[Closed] Moving on from the one.

Yep, I dabbled with FS, but didn't get on with it. To be fair, however, it was a 26er, a Cannondale Prophet, so whilst fairly capable and slack-ish, was quite tall and short compared to modern bikes. Just didn't fall in love with it so moved it on last Spring, and built up a Ragley Bigwig.

I love a good HT (I now have 2, the BigWig and an On One 45650b set up SS). So, its partly preference (but not based on much FS experience, as I've only had the one) but also budget; I'd need to spend quite a lot more than I've ever had available for a modern, good FS bike.

Wouldn't rule one out again in the future, but happy with HT for now.

Every so often I think I want / need / should have a full sus. When I get one it's great for a year or so and then I realise that it doesn't make my riding any better (in any way that it can be judged) than the hardtail, so I inevitably end up selling it and sticking with the hardtail, either the one I had before I got the FS, or occasionally, a new one.

I think that the riding I do and the type of rider I am, a hardtail is still the right bike for me. Can't currently see that changing and I'm absolutely fine with that, especially given the cost of new 'xt' level FS bikes these days.

I was a HT devotee for years, loved my Cotics. Then I went on a bike holiday with joyriders in 2011, hired a spesh pitch, and never looked back since.

I'd possibly get a HT again in future, who knows, but my main bike since, and will always be a FS.

The only thing HTs are better at are fireroad climbs.

I've not been exclusively a HT rider since about 2006, but have had plenty since.

But just over a year ago I sold my SolarisMAX and got an Orange Stage 4 instead. After tweaking the geometry a bit, I find it better for everything really.

Because it's a single pivot and light, it feels like a hardtail some of the time anyway, but let off the brakes over rough ground and it's much more fun (for me).

There may be other full-sus bikes with an interactive, rewarding ride feel as well - but others will prioritise comfort and neutrality, which you may find a bit dull.

Going very different could be the cure... I'm lucky that I can have a couple of bikes but it's definitely 2 hardtails that I miss, and not any of the full sussers- my original Soul and my Ragley Ti, both absolute bona fide bloody masterpieces. And I have a Solaris now which is I'm sure a fantastic bike but I just don't love it. But I think there's something about hardtails that it's almost like it's more of a teambuilding thing, you're working with their weakness as much as their strengths.

But then my Remedy, I don't love either, never have. But I appreciate the hell out of it, and if I had to sell all but one bike there's no doubt, it'd be the full suss I'd keep, even though I don't love it.

I quite like rigid and quite like full suss, but I find hardtail is a bit half of one, half of the other, neither fish nor fowl, the two ends wanting to do different things.

I’m probably just odd.

Nope that's me too. Either FS or fully rigid. I don't like the front end divey feel of a HT.

This is where my thinking took me, and some of the advice from on here, last Spring/Summer.
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-or-ht/

If I had the cash, I'd definitely have a FS as well, something like the Transition Spur would be awesome. But also, bloody expensive, and more than I could ever dream of having to spend on a bike ...

Plus 1 on the rigid. Have 2 HT and I swap out a Travers XC Prong. I think it's an age thing as just live it. Nothing better than passing the FS flatout with your teeth shaking out.
In relation to the FS, if I ever do it I would go very short travel super light. I'm similar to yourself, I cant get myself to make the jump.

An all rounder fs can be a brilliant thing - but it depends what trails you ride / what ride feel you like.

I’ve got a 140f/130mm rear fs and it’s a great all rounder. It’s fairly fun on blue / easy flow trails, great on reds and makes a decent fist of steep off piste / uplift days.

That said I’m just waiting for my ht frame to arrive (maybe this coming weekend fingers crossed) and I’ll be using that for most of my local riding - especially during lockdown. There’s something more playful about a decent hardtail on relatively easy trails - that’s not to say it won’t do more difficult stuff - but if I can have both them I will.

On easy flow blue trails my best times on Strava tend to be on a hardtail - particularly at Flyup 417 on both blues there. I can ride the reds on the hardtail but I’m definitely slower.

Currently moving parts from my SolarisMax to an Aether 9c... So I'll update you in a month. It's been 15 years since my last full suspension bike.

Have any devoted hardtail fans gone full sus and regrets it. Specifically with newer geometry frames. Do you loose too much in the ride feel? Also can’t have both at the moment before that gets suggested.

Me, a few times and I always end up back on a hardtail. If I could have two bikes (space and funds allowing) I'd have a nice hardtail and a nice FS, but I can't so I have a nice hardtail as an all-rounder (nice fork, dropper, mudguards, rack mounts, does everything I want it to). There's a lack of immediacy from the back end on FS that I just can't get my head around which I think stems from growing up on BMX and small DJ/dual slalom sort of stuff in the 90s.

I got a custom Marino HT frame (for the rack mounts, baby!) last year but I've still got the mk1 Switchback frame I stripped to build it, I just can't bring myself to sell it. I haven't had the same sort of connection to any of the FS frames I've had. Odd, the things you form attachments to, innit? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I do 90% of my riding on a HT (Stanton Sherpa).

I have a full-sus (Giant Trance 29er) but don't enjoy it in the same way. It gets dragged out occasionaly but if I want to enjoy a ride I take the Sherpa.

I have also battled to replace a loved HT frame - even identical steel and geometry can give a different feel if the tube diameter differs.

Anyway - have you considered getting a custom steel hardtail to match your broken frame? (I am thinking Curtis here).

I’m getting on a bit now so don’t take full advantage of a full sus’ potential. I’ve loved my Cotics, Souls and Solaris, had a Bird Aris and though an amazing bike and the one I did enduro events/tracks on, if I just want to ride I’d grab my Solaris. Still not sure my old fashioned views count, I couldn’t get on with the latest Solaris and had to go back a model.

I "grew up" riding steel hardtails and can't be without one. Hardtails keep benign trails interesting and also skills sharp (IMO).

I've a love/hate relationship with FS. They're a whole load of fun for the right trails, which for me would be loosely termed "downhill" (not necessarily downhill as a discipline). But they do make "regular" trails easy, and that's not necessarily what I'm after from MTBing... yet.

I've ridden hardtails the majority of my life and decided to buy a Cotic FlareMax 2 year's ago for trail riding. Turns out that was a mistake and am now selling the frame and getting a custom hardtail frame built. The big issue for me was the huge reach (510mm) as it gave me a bad back on long rides. Also the long reach made the bike less playful even for giants (6'5") like me.

If I could only have one bike I'd have a hardtail. I've ended up with an aluminium rather than steel hardtail by accident - I got a Bird Zero AM five years ago as a proof of concept for a custom steel hardtail I'd designed but then never got around to getting the steel one built. It has a -2 deg headset so it's a bit under 64 deg head angle with the 150mm fork - very confidence inspiring. Low BB, fairly steep seat angle (wouldn't want it any steeper) and short back end. Not the fastest geometry but both reassuring on tech stuff and fun on each stuff. Perfectly fine for commuting too.

At the moment it has a big ugly steel girder between the headset and seat post to hold a (thankfully easily removeable) WeeRide toddler seat, but as I managed to fit it whilst keeping my 185mm dropper operational it's still rideable for proper stuff, just a bit less standover.

Cheers for all the input everyone.
Gonna stick with a ht of some variety for a bit longer I recon.
Well till I can afford a full sus as well. I, like a few above DONT think I could be without my ht.

Well till I can afford a full sus as well. I, like a few above DONT think I could be without my ht.

I thought that too, been 6 years now since I had one, don't think I'll ever have another.

My bike ownership has gone (from teenage years) rigid, hardtail, full suss, hard tail x3, full suss x2, rigid, rigid.

Both my go-to off-road bikes are now rigid, they are the most enjoyable bikes I've ridden and the last three years my mileage has been going up.

My full suss is in bits and my hardtail is leant to a friend and my three remaining bikes are a cyclo-cross, gravel bike, and singlespeed.

So I'd say don't worry about a full susser, they never really did it for me apart from a bit of skill compensation and getting me out of trouble in the Alps and The Lakes!

Have any devoted hardtail fans gone full sus and regrets it.

Every, single time. I’ll ride a HT for a while and then start thinking I should give full sus a go. Get one and then pretty much immediately regret selling the HT. Sell the full sus, get a HT and the cycle starts anew.

I don’t have the skills to warrant a full sus. Can’t be arsed with the extra faff and also just don’t like the look of 99% of them.