[Closed] hardtail or full suss, which do you want to ride most?

After 7 hours in the saddle of my HT, I want to ride a FS.

FS

FS this time of year, but HT (SS) a fair bit also.

Full suss

FS

I go through phases however in the last few months it's my fuss-suss bikes that are getting used more.

Never ridden a proper full sus (or had much desire to) so I guess it's hardtail by default for me!

Dont have a full sus, but when I did I wish I had kept my trailstar. So i bought a hardtail again and its grand.

HT all the way.

The one that is working best, quietly doing it's job, so that is my DH bike at the moment.

Depends! probs 50:50

FS almost all the time, especially now I've got one I really like.

I love riding my Hardtail...but FS is more fun and I can ride faster and go bigger. 🙂

sold my full suss

HT every time,

i cant afford to make a FS light enough, so they just feel heavy, i do miss the traction on climbs and bounce on the downs of my anthem though

Not had the hardtail long, but it was more fun to ride than i thought it would be & was a lot harder on the legs round Thetford than the FS due to having to hover over the saddle all the time.

Going today & as I haven't ridden the FS for a few weeks I'm taking that, but the HT would be just as much fun - perhaps more fun actually around somewhere like Thetford.

HT - but only because I've spent too much time on wallowy bouncers in the past, I know the current lot are far better but I just find riding a good HT so positive now... Horses for courses... of course. 😕

Don't own a FS, just 11 hardtails ... perhaps I need to sell something 😀

HT for local trails/races
FS for train centres.

Both of mine have their own purposes and love riding them equally.

Currently the hardtail because the kids keep taking the FS before I get to the garage. I am trying to work out a scam to get a new, steel, long fork HT but The Boss tends to scowl at the mention.

Just being out on any be is enough - I'm easily pleased.

Its all riding - but I prefer HT. Used to have a FS but found I went too fast and it made my trails less involving.

Might get a FS when I find I get too battered riding a HT.

I had hoped that you'd be able to answer the question Jedi. I was toying with the idea of doing a skills session with you later in the year (busted shoulder right now) and asking you which bike I should bring for training. Both get ridden in the sxame way, on the same stuff at siomilar speeds with the same people. I tend to favour which ever one already dirty or whichever one is having kit or settings tweaked.

FS mostly but HT can't be beaten for mucking about in the local woods of Bristol.

Bikes is bikes.

I bought a 100mm travel XC FS - Anthem X

Within a month I'd sold my carbon hardtail as it just didn't get used. The Anthem was more comfortable and quicker pretty much everywhere in the real world. I love that fact I can do a ride and not get back feeling beaten up.

A mate who loves riding a hardtail (he owns a Slayer FS but it almost never gets used) is considering getting a short travel FS since I got mine as you feel so much less fatigued from the bumps.

After a clearance sale, I'm left with my SS hardtail. Promised myself I'd concentrate on riding this for the summer and then look for a FS in the Autumn / Winter.

Hardtail all the time, but then I've only got the one bike now. Not missing FS though

I'll pick up the five in preference everytime at the moment.

then the DH bike.

Whichever one I'm on.

+1 for _tom_ Only got a HT 😕

My 3.5inch fs has taken over from my kitsuma now, and have to say its faster and much more comfy, 3.5 inch is ideal around here, 6.5 travel bike for peaks n cham. Still not selling the kitsuma tho.

HT! don't own a full sus.

forgetmyname, what you got now gaz?

This makes for interesting reading (To me at least) the emerging impression I get is that for many people a relatively “Short travel” FS (sub 4”) is the closest thing to a “Do it all” bike where the various comics would have you believe something in the 5.5-6” travel range is a “one bike to rule them all” type machine….

Is that a fair interpretation?

deffo 🙂

140mm steel hardtail at the moment. Only relly use a fs for downhill and testing suspension tunes e.t.c
Saying that if I had a 4"ish travel fs i'd proably be riding that in this weather.

Depends:

Smashing down stuff - FS

Swooping through singletrack - 90's rigid kona

I have a foes prolite for xc and local riding, and a new fxr for proper riding, both air curnutts set up for me, small bikes done around 700miles in 5 weeks, it rocks mate. Off to cham in 4 weeks with the fxr. Check my posts from a month or 2 ago, theres pics of both there somewhere, id piost pics now but i cant get into my flickr account.
Hope your well, and great to see the wkd reviews your getting, best thing you ever done?

Sold my Five when I was pregnant, the little one is now 7 weeks old and I have to admit I'm already missing it! Have been out on my hardtail singlespeed twice now though (as it's my only mtb) and that's still good fun - though not the easiest transition back to riding!

(Oh and yeah... I'd love a 4" full suss!)

Hmmm, being bounceless ATM I have to say I’m still tempted from time to time, all of my previous FS bikes have had 6” or more (mostly DH bikes) and I’ve always looked at the available 4” bikes and thought they either appear a bit too whispy for hard use and DH tails (Anthem) or else overbulit and inefficient geo for any distance/climbing work (bottle rocket, etc) …

Not a dilemma I have with my HT, it’ll take some stick but still pedals/climbs relatively nicely… But still a 4” bouncer which can handle seat up and seat down action does start to sound more and more tempting to me…

Only ever had HTs. So HT.

I [i]want[/i] to ride my FS most, 'cos I generally use it for more "interesting" terrain than I can ride from my doorstep. The fact most of my riding is - by necessity - from my doorstep means I end up riding my HT most, on the easier local terrain...if that all makes sense!

I'm enjoying FS at the moment, either Prophet or my Kona Howler razzing machine. Still use the HT as well though.

the FS. even just slinging my leg over and riding up the drive puts a smile on my face.

in fact, im off to stick a rear light on so i can take it out tonight.

HT. Simple choice as it's the only bike I have 🙂

Depends where I am going riding...

run a XC hardtail and heavy 6 inch travel bike.. I wouldnt take the hardtail to the Alps and I wont XC race the 6 inch full sus..

Its a good point about a 4 inch travel bike being the ultimate do it all.
It would be a 100mm travel bike if I was forced into just running one bike.

onzadog, its not about the bike 🙂
i always say bring the bike you want to ride

SS Steel HT for local woods if I fancy a blast (only had it a week and ridden it 5 times already) 😀

FS if I'm on a big trip out, trail centre or just fancy somethign different, it's nice and light (26.5lbs) and has more than enough travel at 130mm each end (adjustable at teh rear down to 89m) spends most of it's life at 116mm recently.

HT

...I've bought a fair few FS frames but I always seem to sell them in a short space of time. Just haven't managed to find a 'keeper' with FS bikes.

humm my ss hardtail comes out for fast local blasts

used to have a 100mm FS which i thought was all id ever want

got a (really light) 140mm FS and now ride that almost all the time, as fast as the 100mm uphill and an absolute beast DH

I read the question a bit wrong, I want to ride my 6 inch travel bike, and to ride it somewhere where it comes into its own the most. Itching for a big day to test myself.

HT for those; im jumping on the bike with no plan to link up some loacl trails moments
FS for planned excursions that are usually trail center based

if i had to give up one or the other the FS would have to go, the HT isnt as wild but it is so versatile, it will go-anywhere and that is why i love mtbs. . their ability to go anywhere

Jedi, I want to ride them both!

(Having said that, seeing what's happening with Pace frames, perhaps I should bring the other one!)

it makes no difference learning wise 🙂

Steel Hardtail at the moment, it just feels quicker than my full bouncer, can't figure out why, but my HT likes to skip down the trail and testing me to jump, while the full bouncer stays planted to trail and just feels slow when compared to my HT, also my lap times are 15 minutes slower on the FS.

I dislike riding the FS when is really muddy because it's a beeeaich to clean. But I prefer it when there is a lot of rocks because it's much less tiring to just thrash. But then the HT feels great when I'm riding well, especially on smoother lines.

FS all the way.

Why?

Because my 6" FS is the most versatile bike I've ever ridden. It rides like a HT when I want it to and weighs only as much as a (reasonably) burly HT @ 28lbs. It also soaks up anything you throw at it on the downs.

My FS just now but then it's newer and more exciting 😉 Depends where I'm riding too mind.

fs at the moment but only because i've been riding my ht for the last month

FS because it suits my style best. I used to prefer a hardtail but as I've progressed prefer a FS. However I still prefer a hardtail for jumping of course.

Hardtails taught me alot about riding.

Never had a choice but owned both. HT died about 6 weeks ago. Bought a FS. So far vey pleased with it. Its comfy and climbs better than my HT....

My new FS when I pick it up tomorrow (3 weeks late!) 😀 😛 8)

For me it is 29er HT over 120mm FS 26er. The latter is about to be sold as I just do not use it anymore (prob fund a bolt thorugh fork).

If I'm going big, I can rent something, but the 29er is sooooo much fun I can't be arsed with the rear end squish any more. Just treated it to some Hope Tech M4s with braided hoses and fancy rotors (was a very good deal on wiggle).

Kev

I dunno,sometimes it's the h/tail,but then which one - the tough one,rigid one or the big wheeled one...
& at other times it's the FS,but again which one - the 85mm,100 or 130mm one....
I'll get back to you.......................

Actually I know which one it is.......

All of 'em, at any one time !

I just love riding bikes & really don't get too fussed about which one's underneath me tbh 😀

I hadn't ridden my hardtail for almost a year having got my first full suspension bike. Recently my FS had to go for repairs so I was back on the hardtail and absolutely loved it. You certainly feel more involved with the trail but I crashed a bit and couldn't keep up with my friends on their FS's. If I had to choose I'd go for the full suspension as it's more suited to the kind of riding I do but the hardtail is more enjoyable in some ways.

Rode a HT for about a year then got Full Sus..never looked back...so full sus for me...

Is that a fair interpretation?

I guess that it's going to be the FS for me as the HT is rusting at the bottom of the garage:(

having had a SC superlight, which was at the time awesome, then an insurance replacement led to a Turner 5 spot, sold the frame and bought a chameleon due to an economy drive a few years back.
Don't get to ride as much as i used to nowadays but on a good day the chameleon is untouchable. rode the other week in the dry and had so much fun pumping the trails railing berms etc - more so than on the fs bikes.

I get tempted by the Blur LT but if i wasn't 6'4" and didn't need a fit for purpose FS then I'd plump for an Intense Tazer or an Intense Double.
My ideal FS bike would be a Blur 4x but unfortunately that isn't made anymore

The Salsa Moto Rapido is light, stiff, fast and has beautiful chainstays - but my 5 is the love of my (off road) life (apart from my dog)

Started with a HT Gary Fisher back inc 96/97 then went FS in 2005 (S-works Epic) - sold that a couple of years ago and never missed it (that much). On to my third HT now and they've been just as much fun - ace...

...did I mention I had a new Whyte??? 🙄

Done HT 26, FS 26 and now HT 29.
What more can I say......now only have a HT29er.

OK its a bit of an oil tanker at slow speed but....its sooooooooo much quicker, rolls soooooooo much better and for me, seems to climb better than the others. No brainer here - 29er HT everytime.

(sorry for those who dont do 29 and I know this isnt a 26/29 thread) 🙄

456ti gets to do most miles as its more of an involved ride then my Enduro

Enduro set up for Alp trips so rarely gets a look in for Uk stuff + it weights a ton and makes things less interesting cos it has a 6" s[i]kill compensator[/i] at the back.

HT

...I've bought a fair few FS frames but I always seem to sell them in a short space of time. Just haven't managed to find a 'keeper' with FS bikes.

+1. But then again I've not been sufficiently interested to try one for a long time. And I can't afford an Ibis for the time being so there's no point 🙂

Cool-hand-luke - Member
456ti gets to do most miles as its more of an involved ride then my Enduro

Enduro set up for Alp trips so rarely gets a look in for Uk stuff + it weights a ton and makes things less interesting cos it has a 6" skill compensator at the back.

I sometimes enjoy riding my HT, but calling rear sus a 'skill compensator' shows a level of ignorance usually associated with people who have a dogged denial of it's merits - unless I'm missing your sarcasm.

PA and remedy - love both, but at the moment the remedy is perfect in the dust hitting the bigger stuff.