Full sus or hardtail

bails87

Pudseyp wrote:

if your riding at least twice a week every week then a HT is a great option, if your a weekend warrior who can only ride on a saturday then a FS is probably the best option.

Why do you say that?

delcol

I am sorry I didn't realise you rode in the Surrey Hills

i thought it was common knowledge i ride with my fat investment banker friends on their elsworths and drive my big posh audi to the trail head.... :P

i personally would not be with out either, imo i rate both my hardtail and my f/s bikes they all have there purpose..

Pudseyp

bails87 wrote:

Pudseyp wrote:

if your riding at least twice a week every week then a HT is a great option, if your a weekend warrior who can only ride on a saturday then a FS is probably the best option.

Why do you say that?

Bails it is my opinion (I reiterate my opinion) yes HT's build skills and can make you a very accomplished rider, to me when I ride I want to have a huge grin on my face at the end of the ride...if riding a HT once a week down technical decents you have to pick your lines better so if not an accomplished rider then perhaps you will ride wiith more caution and may not enjoy it as much on a full suss were the bike is doing more of the work.

It depends on what the OP wants....to build skills which will take a bit of time and at the end may make him a better rider then the HT is the better option...if he wants fun blasting around a trail centre with mates then a FS may better...again IMO.

bails87

Pudseyp wrote:

bails87 wrote:

Pudseyp wrote:

if your riding at least twice a week every week then a HT is a great option, if your a weekend warrior who can only ride on a saturday then a FS is probably the best option.

Why do you say that?

Bails it is my opinion (I reiterate my opinion)

Don't worry, I wasn't 'having a go', I just hadn't heard that view before, I thought the reason for it would be what you've just written, but wanted to be sure.

I do most of my miles commuting, so only get out on the MTB probably every other weekend, and I do fine on my HT. Who knows how much more supergnarcore I'd be on a FS though....

OP: either is fine. As you can see, personal preference plays a big part, as well as your ability and the type of riding you'll be doing. For a given budget, a FS will probably be worse specced and heavier than an equally expensive HT.

One thing to remeber is that you'll probably be more capable on a bike if you buy a £1k HT and a £50 skills course than if you buy a £1500 FS and just try to plough through everything.

Edit: Pudsey, as you rightly say, most of us do this for enjoyment (we're not roadies!) so that's probably the main thing to think about. I know from my local riding that when the trails are boring, they become less enjoyable, does a big FS have that effect? I don't know, again it depends on you and the riding you're doing.

delcol

One thing to remeber is that you'll probably be more capable on a bike if you buy a £1k HT and a £50 skills course than if you buy a £1500 FS and just try to plough through everything.

best statement in the thread....
could not agree more.

Shaggy_Dog

If you're torn between full suss and hardtail, consider a 29er hardtail, good compromise between comfort, weight and traction with all of the reliability and easy maintenance of any other hardtail and most of the speed of a full suss. get a steel or titanium frame for maximum comfort, some scandium and carbon frames can be comfy too whilst having a bit more pedalling and steering stiffness.

patbriggsmbr

My budget is £1600, but like I've said it's the bushings and shock I get fed up of and to be honest you need at least £3000 to get a top full sus bike with bearings instead of bushings.
I am from old school and I was quick on a hard tail.

Anonymous

My £1k GT ID5 was all bearings. Pain in the arse as those huge pivots used regular cartridge bearings same as you get in headsets and kept getting dirt in the housing which makes it creak, and have to strip the thing down frequently. Though the bearings themselves held up fine.

Aside from the creaking and weight of the thing, was a damn fine bike and hell of a good value for the money considering the kit it came with.

naffa

How on earth did we ever manage to enjoy our riding before f/s? :roll:

cooldad

patbriggsmbr wrote:

My budget is £1600, but like I've said it's the bushings and shock I get fed up of and to be honest you need at least £3000 to get a top full sus bike with bearings instead of bushings.
I am from old school and I was quick on a hard tail.

Rubbish.

welshkev

patbriggsmbr wrote:

My budget is £1600, but like I've said it's the bushings and shock I get fed up of and to be honest you need at least £3000 to get a top full sus bike with bearings instead of bushings.
I am from old school and I was quick on a hard tail.

complete crap!!

my full suss cost me £900 (ok i got it in the sale) i've had it 3 years and have only changed the bearings in the rear end once and my bike is lucky if it gets a wash!!!

bennett_346

I've been riding FS for over two years, always had sub 2k bikes and all full cartridge bearings. Never had an issue, 6 month regrease intervals. Job takes an hour max.

mtfu

delcol

naffa wrote:

How on earth did we ever manage to enjoy our riding before f/s? :roll:

same way i do evry time i ride my hardtail.. you dont suspension to enjoy riding,, my road bike cough cough does not have suspension and i enjoy riding that,,,

sniper68

Pudseyp wrote:

if he wants fun blasting around a trail centre with mates then a FS may better...again IMO.

I really don't get this/comments like this.I've not yet come across a Trail centre that warrants a FS,where are these super Gnar places.I can rule out North Wales/N.England and the 7Stanes(3 that I've ridden).
I always feel over-biked at TC's on a FS.I would say the opposite!
Each to their own though.

Pudseyp

ibbo68 wrote:

Pudseyp wrote:

if he wants fun blasting around a trail centre with mates then a FS may better...again IMO.

I really don't get this/comments like this.I've not yet come across a Trail centre that warrants a FS,where are these super Gnar places.I can rule out North Wales/N.England and the 7Stanes(3 that I've ridden).
I always feel over-biked at TC's on a FS.I would say the opposite!
Each to their own though.

What do you mean you don't get it FFS.......every trail centre I ride probably 80% or even more are FS bikes...they are more popular for a reason..its statements that go against fact that I don't get.

delcol

so 80% of the riders at trail centres are over biked then.. :roll:


who gives one at the end of the day it's down to personal choice and what you can afford. if you like pudsey can afford a top end fullsusser, and enjoy riding it then go out and have fun,,

if you are a peasant like me and have a hardtail and enjoy riding it then good just get out and ride....

it's what makes us individuals.....

sniper68

Pudseyp wrote:

What do you mean you don't get it FFS.......every trail centre I ride probably 80% or even more are FS bikes...they are more popular for a reason..its statements that go against fact that I don't get.

Yes and it a sweet FA to do with trailcentres.
They're more popular due to magazines telling everyone they need at least 150mm all round...and you don't.Even on the natural stuff 90% of the time a HT is enough.More comfy on a bouncer but more fun on a HT.
WHERE exactly do you need a FS.
Wharncliffe woods?Maybe on the DHs but otherwise..No.
Whinlatter?No
Grizedale NF ?No
Gisburn?No
Dalby?NOOOOOO
Sherwood Pines? NOOOOO
Kirroughtree?No
Dalbeattie?No
Ae?No
Marin?No
Penmachno?No
CYB?No
Can't think of any others I've ridden but generally it's a no.FS have their pro's&cons as do HT's but don't use something as simple to blast around as your average TC or the fact that they're perceived to be more popular as an arguement for FS.

Pudseyp

ibbo68 wrote:

Pudseyp wrote:

What do you mean you don't get it FFS.......every trail centre I ride probably 80% or even more are FS bikes...they are more popular for a reason..its statements that go against fact that I don't get.

Yes and it a sweet FA to do with trailcentres.
They're more popular due to magazines telling everyone they need at least 150mm all round...and you don't.Even on the natural stuff 90% of the time a HT is enough.More comfy on a bouncer but more fun on a HT.
WHERE exactly do you need a FS.
Wharncliffe woods?Maybe on the DHs but otherwise..No.
Whinlatter?No
Grizedale NF ?No
Gisburn?No
Dalby?NOOOOOO
Sherwood Pines? NOOOOO
Kirroughtree?No
Dalbeattie?No
Ae?No
Marin?No
Penmachno?No
CYB?No
Can't think of any others I've ridden but generally it's a no.FS have their pro's&cons as do HT's but don't use something as simple to blast around as your average TC or the fact that they're perceived to be more popular as an arguement for FS.

Next you will be saying the world is flat.....I and people in general buy things they want...so if your saying the 80% plus are wrong then your obviously deranged.
The likes of the 7Stanes, CYB, Penmachno, Betws-y-coed, Gisburn warrant a full suss....hence like I say over 80% are.

You are obvioulsy the Jose Mourinho of the MTB world.

supersonic

Nothing 'warrants' a full suss. All trails can be ridden on a HT or an FS. Some prefer HT, some prefer FS. Some like both! The majority of bikes I see on the trails are 3-500 quid hardtails by a long way.

bennett_346

I really don't see the argument, it's like arguing over whether you "need" salt or pepper on your food, there's no benefit to either over the other, except for you might like one better than the other!

delcol

bennett_346 wrote:

I really don't see the argument, it's like arguing over whether you "need" salt or pepper on your food, there's no benefit to either over the other, except for you might like one better than the other!

yeah ther is salt is bad for you and can cause heart disease... pepper doesnt, it just makes you sneeze if it goes up your nose.... :roll:
well said though...

i dont think any trailcentres warrent a f/s bike.. as said above it's all down to choice..

sniper68

Pudseyp wrote:

]Next you will be saying the world is flat.....I and people in general buy things they want...so if your saying the 80% plus are wrong then your obviously deranged.
The likes of the 7Stanes, CYB, Penmachno, Betws-y-coed, Gisburn warrant a full suss....hence like I say over 80% are.
You are obvioulsy the Jose Mourinho of the MTB world.

Not at all.
If you read my earlier post I have been riding a FS for 8 years and only recently got a HT aswell and it opened my eyes.
As for 80% of riders riding FS so they must be right well that's just people for you.Just because you reckon 80% of TC riders ride a FS doesn't mean they're right and the 20% of others aren't.
XR3i were popular in the 80s...didn't mean they were good
Jose Mourinho?Don't know what you mean.It's starting to look like I'm arguing with a 10 year old :roll:

cooldad

I don't need a hot supermodel girlfriend.
But I'd rather have one of those than Sheep's mum.

Pudseyp

ibbo68 wrote:

Pudseyp wrote:

]Next you will be saying the world is flat.....I and people in general buy things they want...so if your saying the 80% plus are wrong then your obviously deranged.
The likes of the 7Stanes, CYB, Penmachno, Betws-y-coed, Gisburn warrant a full suss....hence like I say over 80% are.
You are obvioulsy the Jose Mourinho of the MTB world.

Not at all.
If you read my earlier post I have been riding a FS for 8 years and only recently got a HT aswell and it opened my eyes.
As for 80% of riders riding FS so they must be right well that's just people for you.Just because you reckon 80% of TC riders ride a FS doesn't mean they're right and the 20% of others aren't.
XR3i were popular in the 80s...didn't mean they were good
Jose Mourinho?Don't know what you mean.It's starting to look like I'm arguing with a 10 year old :roll:

I also have both, and haven't stated that a trail centre cannot be ridden on a HT...all I was trying to say at the likes of llandegla and the rest of the NW trail centres and also the likes of Glentress and Inners the majority is FS and the minority is HT which must account for a high percentage of trail centre riders wanting to ride FS...

The Op's question was FS or HT and as the majority I see at trail centres are FS then the majority is the majority.

delcol

cooldad wrote:

I don't need a hot supermodel girlfriend.
But I'd rather have one of those than Sheep's mum.

they all the same in the dark...

Pudseyp

delcol wrote:

cooldad wrote:

I don't need a hot supermodel girlfriend.
But I'd rather have one of those than Sheep's mum.

they all the same in the dark...

No....one smells worse than the other.

delcol

i'l take your word on that then...

Anonymous

You can ride where you like on what you like. How you ride it is where the bike makes a difference. You can still compensate for it with skills of course, but even Danny Hart rides a full sus when going hard core nuts downhill

Anyway, ride those trail centres on both types of bikes and then come back. Hard tail will do it fine. If you're not going faster and taking more risks when you ride the full sus, then yeah maybe the hard tail only is for you (and a basket on the front for going to the shops).

The Rookie

I ride an HT, on our local rides with the club I have an easier time than most the FSers, at a trail cantre like Cannock I'm a little slower downhill, but again uphills I tend to embarress them somewhat, clearly how good (or bad) a rider I am (not that good I'll admit) and how fit they are plays a part, as I also commute by bike I think that contributes to my uphill 'edge'.

Over certain surfaces FS has a clear edge, and it's not the roughest trails where I find they have the biggest advantage but the level fast but rough trails where we're getting towards the top of the middle ring in gearing but frankly the bumps are hurting my ass!

Simon

angry_bird

I ride hardtails, not much I want to do that I can't do on them, obviously there are points where a FS lets you ride a line a hardtail would disagree with but you just have to be able to handle them. Took one of them downhilling at Cwmcarn yesterday, a few people were asking if I was mad, and how tiring it was and while I may have had to work slightly harder than them at times on their big bouncy bikes it dealt with everything fine and kept pace. I love the XC hardtail too, it's a blast and again I've never felt it's been out of it's depth too much, sure you have to choose a more sensible line than other riders at some times but that's half the fun.

Having said that I'll be getting my own full suss eventually, but having ridden quite a few I'm in no massive hurry, sure it makes things easier and I might go a bit faster, but still I can happily wait a couple of years. To be honest I quite enjoy riding the hardtails and can't see my riding suffering for it. Might as well make the most of being young and get the FS when I'm not so bouncy and flexible myself.