Does anyone build a soft tail? Are you asking whether you should buy a bike that really doesn't exist anymore?

The softtail that you are looking for was a bit of an evolutionary dead-end in the MTB world.

There may or may not be a manufacturer still making them, but they are not at all mainstream.

This seems to have been replaced by the category of X-C short travel full suspension bike like the Trek Top Fuel, and a couple others. Though this is also not a big category in the industry.

Hope you find what you are looking for.

-Z

To the previous two posters, They do exist.
Aforementioned YBB
KHS has four to choose from!

I wouldn't mind rolling a softtail. The older I get, the more appealing they sound. Always been intrigued by the softtail's redheaded stepchild, The Slingshot, also.

Don't forget Salsa.

Apologies if I wasn't more clear. I didn't mean to imply that there were not available period, end of story. Merely that the industry has turned toward other solutions and that they are definitely not mainstream by any stretch.

Is KHS still making these? That link seems to be to an older edition of their catalog.

-Z

It's from 2003. Those bikes disappear from their listing after 2005.

I know Salsa made a scandium chainstay (with elastomer shock at the top of the seatstays) soft tail but I couldn't find it when I quickly browsed the web site.

https://www.salsacycles.com/dosninerComp09.html

Ah, thanks, and it's a one-inch air shock.

Thank You Wiki!

Cannondale Scalpel