Hardtails are lighter.  Less moving parts means less maintenance and easier to take care of.  When you stand on the pedals and mash hard you can feel all the energy going to your back wheel.  They climb really well

Dual suspension has the advantage of keeping the wheels in contact with the ground over rocks and roots.  A smoother feeling ride.  It can absorb drops and jumps. But when you stand up and pedal the bike suspension absorbs some of your pedal stroke and the bike can really bob up and down.( usually better to stay in the saddle and just spin for that reason)   

I have 1 each and ride differently when on them.  Best way to see the differences is to demo them.  They both have their positives and negatives.  I enjoy them both depending on what kind of mood I'm in and where I'm going to ride.

Also a point worth bringing up is that entry level fs bikes are not built very well and you can get a better value/product buying an equally priced hardtail.

traildog wrote on 08/18/14 at 10:29pm:

who needs gears!

I have both as well. I started on a lower price point HT and then saved up for a $2500 FS. To be honest, my lap times on the HT are just as fast as the FS. But the FS is a much softer ride and I do leave the trail feeling less shaken up. 

I just commented to someone tonight, however, that my fundamentals are more solid on my HT. Riding it for the first three years forced me to learn how to do simple things like Pedal Wheelies, or Bunny Hops, things I can't really do so well on the FS (the suspension in the rear sucks up the weight transfer a bit). 

Honestly, I'd buy a higher priced HT first and then, if you really want to try a FS, go for it.

If you can have both then great. If not Id go with a HT.

I ride my hardtail 90% of the time even in the mountains. Its more responsive and playful, as well as less complicated as I dont have to mess with any suspension feautures like lockouts or "descend" mode. 

Suspension components and pivot bearings need to be serviced regularly as well. This could tip the scale in favor of a HT for economic reasons.

A HT will help you learn line choice and how to ride much smoother. Its a little too easy to plow through techincal stuff with a FS and not really learn to pick smooth lines.

I would be interested to know what "limitations" you have found from riding a hardtail?

sager wrote on 08/16/14 at 11:29am:



Or hardtail, FS and then a CX bike...on the MTB trails.

bikermedic wrote on 08/20/14 at 4:37pm:


I would agree with the last statement but not the first. I ride Pisgah a few times a week on a hardtail and want nothing more. I own a 6" travel FS and still prefer my hardtail, even on the tech. 

The only shortcoming a hardtail had is drops to flat. I wouldn't want to hit 6'+ drops on my Yelli. Haha

If you don’t see the advantage of a full suspension in the mountains, then you’re not riding hard enough or spending too much time riding DuPont.

Moto_Dude_08 wrote on 08/20/14 at 6:47pm:


Uh, you clearly haven't ridden with Banjo in the mountains, the boy'z got skillz. Granted, you can be lazier and sloppier on a FS, but if your Fu is strong, all of PNF can be ridden on a hard tail....just as Dicky.

Moto_Dude_08 wrote on 08/20/14 at 7:32pm:


Interesting comments from someone whose username is XC Ripper.