What's needed versus what's actually recommended

It's an old chestnut I'm going to ask here.

I started MTB on a rigid bike, moved to a hardtail and since 1996 have had a short travel FS bike.

My FS bike just broke. So here I am at something of a crossroads. I could shell out a grand or so on a new FS frame (most likely a Moorewood), I could get a second hand FS fame off the bay for 500 quid or so, Blur, heckler or some such.

I could go back to my roots and get most likely a steel hardtail was looking at the charge but have some more ideas after a recent thread.

I ride all over the UK but mostly down South on singletrack/doubletrack in the woods. Once in a blue moon I go to the Alps or some kind of trail centre.

I have always had my bike set up very stiff (perhaps a leftover from my hardtail days).

I'm pushing 40 but seem to have become much faster and more risk taking as I've got older. I often get airbourne and I like a nice drop off!

So do I go for a FS because that's the way things have evolved or as I suspect will I be just as happy on a nice hardtail with some fat tyres and a long seatpost?

Money isn't really the thing to be honest, although I like value.

So in short for 99% of my riding I reckon really all I need is a hardtail or am I wrong?

You're wrong.

Next Q

😉

OK, Why? I've done FS for 12 years now.

I'm pushing 40 but seem to have become much faster and more risk taking as I've got older. I often get airbourne and I like a nice drop off!

^^^^^^……Mmmm…..hardtail? Not sure about that?

I am pushing 40 too and I also like a bit of risk (although just come to blows doing that and foot has now been in plaster for 14 weeks 🙁 ) & it sounds like you take part in the type of mountain bike activities to me in roughly the same area (South) – I have just bought a New Santa Cruz Heckler….

All Mountain Bike is the way to go IMO. 5/6" rear travel with something like a Fox RP23 rear shock and 140mm (ish) up front, maybe something like 'Pikes' which are adjustable from 95mm to 140mm?

Although, I suppose it just comes down to personal preference??!!

Just to confuse you further, how about a softail? For that little bit of give at the rear, with a 'full size' travel fork

Just kidding. You're absolutely right. I've done this in the past (replacing full susser with hardtail) and for most people a hardtail is absolutely fine for the riding they do. Of course that doesn't mean a full susser isn't nice and I currently have three full susser frames (two built up as bikes) just because I picked them up cheap enough (£100ish each) on here to make it no more expensive than a hardtail.

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmoooots

Dribble.

See I reckon rightly or not that my jumpbike is a 24 inch hardtail and so for air FS is not required.

I am seriously getting to think that it would be more fun getting kicked about a bit rather than just floating down the trails in my big FS armchair. Also a steel hardtail could have been bloody fixed!

one of each.

I'm a one bike kind of bloke. I share the jumpy bike with the boy!

If you've owned a full suspension bike and still don't know how am I suposed to work it out from a couple of test rides

The problem is that it all down to personal preference isn't it. Nothing harder then knowing your own mind

At the moment I'm in a steel hard tail mood

I do have the advantage that whatever I buy should be better than my current bike

Old Orange gringo with v brakes and 70mm forks. But since I went for a short stem amd Mary bars I'v loved every ride on it

I really thought an Anthem X was the one for me but i had a dreadful test ride at Bike Radar. It was mainly down to suspension set up (they pumped it up way to hard) but it flt a bit twitchy and steep to me.

Just buy a steel hardtail … it's the way forward 😉

Or buy a steel and carbon hardtail? Supposed to be more comfy than their normal steel hardtail. £425 isn't ridiculous either

(Pipedream Brewmaster btw)

or a Ti hardtail or ..

I'm 45 and started riding in 1990. in 1996 I got my first FS and since then I've gone back to hardtail twice )Fat Chance Yo Eddy the first time, On One 456 most recently).

I think i've got hardtails out of my system now – the 456 was fun but frankly was just awful compared to my Turner Flux.

I certainly won't be going back to a hardtail anytime soon.

Nahh. Sounds like you want a 456 carbon (or settle for the Ti if you can't wait)(or the steel if it's in, for about £150 new, less if you find a second hand one)

Does everything my Five does, but with less comfort (and therefore not quite so good on very long days)