C_Heath

Hey guys,

Ive found BMC Virus used with some decent components for $1000. Its a hard tail tho. I just sold my 2005 Top Fuel for $1300. I think the fuel was a good bike but still being almost 5 years old, it wasnt up to speed on technology. Plus, I needed the cash.

Welp, its time to hit the woods here and I want another rig. The delema is I want a nice, new rig that I can build as money permits but If I do that, Ill be on the sideline. The woods season starts here Tuesday. Should I buy the hardtail or sit on it?

Id love to build me a Titus or Yeti but I dont ride in the woods that much. Yes, Im a roadie most of the year but the road group turns to the woods after daylight savings and I dont wanna be left out. I shoulda just kept the Top Fuel.

Thanks,
Chris

C_Heath

Tough Crowd.


lol

ed 

RIC0

I liked my Hardtail but LOVE my FS. The one and ONLY thing the hardtail has over the FS is climbing. The FS was great on rides 10 miles or less, anything over got brutal and can't even compete with a FS unless your riding on ultra smooth trails. Don't get me wrong, I miss my HT and wish I still had one on standby but the FS is much more my style.

mystolenbikes

FS, just make sure the to get the one with the lockout.

craigcraigcraig

i ride a hardtail and am not a wuss like these others. Not sure how others ride but if you stand up and let your knees absorb some impact on the downhills or rough stuff it's not bad. Ride one of each then decide maybe.

mystolenbikes

You must be poor or broke then. Do we really have to go there? riding a FS bike has nothing to being a wuss you can ride the hardtail all day long but there is gonna be that one time you'll need that suspension to clear something and when you clear it that one time will put a smile on your face ear to ear.

Campag4life

One time?...lol. The rest of the time all that suspension sucks up your energy not to mention dragging the extra weight around. To me unless you ride extreme trails with fall offs and jumps etc, a hardtail is the way to go. Especially if you do a lot of climbing.

ProEdgeBiker

?....

mystolenbikes

My FS weighs 27lbs stock which is much less then average mid priced hardtail and I think it weighs little less now with a few little mods plus it has a lockout in the back and the front so when I climb I put on full rigid, and that is why initially I said "make sure to get the one with a lockout in the back"

C_Heath

MAN, i STIRRED UP SOMETHING....

ed 

I'd be more inclined to ride a dual suspension bike on XC. That being said...money not an obj...dual suspension for me for any application. I just think it's easier to absorb drops and things of that nature with my body compression than it is to ride 5hrs of rocky XC trail standing up over 1/2 of it b/c I'm on a hardtail.

Depends on the terrain, rider, how fast you wanna get there.



Why can't people just agree that a hardtail is better than a dually except for when the dually is better than the hardtail?

patentcad

Yes, why is that?

ed 

Missed you man!!!




Umm...it all depends on the person riding the bike...and how closed/open minded they are when describing their perfect ride.

craigcraigcraig

oh most of my post was a joke.

D.I.S.C.O

My knees don't seem to have the same small bump dampening abilities of a shock so I ride FS. I am actually slower on my HT on the trails around here. It takes time to administrer first-aid.

mtnbiker66

These silly FS vs HT threads are soooooo stoooooopid.......but it make for some reading.

Daspydyr 

$1,000. buys a better hardtail that you can spice up as you go. The way you worded the question, you have a crush on FS but will settle for HT to run with your crew. Who do YOU really want to dance with?

C_Heath

fs of course.

UBUvelo

i love this debate whenever it rears it's head...i almost plunged for the FS squishy experience last month....glad i didn't.

alot of this seems to be about having the bucks to stay up with the technology. sure, a 4 year old FS bike is fine, but i like to ride my bike anywhere...that includes UPHILL.

give me a high-end HT anyday. and every other day, rigid. i guess getting into CX has made me appreciate picking lines and that aspect of a hard, fast ride...instead of just hopping down the hill, looking like a motorcyclist in full armour. eh, to each his own. i'd rather not ride a marshmallow to get my thrills.

Daspydyr 

Well, CHEATH, I vote you get the FS, bare bones and homely. You can get her teeth fixed and a little Nip and Tuck as the dance goes on. But the newer more expensive FS technology may set you back a grand just for the frame and shocks! Any space on the AMEX for "parts?"

D.I.S.C.O

If it wasn't for silly debates like this the French would still think they are a Superpower.

UBUvelo

p.s.

since i am spreading myself thin already with other bikes (road, cx...) and i wasn't born into the duPont family, i have to be realistic. would love to have an FS steed in the stable....

what i really want is the best FS bike that has the simplest technology...it gets simpler since i don't plan on riding downhill (only) at high speed with airbags surrounding me...or riding see-saws and other wooden contraptions.

in a sense, the whole FS or HT debate is one aspect....within the FS universe, there are several applications that call for different bikes.

cryptid01

"Fall offs"? LOL! If you're using lingo like that, I seriously doubt you have enough trail experience to have any sort of worthwhile opinion in this debate.

What about rocks? Are rocky trails "extreme" also?

btw, most trails I ride have equal amounts of climbing and descending.

Zephyr11

Guess who climbs better. '09 hardtail vs '07 fully.

Hint: It ain't the hardtail.

Intended purpose of the bike trumps whether or not it has suspension when it comes to climbing.