REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

hardtail or softtail

2123 Views 36 Replies 26 Participants Last post by _daemon_, Dec 30, 2009

konakula18

Discussion Starter · Dec 23, 2009

hello there,
i just started using mtbr so not sure if i posted this in the right place... so bare with me.

i have been riding my kona kula for two years now it is an 18" frame bu have now grown out of it. my next frame or complete bike will be either a 19 or 20 inch frame.

i was wondering if i should stick with hardtail or get a soft tail frame or complete bike? i ride various terrains, lots of packed earth and rock, smooth and rough terrrain.

1 - 20 of 37 Posts

sooner518

· #2 · Dec 23, 2009

where (geographically) do you live? do you do any drops? if so, how big? do you race? do you plan to? how much do you want to spend? do you want a new bike or are you willing to buy a used bike? what kind of components does your bike have on it now? do you plan on keeping your current bike?

answer these and this will help us answer your question. welcome to mtbr!

konakula18

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 23, 2009

i dont do drops unless they are part of the trails iam riding at the time, i would like to keep the price under 1000 as well perfer it to be new. the terrain.
racing, only race in recreational activities, although i would like to begin!

pop_martian

· #4 · Dec 24, 2009

konakula18 said:
so bare with me.

Whoa! Slow down there! I am not just going to bare myself to anyone with out at least getting to know them first.:thumbsup:

Vlad

· #5 · Dec 24, 2009

Hardtail.

sooner518

· #6 · Dec 24, 2009

konakula18 said:
i dont do drops unless they are part of the trails iam riding at the time, i would like to keep the price under 1000 as well perfer it to be new. the terrain.
racing, only race in recreational activities, although i would like to begin!

hardtail.

Berkeley Mike

· #7 · Dec 24, 2009

Hardtail

Best bang for buck.

scuver

· #8 · Dec 24, 2009

http://mountainbike.about.com/od/buyersguideandreviews/f/Fullsusfaq.htm

sooner518

· #9 · Dec 24, 2009

for $1000, you can get a pretty good quality hardtail with a decent fork, wheelset and drivetrain. $1000 on a full suspension will get you a bunch of lower quality components, wheelset, fork and rear shock.

I say if you are hellbent on getting a bike now and you want to spend no more than $1000, go for a hardtail. If you can wait and up your budget, go for a FS.

insanitylevel9

· #10 · Dec 24, 2009

I would get a hard tail...For 2 Reasons the first being they help you learn to ride smoother. And secoundly they are more fun then a hard tail in my opinion.

Dictatorsaurus

· #11 · Dec 24, 2009

insanitylevel9 said:
I would get a hard tail...For 2 Reasons the first being they help you learn to ride smoother. And secoundly they are more fun then a hard tail in my opinion.

A hard tail is more fun than a hard tail?

selector

· #12 · Dec 24, 2009

pop_martian said:
Whoa! Slow down there! I am not just going to bare myself to anyone with out at least getting to know them first.:thumbsup:

No doubt... at least dinner and a bottle of wine first!!!

To the OP:

around there here parts, the vast percentage of bikes are FS. I ride a HT (have never ridden FS in my life). I'm not into "drops" or hauling arse DH, etc. I like to ride ST and climb. Yeah, there's no give in the rear of a HT, and even though FS provides some relief, it doesn't take all the bump out - simple physics. I guess if you had enough travel and compression, etcetera., but I'm talking XC.

HTs also have fewer moving parts to maintain. I guess to the person that doesn't maintain their own machines that's potentially a non issue, but I'm all over my bike all the time and I like the simplicity of only having to deal w/ drive-related parts. If I had a FS, I'd spend that much more time doing service work.

insanitylevel9

· #13 · Dec 24, 2009

Dictatorsaurus said:
A hard tail is more fun than a hard tail?

Oooooooo I meant fully

Cacapon

· #14 · Dec 25, 2009

29er hardtail-you'll never need a f/s

jake7

· #15 · Dec 25, 2009

I have/ride both ... and love 'em both.
Given your budget, my opinion is you've already narrowed it down to a hard-tail. At $1K, you can get in to a decent hardtail that will be serviceable. No way a FS bike (at that price) will last if you plan to ride regularly.
my $.02

Tyler Kiefer

· #16 · Dec 25, 2009

1 more vote for hardtail.

marsh rider

· #17 · Dec 25, 2009

For your budget, hardtail will give you the most possibilities. However, if you do decide to look at used bikes you are sure to be able to find some great deals.

There is one full suspension bike that I know of in your price range
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/18...es/Sette-Ace-Bike-W_Rock-Shox-Monarch-2.1.htm
This bike has good climbing characteristics, great components, and many satisfied customers on this site. I'm planning on buying this bike next month.

Red PeeKay

· #18 · Dec 25, 2009

Loved my hartail....... until I got my dually.... now the hardtail gathers dust!! I love the plusher ride on my dually, it climbs well, and descends even better. Not being a spring chicken anymore, the softail is much easier on the body!! However its a lot harder on the pocket!!

Ridnparadise

· #19 · Dec 25, 2009

Yeah I have a great dually (my only bike) and wouldn't swap it, but let's read what kk18 said. He (or she) has an 18er and is looking for a next ride. I am guessing (s)he is young and hoping for a great Xmas. I hope you get it too, cause the ride is the one thing we all need

My suggestion - go a 24 inch fully rigid street bke. Learn to rip everything in your area and then decide if you are a street, park, XC or full blown sicko balls to the wall FR or DH dude through your local MTB club.

Skills first, tech decisions later. What all riders really need = simplicity (low maintenence), fitness, vision and attitude. There's nothing more impressive than some dude on a single speed street bike taking point on a tough singletrack ride and smacking everyone's butt

Make your dream come alive by looking at your own surroundings and then just let it rip son>>>>>>>>

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big_slacker

· #20 · Dec 25, 2009

For your budget I wouldn't even consider a FS. You'll get crap parts and an inefficient climber. For 1k you can get a very decent hardtail.

Its my opinion that riding a hardtail makes you a better technical rider, even if you do go FS later on. But also in my opinion (for what thats worth) you can ride some of the most rugged terrain on a hardtail SS, so do you really need a FS?

Probably for big drops or high speed descents on really rough terrain. But for XC and general riding, hardtail is where its at.

1 - 20 of 37 Posts

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