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Thoughts on returning to a hardtail after 3 years on a full-suspension bike

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geofharries

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I am considering buying a new/old stock hardtail frame (Chromag Rootdown) and moving my parts over from a full-suspension bike, then selling the full-suspension frame (Trek Fuel EX 8).

I want to return to a hardtail for the sake of increased simplicity and lower ongoing operating costs, but I'm concerned how my 50-year old body (and a lot of ancient injuries, including some arthritis in my ankle) will hold up to the abuse. Our trails are quite rooty and rocky.

Over my 30-year history in mountain biking, I've mostly owned hardtails. From 2017 to 2021, I only rode a hardtail but in 2022, I switched to a full-suspension bike. I've enjoyed it, but I don't enjoy the ongoing extra maintenance, complexity and money.

Am I looking back at history with rose-coloured glasses?

Is the idea of riding a hardtail full-time very different than reality, especially as you age?
 
#2 ·
I just did this with the Rootdown....
A few differences:
I'm a little younger, but not significantly.
I still have a FS bike I ride.
I built the Rootdown almost entirely from stuff I had from other projects (save the RD) so I wasn't getting rid of a bike.

I ended up settling on the Rootdown because I wanted steel and wanted moderately aggressive geometry.

It's a blast to ride and pretty compliant. I still love my FS bike and have no intention of giving it up, but I'd be perfectly happy if I only had the Chromag.

So I would mostly endorse the idea but will say it beats you up a bit more than FS, especially on technical terrain, which I imagine probably goes without saying.
 
#5 ·
I was just thinking about this on a ride today. I have a full suspension and a hardtail; both are XC-focused. The hardtail started as a spare parts build, but at this point, the components are pretty similar between the two. If I did not have the hardtail and only rode the full suspension, the maintenance would wear me out. Having the hardtail and the full suspension is great because I put less mileage on the full suspension.
 
#6 ·
I tried this a few years ago. My 60 yr old body didnt like it one bit-lol.
Although I dont find a FS bike to be overly complicated. Even changing bearings every year or even 2 isnt a big deal. An oil change to the shock at the same time is cake. And thats the only difference. Plus I can go faster downhill on a FS. I'll never ride a hardtail again
 
#7 ·
I have a few full squish bikes and a Chromag Wideangle. I love riding them all, but on the chunkier trails the Chromag really stings. It's fine on smoother stuff, but rocks and roots are downright painful and forget jumps.

I'd DEFINITELY not go hardtail as an only bike and would go not go Chromag as my hardtail in your situation. They're really overbuilt and stiff. Look at Hardtail party on YT for rec's on much more compliant frames.
 
#8 ·
geofharries said:
I am considering buying a new/old stock hardtail frame (Chromag Rootdown) and moving my parts over from a full-suspension bike, then selling the full-suspension frame (Trek Fuel EX 8).

I want to return to a hardtail for the sake of increased simplicity and lower ongoing operating costs, but I'm concerned how my 50-year old body (and a lot of ancient injuries, including some arthritis in my ankle) will hold up to the abuse. Our trails are quite rooty and rocky.

Over my 30-year history in mountain biking, I've mostly owned hardtails. From 2017 to 2021, I only rode a hardtail but in 2022, I switched to a full-suspension bike. I've enjoyed it, but I don't enjoy the ongoing extra maintenance, complexity and money.

Am I looking back at history with rose-coloured glasses?

Is the idea of riding a hardtail full-time very different than reality, especially as you age?
Click to expand...
You’re out of your mind. Ride the FS. Budget a few extra bucks for annual service.
 
#9 ·
I did that a number of years ago, so it really doesn't have much to do with age. I built a single-speed on a hardtail with the idea of simplifying, and had a fantastic ride up a trail that climbs straight out of trailhead for 8 miles. Everything was great, and then I turned around to go downhill.

I went down the same speed as I normally would on Full Suspension and kept getting bumped off-line. I thought I just needed to get used to it and kept hammering. Then I got into a long section of rocks and the back end just kept bouncing higher and higher until I went over the bars.

I ended up with multiple bikes, and using full suspension on any trails that were fast and rough. So instead of using a single speed to simplify my biking life, it just increased my bike count by one.
 
#10 ·
I'm 48, and for me hell no on the hard tail! My back and knees got murdered trying to ride one in the past. A shock air can service is easy-peasy, and bearing replacement can be a pain, but if you get the right tools not too bad. For what you will spend on getting a new bike, you could pay a shop to do the bearing replacement and shock servicing for many years.

I second what others said about locking your suspension and seeing if it would work for you before making the trade.
 
#13 ·
My whole life, I rode hardtail after hardtail after hardtail, up until about age 44, when I was feeling too beat up to ignore the idea of full suspension anymore.

I got a Santa Cruz 5010, and I was so, so happy to finally have full-squish. I could ride farther, longer and harder, and feel noticeably less beat up after my rides. About 3 years ago, I sold the Santa Cruz for a Trek Fuel EX 9.8, and it's the best MTB I've ever owned. I can't see myself going back to hardtail for my main ride, ever. If I acquired a hardtail, it'd be an extra bike, for certain less-punishing trails only, (less rock gardens and roots), and I'd likely build it to be a single-speed. But for my main MTB, I'm staying with full squish. My 50-year old back likes that idea...
 
#14 ·
How much extra money is it actually? every year or so you install some pivot bearings and get a rear shock serviced? maybe $300 to $500 per year?
Its really not that much. I also wonder how much of this would be offset by damaging and replacing rear rims on a hardtail when riding rocky terrain.

If you have a rocky and rough terrain the older you get the more beaten up you will get on a hardtail.
Personally my joy is worth more than the maintenance cost of rear suspension. I would not go down that route. With that said i am a big travel charger. So i am biased to the side of suspension.

My prediction is that you will if you go back to the hard you will end up swapping back to the squish in a few years time ironically costing you more in bike changing/depreciation costs than if you had just carried on maintaining your current steed.
 
#15 ·
The ride quality of hardtails varies greatly. Had an Ibis DV9, great bike, but oh so stiff and just sent the shock right through the frame. My Waltworks in comparison rides like a pillow and eats up a lot of that vibration and shock. That said, it is still a hardtail. I love my hardtail and ride it regularly, but would never have it for my only bike. It just beats you up too much on longer rides, as well as chatter and chunk. There is only so much that can be absorbed with 2.6 tires and rear end compliance.
 
#18 ·
i'm 46 now and find i'm straddling a line where while everything is still doable it hurts more.
Personally, if i was ever faced with this I just can't see myself breaking down what has been keeping me on the trails in favor of something that, while probably quicker, adds more wear and tear to the old bones.
 
#19 ·
I'm 58, never owned or ridden FS. No interest. I'm riding a 2008 Voodoo Bokor SS & a 2023 Nukeproof Scout, both have front suspension (cause I'm not a complete cyco). I like feeling the trail. Does it suck sometime? Sure, but I try to pick a better line next time. Maybe I'm not as fast down the trail, but I'm still grinning.
 
#20 ·
As others said is it really a high annual service cost? Maybe you ride really hard or treks have issues but I've had 2 Santa Cruz bikes the past 10 years ride Colorado XC 1200+ miles annually both VPP all I've done is bearings on the Tallboy they were free from Santa Cruz I figured why not at 6,000 miles (the shop asked if I even rode it as the bearing "looked new")& annual rear shock service never more than $40. I love simple HT too but dang no one rides their first FS and says that sucked on my body. Plus my 2020 Blur is around 26 pounds size XL lighter than most HT I'll lock out the shock if I want a beating.
 
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