car5car

26"x2.1" tires full suspension.
I ride on wet sand close to water.

Eric F

What do you mean by "beach riding"? If you are riding a lot on terrain that is significantly rough/bumpy to the point where it hinders your ability to move efficiently, suspension can be helpful. If your riding is mostly on smooth surfaces, suspension is a waste.

In my area, "beach riding" typically means riding roads and paved paths. In those conditions, I prefer a bike that is most efficient for rolling on those surfaces - a light and rigid bike, with smooth tires.

car5car

I ride on wet sand close to water.

Steve B.

There's a local mt. bike club here on Long Island that mostly rides the beaches.. They pretty much all use fat bikes, 5" tires, etc... 2" tires don't float enough.

Eric F

I can’t see how suspension would be helpful for that type of riding. It’s going to be about tires. Wider is better.

car5car

Yesterday
Yesterday I talked to couple of experienced bikers, they confirmed better riding, when tide is low. My tires worked fine, they were going like on pavement(low tide). Yesterday ride was very hard (high tide), nice work out!!!

tds101 

If you already have formed your own "opinion", why have you bothered to even ask this ridiculous question? It's only ridiculous because you don't actually need OR want an answer.

car5car

Read question in title if you want. I don't know answer and will take a bike w/o suspension next time. Maybe I'll know then.

Eric F

It seemed like a reasonable question to me from someone seeking information. It also seems like the OP sought info from people IRL who have some experience, which is also totally reasonable.

tds101 

I read the question, and I read the responses you gave. You were given answers to your question, and commented back in a manner suggesting that you disagree with the answers.
As I said, reasonable answers were provided, and seem to be irrelevant to the op.

Eric F

Hmmm…It came across to me that the OP talked to people who have direct experience with what he wants to do, and he shared what he learned from them. Maybe that will help the next person to ask about this issue.

tds101 

Well, if that's how it can across to you, then that's what you're seeing. I ride along the beach by my house, on wet, packed sand. No one uses suspension, due to the suspension working against a rider in sand. Most avoid suspension for that reason.

LesterOfPuppets

Decent suspension shouldn't work against you much unless you like to stand and pedal a lot, and even then, decent suspension will have a lockout option.

Presumably you'd have to cross dry, soft, pockmarked sand to get to the good firm wet sand, so I'd roll unlocked 'til I got to the water line, then lock it out once on the smoothness.

You'd have to gauge your usage to see if it's worth it though. Salt air and sand that has a lot of fines in it will increase your suspension service intervals.

I'd probably stick with rigid personally if I was spending 90% of my time on roads or firm sand.

tds101 

Exactly. The problem is most riders use low quality, non-adjustable suspension, without a lockout. That makes a world of difference, depending on the terrain. Beach riding, and most street/road riding, are better with the lockout engaged. The dreaded "bounce" while pedaling is so annoying. For riding the beach fattie tires + a non-suspension fork are best for most situations. Unless you plan on jumping some dunes. Then it's a whole nudda amnimuul!

One last thing. With the exception of springer (I hope that's the right name) forks, beach cruisers don't have suspension. This question is more about riding a different type of bike than an actual beach cruiser. Almost all beach cruiser bikes are without suspension.

car5car

Going to the beach with $5 hardtail! Ironhorse Maverick 26"x 2.1" tires.
Thanks for all responses!!!