Had my full suss out yesterday for the first time in 2 months, i'd been riding my hardtail constantly during that time. Sure enough, I had lost all sense of balance on my commie, and ended up crashing 3 times.
This also leads me to correct setup of forks and shock, yesterday was my first ride with a coil shock which was only fitted last week, what is involved in getting the forks and shock working in perfect unison?
Other way around for me - I ride my HT for a bit more speed and distance but it hurts my behind and lower back after 3-4 hours, so I get fed up with it anyway. When I go back to my FS seems like riding on a magic carpet.....
Nah - I just interchange all the time. I sometimes take both down to Glentress and do a lap on each.
No not at all. takes seconds to become re-failiarised with any of my bikes and I'll get a good feel for how any random bike feels straight away too (if there's a bike lying around I'll generaly just jump on it for a shot no matter what it is or who it belongs to)
I ride my hardtail most - pretty much every day. but switch to other hardtails, BMX, roadbike, and 8" DH bike or 3" mini DH bike. but I've always switched bikes so I guess I'm very used to it.
try just riding them both instead of going for rides (if you get what I mean)
shock/fork set-up is entirely personal preference. although make sure you have the correct spring rates for your weight and riding style. set rebound not too fast or slow but everybody's sweet spot will vary. compression is not all that important unless you are a complete pinner or you realy can't handle a little suspension bob/wallow while pedalling IMO!
Not really no, use the full suss for the bumpier rides and ht for the smoother ones, sometimes switch over. All good fun!
I have 4 MTBs (two HT, two FS) and change between them quite a bit. Unless its really knarly, I prefer HT single speed as a general riding bike.
No, i enjoy the contrast, more fun hammering down a hill
On the susser, better climbing on the hardtail, different advantages and challenges in everything else