MTB: Hardtail or Full Suspension ?

happy hotspur

I cycle most weekends in Ballyhoura and now its time to change my bike. I have been using the same bike since I started a carrera vengance hardtail which I love cycling. I am wondering which is better a hardtail or full suspension or is there much difference really.
I am thinking of getting the boardman 2010 team bike from halfords as there is serious spec on them for the money but I can't choose between hardtail and full suspension.

julio_iglayzis

happy hotspur wrote: »

I cycle most weekends in Ballyhoura and now its time to change my bike. I have been using the same bike since I started a carrera vengance hardtail which I love cycling. I am wondering which is better a hardtail or full suspension or is there much difference really.
I am thinking of getting the boardman 2010 team bike from halfords as there is serious spec on them for the money but I can't choose between hardtail and full suspension.

If you're only going to be using it in Ballyhoura, I'd say you're better off getting a hardtail, you could get a far better specced one for the price of an entry-level full-sus.
However, if you plan on going further afield and doing bumpier, rougher stuff (as in, say, Djouce for example) then a full-sus will make your life much easier. I switched to a full-sus last September and it has eliminated a lot of the aches and pains that I was getting after a long day on the hardtail.

Icyseanfitz

in my opinion you are better off going with a suspension bike, my reason is that they can inspire so much confidence in you riding (has for me anyway) only problem with them is that you have something else that can and does go wrong as well as them being more expensive than a HT

seamus

Hardtail. Gives you a better feel for the trail and you'll get a higher spec for the same cash.

langdang

I don't have a full suss, but if I could spare the money I'd have a lightish full suss suitable for aggressive XC use. I reckon you'd be looking at over 1500euro tho - if your budget is below that I'd definitely get a quality hardtail over a low range full suss.

Biopace

Its a tough one, if you plan to stick with the Ballys a hardtail will do you grand, for longer rides there are definite control and comfort benefits with full suss, but I think you have to spend a hell of a lot of money for a really good FS bike with quality components, whereas reasonable money will get you a very decent hardtail with good kit out of the box.

Bear in mind also if you are going down the hardtail route that an allu frame will generally give a harder more unyielding ride than steel, titanium and carbon. Me? I have gone from a full suss Giant Anthem back to a steel hardtail, the Anthem was a great all round bike, but I hated the weight, the creaking and mostly the lack of response going up hill, the steel hardtail offers similar comfort on long spins but climbs far better and on descents and xc the steel just takes that edge off trail chatter that an allu bike will let you know all about.

angry_fox

happy hotspur wrote: »

I cycle most weekends in Ballyhoura and now its time to change my bike. I have been using the same bike since I started a carrera vengance hardtail which I love cycling. I am wondering which is better a hardtail or full suspension or is there much difference really.
I am thinking of getting the boardman 2010 team bike from halfords as there is serious spec on them for the money but I can't choose between hardtail and full suspension.

What kind of budget do you have?

Hardtails are perfect for the likes of Ballyhoura they're handy enough trails up there and hardtails are easier to maintain and set up.

Dont buy a bike from Halfords

Twin-go

I'd pick the Hard-tail. Unless you can lock-out the rear suspension on a FS bike you'll be working alot harder getting up those hills and you might not enjoy yourself as much.

Tenzor07

Good rule of thumb is to spend at least €1500 - €2000 on a Short travel full suss machine with 120mm travel front and rear, great for those rocky patches down in BallyH!

Dont buy a 2nd hand full sus or ya mite get stung like Iseeseansfits

Otherwise i would stick with the hardtail lighter and more bike for your money...

Icyseanfitz

angry_fox wrote: »

What kind of budget do you have?

Hardtails are perfect for the likes of Ballyhoura they're handy enough trails up there and hardtails are easier to maintain and set up.

Dont buy a bike from Halfords

i wouldnt say that, their boardman range is very good the major problem with halfords is their build quality

Icyseanfitz

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Good rule of thumb is to spend at least €1500 - €2000 on a Short travel full suss machine with 120mm travel front and rear, great for those rocky patches down in BallyH!

Dont buy a 2nd hand full sus or ya mite get stung like Iseeseansfits

Otherwise i would stick with the hardtail lighter and more bike for your money...

doesnt help that i notice every little imperfection on the bike and automatically go into "buy best replacement my money can afford" mode, its a curse i tell ye

Tenzor07

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

doesnt help that i notice every little imperfection on the bike and automatically go into "buy best replacement my money can afford" mode, it a curse i tell ye

Get the bike working first and then upgrade!

Icyseanfitz

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Get the bike working first and then upgrade!

i just got new hubs, and im begining to think the reason i had so much problems setting up gears and having the rear brake rubbing was due to a faulty hub and not the chainset or brakes ah well sure this is how you learn

Tenzor07

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

i just got new hubs, and im begining to think the reason i had so much problems setting up gears and having the rear brake rubbing was due to a faulty hub and not the chainset or brakes ah well sure this is how you learn

Do yourself a massive favour, forget about all the DIY repairs with that bike, take a day out to come up to Dublin, book in with James in O.C Tuning, he will have that bike sorted in an hour, then hit the new trail at Ticknock and head home happy!

smush76

budget as always will amongst other be a decisive factor in making the right choice and as already stated a HT will definitley get you a better spec for your cash. I personally went HT to a full sus and then back HT, reason, it was more suited to the type or riding I do, ie trail riding in ballyhoura/djouce and ballyhoura occasionally. As your confidence and bike handling improves a HT will take you just about anywhere a full sus will albeit a a tad slower on the downs and unless you can lock the rear shock out a lot quicker going up. I ride an ON-ONE and I love it, its no lightweight but its reasonable and nigh on indestructible, I've spent long hours in the saddle,raced gaelforce 24, and cooley 12 hours races aswell as a few rounds of the nps and has served its purpose admirably at each. Im guessing your budget lies around a grand so worth checking out IMO. Anyway in answer to your question hard tail.

Icyseanfitz

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Do yourself a massive favour, forget about all the DIY repairs with that bike, take a day out to come up to Dublin, book in with James in O.C Tuning, he will have that bike sorted in an hour, then hit the new trail at Ticknock and head home happy!

im not doing this all by myself at all, i wouldnt have half the tools for this stuff Denis o shea at the Big Little Bike Shop in killarney is sorting me out, really knows his mountain bikes, my problem is trying the get the funds together to replace all the second hand bits and pieces, as for trails, im only about an hour away from ballyhouras, and killarney is about a half that, its a damn shame that the national park in killarney cant be used by anyone on a mtb (legally anyway), it has the potential to be the greatest mtb area in ireland

Tenzor07

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

im not doing this all by myself at all, i wouldnt have half the tools for this stuff Denis o shea at the Big Little Bike Shop in killarney is sorting me out, really knows his mountain bikes, my problem is trying the get the funds together to replace all the second hand bits and pieces, as for trails, im only about an hour away from ballyhouras, and killarney is about a half that, its a damn shame that the national park in killarney cant be used by anyone on a mtb (legally anyway), it has the potential to be the greatest mtb area in ireland

Haven't even cycled it?? :eek: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

thehangtenguy

I'd go for the best hardtail you can afford within your budget. Lightweight,climbing ability and ease of maintainace are the most important thing for me. Something also to consider is fully rigid 29er. It's currently on the top of the list for my next bike purchase.:)

Icyseanfitz

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Haven't even cycled it?? :eek: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

i have a fair bit, i bought it in November and used it up until mid February when things went a little pear shaped on the chainset side of things (rear derailleur ran into the spokes although im beginning to think it wasnt that the derailleur was set up wrong but that the hub was banjackzed, im getting pretty bad wobble from left to right a good 10-15 mm)
because of this i decide what the hell i was going to replace all the old chainset with an slx one, which then somehow led onto me deciding i needed to upgrade my black juicy three brakes to lovely white avid elixers , while i was at that i decided to change the saddle, grips, handlebar, peddles, and shock bushings :rolleyes:
im beginning to think this sport could make me homeless

angry_fox

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

im beginning to think this sport could make me homeless

it will

if your spending so much on parts and getting the bike fixed you should get a new bike, like i done because i thought it would stop me buying parts or upgrades. but then i started to change little bits on the new bike..... it a viscous circle.......

Icyseanfitz

angry_fox wrote: »

it will

if your spending so much on parts and getting the bike fixed you should get a new bike, like i done because i thought it would stop me buying parts or upgrades. but then i started to change little bits on the new bike..... it a viscous circle.......

i have thought about selling the bike on (id get more for the thing now than i paid for anyway with all the new bits and bobs on it) unfortunately i kinda really like the thing....when its working , and i also know if i did get a new bike i would be in the same shoes as you, i would go into "hey why am i using an xt chainset when i could be using an xtr chainset" mode,
anyway got the hub changed today but my damn rear elixer is still rubbing :mad: bloody hydraulic brakes piss me off some times