Hardtail or Full Suspension Mountain Bike? | Which Should You Buy?
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- čas přidán 5. 03. 2019
- This video contains a paid product placement for Identiti.
When it comes to full suspension or hardtail for trail riding the choice isn't as always as simple as it seems. A full suspension bike may be more playful and offer a greater degree of control, but comes at a cost in terms of weight and maintenance time. Whereas a hardtail can be more reliable and lighter, but can loose some of the the trail shredding control associated with a full suspension bike.
As always there is no right or wrong answer, so Senior Technical Editor Tom Marvin reveals the pros and cons for each bike, to give you a better idea on which could be right for you.
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#hardtailvsfullsus #bestmountainbike #ridingtrails - Sport
Do you prefer to ride a hardtail or full suspension mountain bike? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! 🗻🚵🏽♀️⛰
Hard tail for live, till you've got the money for a full sus, and than, full sus for life! haha
(I'm still a cheapass with an old Cannondale Hardtail)
Hardtails are fun, and the part where it was mentioned that you can keep up with the full suspension riders means you're really good is a confidence booster.
You should check out this company called Psynyde, it's a local brand from India making aggressive mountain bikes
Bad back, gnarly trails, full sus.
I’m fortunate enough to have both. I love riding both and chop and change between with no bother. Full sus gets less use in the winter slop 👍🏻
Both
Conclusion: all about the wallet
1. Poor: no bike
2. Medium: hardtail
3. Privileged: Full sus
4. Posh: both
Actually poor would be a shit BSO, a full rigid bike like a classic 26 or single speed.
This must be the most honest comment here LOL
no it should have been e full sus bike for the posh
Well I’m not “privileged,” I just work hard so I started on a full sus and now I have a hardtail. I have either to choose from for how I’m feeling and what trails I’m hitting.
Crazy: lots of high-specced hardtails 😄
Started on hardtail, got a full sus for 10 years, now going back to hardtail. Main reasons is simplicity, reliability, low maintenance, pedal efficiency. I believe that a some point skills overcomes the need for full suspension.
I prefer Hardtails as they are more playful and you get more feedback from the trail. They are also easier to maintain with less moving parts to fail.
More playful, more feedback?? Gtfo... Compressed spine? Yesss
Jck Dnls Go have a great time on your dual sus, so will us hardtail owners. They are both bikes and we are all a community 👍
@@mh_mtb686 yeah, it's aboit the ride
@@mh_mtb686 hardtails are sick i got a ragley mmmbop hardtail 160mm travel surprisingly really smooth and a 63.8 degree head angle feels great and is so easy to throw around
@@tim_mtb3551 nice ive got the plan to build one myself. did you buy the complete one?
I think a hardtail can make you a better rider when starting out; and certainly has its place for XC. But there's just too much benefit with a full sus for regular trail use, even if it means buying second hand instead of new.
I think the whole debate about hardtail making you better has one big flaw, that people dont think about. When riding the same trails you will go a lot faster on a full suspension bike, and improve your skills that way. Hardtails have their place and are good for training, but not in the way that people think.
@@obi-wankenobi9871 riding a hardtail makes you faster because you learn how to ride smoother and can transfer those skills on a fs and be faster
@@trelane751 on raw race FS also ride maximally smooth. Difference in amount - for FS big raw, for HT small raw ")
@@obi-wankenobi9871 I actually think there's something you didn't quite think about, with all due respect.
What you said is true, people will go faster on a FS. And how is that a good thing for a beginner? Because even a beginner will go faster. He's gonna f up at some point. And god forbid he hits a nice tree at speed and breaks his spine.
Hardtail or full sus in 2021? Which ever ones in stock!
That is an easy debate. Get both!
N+1 and S-1 rules for sure
Damn it, now I can't afford my rent!
Get hardtail and Downhill bike. Perfect combo
@@W1NN0-48 Depends on what type of riding you do.
But for learning and developing skills a hardtail imo is better.
Unless u are doing like competitive Mtb'ing
Then in some cases a hardtail would be in a big enough disatvantage.
9 times out of 10 its the ridee who needs to improve, not the Bike.
Gunnar Kranenburg and why not a bmx, you might not ride it but hey it’s a another bike
Full suspension because knowing me I constantly don't pick a good line on rough terrain so having the more forgiving suspension does my body wonders. There is something nice and light about a hard tail though and it does feel "tossable" but my knees and back have something else to say about that.
The answer, of course, is both.
But ill choose a full sus over a hardtail
More often than not i used to take my hardtail to a downhill track instead of my downhill bike. I used to love proving a point and catching up with riders on their big DH rigs. Had a lot of fun doing that!
Proving what point?
That you're a better rider than someone?
I thought we rode bikes for fun, not to make others feel bad about them selves.
@@Shralps Yes to prove a point that you don't need big DH rigs to have fun and ride fast. If you don't like that then tough i couldn't care less pal!
@@Shralps I think having an expensive bike is more than an asshole than being super fit. I won't feel bad for someone who is better than me, but I will certainly feel bad if someone is rubbing his full suspension on my face
I bought 3 HT prior FS.. When I finally got the FS, I never looked back.
1. Buy entry level practice trail bike. 120mm sweet spot.
2. Get your dream fs bike.
Have both! started on an older HT learned a lot! Now have a much newer + nicer FS and love it! Still love braking out the HT for flow and pump track. Looking to get a more modern HT really ! But in Short GET BOTH!
I started on a full sus and now have a hardtail and find myself riding the hardtail more.
It‘s a very good point. So many people lean towards the enduro bikes but a lower travel trail bike is probably the better choice for most.
Hardtails definitely have their place but I like the full squish!
Worldwide Cyclery That’s because you are a retailer and you don’t sell hardtails. Therefore you are posting this comment from a business perspective.
I have both. I use the hardtail way more. I do full aerobic/mileage biking through easy-moderate routes. Too old for doing jumps and or technical terrain lol
Whatever you have get out and ride. Both looked like lots of fun!
Short travel 29er with modern geo is probably the closest you can get to having the best of both worlds. Ideally you have one of each though!
Got a full-sus and a rigid and love them both.
I own both. I got a hardtail a couple years ago, full suspension not long ago as some of the harder trails were punishing. Money is not infinite but in a perfect world start and build skills on easy trails with a hardtail. It will pay off when you discover how to balance. Do this as you save your nickels and your dimes along with building skills as I say eventually do both keeping your hardtail as a beater, winter or snow bike. Just when you think you are really good as you keep taking your full suspension bike as your hardtail starts getting dusty, then take your hardtail out and eat a big slice of humble pie. It keeps your skills sharp as full suspension is so good that it can render you sloppy and complacent.
I'm 50 and have been riding mtb's over 30 yrs I have recently sold my full sus and have gone back to kickin' it on a hardtail. I climb better and enjoy getting beat up throwing a 25lb HT around more than I like gliding over the trails on my plush FS.
This is easy. Hardtail. Literally in every category you should start on a Hardtail. DJ or slopestyle? Hardtail. XC? Hardtail. Enduro? Hardtail. Trail riding? Hardtail. Freeride? Hardtail. DH? Hardtail. 4X (4 cross) or Dual slalom? Definitely a Hardtail. Fat biking? Yep, Hardtail. Bike packing? Hardtail. Street riding? Why is this a question? Hardtail! Almost all successful pros started on a HT and if you can't ride fast on a ht, you can't on a fs
I grew up on 20" BMX bikes and 26" dirt jump bikes, not touching a proper mountain bike until I was nearly 30. I went through a handful of 26" and 29" hardtails, with a Giant Anthem 27.5" tossed in as my intro to full squish. Most recently, my wife and I have went to full squish (Transition Scout GX and Trek Fuel EX 8) because we powerlift competitively, and we have found that the little reduction in abuse on the trails equates to more quality training in the gym. I still have a soft spot for hardtails and vouch for developing your body mechanics and line sighting on one, then develop your speed on a full squish. If your choices are between a well equipped hardtail or a budget full squish, snag the hardtail and party on. You won't be cheating yourself one bit.
Have a HT. About 20 years old and bought when I wanted to upgrade from my non-suspension bike. Having front suspension was a big improvement.
Mostly done road biking over the years and just started MTB again. I can afford whatever now, but sticking with my 20 year old bike because it works. I can fix anything by that goes wrong with a simple tool kit.
I’m having to re-learn how to throw my weight forward/back to work over roots and rocks.
The friends I’m riding with all have full suspension. Some are new to MTB, one was sponsored in the past. As we are mostly in non-technical areas, I find that I can keep up with them ok with many years of road cycling.
I was out last week on my Giant Defy endurance bike (drop bars!) just exploring near where I live. Went down a very minor road that soon turned into gravel. Got through it but it was hard work on 25c road tyres!
This reminded me how much fun I used to have on a S Works steel framed MTB with XTR gear & Pace forks - it got nicked about 15yrs ago or so. I've been tentatively looking at getting another MTB now I'm newly retired. There are so few bikes available, I'm going to fit some tubeless 700x44c gravel tyres to my Ridgeback Flight 03 hybrid so will be returning to off-road on a rigid bike that's got MTB hydraulic disc brakes (I will never buy another bike with rim brakes!). I will leave the decision to buy a hardtail or full until when the industry recovers - just buying parts has been a nightmare!
As an aside, I can't understand why anyone would go offroad with drop bars unless by mistake - are hybrids THAT unfashionable?!
HT in my case, since MTB/XC is just for crosstraining. Would trails be my mostly riding routes, the FS will be the choice.
I have a GT Aggressor Pro hardtail, and love it!! It is great for the all types of trails in Pittsburgh, and surrounding areas
Just bought one today! Can't wait to hit the trails with it.
I wish comparisons like this would take into consideration more frame geometry specs. In particular head tube angle. How much does this play into trail type? It would interesting to see a graph showing trail angle to head tube angle. The steeper the trail going down overall one would think a slacker head tube would be ideal. Is this relevant?
i'm lucky enough to have both, they are awesome in their own right
my wallet: hardtail it is :-)
Just never carry your wallet while riding.
He'll demand a refund.
I've been borrowing a friend's full-suspension MTB for a while, but now I got myself a hard-tail hybrid just for fitness training around the city, not a real MTB. I've noticed that the seat now suddenly transmits every little bump (even slight street bumps) directly to my bum bones, and it hurts like hell. Is this normal for a hard-tail hybrid bike at the beginning? And will it get better with time?
@@ce7857 You can try replacing the saddle with a specialized cushioned one for less pressure. I'm assuming that from using your friend's full suspension MTB you are probably used to the easy pressure but your muscles should adjust over time. Small tip: When approaching bumps, you should lift your backside just a little so all the energy traveling through the bike wouldn't go full power into your backside. Hope this helps!
@@ce7857 if you aren’t wearing a chamois, get a pair of liner shorts with one.
@@ce7857 its not normal, check the pressure of the rear tire
Hardtails don't get old really. Fullies r just super expensive and/or time consuming and after couple years not worth fixing...
I see hardtails that are just as expensive as entry fulls. Makes no sense
@@theyeticlutch3486 hard tails are almost always cheaper. take an entry level hard trail and an entry level full sus and the full sus will 10/10 times more expensive
Well, I ride full suspension Specialized Epic. It rides like a HT when it needs to, and a FS when it needs to :)
epic - is a sport CC machine developed to be better than HT. Commonly FS bikes more like enduro class.
Svenmpa no you don’t
@@moof_1957 mad?
Both rock but I love my full suspension for insane trails!
I actually went from Full to Hardtail. I prefer the feedback from hardtails. Honestly I get more enjoyment riding them than full suspensions.
You can’t go anywhere near as fast tho
@@thomas_229 not everyone is into going super fast lol, some people like to have fun going down huge jumps and getting that responsive feeling which makes you feel relieved you did it
@@thomas_229 why would I want to go fast? Hardtails make trails more challenging so going slow is just as fun. I'd say a lot safer too, especially for a beginner.
Hmmmm, Hard tail, just. Would have been nice to see the comparison done at the same price point, which is often the deciding factor when buying.
How would the better equipped and frame spec hard tail coped vs a similarly priced susser?
wouldn't have mattered but would have been great for a click bait title.
go check you tube channel Clint Gibbs he has got some great comparison between different types of bikes
The frame spec could be similar, although if you compare higher price beasts it could be different. For example, the giant trance (a full squish aluminium 29er, around 3600 Australian dollars) and the giant xtc advanced 29er (a carbon hardtail at around 3600 Australian dollars). The trance has a one by 11 Shimano slx drive train, while the xtc has sram gx eagle one by 12 drivetrain, which for the hardtail is pretty much a whole step up from the full squish. So the hardtail is lighter, stronger and has a better drivetrain while the full squish is heavier, technically weaker, but does mean you have more suspension to soak up harsher trails. The full suspension bike can take you down rock gardens and go off step up and step downs easily. Although the hardtail, while arguably better at jumping, would be much more difficult to go over rough terrain like big logs and rocks. Personally I would own a hardtail over a full sus but that’s my opinion, I just find full squishes a bit sensible and I find I have much more fun on a hardtail. Each to their own though.
Thanks for the vid. Whats the track called that plays in the back from the beginning to 2:35?
I have both an Enduro Merida one sixty for flow gravity trails and I love riding my Roscoe with + tires on local trails which are XC like trails less impact and I agree I can thro my hardtail into corners and power on easier.I can ride further on an XC trail on the hardtail because my higher travel bike is a bigger flog up hill.Down hill the Merida just smashes the trails so quick.Some days I have debate myself which bike to take because they are both so much fun ...When I travel it’s always my dual sus that wins.
My dilemma is, I never ridden a full suspension. I’m finding it hard to choose between a high-end Hardtail “Chromag Rootdown” with 160mm of travel vs A full suspension in the $2500 price range.
Riding style is 25% road 50% light to medium trails and 25% downhill bike park.
My last bike was a trek stache 7
Great review. Thanks.
I only recently really go into aggressive style trail riding, I ended up buying a norco torrent HT S2, upgraded from a older Merida big 9 which I abused the crap out of and luckily didn’t kill myself on, in the past 4 months of riding I am hitting doubles and other jumps I see people on dual suspensions ride around, I feel like my progression is building more along with confidence, learning to take better lines and landing smoother in jumps on a hardtail will make me a better rider on a FS down the track (so I’ve be told). The HT I have will stay with me forever now I will never sell it… I get that it’s a lot bumpier but don’t mind feeling the terrain and 9/10 your not on the saddle so you use your lower body as your suspension anyways… I just don’t see me upgrading to a FS anytime soon as tempting as it is I don’t see how an extra couple of grand for a smoother ride will have any benefit to me personally.
I would recommend starting with a hard tail until you are really good and they maybe try out a full suspension bike and see if you want to change or not
Thanks, great informative Video! Dual for me, as I like the technical trails :)
Nothing feels better than dropping people on fancy full suspension bikes when you are riding your hardtail.
Maybe they enjoy different things than driving fast.
It's an even better feeling when you are riding an entry level hardtail
Great review. You are good.
I ride a hardtail, but I am looking to get a full sus some time in the future.
Love those trails in fod
When i was a kid a mate of mine had a identiti 666 build. Was sych a cool bike. We were all so jealous
People: "buy both"
Me: "So i will sell my car to ride 3hours on the weekend??"
Don't sell your car just get the one that you can buy
@@ryanchadwick7053 I think that was a joke. That said, a good MTB can be under 1,000 USD
Just bought a used bike for $300 specialized big hit
Bought a hard tail with good components, but usually ride canals and fire roads and very small amount of light to rough stuff , can’t afford a decent full sus, maybe should have bought a second hand one ,, cheers Shane uk 🇬🇧
My 2019 commencal hardtail has a 160mm front yari fork, but still want a full squish
Old video but lot of good points. Thinking of buyng a second bike. Hoping I can get My wife to try it. So didnt want to spend a ton of money and recently read a lot about the Canyon Stoic 2. $1400 shipped to my door.
But after watching the video I noticed you never said anything about being able to lock out the suspension. Wouldn't locking out the rear suspension be close to a hard tail but with the flip of a lever full suspension? I know it still moves but not easily.
My local is swinley which isn't a smooth ride so I have a full squish. However I have ridden a hard tail several times there, I just prefer riding the HT in the air where it's smoother. HT is fun but my FS is a lot more fun at my local trail.
I prefer HT because of less moving parts and single points of failure. My first 2 bikes was full sus but I agonized over maintenance and costs. Eventually I went rigid or HT.
ive got a hardtail, im a pretty good rider and i ride trails with roots and rocks and jumps. i really want a full sus but my mum keeps on saying NO
I love my hard trail, specially cuz I enjoy riding uphill and I get more power and less wheight.
I'm looking to build a custom hardtail, or will just buy a very good hardtail with parts I'd want on my full suspension... My question is, can I transfer all my parts to a full sus if I want to swap frames in about a year or so?
Between an Enduro hardtail and a trail full squish which one is more capable? I have Marin sanquentin with a 160mm lyrik, sram codes, 63 degree hta. Comparing to say a hawk hill with 120/130 mm and a 66 degree hta which bike would perform better at a bike park?
I really think these videos are misleading to some extent. You're all comparing the two types from a speed/efficiency perspective.
You were riding that hardtail to 10/10 on that bumpy section. Of course the full suspension was faster and safer! But you know what a beginner would do on a hardtail? He'll simply slow down. He'll clear the track, only it will take more time. And that's even safer.
The full sus gives you the superman effect. And you're superman until you f up, if you don't have experience.
People need to understand a hardtail can do about all a full sus can do, only in some cases - much slower and by standing up more! Smooth trails will also feel more fun. And that's JUST FINE for some people.
Honestly I'm not sure what to go for now.
I have a fair bit of riding experience but all hardtail.
I've been out of it for quite a few years now but looking to get back into the scene so need a new bike.
During the week I'll mainly be commuting the 4 miles each way to work. But at the weekend I'd like to perhaps head up to Cannock Chase or Bikepark Wales on longer weekends.
As it's my first bike for a while I'm not going nuts money wise so I'm torn between a Vitus Sentier hardtail and a Calibre Bossnut Evo full sus.
The Vitus will cost about £850 and the 2019 Bossnut Evo (the 2020 Bossnut has dropped the Evo bit) is available for £799 at the moment!
Help!!!
Very good video!!
FS enduro bike and FS XC bike. Both 26 inch. Wanted to get a dartmore primal but apparently 27.5 boost here in South Africa is getting scares like 26 inch bikes.
I've just bought a full sus after riding a hard tail for years. So far im yet to find a trail that I would prefer my hardtail.
I'm actually going back to an aggressive hardtail from full suss. I like having the feel of the connection to the ground, the agility and lower maintenance.
Don't get me wrong I love the full suss, but I don't need /use it enough for what it's for.
What about a budget full suspension like rockrider ST 540s ?
You know how to keep up with your friends when they all have full suspension bikes and you aren’t as good on a bike and have a hard tail?
Ride in front of them.
Or take off the brakes. You will be faster either way
this is what I do.... Im on a 26" hardtail and i ride in front of 29" and 27" full sussers so we can ride together... im not as fast on the hardtail but im not so slow they dont have fun so its a win win.
Lmao
You could also suggest riding uphill.
Can you also review 2019 Santa Cruz Tallboy?
As a hard tail owner I will ride anything only this is my normal, so I catch myself jumping over the stuff the full sus guys roll over. I’m sure I’ll get one one day, but I don’t do enough downhill stuff for it to make a difference so trail bike, is synonymous with hard tail for me. Just ride!
i ride a hardtail but im unsure if its worth the upgrade to full sus
I'll get a full suspension when Kona makes a full suspension honzo
both is the answer
I just bought a hardtail because i like the simplicity of the bike and for what i could afford , id rather have a hardtail with decent parts and frame than a cheap full suspension bike that might break down on me . For the trails around my parts , there is a lot of dirt jumps , pump tracks, flow trails and single track where a hardtail excells. when i go to the mountains i use my dh bike but once in a while i still enjoy bringing my hardtail to hit the steep rough stuff.
Exactly my thoughts, I wanted a decent-good hard tail instead of a shitty old full suspension, I grew up poor and my job rn doesn’t make me to much money and I got bills so I thought it was nice to just get a decent to good hard tail
Good sum up of pros and cons but one important argument was missing.
HTs look so much better!👍😍
Hey i need help buying my first MTB 🚵♂️ i will appreciate your help. i am undecided between scott spark 900 premium carnon full suspension 2016 and scott scale 930 2014 carbon wich will work for daily fitness , climbing and downhill and on road. I will use it for anything. Comment please
I would like to see more hardtails with wheel setup like the Canyon NeuronON. 650B+ wheel at back for extra comfort, and normal 29 at front for great cornering (or simply people are used to the feel of narrower tires hence they feel better on narrower tires.)
Thank you for correctly pronouncing BIKE, even with your old Europe accent.
I know this is unusual question but could u tell me which bike around $4000 full suspension. Is the most comfortable sitting up right position for flat riding. I want one for flat that will be super comfortable crossing sidewalks in city without getting sore now I have specialized bike that has no suspension at all and I’m looking for full suspension! And once in a while I’ll go off road but 95% I won’t. Thank u
I got a hardtail but we ride really rough trails im getting a full suspention bike soon
Was a hardtail guy for years, bought a used giant trance 2 and I'm never going back. Full suspension is better in every way. They're so efficient now and price is down for amazing bikes. No reason to not get one
gray rey how’s the maintenance though?For me I really don’t like having to constantly service a bike. Thinking of maybe getting a trance or a ht
Theres a very good reason for not getting one, because you don't have enough money
Better in every way? ....a lot of people say otherwise
@@SC68170 I'm telling you man.. the comfort and speed and shit is amazing.. I mean of ur on a tame trail a hardball can be awesome but full is the way to go
@@gray7890
Never had a FS so I'm just going off what others say. Basically that HT is better on less technical trails putting power down and better uphill. I wish I knew first hand. Was going to buy a FS but was steered away from it cause of my weight. 6'4 270 said it wouldn't benefit me as much and said 250 or less is ideal For FS. Had 2 shops tell me that. So I bought an aggressive Santa Cruz Chameleon hardtail yesterday. We'll see. But so far so good just testing it around town up and down hills. I would love to experience a FS one day tho so I can decide if its really worth it or not
If you're just starting out I recommend a hardtail but once you become more experienced get a full sus.
The other way
@@farbenfrohesgrau4056 I'm starting out and honestly I got headache from confusion.
@@mohammedsalimahmed5230 same but most people are saying start on a hard tail. plus my bank account seems to agree as well
@@Jaysee2164 hahahaha
People, what if i learned much skills on hardtail, can i straight up go to full sus trail bike, i mean like i ride hardtails my whole life, learning tricks and everything, but i always rode 3Speed DriveTrain, so should i straight up get a full sus of a price of a hardtail? What do yall think?
After going FS I'd never go back to just having a HT, but I would like to add a nice HT to my fleet someday.
I add HT several times, but have no a lot of time to ride on several bike simultaneously. Now i sold HT and use trail FS all time (summer and winter).
I’m thinking about what to buy for my next bike, I’ve had a hardtail for a few years, but I’m getting more into mountain biking. Are full suspension bikes still fun to ride normally off trails?
This
there is a compromise: get a hard tail and put fatter tires on it and ride with low pressure.
Why didn't you test them on climbs?
I have an S-Works Epic 2018 full suspension MTB. It needs to be maintained fully every year 2-3 times. The money i spent already on restoring/repairing the suspensions and moving parts worth roughly an entry level MTB... My next bike will most likely be a hardtail...
Need or should? Do you ride hard?
Definitely think about what you REALLY want to ride. CZcams obviously wants you to fly through the air at 20 feet off a rock face, but the typical rider isn't going to do that nor do they actually want to when it comes down to it. For me, an awesome trail has very few rocks, good speed, and turns. A hardtail is just fine for that. I hate a lot of rocks, actually.
My Hardtail is a good bike and I have no trouble with it and I can do more things on my hardtail than my friend on full suspension.
You see I’ve been owning full suspension bike since I was 6 and I m now going to say buying a hard tail was verry good less maintenance but landing on back tire is 50/50 it might puncture
Not if you have a higher end hardtail which generally run tubeless these days…
which is better for canal paths?
If you want a XC bike and you are on a budget, go for the hardtail, usually the lowest full sus will be aluminum while the hardtail will be carbon and have same parts if not better
Why is carbon an argument to buy the bike? Geometry, components and weight are much more important. Just because its carbon doesnt mean its significantly lighter.
Exactly correct! What if bikes were made of high strength marshmallow? You still need to pedal it and carry your body around! And why were guys in the 90's having so much fun? Because they weren't gear fags, and just rode whatever and drank a six pack with their bros after demolishing a sick trail!
Full suspension for me
3:37 Love the "if your friends" comment. Usually the best way to gage. Basically applies to all gear oriented activities.
No, not all, but in mountainbiking it makes a huge diffrence.
Hardtail for life!
if i just wanna ride in the woods
should i then get a hardtail ore full suspension ?
Lars Van de Velde depends where you live i guess
What's best for mainly on roads & paths (sidewalks)? I'd go on trails sometimes but mostly in urban areas.
Hardtail
You probably don't need any suspension then, but a hardtail would be plenty for you.
A FS is my preferable bike but hard tails are cheaper, more fun, faster and way easier to maintain. If you have the money, I would go for FS but if you dont have the money like $1400, hard tails are the way. It also depends if your a beginner, if yes, hard tails. I ride hard tail and i've had it for a while and im thinking of getting a better hard tail. I would say you can get a good hard tail for $500 but a good FS is at least $1200 if new, normally FS is dont last as long as a hard tail because of rear suspension, thats why i wouldn't get one of gumtree unless its real good condition.
P.S: FS means Full Suspension if you didnt know
I think a decent shifting and handling hardtail frame with dropper is likely 2k+ and the same full suspension is at least 3k+ online or in the bike shop. Sun tour and deore make decent products, but I'm thinking 3 years in front of me, riding at least 40 miles a week. You can't reasonably asses that without at least some high end basics like moderately decent components.
Is this debate not dead yet? Joke. :) Love the footage. Hardtail for me. So fun to ride. Hone my skill so much for training. :) but for racing I'd go with full suspension. :)
I found a bike for sale, normally costs 500, for 50, it had some rust, which I fixed and a chain skipped, I also fixed
Which one for beginners?
what full suspension bike is that?