Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Mountain Biking
Reload this Page >

What is a hardtail?

Search
Notices
Mountain Biking Mountain biking is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Check out this forum to discuss the latest tips, tricks, gear and equipment in the world of mountain biking.

What is a hardtail?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-08-06 | 09:03 PM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Richmond, KY

Bikes: Mongoose D40r

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.
kyboyatheart is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-06 | 09:05 PM
  #2  
Dannihilator's Avatar
Still kicking.
Sheldon Brown Memorial - Registered
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 47
From: Annandale, New Jersey

Bikes: Bike Count: Rising.

The back end of the bike has no suspension.
__________________
Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
Dannihilator is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-06 | 09:07 PM
  #3  
DylanTremblay's Avatar
...is my hero!
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 864
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton, Alberta

Bikes: 2008 Kink Whip, 2006 Specialized Enduro, 2006 Norco Wolverine, 2006 Iron Horse FsZ

HT (hard tail)- front suspension...no rear
FS (full suspension, fully, squishy, dully, ect.)- but front and back suspensions
Rigid- no suspension
DylanTremblay is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-06 | 09:12 PM
  #4  
WannaGetGood's Avatar
B*ck From Th* D**d
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,527
Likes: 8
From: Lower Mainland, BC

Bikes: 2015 Kona Process 153

Has no Rear Shock.
WannaGetGood is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-06 | 09:38 PM
  #5  
Jason222's Avatar
Banned.
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,123
Likes: 0
From: Moncton NB

Bikes: Trek Jack...trials bike soon.

Hardtail:


Full suspension:


(this one's for you gastro )

Last edited by Jason222; 08-08-06 at 11:00 PM.
Jason222 is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-06 | 10:07 PM
  #6  
WannaGetGood's Avatar
B*ck From Th* D**d
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,527
Likes: 8
From: Lower Mainland, BC

Bikes: 2015 Kona Process 153

ahhh, the pictures for the ilertate people like me.
WannaGetGood is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-06 | 10:09 PM
  #7  
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Richmond, KY

Bikes: Mongoose D40r

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.
kyboyatheart is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-06 | 10:18 PM
  #8  
Jason222's Avatar
Banned.
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,123
Likes: 0
From: Moncton NB

Bikes: Trek Jack...trials bike soon.

I did so.
Jason222 is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-06 | 10:54 PM
  #9  
dminor's Avatar
Moar cowbell
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,480
Likes: 7
From: The 509

Bikes: Bike list is not a resume. Nobody cares.

A hardtail is a throwback to an earlier time, like when motorcycles were regularly raced on board tracks at state fairs .
__________________
Originally Posted by Mark Twain
"Don't argue with stupid people; they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience."
dminor is offline  
Reply
Old 08-09-06 | 11:20 AM
  #10  
biker_lad's Avatar
Biker_Lad
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: Bury, Manchester

Bikes: Scott Reflex 30 Disc

Why are full sus better?
biker_lad is offline  
Reply
Old 08-09-06 | 11:50 AM
  #11  
dminor's Avatar
Moar cowbell
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,480
Likes: 7
From: The 509

Bikes: Bike list is not a resume. Nobody cares.

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
__________________
Originally Posted by Mark Twain
"Don't argue with stupid people; they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience."

Last edited by dminor; 08-09-06 at 05:48 PM.
dminor is offline  
Reply
Old 08-09-06 | 11:57 AM
  #12  
LowCel's Avatar
Throw the stick!!!!
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 18,150
Likes: 93
From: Charleston, WV

Bikes: GMC Denali

Not all full suspension bikes are better than hardtails though. I would rather have a cheap hardtail than a cheap full suspension any day.
__________________
I may be fat but I'm slow enough to make up for it.
LowCel is offline  
Reply
Old 08-09-06 | 11:59 AM
  #13  
LowCel's Avatar
Throw the stick!!!!
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 18,150
Likes: 93
From: Charleston, WV

Bikes: GMC Denali

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.
__________________
I may be fat but I'm slow enough to make up for it.
LowCel is offline  
Reply
Old 08-09-06 | 01:10 PM
  #14  
Jason222's Avatar
Banned.
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,123
Likes: 0
From: Moncton NB

Bikes: Trek Jack...trials bike soon.

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.
Jason222 is offline  
Reply
Old 08-09-06 | 03:57 PM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 221
Likes: 0
riding a hardtail is more challenging!
rocky_rider is offline  
Reply
Old 08-09-06 | 04:19 PM
  #16  
I=Your Mother
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: Hamilton,Ontario,Canada

Bikes: 2003 Rocky Mountain Element

I'd take a hartail over a full suspention XC bike any day. Excpt for the Specialized Epic.
Roxter is offline  
Reply
Old 08-09-06 | 04:49 PM
  #17  
normdzn's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, CA

Bikes: 2007 Trek 3700 Black

Originally Posted by biker_lad
Why are full sus better?
Oh, oh, somebody just opened a can of worms...
normdzn is offline  
Reply
Old 08-09-06 | 07:37 PM
  #18  
LowCel's Avatar
Throw the stick!!!!
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 18,150
Likes: 93
From: Charleston, WV

Bikes: GMC Denali

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.
__________________
I may be fat but I'm slow enough to make up for it.
LowCel is offline  
Reply
Old 08-09-06 | 09:44 PM
  #19  
cream.soda's Avatar
Bikeless Member
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
From: markham

Bikes: none :(

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.
cream.soda is offline  
Reply
Old 08-09-06 | 10:34 PM
  #20  
Jason222's Avatar
Banned.
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,123
Likes: 0
From: Moncton NB

Bikes: Trek Jack...trials bike soon.

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.
Jason222 is offline  
Reply
Old 08-10-06 | 12:34 AM
  #21  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 410
Likes: 0
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!
Defiance is offline  
Reply
Old 08-10-06 | 12:55 AM
  #22  
Pink_Ninja's Avatar
Mullet Boy!
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 690
Likes: 0
From: Adelaide

Bikes: a giant upland 03, old europia road bike or something and soon to be getting a Norco Bigfoot or something of the sort

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
Pink_Ninja is offline  
Reply
Old 08-10-06 | 02:07 AM
  #23  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 410
Likes: 0
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...
Defiance is offline  
Reply
Old 08-12-06 | 01:32 AM
  #24  
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,398
Likes: 0
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.
willtsmith_nwi is offline  
Reply

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.