When was your last ride on a hardtail? I'm talking about a real ride, not laps around the pumptrack or through a dirt jump line, a proper off-road excursion done without the bump-erasing comfort of any rear suspension at all. For many riders, that last hardtail rip may be hard to remember. After all, there are more affordable full-suspension bikes than ever, including options for the smallest groms. That means we're entering an era where there are riders who have never pedaled a hardtail
at all, moving straight from a scoot bike to a tiny fully-suspended machine.
My first six years of mountain biking were spent on a hardtail, first with cantilever brakes, and then with V-brakes, but I'm not one to wander around shaking my fist at the sky and mumbling about how “Kids these days have it easy.” If anything, I think it's great that the learning curve isn't as steep, and that advances in technology have made mountain biking that much easier for beginners to enjoy.
There have been several articles about hardcore hardtails published over the last few months, and the comments tend to be split between riders who are interested and riders who are dismissive. Being a diehard hardtail aficionado is the equivalent of being a telemark skier – actively choosing to make an activity harder isn't something that everyone will understand. After all, who in their right mind would purchase skis where your heel isn't locked down, or a steel hardtail that costs the same as a carbon fiber full suspension bike?
Hardtails aren't for everyone, and that's part of their appeal. It's easy to question their usefulness other than as a lower cost entry into the sport, but I'm glad that the hardtail scene continues to exist. I can appreciate the simplicity and the extra challenge of a hardtail, although more often than not I'll go with a full suspension bike if given the choice. I've also recently traded my tele skis for an alpine touring setup, so it's possible I'm getting soft...
Hint: The rest of the world rides all kinds of bikes, including fat bikes, hardtails, singlespeeds, etc.
Until they make a full suss that doesn’t require constant pivot maintenance I’m sticking with the hardtail.
We talk like full suspension has become so advanced but I fear reallllll long term durability is long ways off.
I'm actually impressed as heck with how reliable modern FS bikes are.
I started on a full suspension 29er 7 years ago and learned so pretty lazy habits because of it. Building a honzo really helped improve my skillset and eventually taking my cross bike on MTB singletrack took it to a whole new level.
I just stay seated or standing straight up, stiff. Solid. All my weight on my hands, or my ass. Elbows locked...
I went from very old school, terrible (by the time I was riding it hardtail) to FS and don't really want to go back full time, but boy is it fun to play around on my BMX when riding with my young son. The super steep HT angle, short wheel base, and weak brakes really keep you on your toes even on easy stuff.
@tttyyler....naw man, anything can be ridden without suspension...just might have to do it slower
Everytime I ride my double suspension bike again (Giant Reign) I feel it a 100% and i dont get too used to it, the HT humbles you down, everytime!!!
Auto boxes aren’t faster than manuals though. They do perform acceptably these days, but manual boxes are faster.
Just not true IME. Some, yes, but not most according to my testing. It's nearly impossible to try a good hardtail without buying one but, you might be surprised if you did.
www.pinkbike.com/photo/16915586
But that being said, a full bearing replacement on an FSR or VPP bike can get pricey, 10+ bearings and probably a DU bushing as well.
Ok maybe you have a point.
I don't think that is a disqualifier for me on a susser, it's just one of the many reasons I have remained on a HT. For a long time, I didn't want to chase trends in suspension design too, but the suspensions have gotten so good that I don't worry about it anymore. At 42 I've been thinking about getting a susser for some of my longer weekends in the saddle, the fatigue a HT can lay on you is pretty substantial. But justifying another complete bike for the occasional weekend is pretty tough. If I get bored with my Rootdown (unlikely) I may look into a Guerrilla Gravity.
I used my XC hardtail as my only ride in Moab once, doing things like Porcupine Rim and Captain Ahab on it. IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE BLAST. Those trails were so incredibly satisfying to ride on a hardtail, even though it was exhausting, because I knew it took more skill than it would if I broke out the DHer. I've used both at bike parks and my conclusion is that the DHer is more capable, and in general the XCer is more fun.
I think a fully is like a racecar - at the limit they're amazing, but below the limit they're more boring. A hardtail is like a go kart, where pretty much everything is suddenly fun. Take that how you will.
Now, the last time my suspension was out for service, I went back to fully rigid for a massive ride that included baby head downhills, Fully rigid on 2.3 tires not only made the ride incredibly scarier than it needed to be, but I couldn't feel my palms for a week.
In summation, rear suspension is nice, but not mandatory. No front suspension, no thanks!
Is this comparison trying to suggest the overwhelming tide of riders on Santa Cruz full-sussers spent less than £2-2,500 on them, or is it just ignoring that brands like Cotic, Whyte, Ragley, Stif, Stanton, etc can all sell you a complete hardtail for that, or even less?
Anyway, you can answer this question with some other questions:
why would anyone buy a rigid titanium gearbox touring bike, instead of a carbon full-sus?
why would anyone buy a road bike, instead of a carbon full-sus?
why would anyone buy an E-bike when they could buy a carbon full-sus for less?
why would anyone buy a carbon full-sus when a motorbike would be cheaper?
why would anyone buy...
go racing.
Over the last few months, I've been getting into weekly fat bike group night rides on a fully rigid Trek Farley that I've been renting. That snowy chaos is loads of fun too!
Dropper seats are the BIG game changer, not (full) suspension, at least that's my 2c.
I don't think it should be a right of passage that people start on a hardtail before moving on to FS, that's backwards thinking. Biking should be straight up fun out of the gate & newer bikes provide that in spades. Lord knows the very instant I can, I'll be draining the bank account for a new fully suspended, disc brake equipped, post dropping' trail smasher. Until then it's just me & the old steel dancer. Have fun on whatever you're currently shredding on folks & be grateful for it. Keep the Rubber side down.
For really steep and tech trails where the speeds are low I think being on a hardtail is confidence inspiring as you are so close to the ground. For fast chunky stuff it’s a disadvantage for sure if your goal is to be the fastest. I personally love to switch back and forth from suspension to hardtail as they both compliment each other. You have to pay attention more on a hardtail, especially on techy climbs.
The funny thing is that 30 years later there are now cruix that i rode back then, where I bail out on riding my full sus with 150 mm and xtr hydralic brakes tioday. I guess age and remembering my airborn flights over handelbars are holding me back. Happy days ????
And if it gets too hairy, that's why I own a DH bike also.
Honestly, charging with 26" wheels, really realy worned out Ardents, one brake and no real way to stop is the best way of riding ????
Why wouldn't you own a hardtail?
Some of us pre-date even v-brakes. That being said - I keep all my old hard tails - Ritchey timberwolf, Rocky Blizzard, Kona Explosif, Cove Hummer. But honestly they are just kept for the memories. I can't honestly believe I used to ride these down trails.
I don't high post or slam my saddle so a dropper is not important to me. Who wants to spend $400 on a seatpost anyways?
Disc brakes were a big improvement as well. Vbrakes could be set up to work well enough but soon as they got wet/muddy that kinda went out the window!
At no point in my life have I been fit enough to ride a SS on the trails, so yeah...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=DtMhyavClS8 They were indeed...
However, if you look around, you can get an affordable dropper and it'll change your mind. I finally got a dropper two seasons ago and that's the one thing I wouldn't give up.
I've got long arms and short legs LoL. I keep my saddle level or slightly above the stem top cap and I get almost full extension while still having enough room to move about.
None of my bikes are internal dropper and the idea of having another cable running on the frame + another lever on the bar doesn't motivate me very much. I've been eyeing the BST off/on for a bit, but seems like most droppers need a rebuild plus $150+ LoL Maybe one day...
Plus they make you a better rider and keep the stale local stuff fresh.
I've lost count how many times I've heard while riding, from the pretentious FS crowd "Oh great another dude in jeans and tshirt riding a HT. There always one. Let's get out in front of him so he doesn't hold us up". As the ride progresses and we come to the first big gnarly section, or the big trail feature. I see the FS crowd either standing there looking dumbfounded on how to clear it or riding/walking around it. While I just blast through like it's just another day on the bike. When we get to the bottom of the trail or end of the ride. I cheekily chirp to the FS crowd who are trying to choke their words down and give props to me. "There's always one in the crowd " #hardtailprideforlife
Bikes are fun. Ride one!
youtu.be/zKxSu5FBYi8
The fully rigid answer makes me feel like an old codger!
Also miss my old SS fully rigid Haro jump bike that I used for XC.
I've been drinking, but it's still true hardtails rule.
Track bike got it in 93 it’s still a great bike 26” wheels & a steel frame it’ll be with me til the end
The article suggests riding a hardtail is harder but to be honest I definitely feel the full susser is more scary and difficult to ride in technical terrain than the hardtail. Sure, straightlining rough terrain (like the upper section of the Megavalanche Alpe d'Huez) is easier on the full suspension bike but on jumps and steep switchbacks (like the lower section of that course) I feel the fully is much much harder to control. The hardtail is much more predictable. You know when the impact is going to be and how big it is going to be so you can absorb it. No need to absorb the rebound, it is not going to buck you off.
So no I don't ride the hardtail because it is harder. I ride the hardtail because it is easier and more predictable in technical terrain.
My full steel rigid 29er is the best ride I have ever had by far, it just gives a realness and involvement in the ride that even adding a front suspension would more like take away rather than contribute to the immersiveness. And you're bang on; it is not the type of ride for always being in the saddle.
(Own one STILL)
FS = Sneakers
N+1 = Fun
You answered your own question there, no need to make anything harder than it needs to be
When everything is easy where is the fun?