Aggressive all mountain hard tail?

Great Ayton
Great Ayton Posts: 337
edited October 2012 in MTB buying advice
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?

Comments

  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    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.
  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    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 :lol:

    it all depends what type of riding you do i guess
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    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=13070235
  • felix.london
    felix.london Posts: 4,067
    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! :D
    "Why have that extra tooth if you're not using it?" - Brian Lopes

    Votec V.SX Enduro 'Alpine Thug' 2012/2013 build

    Trek Session 8
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Sounds like you need a 1996 Zaskar with 110mm Bombers ;-)
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

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  • sambasams
    sambasams Posts: 7
    Commencal Ramones 1 8)
  • waverider
    waverider Posts: 25
    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! :D

    My last bike was pretty much this, 09 rockhopper, and it was excellent!
  • Great Ayton
    Great Ayton Posts: 337
    supersonic wrote:
    Sounds like you need a 1996 Zaskar with 110mm Bombers ;-)

    Now your talking :D
  • dusk
    dusk Posts: 583
    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 other
    YT Wicked 160 ltd
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  • gingerrob25
    gingerrob25 Posts: 65
    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 MacAskill
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    There's a Ragley Ti on ebay for £400 just now, in medium. Ridiculously good.
    Uncompromising extremist
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    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."
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  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    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.
  • leaflite
    leaflite Posts: 1,651
    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...
    GT Hardtail
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  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    It bloody better not, I paid £600 for mine :lol: Get bidding folks!
    Uncompromising extremist
  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    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 you :lol:
  • lostboysaint
    lostboysaint Posts: 4,250
    Transition Trans Am. Fabulous steel frame designed around a 140mm fork. Just ordering mine to replace my Inbred.
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  • steve_muzzy
    steve_muzzy Posts: 259
    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..

    c298566492863d38c16cf4aa3895a6ab.jpg

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