Check Out: 16 New Hardtails for 2020

 I recently installed a hard-compound minion on my full-sus for the same traction breaking experience. It's terrifying!

 Definitely do it if you've got too much control over your life and need some shaky oversteer to spice it all up.

 @mmoon: I have a hard compound minion on my HT and it's the best way to move the bike when going fast. Softer compunds may difficult this because they brake instead of skidding. Maybe the large chainstays on my bike make it more useful. Was talking about the rear wheel btw

 Having been on a Transition Throttle(carbon hardtail) for the last few years and a steel hardtail before that, it's hard to justify going back to a heavier bike. Gain the advantage of light weight, but still have as much descending fun as any of the above. I'd like to see more carbon. JMO.

 I just pump my tires up to 50 psi. It makes everything harder.

 Added a steel hard tail to my quiver in 2014 after over a decade of riding duallys (started on a hard tail), and I haven't turned back. Improved geo and supension over the years just makes them better, like everything else in the sport. It makes a delightful contrast to the dually trail bike and DH bike.

 The rear traction loss is wild sometimes. I run DHF MaxxTerra EXO casing 2.6wt on 36mm rims and its great at speed but on super steeps the rear end is wild ride. I can only imagine how much extra braking force is going through the fork on my hardtail vs my fully. Thank God I have DVO Onyx now. The Pike was flexy wet noodle.

 Did the same, they're superb bikes and I'm loving every second on mine. Those drop outs are beautiful.

 I just picked up a trek 69er and it has a duck 32 fork. I feel like in some ways I'm relearning the sport, but it's the joy of learning the sport all over again. I love it. That being said, I'm already looking at different ways to mod the 69er. I have it set up single speed with a QR release rear wheel. I can't help but wonder if there's a way to get a through axle with a 650B rear wheel.

 @taletotell: Almost certainly not in regards to a 27.5, but if you want to go with through axle, then a few to several hundred dollars to a machine shop will make it happen..\

That said, it's a hardtail, so how much more stiffness are you gonna get with a thru axle? I know, discs and all...

 @mmoon: I tried doing the super soft front, hard compound rear last year on my DH bike, thinking it would terrify me and just be a sketchy beast. But man, I couldn't believe how much I liked it! It totally changed the cornering characteristics of the bike; It no longer felt under steer prone... if anything, actually, it felt balanced in everything but very wet rock slabs/roots, where it was a small bias for over steer. On top of that, it rolled faster and had more even wear. I only go back for racing now, where I"ll put a soft rear on (but still harder than the front) for better braking.

 @hllclmbr: I'm hoping somebody already makes some dropouts that fit it

 Haha I just took my 26” mystery ti bike for a ride last night. I recently swapped out my 10yr old 4 finger power juicy5 to some guides, and now I’m thinking holy crap the rear end never touches the ground much in braking because it’s constantly breaking loose! Holy crap does my 41 year old body not like descending on a hardtail anymore. I did half a season in whistler on an ex rental kona steel frame after I cracked my dually frame. Now an hour on my hardtail, reminds me how soft I have become on my carbon wonder sled.

 @Honda750: yep. Ten years ago at 38, after 20 years of riding ht's, I told myself it was time for a dual. Every time I've ridden a ht since it just feels like an unnecessary beating. What's more, it doesn't feel like a fun change of pace like some people say. It's a sacrifice. Can't go as fast nor hit as big of features (relative to ourselves). Granted, if I had flowy, mellow stuff, or jump parks as my local, I might sing a different tune. But I don't.

However that zaskar brings back great memories, but I'd have to go with that sexy sage, or the Canfield these days. They make badass rigs.

 1 day to late for that! Going to try a tire insert with a Conti Baron on the rear for my Transition TransAM to ride lower pressures. :-D

 Yes, when this happens I know I forgot to open the rear shock :-)

 @ranke: Same re- the Zaskar. But also same re- the tired body that says no to that sort of fun. HT for pump track, FS for mountain survival.

 I'd take a Paradox V3 over any of these bikes anyday. Have to give props to Cotic for building a hardcore hardtail out of Reynolds 853 though, very cool.

 @agnostic: what Pike did you have?

 Yep been riding my HT as well and it is a hoot. I also noticed the rear braking situation which adds to the fun. It does take a few rides to settle into it but after you do it's a ton of fun.

 @SoddenDeath: hardtail party reviewed the BFE and said it was as good as his paradox, if not better- absolutely blown away by it

 @taletotell: Yes! Look up a DT Swiss 9MM thru axle.

I had an old Kona Coiler designed for 9mm quick release wheels, but was able to add a DT swiss 9mm thru axle and an old Saint hub.

I know it doesn't look like it, but these fit through quick release frames.

www.dtswiss.com/en/components/hubs-and-rws/rws/9-mm

 @taletotell: usually can fit a 135x10 hub and through axle into QR dropouts

 Yes with my Stans Arch EX wheels (and hubs at the time) I've converted front and rear QR to Thru-Bolt using the DT Swiss bolt skewer and it makes a huge difference on rear of my QR FS. My alu HT it's so rigid I don't notice it as much but I would always do it if your frame is QR and hubs support it.

Interestingly I have an old 1999-ish Spec' FSR that was QR but it was 10mm thru QR. Never understood why QR didn't go that route, Spec' was ahead of the times with that setup.

 @apcastagno:

 @zephxiii: aren't all old rear QR axles 10 mm?

 @BenPea: Yeah but with 10mm drop out end caps and a thin 5mm QR skewer. This conversion changes it to a 10mm thick skewer all the way through, and my FSR had that from the factory.

 @taletotell: I've used a 26" 135x12 to 10mm on QR dropouts with a Reverse Components axle. Problem Solvers might also have what you need.

 @SoddenDeath: I had the 2018 Pike RC.

 And there is the Curtis AM7. Ive got one brought the frame with clear coat and built it up. www.curtisbikes.co.uk/frames/curtis-am7

 @psldix: and the ribble!! phwoar

 Don't like the look of the headtube welds on that Ragley...

 @psldix: ditto!

 @psldix: that Curtis looks preeeeetty sweet.

 Paul Weller at a bar, what a reference!

 @SoddenDeath: All the Curtis stuff looks amazing.

 I'm currently waiting for my frame to arrive.

 Built this Samurai for my riding buddy. He loves it. Craigslist frame and online sale parts for 1700.
www.pinkbike.com/photo/16866008

 @whitebirdfeathers: when did you order it and what size? I wanted an M/L but none in stock in any colour last time I checked.

 @eh-steve: I ordered a large Rootdown in black about a month and a half ago. There’s a batch arriving at the end of the month. They said it’s the busiest they have ever been.

 @whitebirdfeathers: thanks, yeah they are short in a few things for sure.

How tall are you, at 5'11" I could do M/L or L. Reach is similar to my full sus on the M/L. Anyhow, have fun with the build. I miss having a hardtail.

 @eh-steve: I’m 6’ and went with the large. That was based in talking to a couple people of similar height.

 Waiting for the next paint job to get my Primer! Woot!

 Love my Surface Ti. #chromagforlife

 Digging my Stylus.

 I have one and love it. Going on my third full season with it. I got rid of my carbon bike after I realized I hadn't ridden it in a full season. My only complaint is weight, but some of that is on me since I did sort of a budget build kit on it, it could stand to loose a kilo or so.

 @eh-steve: at 5'10" I ride a M/L very comfortably. The seat tube is longish (47cm to the top) and with a 29" inseam (I got stubby legs) my 150 dropper is only sitting about 20mm above the collar, so unless I got a dropper with a smaller top seal head, I'm limited to the 150mm. Of course any more dropper would be useless since my seat is basically on the post clamp when it's down all the way.

I'm using a 50mm stem with 765mm bars and with my longish torso/arms for my height it works really well.

I'm using a MRP Ribbon set to 150mm, which is in the middle of the 140-160 suggested fork range. I tend to run a little less sag then is usually recommend, so it probably feels pretty similar to the 160 fork at race sag.

Bike is stiff and feels great. I thought it'd be a system shock to go from carbon back to steel, but honestly the bike rides so nice that I don't miss the extra stiffness of the carbon. External routing and full length housings make it a snap to work on. Ian at Chromag didn't have any issues with me adding additional bottle bosses on the seat tube, and said he wouldn't argue a warranty claim as long as the frame didn't fail at the new bosses.

To be fair I've only delt with Ian or Seb at Chromag, but those guys have been super easy to get ahold of and have taken great care of me.

Its nice to be at the trailhead with a bike that no one else has for once. After years of riding Gary Fishers and Treks, which have all been great bikes, but common, I like being there on something different.

If Chromag showed up with a good susser, I'd probably buy it tomorrow to have a two bike quiver again, but for now I'm so happy with my Rootdown, I won't consider adding another bike.

One additional step I took was using Frame Saver to coat the frame internally.

 I've got a 2018 chromag rootdown as my only bike. I love it, but man do my feet and calves hurt after a rooty descent.

 I can't believe that there could be a hardtail rundown without a Chromag in it. Seems like a fail to me.

 @NWBasser: I think these are all new for 2020 bikes

 @unrooted: True enough. It still seems weird to have a hardtail summary without one. Even though I own a Ragley, I always think of Chromag first when someone mentions hardtails.

 @unrooted: do updates not count? They did a 2020 rootdown. It's not the same as the 2019.

"In it's 5th revision, the Rootdown has undergone only a few updates for 2020. We have increased the reach and dropped the seat tube length across all sizes, but other than that it remains largely unchanged. If it ain't broke..."

 @eh-steve: I dunno, I didn’t write the article.

 @eh-steve: @danielsapp

 If they all cost that much, that would suck.

 I've noticed many are missing this point. While some people buy a hardtail solely because it is cheaper, others will buy a hardtail even though they have the cash to afford a very good full suspension bike. Some riders just prefer the direct terrain feedback, overall fun and playfulness a good hardtail provides. Hardtails are also much more rewarding when it comes to clearing technical sections. Would I be offered to ride any bike I want, I would still stick to my hardtail any day. I'm not saying a hardtail is intrinsically better or worse than a full suspension bike as they are two different machines, each one getting the job done in their own way. For those who get it though, the fun factor of a good aggro hardtail is simply unmatched.

 Ibis DV9. $999 carbon frame. One of the best bikes I've ever owned.

 The materials cost is higher for titanium and carbon, but a lot of these are also not manufactured in Asia, which results in a higher cost.

I've owned three high end steel hardtails, all REEBs, and it was worth it when the frames were ~$1600 price point. They were lighter and more compliant than comparable mass produced alternatives. That said, they've since jacked up the price to $2100 for frame only in steel, which means their ti offering is closer to those in this listing. There is no way I'd pay that for a frame only, so they've priced me out sadly. That's the point where the benefit starts to fade and I'd rather put the extra $$ into better wheels or components instead of the frame.

 The Nukeproof Scout is $399 USD for the frame and available in both 27.5 and 29... that would have been a nice addition here for the cost conscious category.

 Hardtails are quite versatile so (depending on how many other bikes you have obviously) you can end up riding them loads. Which makes them more than worth it. If one just a tad better makes you happier, why not? I paid a bit more for custom geometry, my favorite color, I see no reason to keep it for well over a decade. Heck, I can't imagine ever parting with it. It doesn't go creaky (or at least nothing frame specific) so yeah it seems like a good investment. A full suspension bike on the other hand. A big part of the money goes into the development of the suspension design. Which a couple of years later, they have a better version of. And then you're dealing with recurring costs of the shock, bearings etc.

But yeah I get that rear suspension does have some advantages that a hardtail lacks so it may all be worth it. Silly enough, last weekend I noticed that when rolling with others on full suspension bikes (Starling, Santa Cruz, Cannondale) I was going the same pace gently pumping and coasting whilst they were pedaling. I don't question their skill though of course they may not have same urge to pump the bike over the terrain. But it got me wondering, do full suspension bikes respond worse to pumping than hardtail bikes do? If so, then that could be a huge advantage of hardtails. I don't care too much about the pedaling efficiency but I do care about pumping the bike. I have to add I'm running 26" wheels and their wheels were bigger, could have been a factor too.

 Ragley also sells their bikes in Alu for a lot less. € 1000 for a resonably specced bike. Love the steel Cotic better though......

 I ride a hardtail by choice not because it can be a cheaper option. That said 3600 USD for a frame! Better have a gearbox attached to it for that coin!

 Vassago Verhauen $1299 US-made steel hardtail frame with decent modern HT geo. I have an older version set up as SS and am tempted to upgrade. Haven't seen any reviews of a Vassago in ages, but very worth a look.

 @gomeeker: Agreed. I really like mine. With a 130mm fork and Aggressor tires, it's a beast.

 @gomeeker: Just needs a little better geo not from 2005.

 @gomeeker: I’m an Ibis fan but IME the DV9’s outdated geo doesn’t ride nearly as well as the modern HT bikes like the Ragley on this list. But just a matter of time before Ibis slackens the HA by 2 degrees and increases reach by 25 mm.

 @frorider2: Well, with a 130mm fork, the HA is just under 67 and it just rips up and down. I'm a demo junkie and have ridden lots of modern bikes, but I don't feel like it gives up anything. Depends on the terrain perhaps. but I don't live in BC...

 That moots is like a country club membership.

Will they use it that often? No.

Can they flex on the peasants and appreciate it the times thry do use it? Yes.

 Many of them run smaller series or a even limited like the Yeti. Or hand crafted. All this drives price up.

 @vinay: Hardtails are way more efficient at pumping than fs. Ever ridden a fs bike at a pumptrack? It's a huge difference compared to a hardtail.

 @thinkbike: very underrated frame too...and more $$ left over for a sick build spec!

 @ibishreddin: flexin' on the plebs

 @Barkit: Well said. It's not about measurable performance, it's about feel. Sometimes it hurts though, you know it's a good time to back off then

 @dennis72: I have a cheap Ragley that's far more fun than I ever would have expected.

 @bressti: Is it truly? Seems to me that would be a massive downside of full suspension bikes then. I feel pumping is a far more fun and elegant way of propelling a bike so if that would be inherent and all you're getting is more "passive conservation of speed" it doesn't quite win it for me. Maybe aggressive damping (like climb settings) might make up for it?

 One guy I'm riding with has one. Looks like a super fun bike!

 I'm salty it's not on the list, I love mine! It feels like a trail worthy dirt jumper.

 I have a steel 27.5 version (2016) and I love that thing. Its faster than my warden C on all but the gnarliest trails in Pisgah

 @4thflowkage: it's a rad bike but not new for 2020 like the other bikes on this list. A buddy of ours has an Eccentric 29 and is loving it (aside from the long-ish seat-tube).

 @brianpark: I love mine but I do feel like my seat is tryna ram it’s way up my arse even when it’s slammed it’s a long seat tube.

 Me too. Got a big AL off chain reaction. great deal at that price

 I have a Big Al and I love it so much. It's a budget build at around €1000 but it works really well together.

 Ragley is unreal fun -- and like you said, frames can be found so affordably.

 Blue Pig with marzocchi z1 coil 160mm and Assegai here

 I ride my sentier more than my mega.

 mmbop (same as blue pig, but alloy and worst name ever) with a pike and gx 11spd. super fun bike

 @esstinkay: Yeah, when i was building my bike i saw that frame, decided to shell out the extra 250 for steel and a cooler paintjob though. 2019 model with that awful orange. Mine: www.vitalmtb.com/community/spoon,48778/setup,41498

BTW- sussed out your profile, those trails you built look pretty damn sick

 I got a Marley on CRC on closeout and have to say that it's just heap of fun to ride. I use it as my winter bike and for family rides with the wife where my enduro bike would be boring. Well, that was the plan anyway. I actually ride it a lot more than that. It's cheap and heavy, but oh so much fun.

 @NWBasser: Light the ragleys aint- mine's pushing 15.7kg/34.5lb

 @Civicowner: thx man, cheers!

 Where are you seeing 34lbs?

 was waiting to see one of these here.
got a deedar from them as my first real HT and its enough for all of my local trails + makes them fun again. everything really great value from oneone.

on the test: the steel version of the pipedream moxie is as sexy as the shown ti-version + comes with eeeeeven sexier colors

 Best hcht now and ive ridden many. Only downside is the frame weight, 3,5kg. Need to put light high end parts if want reasonable weight for complete.

 Meanwhile hyper......

 @fruitsd79: Hyper is a different case. They are a brand more or less specializing in cheap bikes, but some marketer somewhere got the brilliant idea to let some pro riders have one-off bikes built with the same name, and use their name on $100 cheapies at Walmart for sweet royalties.

Honestly, if Voodoo wanted to do something similar, they'd find some great influencers, get feedback on what makes a sweet modern hardtail (for bikepacking, dirt jumps, or general all-mountain), then give said influencers those bikes to post up all over Instagram.

 @PHeller: To be fair, Hyper did have a decent line of 'real' BMX bikes mid to late 1990's that weren't 'Walmart' bikes. I worked in a shop that sold them for a while and several other BMX outlests/shops dealt with them. That said, nowadays is does fell Hyper only has the few one-off type bikes

 We have a local pro here that races and wins all sorts of tough XC pro races on a Scale with no dropper. Its impressive how fast he is on that thing. I prefer a FS just because its more comfy, but it doesn't make me much faster.

 Was a GT fanboy/ lifer. I'd have killed for a zaskar in the 90s, made do with a backwoods.
Had a zaskar team in 2003 that got nicked, Z1 BAMs too.
3 Sanctions that snapped around 2007
Then a zaskar 9r think 2010 that snapped 3rd week in. Just went shite after selling out

 Just amazing how fast Pacific Bicycle devalued the brand after purchasing GT in 2001 eh.

 Same, had a Gt Aggressor in 1997-98, my first mtb. Zaskar was so a dream for me. I now ride an Ibis mojo hd4, hard to imagine riding a GT.

 I lusted after a ball burnished RTS as a kid. I still think they're a great looking bike

 I'm so happy with my Scandal. Full GX, Pike 130 up front. Excellent all-day machine that can still get stupid when it needs to. 65 degree HTA with a 130mm fork - so tempted to try 140 or 150.......

 @FatTonyNJ: my big dog has a little bit more than 130. It works. Climbs surprisely well !

 How tall are you please? Looking at one of these and I’m 6 2. The XL looks very very long though on the reach numbers, especially considering reach gets longer on a hardtail when sagged m

 I just got the Pace RC529 and I'm so happy with it! Not much of a bargain shipped to the US, but it's well made and worth it for how precise and planted it rides. It corners like it's on rails, and has a nice springy and slightly damped ride quality unlike the Ragley Blue Pig I had, which felt like riding a steel girder.

 @jeremyk: I'm 6'4" on the XL 29er variant (which is longer) You should be totally comfortable unless you have trex arms as the seat tube is quite steep.

 @jeremyk: I’m just over six foot, but long limbs, in particular arms, so if you are over six foot then XL will be fine. Looking at the geo charts the jump from L to XL isn’t as big as some brands. Run 35mm stem and you should be good. I have 165mm drop post, but wish I had got 180mm as room for it. Ive had a few steel hardtails and it’s the only one that feels comfortable when landing from drops etc, a bit odd, but in a good way.

 @scmalex: Glad you said that about damped feel, I wasn’t sure if it was the frame or new wheels (Hunt trail wide) or first time I had bothered with tubeless...but I do think it’s the frame.

 @crag79: Thanks very much for that. I was very much swaying towards the large, as it still seems pretty damn big for a hardtail, but I'll take another look at the XL. Don't want something massive as a hardtail, but interesting to know you're a touch shorter than me and get on good with the XL

 @jeremyk: I guess it comes down to what you are riding etc. I prefer Lake District day rides, hike a bike with technical downs, although I do ride trail centres too. It’s not the lightest frame but I’m cleaning more climbs on this bike than smaller lighter frames I’ve previously owned (More room/seat post angle?). I would say if building from scratch go 165mm cranks if you are using 2.5 tyres, They made it to go up to 2.8, so bottom pretty low if you don’t use the bigger tyres.

I will shut up now, all the best.

 @crag79: I'll be using it for day rides as well as hitting a few jumps etc, so was thinking towards the Large to have something a bit more playful and manoeuvrable than my full suss. Thanks though, appreciate any opinions as its not possible to test one at the moment, plus even if it was Yorkshire is a 5 hour drive for me!

 Pretty sure the other metal frames are alloy too.

 I love having both options! Hardtail feel faster than it is, and full suss is just fast!

 71 never killed anyone, rigid or with a 100mm fork. 68 is pretty much modern XC territory. My current steel hardtail is ~64 and is great up to the easier double black trails at speed and the steeper stuff if I’m careful. You’ll notice the landings on drops more if that’s something you like riding...

 I guess it all depends on where and how one rides. My current hardtail has about a 64 degree head angle unsagged and I wouldn't consider a hardtail frame with steeper angles. Once into the sag it goes to around 66 degrees and even steeper further into the travel. I'm firmly of the belief that a modern hardtail intended for riding steep and rough trails needs to be very slack. It makes a massive difference.

 I wondered that too. They have done well to get the price slightly below their British competitors (usually closer to £2k). I've got a steel version and would have upgraded but for moving house in 2 months.

 I just got my Vendetta about 2 months ago and I've been riding it nonstop since. Best purchase, and most fun bike ever. I put a 160 on it, making it about a 64.5 HTA. Incredible, nimble, playful confidence inspiring ride that is a dream uphill as well.

 64deg is not particularly slack for a hardtail. I think it is for the unsprung geometry so it steepens when sagged. 65deg isn't uncommon for full suspension bikes these days so this is kind of on par. My hardtail with 120mm travel fork and smaller wheels has a 63deg unsprung head tube angle. But bikes made for bigger wheels (like the Pipedream) typically have steeper head angles so 64deg seems fine.

 @vinay: agreed that 64° isn't ridiculous un-sagged (my hardtail feels great at 64.5° w/ a 140mm fork). That would put the STA at 78.5°-79.0° sagged, though. THAT is a bit ridiculous. Maybe it's for people who never sit unless they're on a grade >10%?

 @vinay: what frame are you riding to get 63deg ha with a 120mm fork??!!

 @SoddenDeath: BTR Ranger, 26" wheels configuration. Geometry is largely stock, only had the top tube lowered (so I've got the size large frame but with a 400mm seattube). But the 63deg HA is standard and the frame is 120mm travel fork specific.

 @vinay: wowser, fun to ride?

 @SoddenDeath: Yeah, for me it is perfect! Cornering is easy enough (the low top tube gives me lots of room to tilt the bike even with the cranks level, which was my requirement for dropping that top tube this amount) and at higher speeds it is just point and go. Sometimes I'm surprised with what I can get away with, chasing people on full suspension bikes on a trail I don't even know. You can see the bike in my pictures. The pictures were taken just after I assembled the bike so I'm running different tires and the saddle is a good lot lower than in the picture. I only had it that high to be able to clamp it in the workstand. You can see some blue rim tape under the seat tube clamp. The clamp is for aluminium frames which have a thicker wallthickness so this one wouldn't clamp properly in its tightest setting. Eventually I removed from material from the clamp, from the gap so that I could clamp it tighter. It is good now. Though as I pretty much always leave the saddle low, I would have been fine with the integrated seat tube clamp. Which was a free option during build. But yeah, it works fine for me as it is now. Super happy with it!

 Not to mention absurd price

 A good steel frame can be just as drool worthy. I have had both. Love ti, but don't low ball a nice steel frame.

 26" hardtails were "fun". Aggressive geo 29" hardtails really add function to the fun. (Not talking XC geo 29ers) With bigger wheels and modern geo its pretty surprising how much better a hardtail rides over a 26" of years past. With that said, it would be awesome to see Cove comeback with a modern 29er hardtail! In steel or a ti option of course, alloy just won't cut it.

 That's for a frame bag or whatever else...

 I got to demo a Why single-sided a couple years back. 27+, Titanium frame, carbon bars, and a sick DVO up front. This rig honestly felt better than any 4-5" travel bike I'd ever ridden.
Scandium Honzo 29 was a close 2nd favorite HT.

 Correction: single speed*

 Britango is interesting too. I don't need a new bike, gotta convince myself of that FACT.

 I get to ride a Bardino v1 from time to time and it's a fun bike. So much I have been drooling over the v2 in Ti :/...

 I just got a Bardino 2 Ti 650, took three month to arrive from when I order but it was worth it. She ride like she on rails.

 @sundowner1: You have my sincerest jealousy.

 I have it in steel and its such an insanely capable bike. Most fun bike I own as well.

 I have the steel version and its a super fun bike. I am riding it so much more than I thought, that I regret not opting for the Titanium version.

 Nah they're still around. I have one prebooked. Have you got a 2020?

 m.pinkbike.com/news/chromag-doctahawk-a-nerdy-geometry-explanation.html

 @idecic: so the big fork is just to make the geometry work? Seems like the same result could be achieved with a 100mm fork and be riding a lighter bike. It's like speccing a full sus with a lyric up front and a Sid out back.

 @chris-brown225: well, ya it’s all part of the overall design and works with the geo, which is pretty aggressive. The “descending theories” part of the article I think sums it up:

“ 2. Longer reach shifts my weight forward, moving weight off the rear wheel which is helpful for increased comfort on a hardtail in rough terrain.

3. I want as much travel as possible up front to make "riding the fork" while descending more comfortable. The extra mid-stroke support of the new Lyrik will allow for this without excessive diving.”

...so, on a hardtail you tend to unweighted the rear quite a bit, putting more emphasis on what the front wheel is doing. Longer fork isn’t only to make geo work - it provides more control. I doubt you’d have the same experience on a 100mm fork, but you should give it a try

 @idecic: I ride some pretty rough stuff on my hardtail and never feel like the front end is what's limiting me, it's more the back end braking traction and fear of getting a flat. But like you say, you can't know until you've tried it

 I ride a full suspension bike about 50% of the time and an aggressive hardtail about 50% of the time. Same trails, rowdy techy descents, chunky rocks an roots, drops up to around two meters with long descents. Yes, I absolutely use all of the 160mm in my fork on my hardtail (64 hta designed for 160mm travel)! This is because while riding a hardtail aggressively an experienced rider deliberately tends to ride a little more nose heavy. By doing this it is causing the fork to do a bit more work than a fork on a FS bike. This allows the hardtail to be ridden faster and harder than if you were riding with slightly more weight back (as on FS). Hardtails will ride any trail or dh track out there, the difference being that hardtails aren't as fast in high speed chunder sections, but thats ok.

 @JDFF: I agree. Riding a hardtail aggressively puts a lot of emphasis on having a good fork. You also learn to temporarily shift your weight off the pedals when you're about to hit certain things in the trail.

Another big thing I noticed is that when you are out of the saddle, your weight on the pedals causes that point to act as a fulcrum for forces on the rear wheel. So a impact upwards on the rear wheel transfers some of that force to move the front of the frame downwards, which compresses the fork from the top and uses your fork to help absorb and damp the rear wheel impacts. (Which is another reason why rigid bike are so painful on rough trails)

 @showmethemountains: yep.

 The Gen3 Switchback and Sherpa are new for this year too, so I'd say they count. Don't think the Switch9er qualifies, if this post is about new/refreshed bikes.

 I would go for the YETI, just because i don't have enough space for 10 Voodoos

 Well one is 10 times more expensive than the other...

 New Honzo isn't out yet

 I was resisting the "Where's my Kona Big Honzo Carbon? Modern geo, fits 29x2.6" rubber with room to run over roadkill, such a fun bike!" comment. I'm just not gonna go there.

 Kona hasn't made a viable hardtail since the 2012 Honzo arrived. They haven't changed a thing on that frame for 8 years! Don't get me wrong, I am a Kona fan I just wish they would get back in the game. Every single bike they make is still stuck in 2015 and most of the color schemes reflect that. Still rocking single pivot suspension designs?? Come on Kona, pull your collective head out, clear the shit from your eyes and recognize your audience.

 @garrisond5: They've teased the new Honzo on social media, it looks pretty awesome and more modern.

 If you could actually find any bikes to buy, yeah.

 @SoddenDeath: yep everything is getting more expensive due to low production too

 Must be a first for Specialized, but pretty cool indeed. Time for Commencal to release some hardcore titanium hardtails again. Specialized (and On One) need some competition in the budget-titanium market.

 @gammatomic, ha, that would have been nice. It's been updated - that's an aluminum frame.

 @vinay: Ribble HT TI. I mean it's not cheap cheap, but it is relatively affordable, and beautiful. One day perhaps...

 @alexhyland: I recall Dan Atherton got a titanium 4X hardtail from Commencal. It looked pretty amazing and fun. Would be cool if they'd get back into that again. Heck, 4X (and DS) bred some great bikes over the years. Imagine what would (not) have been if there had never been a Specialized Enduro SX (the original one that Anneke Beerten raced to second place in Lisbon and Matt Hunter used to chase cows in The Collective).

 @mikekazimer: I know, just some Pinkbike sarcasm

 geometry from 2012... Honz NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 @garrisond5: www.pinkbike.com/news/kona-teases-new-honzo-esd-and-shonky-hardtails.html

 @garrisond5: AND???????????

 @typerk87: That bike technically doesn't even exist, and have you seen The geometry anywhere? Doesn't count until I can buy it. I have seen the geometry of the Honzo ESD and it is too far out there. It's slacker than the Norco Torrent which is already pushing the envelope. 65-66 degree head angle is as far as I want to go on a hardtail.

 All photos are useless to get an idea of how a bike will ride.

 No,no Surly here. Maybe next time.