then a FS. It's all in the skill, and the jelly legs!
I'd kill for a FS in adelaide, we got some REAL rocky trails and DHing hardtails with 120mm forks isn't the best thing for sore wrists
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Old 08-10-06, 02:07 AM
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Originally Posted by Pink_Ninja
I'd kill for a FS in adelaide, we got some REAL rocky trails and DHing hardtails with 120mm forks isn't the best thing for sore wrists
Well for sure riding on sore wrists isn't the best thing.

Recover and absorb some of the shock with your arms. Or get a better fork then 120 mm...
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Old 08-12-06, 01:32 AM
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Define Better ???

Originally Posted by dminor
Why are pneumatic tires better than solid rubber ones? Why are disc brakes better than coaster brakes? Because we are living in the 21st century now
Define Better???? Is more expensive better?? Depends on the application.

For relatively smooth singletrack, a full suspension bicycle is not required. Even for choppier stuff a full suspension is not required. What is typically required is more riding skill.

For rough as hell downhills, full suspension is typcially required. Horses for courses.
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