Aggressive all mountain hard tail?
Great Ayton
Posts: 337
Back in the 90s I used to race DH with hard tails and even fully rigid bikes. These days I'm not quite so mad and ride all mountain. Though must admit I still like my adrenalin fixes when I am going down the hills like the mad man I am. So after shelling out to get some life breathed back in to my rear shock again I am now thinking perhaps its time to build up a hard tail for all this winter muck.
So my question is this. Are my fond memory of the 90s just rose tinted. Or would a hard tail with relatively short travel still hack it these days? Or would you just get left in the distance on one as all the full sus bikes fly away down the hills?
So my question is this. Are my fond memory of the 90s just rose tinted. Or would a hard tail with relatively short travel still hack it these days? Or would you just get left in the distance on one as all the full sus bikes fly away down the hills?
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Do you want the rush or to go faster (not always the same thing), there is a good selection of 'hardcore hardtails' around these days from which to choose, taking something in the 130-150mm fork travel range that are designed for exactly what you describe, probably won't keep with as good a quality FS though.
Evil Sovereign, Ragley Blue pig, On-one 456 and others all spring to mind.Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0 -
i'm of course going to say a cove stiffee as mine is awesome
but there was a whole bit in a thread arguing that i don't need 150mm travel and that 100mm will be fine to ride anything. i don't agree with that as i've tried
it all depends what type of riding you do i guess0 -
On One Summer Season or 456 Evo would do what you want. I really like mine and have no problem keeping up with most people on full sus bikes.
I'm quite aggressive on mine, it takes more effort to ride than a full sus bike but I find that more rewarding.Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=130702350 -
I can get up and down pretty much anything on my 'All-Mountainized' 2006 Rockhopper and have amazing amounts of fun doing both.
So yes - a short travel (120mm in my case) hardtail (with decent forks, wheels, tyres & brakes) can definitely still hack it!"Why have that extra tooth if you're not using it?" - Brian Lopes
Votec V.SX Enduro 'Alpine Thug' 2012/2013 build
Trek Session 80 -
Sounds like you need a 1996 Zaskar with 110mm Bombers ;-)0
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Commencal Ramones 1 8)0
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felix.london wrote:I can get up and down pretty much anything on my 'All-Mountainized' 2006 Rockhopper and have amazing amounts of fun doing both.
So yes - a short travel (120mm in my case) hardtail (with decent forks, wheels, tyres & brakes) can definitely still hack it!
My last bike was pretty much this, 09 rockhopper, and it was excellent!0 -
supersonic wrote:Sounds like you need a 1996 Zaskar with 110mm Bombers ;-)
Now your talking0 -
I love full sus bikes and if I could only have one bike it would be a full sus, it's faster and more comfortable. However a full sus just doesn't have that special feeling of a hardtail, having one of each makes me appreciate the otherYT Wicked 160 ltd
Cotic BFe
DMR Trailstar
Canyon Roadlite0 -
Well since I have one I have to recommend a on-one 456 summer season, its nice and slack and feels great with revelations Up front.
But I think what mountain bike had an article on long travel hardtails in the October issue, so you might want to check that out...Specialized Hardrock 06
On One 456 Summer Season 2010 neon orange!
“…get it in your head, then there’s nothing else important for the next couple of hours than getting that particular line done…” – Danny MacAskill0 -
There's a Ragley Ti on ebay for £400 just now, in medium. Ridiculously good.Uncompromising extremist0
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so you are older- you dont heal or bounce as well and you want a short travel HT for DH work.
Mad it tell you MAD."Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
Parktools :?:SheldonBrown0 -
Or not...DH HT=slower so less pain when it goes wrong....which it will!Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0
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Northwind wrote:There's a Ragley Ti on ebay for £400 just now, in medium. Ridiculously good.
Doubt very much it will go for that though...0 -
It bloody better not, I paid £600 for mine Get bidding folks!Uncompromising extremist0
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The Beginner wrote:Or not...DH HT=slower so less pain when it goes wrong....which it will!
i've been riding my hardtail on the DH track at cwmcarn..it still goes fast enough let me tell you0 -
Transition Trans Am. Fabulous steel frame designed around a 140mm fork. Just ordering mine to replace my Inbred.Trail fun - Transition Bandit
Road - Wilier Izoard Centaur/Cube Agree C62 Disc
Allround - Cotic Solaris0 -
Genesis abyss, amazing bike came with full slx group set, 150mm relevation with 15mm axle. I was minutes faster at inners over my 120mm trance x
This one Is my mates, few additions to standard spec..
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