Maelstrom 

Thats cool. What fork is up front and do you have a pic?

Agreed 100%. Same with disc brakes imo

Brian

You've seen it before. Dean at ATC Racing custom built the fork for us.

Maelstrom 

Nice setup. Yeah I remember asking for a pic before.

Brian

We've got Magura Hydraulics for it, I've just got to order the stainless braided lines, and then we need to swap the fork for a Marzocchi DJ when we travel. Oh, I also got some SRAM 9 speed for it too. The very long wheelbase makes it heaps fun to bomb down trails. The tracks we ride on our single bikes are much more fun on the tandem. Faster too, most of the time.

Cornish_Rdr_UK

Steel Hardtails rule!

Brian

Definitely. Right after titanium. Now go edit the link in your thread so we can see your photo.

stapfam

[QUOTE=Expatriate]You've seen it before. Dean at ATC Racing custom built the fork for us.




Yet another tandem and this one will walk all over solos on any downhill (Except for D.H. Bikes on D.H.courses) whether it be in sheer speed, or handling over rough ground. Concession made to stoker though in a suspension post fitted.

Incidentally-- Dale Mt2000 frame Boxer Race forks with heavier springs and a bit of setting up for the tandem, Hope M4 Mono brakes with 200mm discs, and Hope big un hubs with mavic EX729 rims and 36 spokes, Mainly XT, and downhill specific bars and other fitments

I still ride solo, and its Hardtail for me with an "older Bianchi"

Cornish_Rdr_UK

Here we go, you asked for a pic..... Its in my Sig under Feel the Rhythm

morbid_fiend

HT, mainly because I ride street and a DJ whenever I get the chance and love the fact that I go bigger on my HT then most of the squissy I ride with, unless Im doing seriouse DH then I have no use for FS, besides if I was going to race DH I'd probably just throw a boxxer on my HT.

mtnbiker66

Iride full squish on trails and hartail on street. My somewhat bad back will talk to me when I'm riding street. We rode street for about 3 hours last night and my back was really starting to hurt at the end. I'll ride trails today on my 5&5 rig.I'm 38 man,got to take it easy on the joints when I can. Street riding on a small HT frame is a blast but I pay for it.

Specializedride

hardtail expect for 35 foot drops

phantomcow2

That is a beasty machine, i like it.

Specializedride

i like the clip-ins in the front for trial riding and platforms on the back for downhilling and hucking. nice setup

Brian

I have little Shimanos up front for me, and my wife has the 636's (DH clip-ins) in back. Gives her a bit more room to "dance" back there, while I'm either in our out. And as Stapfam stated, we do have certain advantages on a tandem, in dirt or on the road. Plus, my wife always rides with me. Oh yeah, I just added a suspension post for her too. We were going to get the Cannondale tandem, but they were spec'd pretty crappy for AU$5k. I figured we could build a better tandem for that much. Once I factored in the 100% error rate for my estimate, we were right on target. I don't have anything against the Cannondale, but we need the S&S couplers for travel. Titanium was just a bonus.

phantomcow2

heh, i didnt even notice the pedal setup. How much does that monster weigh?

DHMudRunner

I would have to go with hardtail for everything except for the big drops. I like the feeling of pushing the pedal and the bike going forward and not down because of the suspension. Nothing beats the acceleration of a hardtail, especially when you are in the middle of a race and can't stand any lost power. I have to admit the a FR FS has saved a few of my bones for hard landings but I will still take a ht over it. Cornering on an ht just gives the feeling of more control. I can't say how many times I hit the brakes on a corner because I though I was going sideways or had a flat in the rear.

jayson

I have both

Brian

I haven't had a chance to actually weigh it, but it's pretty light for a tandem. The frame weighs 3.7kg, which was a good start. Weight wasn't the primary concern, a compliant ride was. Since we import a lot of stuff to Australia, I've been replacing bits and pieces as we go. Nearly every nut, bolt or fastener is titanium as well. Currently looking for a 100-110mm ti stem. 90 was too short, 120 creates a bit more excitement than I'd like. In a previous thread I explained why titanium rotors are a bad idea. I had some custom ones made up, and they lasted 220km before they wore and destroyed two sets of pads. The front ones actually seized up, and shot out during a group ride. We rode home on a single weak rear brake. When we win the lottery (I can only justify this expense once) we'll get another one with the independent pedalling system, titanium full suspension frame, and a Rohloff rear hub. It's not that I feel we need the suspension, I just think my wife deserves a smoother ride back there. Not that she's ever complained. We'll find someone to ride with us so we can get some action shots some day.

hooligan

I'll say Hardtail just because, from what I've seen and done, hardtail is better at street and dirt jumping, as well as overall not so rough trails. However, hardtails can downhill and freeride as well, just requiring more skills.


Generally, I think in Downhill and Freeride, hardtails are acceptable, but Duallies are preferred. On most trails, they usually break even, with hardtails pedalling slightly (or much) better. On street and dirtjump, hardtails are usually the preference, I'm guessing weight, suspension and control play a factor with duallies not doing so well.

I think hardtails can have more use than an FS. Just my 0.02

snoopz666

FS for me, i used to ride a hardtail, but as soon as i went to my fs i hardly ever rode hardtail again

jz19

Hardtail for me too and soon to be a steel one.

phantomcow2

Yay my post was revived

stumpjumper476

Damn I sorrounded by you hardtaillers. Those are the fastest XC bikes out there, and I came close to buying one myself, but your ass just turns to jelly after a while, and the best bikes are full, and you can't deny that...

They each serve their purposes.

Hardtails- XC, DJ, mountain-cross, getting across town

Full- Hardcore XC, Hardcore freeride, and Downhill

phantomcow2

yea but your legs are the most sophisticated suspension out there. even compared to a 5th element

stumpjumper476

True, but whenever I ride my brother HT ('04 Hardrock) I just feel so nervous riding it too hard, the back feels like it's going to snap over every little rock.