This is my hardtail/full sys take. I loved my Raliegh Tokul hardtail. I had it for years and beat the crap out of that bike. I'm 240 lbs and that bike took me through everything, I went through tubes and rims haha, that's about it. It reminded me of my old skool BMX days, I felt confident on it, I knew what the back end was going to do everytime. I normally rode street and light allyway trails for YEARS. I didn't really have a riding buddy so I just kept it local, and for me, that was mostly to and from street stuff with the occasional trail. But I DID harp on it. Last year I got a camper, and so we started going to other places that were more "trail oriented"....and for a longer amount of time. Two days of riding trail vs maybe an hour of city riding on my hardtail previously. I have an old lower back injury from college football, plus like most hardtail guys, I was super curious of the full sus setups, but the thing holding me back was price. I finally got ahead enough to purchase a full suspension Giant Trance at my LBS. It's so much easier on my back, I instantly could ride for HOURS longer in the trails when we went camping and I had a riding buddy. It does take some getting used too, but if you have any kind of back injury or are older than 25, you would benefit in this area. To sum it up, and this is just my opinion. If you are younger and an aggressive rider that likes air (possibly coming from a BMX background like me), keep your hardtail and know you won't get much benefit out of a full sys, actually you will probably regress. If you don't have that many riding buddies....you probably won't be riding long enough sessions to truly justify the cost either. We all know the larger the group, the longer you are out there! But on the other hand if you are older than 25 (I'm 33) and/or possibly have a back injury of sorts, a full suspension bike will serve you tremendously, regardless of how much you ride. Also, if you do have a lot of riding buddies and go out several times a week, I do think a full sys may be the option to keep you going longer. Also, if you're just the weekend warrior, and maybe dust the bike off in the spring to go out and ride once or twice a month, keep the hardtail regardless of age, you simply won't use it enough to really see any benefit listed above. I think full suspension bikes were created to keep us older dudes as relevant as we were when we were younger smashing the hardtails. They keep us on the trail as long as a 23 year old me on a hardtail. They are also created for that niche, special rider, crowd that, regardless of age is riding for a living or something and can justify buying, maintaining, hauling around, and switching out both types. This also doesn't apply to the uber rich guys and gals who, frankly, it doesn't hurt their pocketbook as much to have a bunch of bikes regardless of how much it costs. But neither of the above are my position, and I understand yall might be in a different position.
Realllly appreciate this take! I'm currently about to buy an ebike and I'm torn between hardtail and full suspension. I do have a back issue and a knee issue from time to time, so your opinion was really helpful. I see the main difference in price seems to be the additional full suspension. Initially, I was looking for a hybrid back to where I can ride on streets and trails. So, I had to decide, what kind of rider do I wanna be? So, I will use this to get in shape, explore, and most importantly have fun! I plan on using the bike several times a week, and may even explore riding it to work daily, thru minor trails, depending on weather. With mountain bikes, especially the extra weight with an ebike, I wasn't sure if I wanted to deal with the weight. However, I think that extra suspension is the absolute game changer. Thanks for your advice!
Thanks for such a great breakdown. I used to ride in college and miss it at times. now at 49 i'm looking to get back into it and the changes are amazing. I'm one of those casual riders that mostly sticks to paths/roads but wants the option to do trails if I find them. Like the other commenter, your breakdown was better than the video. Thank you for that.
I have both. Depending on my mood. I pick up either the hard tail or the full suspension. Hard tail will out climb the full suspension and possibly on some jumps. The full suspension is amazing on technical long down hill trails. The hard tail is used less energy to pedal. Like I said, to each is own and each bike has its pros and cons. Quick edit, the hard tail will climb better on a rooted area. As you will less likely get pedal strikes.
Either you can't afford it, or never ridden FS bike. Also obviously if you ride easy trails then there is no need for FS. But having FS will never hold you back from riding 💯 on any trails.
I own an hardtail and thought it was limiting my ride. Was thinking of switching to trail or Enduro but since I've seen all the stuff Blake can do with an hardtail I now know that's is definitely not my hardtail that limiting my ride hehe!! Thanks Blake for that!!
Celebrated photographer Ansel Adams once said, "The most important part of a camera is the six inches behind it." If Adams was a mountain biker, he might have said, "The most important part of a bike is whose butt is on the saddle." I think it's safe to say that no matter the bike, the majority of them are far more capable than the people riding them.
Just bought my first bike I’m 30 my son is 8 we are having a lot of fun riding into to us ,unknown trails and witnessing. The intense time and sweat riders put in for a smile on the dial
Seriously? I wasn't sure if I should upgrade my entry lvl hardtail for a entry lvl full suspension or a aggressive hardtail for almost the same price????
@@ibby81ae Everyone is different, but for me it made sense. I’ve an Stanton Switch9er and an Orange Crush. Both aggressive HT, but I do enjoy the challenge of riding an HT as you have to be more precise and they are less forgiving. Sometimes with a full suss you have ‘get away’ with just ploughing through. I do also believe in the saying that I’ve read on more than one occasion that you are better off with a good HT than a poor full suss. 👍
I started mountain biking 2 years ago and really like my Chromag Stylus hardtail, but I am getting a mid-travel 27.5 trail bike. You can ride almost 95% of trails with a hardtail, but in most of the cases, it is slower downhill and offers less margin of error.I learned a lot on my hardtail, but aggressive hardtails are likely to shine more as second bike for highly skilled riders.
I love my hardtail as well, but in some trails I almost come off my seat and my feet jump off my pedals due to the rough terrain. Is this an issue with my riding position, maybe I need with a hard tail I just need to go much slower or do I just need to get a full suspension?/ has this happened to you?
@@luisguevara4113 I’ve had this happen to me a lot and it’s down to a lot of things. Tubeless helps a lot, nice grippy shoes(or clipped in would solve this problem!) Pedals with some healthy sized pins helps out a lot, I had these Burgtec pedals and they were missing some pins and my feet would blow off a lot, this was a combination of the pedals and the shoes I was wearing were years old and had hardened up a lot, you’d be better getting yourself some nice new pedals(or just pins) and better shoes, could always lower your tyre psi’s if you’re riding tubeless, Hope this helps mate. We all know how scary it can be to have both feet blow off the pedals simultaneously but trust me you can 100% batter through a choppy set of roots and rocks if you have the right set up.
There is obviously a limit. You cant ride through a section of big roots/rocks at full speed on a hardtail (like on a dh bike). You have to pick a better line and learn how to flow with the trail properly
@@ph-vf5hx You can’t reasonably expect to do it at full speed, but you could try it if you’re no concerned about the condition of your knees and wrists😂 It’s weird because I can go just as fast on my HT as I can my Full suspension on a trail, judging by Strava times but no doubt if you were to do splits like a WC DH race then I’d be faster through certain sections on the FS and vice versa with the HT.
Hardtail plus...Cannondale Beast of the East 1. Sold my full suspension and went back to hardtail. Love the weight reduction and while the back is more lively, I have more fun! (Plus, fewer parts to maintain)
Great video! My only complaint is that the bikes were not the same wheel size: 27.5 and 29. The pump challenge is going to be affected by this, the the roll over is going to feel much better on the 29”. Uphill acceleration is going to be better on the 27.5. So it wasn’t exactly hard tail vs trail.
Hardtails are cheaper and easier to maintain, more nimble and therefore good fun 👇 Trail bikes are usually more expensive and harder to maintain since there are more parts, since they have full-Suspension they offer a smother ride .... You should get a bike that you like and will have the most fun on, but a more expensive bike i not always better Hi GMBN
in the alps you certenly will have more fun on the fs , the hardtale gets wayyyyyy to many flats in the rear, that said i have bothe (2500€ 150/140mm 27.5 fs &1200€ 130mm 29er ht ) and i love both and especially the diversity between them . and the two bikes are certanly better than a 3700€ do it all bike , budget4life
I use to love hardtails but FS bikes are just so good nowadays I can't imagine going back. Every time I hop on a hardtail I have fun for a bit but doesn't take long and I want my fill squish back.
For the rest of us, rear suspension gives you confidence in technical downhill. Blake has enough of it already. He did say that riding the Megavalanche on a hard tail was a bad idea, though!
Just brought a Ragley big al after having a FS for years, and got to say I love it, better than I thought it would be and it’s more than enough for the riding I do.
To me it looks like your both having a great time.....so i geuss it doesn't really matter what you ride just as long as it's fun, 30 years ago suspension was none existent & yet we still smashed all decents no matter how crazy they were.
I am a 100% with Blake on this one - build both, ridden both and back to my trusty old hardtail - so I have to say I went with a carbon frame on the last build, 29 inch wheels (Mavic DeeMax), XT 1x12 drive train, 4 pods brakes front and rear and a 200mm dropper post - it‘s a dream to ride in all terrain ..... 🤗❤️
While I owe a FS trailbike now, Hardtail is the bike that took me everywhere - rough or mellow, mountains or flats - always puts a grin on my face regardless what i'm riding. It's the best teacher and a loyal companion. Everyone should have one.
Just got into MTBing about a month ago. Started out with a used bike and then bought a Norco Storm. It's a HT and I'm still getting used to the bike and learning. I had already planned to upgrade to a full sus next year but after watching a bunch of videos where Blake rips it on a HT, I'm planning on upgrading my Storm to an even better HT.
I have a hardtail for my xc and a trail bike for you know, trials. I just use my hardtail when I'm goin biking with some friends that also have a hardtail and my fullsus for my solo trail rides.
Would we love hardtails of Blake was on the trails bike.... Hardtails are the best, and the GMBN team are simply just awesome. Blake and Rich you guys put a great show together no matter what!!
I've gone from Full Suspension to a Hardtail, to the point that I sold my hardtail! Why you ask? Canfield bikes 2020 Nimble 9, that's why. Such an awesome bike, I'm having more fun than ever! Something that the boys didn't address in this video is that fun factor, that's the major reason I'm out there riding.
I ride a hardtail that is practically a rigid, it had 80 mm of travel when it was fresh but it is older than me (it is 16 years) and now is down to probably 30 mm, I need a change
I love riding my (almost) vintage Trek Top Fuel. Well, untill I ripped a tendon partly by sliding out in the mud with my bike. Ouch... Hope to be able to ride again soon. Before that I used to ride a cheap Trek XXL hardtail with which I had loads of fun until I broke an axil... I will be looking into a new bike in 2022 though, that's a little bit bigger (XXL) with a slightly more modern geometry. On this bike I sometimes feel like going over the bars on certain parts. Hardtail or fully? I like having grip, and I am not big on going as fast as I can. I like enjoying my surroundings. So I will go fully again on my next bike. Currently looking into the Trek Fuel EX 7/8 or the Santa Cruz Hightower or the Tallboy. But then again, first need to get that shoulder fixed and get the needed euro's saved. These bikes are not cheap!
Great vid guys, ive just gone from riding a 20 year old barracuda oblivion full sus to a hardtail boardman comp 650b, i have to say the hardtail wins hands down for me atm
I ride a XC hardtail and a gravel road bike. I think between these two the most amount of variety and uses are covered. All but the extreme ends of cycling can be done. Also summer and winter bike.
I’ve been riding a hard tail (Trek Roscoe 7) for several years. Considering a full suspension bike but can’t justify the price for a good model right now. Love your videos...keep it going!
Aggressive Hardtail on 29x3.0 and a DHF. With this setup I can do everything from bike packing to riding Double Blacks. Unless I'm racing it's all I need.
I have both, and enjoy both, but sometimes I think the extra maintenance and setup of the rear suspension is a hassle and question if it's really worth it especially where I live.
Awesome comparison gentlemen, I ride an old school hardtail Cannondale F600, which has been modernized with tubeless wheels, disc brakes, short stem, Marzocchi 120mm fork, and wide bars. ( big difference )
I’m still riding my 1993 Rockhopper at my local trails I love when they look at me with there stump jumpers like I’m crazy. This bike still gets down currently saving for a Specialized Fuse Expert to finally make a big jump up.
I got both hardtail and trail, I must say that the hardtail takes advantage on speed and performance. But there is a great reason for trail bike to be called like that. It has more control on trails, besides its more comfortable. The better one is the one that your routine accepts better.
Ayy bro. I have a question. My house is in India. In a village where the roads are average. I like to go so fast. And I also like to off-road sometimes. So which should I choose? Hard tail or trail bike.
And our local mechanic said that having a trial bike (dual suspension) will lead to more problem like the back suspension would break easily. What's your opinion?
@@basilmatheweldhose7623 hey! That's exactly what I was talking about. First, think about how you will use your bike. In this case the hardtail should work better, but try installing a smooth seat on it before running too fast. 🙂👍🏼
@@basilmatheweldhose7623 Sincerely, I don't think so, but again, the way you will use the bike determines time and money you have to spend. I ride my trailbike on urban roads most of time and get 2 or 3 trails once a month. My suspension is changed each two years.
I still have a rigid steel Schwinn MTB from the early '90's. It hasn't been ridden much over the last 20 years, but has served me well. I'm getting back into riding with friends and my son now. I bought a couple Giant Talon 2 29er hardtails and we love 'em. It took some time to get used to the front sus, disc brakes and big ass tires, though.
Still riding my Dean Ti Colonel 26" with V brakes and ceramic rims. Never have trouble stopping, love the 26" wheels. Upgraded a few parts, but drivetrain still a triple up front with an 11-42 out back. I've been riding since before front shocks were even a thing. Full rigid is a great ride, although the Dean has a sus fork. AWESOME BIKE. Got it as a present after surviving a bout of 'terminal' cancer. It's called "The Cancer Bike". Hardtails are awesome.
Defo with Blake on this one, cut my teeth on hard tails back in the 90’s, own a couple of full suspension bikes over the years, (trance & anthem) but have fallen in love with MTB again back on a rather capable Vitus Rapide
I live in a city, not much trails near me I mostly use my hardtail for transportation and exercise but the full sus setup seems a lot better on trails.
I have both and love them both. I have hit some pretty gnarly trails on my hard tail but it is easier and more comfortable doing it on my trail bike. Having that extra travels gives me more confidence to go for things I wouldn't go for on my hardtail and can help get me out of any sticky situations. Means I ride my trail bike more but it is horrible on a pump track
I’m stuck on what to get, haibike 3.0 or the Whyte 505 hard tail. 4300 vs 3600. Can you lock the suspension on full sus mate? And also are they actually harder to maintain/repair ? Thanks 👍🏼
Just got a new Kona Big Honzo DL. 27.5+. I upgraded from my last mountain bike. It was a 1991 GT Talera. I bought it new and still ride it on paved trails. My Kona will be off road only. Can't wait for warm weather!!!
I have a hardtail and I love it still learning meny things on it and I cant be more happy with it and im not going to lie I do want a full suspension bike but thier prices are insane so a hardtail bike is what I'm going with for now and its definitely not bad I love it
I fully acknowledge that full squish bikes are faster in many - if not most - mtb races, but I'm not a racer and I just have a blast on my hardtail. The wallet-friendly nature of hardtails is certainly a bonus.
When does it make the most difference? I always see riders standup from the seat on rougher terrain so it should make no difference right? Forgive my basic logic, just a noob trying to understand so I can make a sound purchase soon.
@@mat_v Most terrain i ride in is pretty flat. And we don't have that many hills in our country. Most of the time i will be seated when peddling. Since my knees aren't that good any more, it is hard for me to stand up and pedal for a long time. But the suspension is also working when standing on the pedals, so bumps are easier on the body.
I had a hardtail but changed to full-sus for comfort. I'm neither good enough at, or generally do, the sort of riding that would make one better than the other for me in terms of performance. My local riding area seems to be mainly corrugated surfaces (atm some are deep mud but come summer they will set into plain rough) and my old bones and teeth just can't take hours of being rattled.
I'm happily shredding on a Trek Xcaliber7 29r hardtail. Just last week- added new 180mm/metalic brake upgrades. I'm touching the dirt with Maxxis Ardent-2.25 rear/HighRollerTwo-2.30 front. Like a slalom ski with race-tuned edges. Geometry baby...Most fun mtb I've had in three decades.
To me the ultimate MTB for fun on trails is a titanium-frame hardtail. It is relatively light and it can take everything: The frame will not brake, will not rust, will not scratch (no paint is needed!). It is significantly less harsh on rock gardens than an aluminum-frame hardtail but it still very good at pumping and gives you the same hardtail feeling just a little less harsh. Overall it is a lot of care-free fun on every trail in summer and winter. It is also significantly cheaper to buy and maintain than a CF fully.
The scout was on my shortlist but the Vitus sentier 27 vr was my final choice. Was lucky the get my order in to CRC last week when the new stock arrived, bike arrives tomorrow.
I have both, a full sus carbon enduro bike and a Nukeproof scout comp 29 inch wheel from 2019. I bought the Nukeproof after i bought my full sus. I love my Hardtail so much that I am selling my full sus right now. So I personally higly recommend the Nukeproof scout. But check out the brand ragley. They specify on steel frame hardtails. A buddy of mine owns a ragley big wig race 2020 and it`s also absolutely stunning and a blast.
I love my hardtail. I would like to have a trail bike. There is another barrier to trail bikes...the price.
If u use the bike to work scheme the new boardmans can be a cheaper entry
Xc could be funny too
Look for trail hardtails.... canyon and nukeproof have some
Calibre triple b or bosnut are good entries
@@tobiasscholl8692 trek is good too
i would sign a petition to bring hardtails week back,
This really needs to be a thing again
Mountain Bike tik tok compilation already on my channel 😉 Love you all ❤️
@@starkovscode nah man TikTok is for hipsters and cucks
You can tell it’s going to be a good one cos Blake is on a hardtail
Should have taken the rigid tho😁
Mountain Bike tik tok compilation already on my channel 😉 Love you all ❤️
Ofc
What, really? that ‘too effing slow’ Blake?!!
😀
(What a proper a-hole that guy was)
@@starkovscode MotoGPMotoGPMotoGP QA QC
I love how it's always super competitive with these guys and at the end it's "There is no right bike, only the one suited for yourself. Have fun!"
This is my hardtail/full sys take. I loved my Raliegh Tokul hardtail. I had it for years and beat the crap out of that bike. I'm 240 lbs and that bike took me through everything, I went through tubes and rims haha, that's about it. It reminded me of my old skool BMX days, I felt confident on it, I knew what the back end was going to do everytime. I normally rode street and light allyway trails for YEARS. I didn't really have a riding buddy so I just kept it local, and for me, that was mostly to and from street stuff with the occasional trail. But I DID harp on it.
Last year I got a camper, and so we started going to other places that were more "trail oriented"....and for a longer amount of time. Two days of riding trail vs maybe an hour of city riding on my hardtail previously. I have an old lower back injury from college football, plus like most hardtail guys, I was super curious of the full sus setups, but the thing holding me back was price. I finally got ahead enough to purchase a full suspension Giant Trance at my LBS. It's so much easier on my back, I instantly could ride for HOURS longer in the trails when we went camping and I had a riding buddy. It does take some getting used too, but if you have any kind of back injury or are older than 25, you would benefit in this area.
To sum it up, and this is just my opinion. If you are younger and an aggressive rider that likes air (possibly coming from a BMX background like me), keep your hardtail and know you won't get much benefit out of a full sys, actually you will probably regress. If you don't have that many riding buddies....you probably won't be riding long enough sessions to truly justify the cost either. We all know the larger the group, the longer you are out there! But on the other hand if you are older than 25 (I'm 33) and/or possibly have a back injury of sorts, a full suspension bike will serve you tremendously, regardless of how much you ride. Also, if you do have a lot of riding buddies and go out several times a week, I do think a full sys may be the option to keep you going longer. Also, if you're just the weekend warrior, and maybe dust the bike off in the spring to go out and ride once or twice a month, keep the hardtail regardless of age, you simply won't use it enough to really see any benefit listed above.
I think full suspension bikes were created to keep us older dudes as relevant as we were when we were younger smashing the hardtails. They keep us on the trail as long as a 23 year old me on a hardtail. They are also created for that niche, special rider, crowd that, regardless of age is riding for a living or something and can justify buying, maintaining, hauling around, and switching out both types. This also doesn't apply to the uber rich guys and gals who, frankly, it doesn't hurt their pocketbook as much to have a bunch of bikes regardless of how much it costs. But neither of the above are my position, and I understand yall might be in a different position.
Realllly appreciate this take! I'm currently about to buy an ebike and I'm torn between hardtail and full suspension. I do have a back issue and a knee issue from time to time, so your opinion was really helpful. I see the main difference in price seems to be the additional full suspension. Initially, I was looking for a hybrid back to where I can ride on streets and trails. So, I had to decide, what kind of rider do I wanna be? So, I will use this to get in shape, explore, and most importantly have fun! I plan on using the bike several times a week, and may even explore riding it to work daily, thru minor trails, depending on weather. With mountain bikes, especially the extra weight with an ebike, I wasn't sure if I wanted to deal with the weight. However, I think that extra suspension is the absolute game changer. Thanks for your advice!
Thanks for your insight, it was more helpful than the actual video 👍
Thanks for such a great breakdown. I used to ride in college and miss it at times. now at 49 i'm looking to get back into it and the changes are amazing. I'm one of those casual riders that mostly sticks to paths/roads but wants the option to do trails if I find them. Like the other commenter, your breakdown was better than the video. Thank you for that.
@@massiveantnz i agree totally. the video left me meh other than seeing pros and cons to each.
I have both. Depending on my mood. I pick up either the hard tail or the full suspension. Hard tail will out climb the full suspension and possibly on some jumps. The full suspension is amazing on technical long down hill trails. The hard tail is used less energy to pedal. Like I said, to each is own and each bike has its pros and cons. Quick edit, the hard tail will climb better on a rooted area. As you will less likely get pedal strikes.
Blake is the reason why my next bike will be a hardtail again :D
YES DUDE. So much fun
He is a semi-pro biker. Normal riders are going to get a best performance from a FS bike.
Either you can't afford it, or never ridden FS bike. Also obviously if you ride easy trails then there is no need for FS. But having FS will never hold you back from riding 💯 on any trails.
I own an hardtail and thought it was limiting my ride. Was thinking of switching to trail or Enduro but since I've seen all the stuff Blake can do with an hardtail I now know that's is definitely not my hardtail that limiting my ride hehe!! Thanks Blake for that!!
They say it's never the bike.
Celebrated photographer Ansel Adams once said, "The most important part of a camera is the six inches behind it." If Adams was a mountain biker, he might have said, "The most important part of a bike is whose butt is on the saddle." I think it's safe to say that no matter the bike, the majority of them are far more capable than the people riding them.
Who here is team Blake?
HT Power
Me for surre however I think that Rich had fell in love with hardtails to :D
Me
Me
me, neil is my 2nd fav
Just bought my first bike I’m 30 my son is 8 we are having a lot of fun riding into to us ,unknown trails and witnessing. The intense time and sweat riders put in for a smile on the dial
Dad and kid riding is the best. He is going to remember this when he is older.
Ride safe, have fun.
: )
Awesome 😎🤙🏽
Love my hardtail. So much, I just sold my full suss to help fund my second hardtail. Just fun to ride.
Seriously? I wasn't sure if I should upgrade my entry lvl hardtail for a entry lvl full suspension or a aggressive hardtail for almost the same price????
@@ibby81ae Everyone is different, but for me it made sense. I’ve an Stanton Switch9er and an Orange Crush. Both aggressive HT, but I do enjoy the challenge of riding an HT as you have to be more precise and they are less forgiving. Sometimes with a full suss you have ‘get away’ with just ploughing through. I do also believe in the saying that I’ve read on more than one occasion that you are better off with a good HT than a poor full suss. 👍
@@domfluin1819 hardtail it is thanks.👍
@@ibby81ae Just my opinion, but glad to help. I hope you enjoy whatever you get 👍
I started mountain biking 2 years ago and really like my Chromag Stylus hardtail, but I am getting a mid-travel 27.5 trail bike. You can ride almost 95% of trails with a hardtail, but in most of the cases, it is slower downhill and offers less margin of error.I learned a lot on my hardtail, but aggressive hardtails are likely to shine more as second bike for highly skilled riders.
I love the sketchy-ness the hardtails bring hardtail for the win everytime.
I love my hardtail as well, but in some trails I almost come off my seat and my feet jump off my pedals due to the rough terrain. Is this an issue with my riding position, maybe I need with a hard tail I just need to go much slower or do I just need to get a full suspension?/ has this happened to you?
@@luisguevara4113 I’ve had this happen to me a lot and it’s down to a lot of things. Tubeless helps a lot, nice grippy shoes(or clipped in would solve this problem!) Pedals with some healthy sized pins helps out a lot, I had these Burgtec pedals and they were missing some pins and my feet would blow off a lot, this was a combination of the pedals and the shoes I was wearing were years old and had hardened up a lot, you’d be better getting yourself some nice new pedals(or just pins) and better shoes, could always lower your tyre psi’s if you’re riding tubeless, Hope this helps mate. We all know how scary it can be to have both feet blow off the pedals simultaneously but trust me you can 100% batter through a choppy set of roots and rocks if you have the right set up.
There is obviously a limit. You cant ride through a section of big roots/rocks at full speed on a hardtail (like on a dh bike). You have to pick a better line and learn how to flow with the trail properly
@@ph-vf5hx You can’t reasonably expect to do it at full speed, but you could try it if you’re no concerned about the condition of your knees and wrists😂 It’s weird because I can go just as fast on my HT as I can my Full suspension on a trail, judging by Strava times but no doubt if you were to do splits like a WC DH race then I’d be faster through certain sections on the FS and vice versa with the HT.
@@luisguevara4113 First of all, what are you doing on your seat on a trail anyway? Second, have you heard of clip-ins?
I really like the way a hardtail climbs and handles. A hardtail with good geo and aggressive tires is plenty of bike.
I
Like my fus sus better for climbing
I've got full squish rig aswell, but my hardtail gives me a bigger smile each time i ride it.
150mm on the front of a Commencal Meta HT
Could you tell me why?
A hardtail makes basic trails a challenge, but when you take it down a fast flow, techy trail thats the party starts.
This should be renamed "Why all you beautiful people maybe over biked!"
*Laughs in long, low and slack 170mm Pipedream Moxie HT*
I have a hardtail trail bike with 27,5 + size tires and I’m very happy with it :)
(Treck Roscoe 7)
Got the same bike :D
Trek Roscoe 7 are amazing I have one couldn't fault in the slightest
I had one too, the black one, I think it was 7. I wish I hadn't sold it.
I just got that bike today and I’m loving it
@@benjaminirvine5097 congratulations! You will have a lot of fun with it :)
Hardtail plus...Cannondale Beast of the East 1. Sold my full suspension and went back to hardtail. Love the weight reduction and while the back is more lively, I have more fun! (Plus, fewer parts to maintain)
I have one of each and my hardtail is easily what I reach for most often. Its just fun and more capable than most seem to think.
Great video! My only complaint is that the bikes were not the same wheel size: 27.5 and 29. The pump challenge is going to be affected by this, the the roll over is going to feel much better on the 29”. Uphill acceleration is going to be better on the 27.5. So it wasn’t exactly hard tail vs trail.
Hardtails are cheaper and easier to maintain, more nimble and therefore good fun
👇
Trail bikes are usually more expensive and harder to maintain since there are more parts, since they have full-Suspension they offer a smother ride ....
You should get a bike that you like and will have the most fun on, but a more expensive bike i not always better
Hi GMBN
You can go faster on a full sus no arguement otherwise enduro and downhill would use hartails
I bought a long travel trail bike.
in the alps you certenly will have more fun on the fs , the hardtale gets wayyyyyy to many flats in the rear, that said i have bothe (2500€ 150/140mm 27.5 fs &1200€ 130mm 29er ht ) and i love both and especially the diversity between them .
and the two bikes are certanly better than a 3700€ do it all bike , budget4life
I live in europe so i got a cube reaction tm 2021 model
@@najved not my pick, i live in austria and got a vitus escarpe vr2019 and a radon cragger
I use to love hardtails but FS bikes are just so good nowadays I can't imagine going back. Every time I hop on a hardtail I have fun for a bit but doesn't take long and I want my fill squish back.
I build my custom hardtail and it´s amazing guys, I totaly understand why Blake loves hardtails so much :) .
For the rest of us, rear suspension gives you confidence in technical downhill. Blake has enough of it already.
He did say that riding the Megavalanche on a hard tail was a bad idea, though!
Love watching these 2 guys together . So many smiles per minute
Indeed
I’ve got a hard tail and a light enduro build. Built them both from scratch. Have to admit that my hard tail is my favorite.
Hell yessss HARDTAIL all the way 🤘🏼
Love this content on what a HARDTAIL can actually do!!!!
Just brought a Ragley big al after having a FS for years, and got to say I love it, better than I thought it would be and it’s more than enough for the riding I do.
To me it looks like your both having a great time.....so i geuss it doesn't really matter what you ride just as long as it's fun, 30 years ago suspension was none existent & yet we still smashed all decents no matter how crazy they were.
Right! I started mountain biking, back on the 80's, on a road bike with an yamaha DT handlebar! 😄😁😁
I just recently bought the Canyon Stoic 4 and it's a great Hardtail, I love this bike!
I am a 100% with Blake on this one - build both, ridden both and back to my trusty old hardtail - so I have to say I went with a carbon frame on the last build, 29 inch wheels (Mavic DeeMax), XT 1x12 drive train, 4 pods brakes front and rear and a 200mm dropper post - it‘s a dream to ride in all terrain ..... 🤗❤️
While I owe a FS trailbike now, Hardtail is the bike that took me everywhere - rough or mellow, mountains or flats - always puts a grin on my face regardless what i'm riding. It's the best teacher and a loyal companion. Everyone should have one.
Hardtail here 🤘 love my Scout
Just got into MTBing about a month ago. Started out with a used bike and then bought a Norco Storm. It's a HT and I'm still getting used to the bike and learning. I had already planned to upgrade to a full sus next year but after watching a bunch of videos where Blake rips it on a HT, I'm planning on upgrading my Storm to an even better HT.
i was literally thinking about this yesterday evening thank you so much
I have a hardtail for my xc and a trail bike for you know, trials. I just use my hardtail when I'm goin biking with some friends that also have a hardtail and my fullsus for my solo trail rides.
Would we love hardtails of Blake was on the trails bike....
Hardtails are the best, and the GMBN team are simply just awesome.
Blake and Rich you guys put a great show together no matter what!!
Thanks dude. I Think the love for the Hardtail will always be strong
@@Zimblake Me2 owned 6 hardtails in my life. Would be a dream to ride with you and the team some day.
I've gone from Full Suspension to a Hardtail, to the point that I sold my hardtail! Why you ask? Canfield bikes 2020 Nimble 9, that's why. Such an awesome bike, I'm having more fun than ever! Something that the boys didn't address in this video is that fun factor, that's the major reason I'm out there riding.
I ride a hardtail that is practically a rigid, it had 80 mm of travel when it was fresh but it is older than me (it is 16 years) and now is down to probably 30 mm, I need a change
i had a 80mm of travel but i changed the fork with fox 36 talas rc2 with 150mm
I have a 13 incline alpha hardtail. Brilliant bike for the money back in 2015.
I love riding my (almost) vintage Trek Top Fuel. Well, untill I ripped a tendon partly by sliding out in the mud with my bike. Ouch... Hope to be able to ride again soon. Before that I used to ride a cheap Trek XXL hardtail with which I had loads of fun until I broke an axil... I will be looking into a new bike in 2022 though, that's a little bit bigger (XXL) with a slightly more modern geometry. On this bike I sometimes feel like going over the bars on certain parts.
Hardtail or fully? I like having grip, and I am not big on going as fast as I can. I like enjoying my surroundings. So I will go fully again on my next bike. Currently looking into the Trek Fuel EX 7/8 or the Santa Cruz Hightower or the Tallboy. But then again, first need to get that shoulder fixed and get the needed euro's saved. These bikes are not cheap!
HT are absolutely perfect. I am riding a Nukeproof Scout 290 V3 and it puts a smile on my face every time I am on the trail.
Great vid guys, ive just gone from riding a 20 year old barracuda oblivion full sus to a hardtail boardman comp 650b, i have to say the hardtail wins hands down for me atm
I have both…always go back to hard tail. It’s less forgiving but the full suspension is slower due to the obvious lockout issue.
just got myself the new marin san quentin 3 love it.
I have the same bike and its insane
I ride mine on some super techy trails and can leave the dentists in my dust.
Good bike.
Mountain Bike tik tok compilation already on my channel 😉 Love you all ❤️
I’m picking up a sq 3 myself this season
I ride a XC hardtail and a gravel road bike. I think between these two the most amount of variety and uses are covered. All but the extreme ends of cycling can be done. Also summer and winter bike.
I’ve been riding a hard tail (Trek Roscoe 7) for several years. Considering a full suspension bike but can’t justify the price for a good model right now. Love your videos...keep it going!
The ghost Kato fs universal is an affordable entry fully
Aggressive Hardtail on 29x3.0 and a DHF. With this setup I can do everything from bike packing to riding Double Blacks. Unless I'm racing it's all I need.
I have both, and enjoy both, but sometimes I think the extra maintenance and setup of the rear suspension is a hassle and question if it's really worth it especially where I live.
Awesome comparison gentlemen, I ride an old school hardtail Cannondale F600, which has been modernized with tubeless wheels, disc brakes, short stem, Marzocchi 120mm fork, and wide bars. ( big difference )
Hardtail with 140mm on front. Does everything you could want at the right price.
I love my hardtail !! Got a Marin San Quentin 3 2019 with upgrades. Went out today for a street ride and still had the best time 🤙🏻
I currently have a “super enduro” and a hard tail and love them both wouldn’t trade ether or
I’m still riding my 1993 Rockhopper at my local trails I love when they look at me with there stump jumpers like I’m crazy. This bike still gets down currently saving for a Specialized Fuse Expert to finally make a big jump up.
Love a hard tail. Currently have an old trek 4300. But tomorrow my new bike will arrive. Bagged myself a Vitus sentier 27 vr, cant wait......😁😁😁😁
Hard
Congrats. I went from a 98 cannondale f400 to a 21 commencal meta HT. Light years difference.
3:12
This music represents pretty well the feeling of going down a trail on a bike
Mountain Bike tik tok compilation already on my channel 😉 Love you all ❤️
Name a more iconic duo.
This video just had me smiling all the way through ❤️
I have a '21 commencal meta HT. It is amazing. Gives me a lot of confidence compared to my old hardtail.
I have enduro, hardtail, road bike
You are covered
You know what’s up
Yup. Have a road bike and enduro already. Hardtail on order.
Enduro, hardtail, single speed hardtail
Good variety 👍 downhill, full sus trail ×2, hardtail DJ, hardtail beater, '80s steel road bike here
Hardtail!! I have been riding trek 4430 for 7 years. Amazing bike.
I got both hardtail and trail, I must say that the hardtail takes advantage on speed and performance. But there is a great reason for trail bike to be called like that. It has more control on trails, besides its more comfortable. The better one is the one that your routine accepts better.
Ayy bro. I have a question.
My house is in India. In a village where the roads are average. I like to go so fast. And I also like to off-road sometimes. So which should I choose? Hard tail or trail bike.
And our local mechanic said that having a trial bike (dual suspension) will lead to more problem like the back suspension would break easily. What's your opinion?
@@basilmatheweldhose7623 hey! That's exactly what I was talking about. First, think about how you will use your bike. In this case the hardtail should work better, but try installing a smooth seat on it before running too fast. 🙂👍🏼
@@basilmatheweldhose7623 Sincerely, I don't think so, but again, the way you will use the bike determines time and money you have to spend. I ride my trailbike on urban roads most of time and get 2 or 3 trails once a month. My suspension is changed each two years.
@@hermesonmoura1895 yea I'll install a smooth seat.
I still have a rigid steel Schwinn MTB from the early '90's. It hasn't been ridden much over the last 20 years, but has served me well. I'm getting back into riding with friends and my son now. I bought a couple Giant Talon 2 29er hardtails and we love 'em. It took some time to get used to the front sus, disc brakes and big ass tires, though.
giant talon is a great bike have a 2014 talon but not a 29er.
Love your content boys keep it up
Had a Vitus Sommet, tortured with pivot bearings and then cracked the frame, have a Nukeproof Scout now with 160mm up front and love it!!
Hardtail user here. Hardtail FTW guuuuys!
Still riding my Dean Ti Colonel 26" with V brakes and ceramic rims. Never have trouble stopping, love the 26" wheels. Upgraded a few parts, but drivetrain still a triple up front with an 11-42 out back. I've been riding since before front shocks were even a thing. Full rigid is a great ride, although the Dean has a sus fork. AWESOME BIKE. Got it as a present after surviving a bout of 'terminal' cancer. It's called "The Cancer Bike". Hardtails are awesome.
It's nice when vids like this remind us how dorky it looks when we're sitting and pedaling in low gear.
Sounds like you want to go single speed
@@paulbush724 Mountain Bike tik tok compilation already on my channel 😉 Love you all ❤️
Mountain Bike tik tok compilation already on my channel 😉 Love you all ❤️
Just bought a new Whyte 901 v3. Get it tomorow cant wait
Hardtail build for everything 👌👌👌👌
Defo with Blake on this one, cut my teeth on hard tails back in the 90’s, own a couple of full suspension bikes over the years, (trance & anthem) but have fallen in love with MTB again back on a rather capable Vitus Rapide
I ride a 29" hardtail!
I live in a city, not much trails near me I mostly use my hardtail for transportation and exercise but the full sus setup seems a lot better on trails.
“Whereas you were like a bush pig” 😂
Mountain Bike tik tok compilation already on my channel 😉 Love you all ❤️
That UA-cam algorithm came through during this pandemic and I went out and got myself a 2021 Trek Marlin 7. Loving the hardtail!
Awesome dude
I have both and love them both. I have hit some pretty gnarly trails on my hard tail but it is easier and more comfortable doing it on my trail bike. Having that extra travels gives me more confidence to go for things I wouldn't go for on my hardtail and can help get me out of any sticky situations. Means I ride my trail bike more but it is horrible on a pump track
I’m stuck on what to get, haibike 3.0 or the Whyte 505 hard tail. 4300 vs 3600.
Can you lock the suspension on full sus mate? And also are they actually harder to maintain/repair ? Thanks 👍🏼
Always a great time with the GMBN crew - love the hardtail content mates as that’s my fav.
Personally I love a hardtails sketchy character & simplicity. Overall though a hardtail suits my riding style & budget.
Just got a new Kona Big Honzo DL. 27.5+. I upgraded from my last mountain bike. It was a 1991 GT Talera. I bought it new and still ride it on paved trails. My Kona will be off road only. Can't wait for warm weather!!!
I thought my full rigid from the 90’s was a trail bike
Yeah I got a 24 year old GT aggressor. Wouldn't compete with these blokes but still a nice and tight frame
I'm with Blake on this one, I ride a hardtail (Cannondale Trail) and love it. It's also more versatile than a full sus.
Just got my first cannondale trail 5, its such a good bike for the price. It was the perfect intro bike
Love my 160mm forked hardtail, its a freaking beast
Same here.
I have a hardtail and I love it still learning meny things on it and I cant be more happy with it and im not going to lie I do want a full suspension bike but thier prices are insane so a hardtail bike is what I'm going with for now and its definitely not bad I love it
Hardtail all the way i just don´t like the idea of having suspension on the rear too. I am the suspension.
Why not go fully rigid?
@@thomaslittle4188 What a childish response.
ikr, I ride a Canyon Stoic 4
@@yeetgamer4292 Damn that is a nice one!
@@xxzmk Thanks! :)
I fully acknowledge that full squish bikes are faster in many - if not most - mtb races, but I'm not a racer and I just have a blast on my hardtail. The wallet-friendly nature of hardtails is certainly a bonus.
Always had a hardtail, until my back and knees said something else. Bought a full suspension, and my back and knees are quiet a bit happier.
When does it make the most difference? I always see riders standup from the seat on rougher terrain so it should make no difference right? Forgive my basic logic, just a noob trying to understand so I can make a sound purchase soon.
@@mat_v Most terrain i ride in is pretty flat. And we don't have that many hills in our country. Most of the time i will be seated when peddling. Since my knees aren't that good any more, it is hard for me to stand up and pedal for a long time. But the suspension is also working when standing on the pedals, so bumps are easier on the body.
@@theseob Why would need a FS if you're riding flat? Especially if you're seated when peddling? Sounds like a monumental waste of cash.
I had a hardtail but changed to full-sus for comfort. I'm neither good enough at, or generally do, the sort of riding that would make one better than the other for me in terms of performance.
My local riding area seems to be mainly corrugated surfaces (atm some are deep mud but come summer they will set into plain rough) and my old bones and teeth just can't take hours of being rattled.
Note to the Editors: Thank you for the sick music!!! very good choices!
I'm happily shredding on a Trek Xcaliber7 29r hardtail. Just last week- added new 180mm/metalic brake upgrades. I'm touching the dirt with Maxxis Ardent-2.25 rear/HighRollerTwo-2.30 front. Like a slalom ski with race-tuned edges. Geometry baby...Most fun mtb I've had in three decades.
"Welcome back you beautiful people!"
Smashes like button 😁
hahaha thanks dude
Definitely going with a HARDTAIL, and absolutely LOVE my Specialized Fuse 27.5
Blake's bike is looking really good I would trade my bike for that bike quick.
To me the ultimate MTB for fun on trails is a titanium-frame hardtail. It is relatively light and it can take everything: The frame will not brake, will not rust, will not scratch (no paint is needed!). It is significantly less harsh on rock gardens than an aluminum-frame hardtail but it still very good at pumping and gives you the same hardtail feeling just a little less harsh. Overall it is a lot of care-free fun on every trail in summer and winter. It is also significantly cheaper to buy and maintain than a CF fully.
Ti is fly but steel is real.
Right now I'm riding a BMX, but next week I will be getting a hardtail!
Ordered that exact Scout Pro yesterday. Can’t wait to get it...
I love hardtails and I have a plan to buy a nukeproof scout race is it a Good idea. 👍
The scout was on my shortlist but the Vitus sentier 27 vr was my final choice. Was lucky the get my order in to CRC last week when the new stock arrived, bike arrives tomorrow.
I have both, a full sus carbon enduro bike and a Nukeproof scout comp 29 inch wheel from 2019.
I bought the Nukeproof after i bought my full sus. I love my Hardtail so much that I am selling my full sus right now.
So I personally higly recommend the Nukeproof scout.
But check out the brand ragley. They specify on steel frame hardtails.
A buddy of mine owns a ragley big wig race 2020 and it`s also absolutely stunning and a blast.
@@steveoutdoors5964 thanks dude
@@theREDC0de thanks dude and enjoy your hardtail dude 🤙
Get a steel frame like a Cotic. Aluminum is too harsh.
Wonderful content to see on a Sunday morning, top notch riding, top notch filming, and top notch accent. Great job guys!
I ride my bike everyday and am a bit lazy, hardtail for me. Less maintenance, less creaky.
Less cost. Less weight... Seems like a win-win until you hit some rocky downhill.
I moved from enduro, to trail and now a hardtail. Backwards journey but the hardtail is so much fun and challenging on a technical trail.
blake pedalled at the end of the pump track run
I doooo 🙃 sorry 😬
@@Zimblake haha. i'm still for the hardtail though👊
Well they had to make sure it was a draw lol. Love the hardtails though.
You guys do such a good job capturing the FUN aspect of it all!