Biggest reason why i love hardtails: I can have fun with them even without having the greatest trails around the corner. I am living in a city and there are a few forrest areas around but none of them is really steep or techy. With a enduro or something like this it would get boring pretty fast. With a "cheap" hardtail i am having fun without having to travel to a bikepark or a real mountain area.
They also make great bikes for the "urban environment" as Pilgrim would say. I converted my cheaper hardtail to a single speed and bomb around city streets, hopping curbs, sending stairs sets and bombing down hills (street or off-road).
I went back to a hardtail after a couple decades of full suspension, it's totally reinvigorated my zeal for the sport and it's definitely sharpened my skill set.
After 15yrs full suspension, a big reason I got a hardtail is the lower maintenance requirements/costs. Recommended suspension service has been pricy and my pivot threads still stripped out. To heck with that. There is alot to say about simplifying your bike and just riding like we did as kids on our BMX's
The more complicated and technical bikes get, the less fun and more serious they become. When you've got a $20 dumb seatpost and other similar parts you send it NFG and have fun but when you've got an $800 electronic seatpost and other similar ridiculousness all over a carbon bike that will shatter instead of dent on a rock hit it's like taking your faberge egg with wheels out for a cautions nerve wracking ride constantly worrying about doing something mundanely dumb like dropping your bike on a rock while taking a break and breaking off your fancy electronic dingly bits all over the bike.
I love the simplicity, hardtails seem like they just take me back to the roots of mtb. Modern full suspension bikes numb the terrain and make riding way to easy in my opinion. I also love the added challenge of riding a hardtail!
For me, learning mtb skills went the other way. First I was too scared to ride down steep gnarly descents on a hardtail. Then on a full sus, I learned how to manage such features, and now I do have the courage to ride them not only on my hardtail, but even on a gravel bike. Slower, yes, but no less fun. And I have to add, that for me, the hardtail is the ultimate long distance mtb, I get way less fatigued on a ride involving 2000m of elevation, because it’s so much more efficient when pedalling.
I have a rigid 26er from '94 I keep around for nostalgia. She's my first mountain bike. A Specialized Rock Hopper. I have to tape up wrists and ankles to ride her. I also ride my gravel bike on single-track. You have to go fast enough on both bikes to start skipping over the trail while avoiding squared off roots and rocks, but slow enough to control the bike. This type of riding develops skill and confidence. However, I much prefer riding full suspension.
Just upgraded from a early 2000s Kona hardtail to a 2019 boardman htr and I couldn’t me more happier it feels like my skills can go further now as I felt restricted by the pad rim breaks and weight of the bike
I love my 20lb Scott Scale RC hardtail. I switched from a 33lb full sus trail bike with no regrets as it works for my type of riding. I'd love a full sus XC bike, but to get one as as light and with as nice of components I'd have to spend nearly 2x the price. Oddly, I'm nearly as fast downhill on most trails but way faster uphill. I cut my regular local trail PR down from 29mins to just under 25mins. I do miss the squish, but it's so satisfying on a well maintained trail or jeep trail.
I fell like my hardtail is made for just smashing through stuff. It just takes whatever is coming and bounces along like it just doesnt care. Slack headtube and steel frame just feels good. Im sure a full sus would be nice for some of the rough stuff that are around here but so far the hardtail is good enough
I had a Full Suss and a HT. After building a Steel Stanton Switch9er I just found I never rode my full suss, so sold it and now have two HT instead. I do find the compliance of steel gives you all the benefits of a HT, plus a little added comfort.
I learned mtb'ing on an '83 Stumpjumper. No suspension at all and we rode some crazy stuff back then. But it was pretty much all slow and technical, very little fast and flows, the park just didn't have it. It was a big upgrade to get front suspension. I rode my 26" hard tail until I got my Rail-7 this March. I love it.
I currently only have a hardtail (and love it) I think I agree with all of those points and good to know its not just me experiencing some of the issues related to hardtailing.
i love the simplicity. i love the responsiveness. and i use my commencal meta ht as a enduro bike on the weekends, and a commuter on the week days. hard tails just made sense for me
The video was spot on. I've been riding aggressive kind of hardtails since 2016 (prior to this I had FS bikes and more DH oriented stuff), I live in the French Alps and nowdays I ride a custom Commencal Meta HT 2021 (27.5, 170mm etc). The rough terrain is killing me on it, I can keep up with the FS friends but the work I have to put on it to keep up, is twice as intense compared to an FS bike. The amount of times I bounced off rocks or roots and ended up with one leg on the pedals fighting to stay on the bike and not crash is too high. Then again, seeing today's prices on FS bikes (even just a frame) is making the Hardtail the only affordable option... especially when you are an XL rider and can't find anything in the used market.
I sold my last 160mm full susser for 150mm hardcore hardtail. I haven't so much fun in years. Love both, hardtail is so much fun though. Love seeing the Mezzers in action, Manitou revival well under way!
@@doubleL_S isn't that what riding is about? 160mm full suspension made trails flat and boring. Hardtails bring the trail back to life and make your line choices critical
@@TrailDave well being a hardtail rider myself and never owning a full sus I have to agree. I do want a full sus though because rock Gardens and proper downhill stuff is very uncomfortable on a hardtail and I think there are limits. Although I'll go down anything a full sus can on a hardtail.
@@doubleL_S I love both and there is no doubt you can go faster and harder on a full sus. But the only thing I miss at the moment is small bump mitigation on the rear end. I'll probably get another full sus one day.
I have a HT mtb & I loved❤️it...but i guess it still comes down to the riders choice what they feel to ride a FS or HT and boths are awesome & also depends in what kind of riding style you ride,but in the end of the day what matters most is you enjoy & have fun.😁
You say hardtails are entry level into mountain biking I disagree. Hardtails were here first if anything the full suspension is the entry. Hardtails would still be doing it if it weren’t for peeps complaining that their arse hurts. Still love riding mine it keeps me on my toes and keeps my skills sharp.
I think hardtails are the best way to get into mountainbiking. You learn better, it's cheaper, and you can climb better - if you never rode a bike before (except for little rides) and haven't lots of endurance, climbing hills is way more fun on a hardtail.
Some people just like mountain biking but don’t have thousands of dollars to spend on a bike so I’d rather get a nice hardtail than a cheaper full suspension
Pretty funny video IMO. I love my full suspension. For me it's my sloppy weather mountain bike during the winter when I can ride. Love my Orange Crush and I look forward to riding it when the weather turns. Also, so much simpler so if it gets dirty or something goes wrong, it's a little easier to clean or fix.
I got mine because it was cheaper. Spending over $1000 on something I was just getting into just couldn't happen with my budget. I also ride on the road at times, often before or after I ride on the trails, so it does both duties for me. I've also spent heaps of time upgrading it and learning as I go. Next time I'm able to get a bike, I'll try a full sus but now have more of an idea what I am doing and what to look for, so it works for me!
"Double duty" riding is one of the main reasons I will always be a hard tail man. I use my bike for shopping and errands around town, so a bike with bolt holes for a bike rack is mandatory, and you can't install a rear rack on a full suspension.
All I need is a hard tail. But lately I’ve been working on my full sus skills so I can hit bigger features with more insurance. Not sure I’m thinking the right way though, conquering the same features on a hard tail is more of an accomplishment. Full sus might just be a good easy mode before I clear it on hard (tail) mode 😎.
My Vitus Sentier came with 27.5x2.6 plus tires, I run it tubeless, still trying out different pressures, but so far I love it…I also had a Swobo Buccaneer with 27.5x2.35 and the difference between both is very significant because the swobo was way rougher…I guess the right tires makes all the difference. Also, I would like to try cro-moly and titanium frames because I have heard good things about them. 😅
Having been a mountain biker for 35 years now, I agree with everything you said . I never realized how tough a hard tail was on my body until I went full suspension. Now at 57 years young, I just switched back to a hard tail this month ( steel 29er) but the big difference now, is my local trails are not that rough. Great video sir!👍👍👍🇺🇸
Two of the reasons, they are slow and they break more easily. Not true at all lol. I ran a 160mm hardtail and they require less maintanence than any full suspension I’ve had. As long as you can set up the rear wheel tubeless with Cush core it’s never breaking. Plus hardtails are obviously faster, you don’t have the compression of the rear shock to slow you down while pedaling and it’s a whole ton easier to pump. Hardtails have its place in mountain biking
Recently I'm getting back into MTB after a 6 year break from it with my last bike being a Mojo HD 160. As awesome as it was it was more bike than I needed and my fundamentals sucked. I recently bought a RM Growler and I'm loving it! I've been focusing on my fundamentals and I'm riding better than I ever have and I'm having a blast. I love the bike and have no regrets. I'll have a full suspension again eventually but I'm in no rush and I'll be keeping the HT to compliment it.
Having started mid 1980’s with no suspension, my go to bike is my hard tail xc bike packing configured machine. A USE elastomer/ spring seatpost takes away trail buzz and it’s a ride all day bike.
I love my hardtail. After two years without one I got one a few months ago, initially mostly with the idea of riding it in the winter. It is fun and I discovered myself missing that style, so I end up riding it on a regular basis. I also definitely discovered the full suspension bike made me a bit lazy, especially in the landings. I was relying a lot on the back suspension to absorb the impact, rather than doing it myself.
If hardails suck, why are they so damn popular and sell so many? Not everyone is obsessed with bike parks and "shredding it". Lots of us love the smooth trails, travelling light and having it simple and cost effective. I've owned both hardtails and full suspension bikes over the years and I found that currently a full suspension is overkill for the type of riding I do.
Because people are cheap asses Going for the budget option will always be popular with tight fisted people, regardless of how bad it ends up being they will try to justify it with the price
For trail and park riding (short of black diamond stuff), hardtails are more efficient when it comes to effort. Full suspension bikes lose some of the energy you are expending at the pedal in the shock and you get less speed and climbing ability out of your effort. Also, technical riding on a hardtail takes more physical energy and skill because you have less forgiveness and have to navigate the same lines more efficiently. You have to be more alert on a hardtail and they make you a better rider. Just make sure to drop your rear end behind the seat when doing technical downhill lol.
My hardtail weights 10.7kg. I love it. It goes up the hills offroad like a rocket. Yes, I like full sus for downhills, but overall, my first choice is hardtail for me.
I have both...a 1x12 hardtail and a 2x10 full susp. I've ridden downhill rock trails on both. You need to be on your game on the hardtail or get bucked up when the rear tire hits a rock. I prefer full susp on downhill bike parks for all trails green to black diamond. Much more foregiving and easier to trust that the suspension will do its job and take the rocks and bumps in stride.
I LOVE my hardtail! Still, he is right though. But actually it is about what you enjoy the most. If that is speed, a fully is probably the better choice. My hometrails are not exactly mellow, more like narrow and technical but also mellwo. I could go faster with a fully, but only in a few parts of the trails. That doesnt outweigh the disadvantages of being more expensive and heavier. And also i use my hardtail for daily rides to work etc. i dont wanna use a fully for that ;) I wish you all as much fun as possible, doesnt matter if singlespeed, rigid, hardtail, 200 mil fully or a carbon-gravelbike! Enjoy!
New bike day !! Just picked up a norco torrent s1 for a steel ! 2nd bike to the enduro eeb ! Had me worried at the start , but a ht is an ideal 2nd bike !
I like the high level of engagement and the dynamic riding style that is required. I find myself impressed with how capable full suspension bikes are, but feel like I'm letting them do the work both up and down the hill. For really rowdy terrain, full suspension is actually more fun, but that's not what I like to ride and it really does all come down to preference.
Now that my friends have gone full-sus my wife keeps asking me when I'm going to get one. I feel like there's still lots of skills for me to master, plus with snowboarding and scuba diving in the mix I really don't want that hit to my budget. Hanging on to my ten-year-old mild XC (bought as a rugged commuter before I discovered the joy of mountain biking) for now...
Just sold my fully last year, to get a hardtail, again. My hometrails are relatively entry level trails, with a lot of climbing. Climbing ia just way easier with it and the trails are fun with it. With the fully everything felt very boring. For the 1-2 bikepark visits, I just rent a bike there. It's not optimal, but it's still fine.
@@ErtywekPL that really depends on the terrain. With a hardtail it's easier to get over big obstacles, has less weight and a better power transfer. A fully has better grip on bumpy uphills.
I like gmbn alot and their videos are top notch 👌 but I am getting annoyed about them pushing brands and agenda's on their show. Mountain biking is about FUN ! Many people simply can't afford full suspension or the latest and greatest gear . They should not be made to feel ashamed of the bike they ride or gear they have !
A hardtail is the most versatile bike you can get. Trail centres ✔️ xc✔️ bike packing ✔️ gravel biking ✔️ put slicks on it and Road it✔️ You get more bike for your money. Less to go wrong. Cheaper to maintain and once a British winter has destroyed every moving part, they’re easy to put right.
No matter how big your fork is on a hardtail, you can't hide your mistakes. Plus turning up to races being one of only a dozen at best hardtail riders doing the same trails as the hundreds of others on enduro and ebike's is pretty rad.
This is terrible timing, went on my mates full sus yesterday after not being on one for a couple of years. Started browsing the web for full sus bikes and now this video has come out. It's a sign to buy one again 🙌🙌🙌
Still rocking an old school '97 Ibis Mojo. Converted to a mullet with the addition of a 29er rigid fork, and disks while we were at it. I'd much rather be under-biked than slogging around my Pivot 429 on local trails. And let's be honest... I've been riding mtbs for 30+ years. The day I can't slash through a ledgy rock garden at speed on my hardtail is the day I should quit riding.
I've heard that full suspension can cause you to overestimate your riding abilities because it can smooth over your mistakes making you think you're better than you really are. This leads to overconfidence and tackling features where the bike can't overcome your lack of riding skill, and then you wreck and get hurt.
Suspension is ok. I'm currently riding a 1997 Trek 930. Full rigid baybee. First bike, took it to a bike park for the first time not long ago, took it on the black diamond trails. Bent the front wheel coming off a berm badly on a blue trail. Only crashed on loose sections of blue trails, it took the black diamond stuff like a champ, but the technical climbs *sucked*.
Well I ride a hard tail with a rigid carbon front fork.... I'm all about distance and speed and going out all day over the south downs. Some of the descents are a bit bumpy but they are public paths so its not like i'm ripping down them anyway, there is bound to be a group of walkers coming up the other way. I just find front forks sap my speed and power over the smooth flat bit which is the majority of my ride.
After a cheap ht then a cheap duel sus (both sub $500) I got a 2004 Giant XTC3 and that bike lasted till 2021, while the new duel sus is great (comfort) I miss the ht
Saw that casing at 4:55 :D ... it's more harsh on the hardtail. Rough trails can be bombed a lot more easily on the FS, but you get to be a technician on that HT :)
I love my hardtail. Done all kind of trails with it and its the best to feel the trail. Less grip is an issue though. But still I'm faster than most full sus bikers 😁
It's a great feeling when you rock up to a bike park on a hardtail and you have 90% of the park on full sus bikes, that can't keep up with you.. Its all about the rider not the bike in my opinion.. I'd choose a hardtail over a full sus anyday..
@@getstrongby4038 That is not the point. Most FS riders are barely using 30% of what their bike is capable of doing. Most FS riders look down upon HT's and the riders on them (as slightly highlighted in this video). FS bikes have their place and there is a lot of wonderful bikes out there. But buying a FS and not really being able to use it to is full potential, or even half of its potential, all while an HT rider is outperforming the FS riders, shows more of the "motivations" FS riders have and less about a superiority complex.
If someone has a full sus bike and cannot afford a second bike, would they be able to simply lock out their rear shock to gain some similar feel as on a hard tail? Mainly focusing on the learning and training aspect of things and learning more of the basics that might come a bit easier on a hard tail vs full sus?
You mentioned pump track and dirt jumps. Do you think a 27.5 hard tail could replace a dirt jumper in the quiver? Then you could have a single bike for trail, pump track, Dj etc.
I have a hardtail and full suspension mountain bike, but what i don't like with my full suspension is bearing or bushing linkage and lot's of moving parts especially in the rear end and its heavy and not efficient enough for pedalling fast because of the rear suspension unlike the hardtail pedal and go not even bothering moving linkages and rear suspension but i love them both...😁😁😁
The ultimate MTB machines are the modern Full trail 120-140mm with Dropper post and 12speed k7. They climb, descend, do everything. No bike to This day is more versatile. I could say, with the right tires, xc or gravity, one can even compete in any amatuer event.
Currently have a boardman trail full sus and need a bike that can handle enduro racing and big jumps not sure weather to go for something like a nukeproof scout or save money for a few years to get a solid full sus enduro bike.
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I personally think that all these reasons are just hate on hardtail, i can just agree on the grip, but u can have SOOO MUCH fun, they can be slow, and can be fast...
blake will not be happy about this
Hahahaha!
That's why he is not making this video
Fr 😂
😂
LMAO
Biggest reason why i love hardtails: I can have fun with them even without having the greatest trails around the corner. I am living in a city and there are a few forrest areas around but none of them is really steep or techy. With a enduro or something like this it would get boring pretty fast. With a "cheap" hardtail i am having fun without having to travel to a bikepark or a real mountain area.
They also make great bikes for the "urban environment" as Pilgrim would say. I converted my cheaper hardtail to a single speed and bomb around city streets, hopping curbs, sending stairs sets and bombing down hills (street or off-road).
exellent
I went back to a hardtail after a couple decades of full suspension, it's totally reinvigorated my zeal for the sport and it's definitely sharpened my skill set.
Yes xcept bombing I miss the fs
makes two of us
Agreed 👍
After 15yrs full suspension, a big reason I got a hardtail is the lower maintenance requirements/costs. Recommended suspension service has been pricy and my pivot threads still stripped out. To heck with that. There is alot to say about simplifying your bike and just riding like we did as kids on our BMX's
The more complicated and technical bikes get, the less fun and more serious they become. When you've got a $20 dumb seatpost and other similar parts you send it NFG and have fun but when you've got an $800 electronic seatpost and other similar ridiculousness all over a carbon bike that will shatter instead of dent on a rock hit it's like taking your faberge egg with wheels out for a cautions nerve wracking ride constantly worrying about doing something mundanely dumb like dropping your bike on a rock while taking a break and breaking off your fancy electronic dingly bits all over the bike.
I love my hard tails!
However had to switch to duel suspension because i got into downhill racing. Both bikes are good at different things 🤙
I love hard tails too!!! I’ll take my hard tail down any trail. It’s definitely a more of a workout then A full suspension
@@nakasessley2319 I love hard tails too and on any trail. But for me, I definitely get a better workout on a full suspension
Emtb just takes away any of the negatives of full suspension!
@@getstrongby4038 So does a lockout rear shock
@@tc8066 EXACTLY!
I love the simplicity, hardtails seem like they just take me back to the roots of mtb. Modern full suspension bikes numb the terrain and make riding way to easy in my opinion. I also love the added challenge of riding a hardtail!
Right on!
@@gmbn No...Ride On..
For me, learning mtb skills went the other way. First I was too scared to ride down steep gnarly descents on a hardtail. Then on a full sus, I learned how to manage such features, and now I do have the courage to ride them not only on my hardtail, but even on a gravel bike. Slower, yes, but no less fun. And I have to add, that for me, the hardtail is the ultimate long distance mtb, I get way less fatigued on a ride involving 2000m of elevation, because it’s so much more efficient when pedalling.
I have a rigid 26er from '94 I keep around for nostalgia. She's my first mountain bike. A Specialized Rock Hopper. I have to tape up wrists and ankles to ride her. I also ride my gravel bike on single-track. You have to go fast enough on both bikes to start skipping over the trail while avoiding squared off roots and rocks, but slow enough to control the bike. This type of riding develops skill and confidence. However, I much prefer riding full suspension.
I'm riding on the exact same bike... Does yours have a grey frame and silver handle bars by chance?
@@bobertthedobert9555 My rock hopper is dark purple with red letters. It would be cool to copy the paint scheme onto a new model.
@@stevengoodwin3154 Ahh... Thought we had the _exact_ same bike for a moment lol.
I'm switching to a full suspension for the extra grip when pedalling through rougher sections, and to look after my knees and ankles!
Blake finishing the megavalanche on a hardtail already destroys any reason. Hardtails are awesome 👌👌👍👍
I’m entering next year on my hardtail 😎
He was, literally, crying at the end though. 😂🤣
Just upgraded from a early 2000s Kona hardtail to a 2019 boardman htr and I couldn’t me more happier it feels like my skills can go further now as I felt restricted by the pad rim breaks and weight of the bike
I love my 20lb Scott Scale RC hardtail. I switched from a 33lb full sus trail bike with no regrets as it works for my type of riding. I'd love a full sus XC bike, but to get one as as light and with as nice of components I'd have to spend nearly 2x the price. Oddly, I'm nearly as fast downhill on most trails but way faster uphill. I cut my regular local trail PR down from 29mins to just under 25mins. I do miss the squish, but it's so satisfying on a well maintained trail or jeep trail.
I fell like my hardtail is made for just smashing through stuff. It just takes whatever is coming and bounces along like it just doesnt care. Slack headtube and steel frame just feels good. Im sure a full sus would be nice for some of the rough stuff that are around here but so far the hardtail is good enough
I had a Full Suss and a HT. After building a Steel Stanton Switch9er I just found I never rode my full suss, so sold it and now have two HT instead. I do find the compliance of steel gives you all the benefits of a HT, plus a little added comfort.
Singlespeed Hardtail is my main ride. More smiles per mile than any bike I've ever owned.
All the points (excluding that it breaks faster, and more uncomfortable) are the reason I love the hardtail
So, suspension pretty makes up for lack of skill.
My first bike is an hardtail and I love it. I'm using it to learn everything I can about mountain biking.
I think you have to be able to do skills on a hard tail before you get a dually (maybe), but I do agree with you too
Best argument for the hardtails I've ever heard was "when you make a mistake you know about it"
I learned mtb'ing on an '83 Stumpjumper. No suspension at all and we rode some crazy stuff back then. But it was pretty much all slow and technical, very little fast and flows, the park just didn't have it. It was a big upgrade to get front suspension. I rode my 26" hard tail until I got my Rail-7 this March. I love it.
I currently only have a hardtail (and love it) I think I agree with all of those points and good to know its not just me experiencing some of the issues related to hardtailing.
i love the simplicity. i love the responsiveness. and i use my commencal meta ht as a enduro bike on the weekends, and a commuter on the week days. hard tails just made sense for me
The video was spot on. I've been riding aggressive kind of hardtails since 2016 (prior to this I had FS bikes and more DH oriented stuff), I live in the French Alps and nowdays I ride a custom Commencal Meta HT 2021 (27.5, 170mm etc). The rough terrain is killing me on it, I can keep up with the FS friends but the work I have to put on it to keep up, is twice as intense compared to an FS bike. The amount of times I bounced off rocks or roots and ended up with one leg on the pedals fighting to stay on the bike and not crash is too high.
Then again, seeing today's prices on FS bikes (even just a frame) is making the Hardtail the only affordable option... especially when you are an XL rider and can't find anything in the used market.
Sold my full suss last year and replaced it with a hand made steel hardtail.Stanton switch9er. It lives in the Peak District. Best bike I've owned.
Noice
I sold my last 160mm full susser for 150mm hardcore hardtail. I haven't so much fun in years. Love both, hardtail is so much fun though.
Love seeing the Mezzers in action, Manitou revival well under way!
way too comments saying hardtails are more fun.
@@doubleL_S isn't that what riding is about? 160mm full suspension made trails flat and boring. Hardtails bring the trail back to life and make your line choices critical
@@TrailDave well being a hardtail rider myself and never owning a full sus I have to agree. I do want a full sus though because rock Gardens and proper downhill stuff is very uncomfortable on a hardtail and I think there are limits. Although I'll go down anything a full sus can on a hardtail.
@@doubleL_S I love both and there is no doubt you can go faster and harder on a full sus. But the only thing I miss at the moment is small bump mitigation on the rear end. I'll probably get another full sus one day.
Both of my current mtn bikes are hardtails… so is my gravel bike. :) I couldn’t imagine not having my hardtails!
I have a HT mtb & I loved❤️it...but i guess it still comes down to the riders choice what they feel to ride a FS or HT and boths are awesome & also depends in what kind of riding style you ride,but in the end of the day what matters most is you enjoy & have fun.😁
You say hardtails are entry level into mountain biking I disagree. Hardtails were here first if anything the full suspension is the entry. Hardtails would still be doing it if it weren’t for peeps complaining that their arse hurts. Still love riding mine it keeps me on my toes and keeps my skills sharp.
I think hardtails are the best way to get into mountainbiking. You learn better, it's cheaper, and you can climb better - if you never rode a bike before (except for little rides) and haven't lots of endurance, climbing hills is way more fun on a hardtail.
Some people just like mountain biking but don’t have thousands of dollars to spend on a bike so I’d rather get a nice hardtail than a cheaper full suspension
Pretty funny video IMO. I love my full suspension. For me it's my sloppy weather mountain bike during the winter when I can ride. Love my Orange Crush and I look forward to riding it when the weather turns. Also, so much simpler so if it gets dirty or something goes wrong, it's a little easier to clean or fix.
Neil would not have made this video if he was the owner of a Stif Squatch 🤘🤘 What a bike
I got mine because it was cheaper. Spending over $1000 on something I was just getting into just couldn't happen with my budget. I also ride on the road at times, often before or after I ride on the trails, so it does both duties for me. I've also spent heaps of time upgrading it and learning as I go. Next time I'm able to get a bike, I'll try a full sus but now have more of an idea what I am doing and what to look for, so it works for me!
"Double duty" riding is one of the main reasons I will always be a hard tail man. I use my bike for shopping and errands around town, so a bike with bolt holes for a bike rack is mandatory, and you can't install a rear rack on a full suspension.
@@Durwood71 I believe trek has a dual suspension mountain bike with a rack on the back.
I have a hard tail EMTB (Trek Powerfly 4). I like my bike. I think your points are valid.
I prefer squish, but sometimes you can't beat the fun of a hardtail.
All I need is a hard tail. But lately I’ve been working on my full sus skills so I can hit bigger features with more insurance. Not sure I’m thinking the right way though, conquering the same features on a hard tail is more of an accomplishment. Full sus might just be a good easy mode before I clear it on hard (tail) mode 😎.
My Vitus Sentier came with 27.5x2.6 plus tires, I run it tubeless, still trying out different pressures, but so far I love it…I also had a Swobo Buccaneer with 27.5x2.35 and the difference between both is very significant because the swobo was way rougher…I guess the right tires makes all the difference. Also, I would like to try cro-moly and titanium frames because I have heard good things about them. 😅
I have a Sentier 29. It’s like a tank. Love it!
My Ribble ht725 is ideal for the cornish coastal paths and the surrounding trails. Wouldn't want to be without it 😁👍
Having been a mountain biker for 35 years now, I agree with everything you said .
I never realized how tough a hard tail was on my body until I went full suspension.
Now at 57 years young, I just switched back to a hard tail this month ( steel 29er) but the big difference now, is my local trails are not that rough.
Great video sir!👍👍👍🇺🇸
What steel HT you rocking....
@@raulrodarte9553 2009 Raleigh XXIX . How bout you? 🤙
Still loving '95 steel Stump Jumper....old school but so am I..65 years young..Ride On
@@raulrodarte9553 Awesome!!! I love that classic iron. You inspire me! I’m 57 years young and still enjoying Mtb.
Take care of yourself. 👍🤙🤙
@@paulpatriot1776 good for mind body and soul...
I have a twin and he loves his hardtail. He would reply with something like "hardtail homie can't loose."
Two of the reasons, they are slow and they break more easily. Not true at all lol. I ran a 160mm hardtail and they require less maintanence than any full suspension I’ve had. As long as you can set up the rear wheel tubeless with Cush core it’s never breaking. Plus hardtails are obviously faster, you don’t have the compression of the rear shock to slow you down while pedaling and it’s a whole ton easier to pump. Hardtails have its place in mountain biking
Recently I'm getting back into MTB after a 6 year break from it with my last bike being a Mojo HD 160. As awesome as it was it was more bike than I needed and my fundamentals sucked.
I recently bought a RM Growler and I'm loving it! I've been focusing on my fundamentals and I'm riding better than I ever have and I'm having a blast. I love the bike and have no regrets. I'll have a full suspension again eventually but I'm in no rush and I'll be keeping the HT to compliment it.
That RM Growler is a beast when you point it down. There are few thing it cannot handle.
@@knarfis Yeah, I made the right choice. It's proving to be a great "all rounder" and the frame is worth upgrading which was important to me.
More videos on the hardtails please and also you must make a bike check on your new Nukeproof hardtail !!!
Great video, clearly written by someone who loves hardtails 💙
Having started mid 1980’s with no suspension, my go to bike is my hard tail xc bike packing configured machine. A USE elastomer/ spring seatpost takes away trail buzz and it’s a ride all day bike.
I love my hardtail. After two years without one I got one a few months ago, initially mostly with the idea of riding it in the winter. It is fun and I discovered myself missing that style, so I end up riding it on a regular basis. I also definitely discovered the full suspension bike made me a bit lazy, especially in the landings. I was relying a lot on the back suspension to absorb the impact, rather than doing it myself.
If hardails suck, why are they so damn popular and sell so many? Not everyone is obsessed with bike parks and "shredding it". Lots of us love the smooth trails, travelling light and having it simple and cost effective. I've owned both hardtails and full suspension bikes over the years and I found that currently a full suspension is overkill for the type of riding I do.
Because people are cheap asses
Going for the budget option will always be popular with tight fisted people, regardless of how bad it ends up being they will try to justify it with the price
I agree with most of the things pointed out, but I still love my hardtails. Love riding my Nukeproof Scout.. 😁
For trail and park riding (short of black diamond stuff), hardtails are more efficient when it comes to effort. Full suspension bikes lose some of the energy you are expending at the pedal in the shock and you get less speed and climbing ability out of your effort. Also, technical riding on a hardtail takes more physical energy and skill because you have less forgiveness and have to navigate the same lines more efficiently. You have to be more alert on a hardtail and they make you a better rider. Just make sure to drop your rear end behind the seat when doing technical downhill lol.
My hardtail weights 10.7kg. I love it. It goes up the hills offroad like a rocket. Yes, I like full sus for downhills, but overall, my first choice is hardtail for me.
Great! I'm going to buy one! Thanks for the info!!
My current, and favorite bike: Chromag Stylus. My previous bike: Norco Sight. Love my hardtail. I still break out my Cotic BFe26 from time to time...
I love my hardtail. Raced an Enduro on it. When you get it right, it's amazing. That said, def seriously looking for my FS future
I have a hardtail. Messed up a jump this week. Hit a tree, flew off the bike, ate dirt. No forgiveness on a hardtail!
I have both...a 1x12 hardtail and a 2x10 full susp. I've ridden downhill rock trails on both. You need to be on your game on the hardtail or get bucked up when the rear tire hits a rock. I prefer full susp on downhill bike parks for all trails green to black diamond. Much more foregiving and easier to trust that the suspension will do its job and take the rocks and bumps in stride.
I LOVE my hardtail! Still, he is right though. But actually it is about what you enjoy the most. If that is speed, a fully is probably the better choice. My hometrails are not exactly mellow, more like narrow and technical but also mellwo. I could go faster with a fully, but only in a few parts of the trails. That doesnt outweigh the disadvantages of being more expensive and heavier. And also i use my hardtail for daily rides to work etc. i dont wanna use a fully for that ;)
I wish you all as much fun as possible, doesnt matter if singlespeed, rigid, hardtail, 200 mil fully or a carbon-gravelbike! Enjoy!
That thumbnail shocked me because he's such a chill guy 🤣
New bike day !! Just picked up a norco torrent s1 for a steel !
2nd bike to the enduro eeb !
Had me worried at the start , but a ht is an ideal 2nd bike !
I like the high level of engagement and the dynamic riding style that is required. I find myself impressed with how capable full suspension bikes are, but feel like I'm letting them do the work both up and down the hill. For really rowdy terrain, full suspension is actually more fun, but that's not what I like to ride and it really does all come down to preference.
Now that my friends have gone full-sus my wife keeps asking me when I'm going to get one. I feel like there's still lots of skills for me to master, plus with snowboarding and scuba diving in the mix I really don't want that hit to my budget. Hanging on to my ten-year-old mild XC (bought as a rugged commuter before I discovered the joy of mountain biking) for now...
There's no rush. The best bike is the one you're riding
Just sold my fully last year, to get a hardtail, again. My hometrails are relatively entry level trails, with a lot of climbing. Climbing ia just way easier with it and the trails are fun with it.
With the fully everything felt very boring.
For the 1-2 bikepark visits, I just rent a bike there. It's not optimal, but it's still fine.
This. Hardtail can make a mellow trail seem sketch, meaning you got more local places to ride.
I though that it's easier on full amort to climb and all uphill
@@ErtywekPL that really depends on the terrain. With a hardtail it's easier to get over big obstacles, has less weight and a better power transfer. A fully has better grip on bumpy uphills.
With that pic must not be a family vid😢 we like gmbn as a fam too.
I like gmbn alot and their videos are top notch 👌 but I am getting annoyed about them pushing brands and agenda's on their show.
Mountain biking is about FUN !
Many people simply can't afford full suspension or the latest and greatest gear .
They should not be made to feel ashamed of the bike they ride or gear they have !
A hardtail is the most versatile bike you can get. Trail centres ✔️ xc✔️ bike packing ✔️ gravel biking ✔️ put slicks on it and Road it✔️
You get more bike for your money. Less to go wrong. Cheaper to maintain and once a British winter has destroyed every moving part, they’re easy to put right.
I sold my hardtail for a fatbike without suspension a couple of years ago and have never looked back.
No matter how big your fork is on a hardtail, you can't hide your mistakes. Plus turning up to races being one of only a dozen at best hardtail riders doing the same trails as the hundreds of others on enduro and ebike's is pretty rad.
or you use an emtb hardtail. not every ebike is a full sus.
I have hardtail and double, I like both, depending on surface.
Nice to see a different setup Manitou and Advent
This is terrible timing, went on my mates full sus yesterday after not being on one for a couple of years. Started browsing the web for full sus bikes and now this video has come out. It's a sign to buy one again 🙌🙌🙌
Still rocking an old school '97 Ibis Mojo. Converted to a mullet with the addition of a 29er rigid fork, and disks while we were at it. I'd much rather be under-biked than slogging around my Pivot 429 on local trails. And let's be honest... I've been riding mtbs for 30+ years. The day I can't slash through a ledgy rock garden at speed on my hardtail is the day I should quit riding.
Hi. I have a 2021 specialized fuse comp. Love it
Hardtail is a good starter bike, back up bike and winter bike.
I like my titanium hardtail but I miss my FS for bombing downhill. HT hurts my back , Im 50.
Great analysis and I agree with them all!
I've heard that full suspension can cause you to overestimate your riding abilities because it can smooth over your mistakes making you think you're better than you really are. This leads to overconfidence and tackling features where the bike can't overcome your lack of riding skill, and then you wreck and get hurt.
BINGO!!! Hence the many Friday Fails videos!
Suspension is ok. I'm currently riding a 1997 Trek 930. Full rigid baybee. First bike, took it to a bike park for the first time not long ago, took it on the black diamond trails. Bent the front wheel coming off a berm badly on a blue trail. Only crashed on loose sections of blue trails, it took the black diamond stuff like a champ, but the technical climbs *sucked*.
I like both
Loves it, but it was a bit hard in Åre bike park last week whit my Kona Honzo I can still feel it in my body :(
Rigid Single Speed guy here.
90% of the time I'm faster everywhere than my fully friends.
Single speeders have to keep the speed up to avoid grinding. Plus, you're probably just having more fun than the fully's.
Well I ride a hard tail with a rigid carbon front fork.... I'm all about distance and speed and going out all day over the south downs. Some of the descents are a bit bumpy but they are public paths so its not like i'm ripping down them anyway, there is bound to be a group of walkers coming up the other way. I just find front forks sap my speed and power over the smooth flat bit which is the majority of my ride.
you can get ones with lockout, some have remote lockout so you can lock them from your handlebars.
Damm near broke my spine on one the other day
After a cheap ht then a cheap duel sus (both sub $500) I got a 2004 Giant XTC3 and that bike lasted till 2021, while the new duel sus is great (comfort) I miss the ht
I ride a full rigid and it is awesome.
Saw that casing at 4:55 :D ... it's more harsh on the hardtail. Rough trails can be bombed a lot more easily on the FS, but you get to be a technician on that HT :)
Hard tails are a great place to start, and the cost is a huge thing as they are cheaper!
I love my hardtail. Done all kind of trails with it and its the best to feel the trail. Less grip is an issue though. But still I'm faster than most full sus bikers 😁
It's a great feeling when you rock up to a bike park on a hardtail and you have 90% of the park on full sus bikes, that can't keep up with you.. Its all about the rider not the bike in my opinion.. I'd choose a hardtail over a full sus anyday..
@@michaelderrick8709 kinda weird that you care about about other people are doing 🤔
@@getstrongby4038 it's weird that you took that much interest into my comment,
@@michaelderrick8709 😆 just pointing out your superiority complex
@@getstrongby4038 That is not the point. Most FS riders are barely using 30% of what their bike is capable of doing. Most FS riders look down upon HT's and the riders on them (as slightly highlighted in this video). FS bikes have their place and there is a lot of wonderful bikes out there. But buying a FS and not really being able to use it to is full potential, or even half of its potential, all while an HT rider is outperforming the FS riders, shows more of the "motivations" FS riders have and less about a superiority complex.
Better for jumping and learning to jump too in my opinion, hartails rule!! 🤘
I love the full suspension smooths out the trail too much argument.....well duh!
If someone has a full sus bike and cannot afford a second bike, would they be able to simply lock out their rear shock to gain some similar feel as on a hard tail? Mainly focusing on the learning and training aspect of things and learning more of the basics that might come a bit easier on a hard tail vs full sus?
I think you should give the scout back then. Considering you hate them and you got it for free.....I'll have it if I have to
You mentioned pump track and dirt jumps. Do you think a 27.5 hard tail could replace a dirt jumper in the quiver? Then you could have a single bike for trail, pump track, Dj etc.
Full suspension are always better, specially for my back, but I too have also a hardtail.
I love hardtails. I'm addicted to the bodypains I get from it
I have 180mm hardtail with a zeb ultimate
I have a hardtail and full suspension mountain bike, but what i don't like with my full suspension is bearing or bushing linkage and lot's of moving parts especially in the rear end and its heavy and not efficient enough for pedalling fast because of the rear suspension unlike the hardtail pedal and go not even bothering moving linkages and rear suspension but i love them both...😁😁😁
The ultimate MTB machines are the modern Full trail 120-140mm with Dropper post and 12speed k7. They climb, descend, do everything. No bike to This day is more versatile. I could say, with the right tires, xc or gravity, one can even compete in any amatuer event.
Currently have a boardman trail full sus and need a bike that can handle enduro racing and big jumps not sure weather to go for something like a nukeproof scout or save money for a few years to get a solid full sus enduro bike.
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I personally think that all these reasons are just hate on hardtail, i can just agree on the grip, but u can have SOOO MUCH fun, they can be slow, and can be fast...