hardtail bike or full suspension?

Question

i usually cycle all on road only
i wanted to get a full suspension bike
but hardtail is cheaper
which one should i get?

Answer 1

Full suspension (to be a really good ride) is pricey. Part of that is the suspension itself; part is in the extras, like being able to lock it out for road riding. Add to that the fact that most suspension bikes aren't designed with the "big" (over 200 lb) rider in mind!

Much better, if you're planning to ride road only, to get either a hardtail mountain bike (better power transmission to the rear wheel) or a dedicated road bike (which can have such nice options as carbon forks and seatpost, to help damp down unwanted vibration).

The larger diameter and narrower rubber contact for the road bike is a plus, requiring less effort to overcome friction and put it where it's useful ... into speed. Most road bikes will also allow you to go with a slightly wider, heavier tread tire as well, making it into a reasonable commuter/hybrid combination.

For the price of a 'realistic' full suspension MTB, you can get a decent road or hybrid or hardtail with enough goodies to make your ride that much more enjoyable.

By the way - I do a LOT of aggressive mountain biking ... and I ride a hardtail. On the roads, I stick with my road bike.

Answer 2

for the riding you want to do, a hardtail will be a lot better. It's not just that you can get a better equiped hardtail than a full suspension bike for the same money.

Full suspension shine when riding off road, specially on rocks, roots and loose terrain, since it will likely provide more traction than a hardtail. But on flats, if it's not very good designed, or have a good rear shock, you'll likely meet Mr. Bob, which makes your bike bob because of pedaling. Also, it will be heavier (well, you could go for a lighter full suspension, but it will cost a lot more), and really won't help you.

It's like comparing an VW Bora vs a VW Touareg. The touareg might be plusher, but won't be as fast and really won't help much on roads.

Answer 3

Full sussers are good for X country. Primarily, they allow the rear wheel to remain in contact with the ground. Good for fast muddy fields or hills. However, some of the force that you put into the peddles will be bled off into your suspension, especially if you stand up to peddle. For this reason, many full sussers come with lock traction controls or lock out systems. In this way, when on roads, you are not losing power when hill climbing or peddling.

Hard tails have less suspension, but are still governed by the above. However, because you are not putting your money into a rear suspension system, you can get a better bike (IE Nicer components) for the same money on a hard tail.

A word of caution. Do not buy a budget bouncer. I.E. Full susser for £90. This will be a nasty experience for you, especially since the rear spring will not be damped. You need to spend at least £700 on a reasonable full susser, about half that for an entry level hard tail.

You state that you are only looking at road work. Get a road bike. Designed to go quickly and comfortably on roads. Failing that, if you want some trails, try a hybrid.

Look at these sites:

www.chainreactioncycles.co.uk
www.evanscycles.co.uk
www.merlincycles.co.uk (Consider the Malt)

Luck

Answer 4

My current bike is a FS and I love it. However, I do plan on purchasing a high end HT soon. Speed: HT - They are just faster bikes (less bounce) Mud: HT - Mud gets into pivot point and the rear shock Comfort: FS - They just take bumps better Rocky terrain: FS - If the terrain is rocky, the rear suspension will be nice Less to worry about: HT - Swing arms, rear suspension - all things that can go wrong More bang for buck: HT - you will get better components on a HT of equal price I cannot speak with an educated voice for bikes in Europe, but here there is a general consensus that FS bikes start around $1,500. At the 2K range, you have a lot more options, but will be getting a mostly SLX, /X.5 bike. The same bike in a HT will see more XT/X.7-X.9 components and probably a better front fork. Bikes are largely the same. I think the builder is more important then build in the case of higher end bikes. Obviously fit is #1, but look for a bike from a quality bike shop who can build these higher end rigs.

Answer 5

it depends how much you can afford. cheap dual suspension bikes are usually heavy (35-40lbs) whereas is you spend $2500, you can get a sub-30lb bike. if you go hardtail, you can get a lighter, better bike for a lower price. if you fork out about $1000, you can get a descent 25lb bike.
if you only riding on the road, then a hardtail will be more efficient to ride, its not like your bombing down a mountain.

Answer 6

On road only? Get a road bike. If not a hardtail would be fine.

No point for full sus on the road.

Answer 7

This is a no brainer. Full suspension is useless if you mainly ride on the road. In fact a mountain bike of any kind might not be right for you at all. if you are riding mainly on pavement, check out fitness bikes like the Specialized Sirrus or Trek ZX lines.

Answer 8

Are you going to be riding on the road only? If yes, but are sick of dropdown bars and light bikes, get a nice touring rig with moustache bars.
If you want to mtn bike, it is your preff. You learn a lot more about riding tech on a hard tail and they are cheaper, but a full sussy can be a ton of fun and a great pos experience. Both ways, biking is just fun, so smile and keep on!

Answer 9

Get a hardtail bike, but get a sprung saddle.

Answer 10

buy a hardtail, because it's lighter