{"id":137303,"date":"2016-04-12T13:04:57","date_gmt":"2016-04-12T13:04:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/?p=137303"},"modified":"2016-05-03T08:03:03","modified_gmt":"2016-05-03T08:03:03","slug":"which-one-should-you-choose-hard-tail-vs-full-suspension","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2016\/04\/12\/which-one-should-you-choose-hard-tail-vs-full-suspension\/","title":{"rendered":"Hard Tail vs. Full Suspension: Which One Should You Choose?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pondering buying a new mountain bike? For the same price, is it better to have full suspension bike or a better equipped hard tail?<\/strong>
\n<\/p>\n

Downhill<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"Fast<\/a><\/p>\n

Fast descents were always domain of the full suspension bikes. The downhill freaks wanted to go faster and that’s why we have such technology. The struggling <\/span>was<\/span> suddenly over and the roots, rocks, drops from the cliffs and landings have\u00a0become <\/span>a<\/span> part of <\/span>the<\/span> game. Now we can take advantage of the new technologies even on the <\/span>all-day<\/span> long tour with our girlfriend. The downhill parts of trails <\/span>won<\/span>‘t look so scary in her eyes and <\/span>you both<\/span> can experience fun as never before. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Winner: <\/span>Full suspension<\/b>\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

Climb<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"Hard<\/a><\/p>\n

Hard tail bike<\/span>s<\/span> were light and agile when it came to sprint or climbing. In comparison with rigid bikes early full suspension frames were heavy and tended to bounce up and down while <\/span>the<\/span> rider pedaled \u2014 especially during climbs up steep hills. But this is a history. Lockout mechanisms can disable a suspension to render it substantially rigid. After you lock the system the bike behave as a hard tail with all its benefits. <\/span>At<\/span> this moment there’s no use for hard tails and <\/span>no space<\/span> for argument of people defending them. Quibbler may mention the higher weigh. Yes, this is the only reason these days.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Winner: <\/span>Draw<\/b><\/p>\n

Weight<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"Full<\/a><\/p>\n

Full suspension bikes of the stone age were heavy and weird. They <\/span>resembled<\/span> MX bikes with <\/span>their engines stolen<\/span>. However, nobody cared because they were de<\/span>signed<\/span> for downhill tracks only. The weight was really <\/span>horrendous<\/span>. You needed to wrestle a 20+<\/span>kg<\/span> machine to get on the track. Those early mastodons with steel coil spring suspensions were replaced by bikes with slender frames using distinctively lighter air shocks, and the purgatory <\/span>was<\/span> over. But still<\/span>,<\/span> if you buy a nice hard tail frame, you’ll get a catwalk supermodel on <\/span>a<\/span> fruit juice diet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Winner: <\/span>Hard tail<\/b><\/p>\n

Comfort<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"Jump<\/a><\/p>\n

Jump of a wall and land flat on <\/span>the<\/span> ground with <\/span>unbent<\/span> knees. <\/span>It hurts<\/span>, doesn’t it? Now do it again and flex your <\/span>thighs<\/span> while <\/span>landing<\/span>. Better? <\/span>If<\/span> this works in <\/span>the<\/span> human anatomy, why shouldn’t <\/span>it<\/span> in the bicycle <\/span>engineering<\/span>? That’s why there’s suspension all around us \u2013 we have it in cars, motorcycles, trucks<\/span>,<\/span> and most recently in bikes. Similar to the traveling by car, suspension used in cycling industry will make your <\/span>cycling<\/span> trips more comfortable and safer. Mostly in the rough terrain your lower back will thank you after a long day journey.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Winner: <\/span>Full suspension<\/b><\/p>\n

Handling<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"More<\/a><\/p>\n

More travel doesn’t automatically mean better maneuverability. With the hard tail you don’t loose energy in the fast berms, but it’s <\/span>an<\/span> advantage only as long as you ride on the smooth surface. Even <\/span>the<\/span> smallest bumps make your rear wheel rebound<\/span>,<\/span> which means you’re loosing control over the handling and the speed<\/span>, simultaneously<\/span>. Suspension systems improve traction and safety, helping to keep both wheels in contact with the ground even while braking <\/span>– <\/span>when keeping your bike under control is needed the most. Beyond doubt <\/span>those<\/span> benefits prevail.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Winner: <\/span>Full suspension<\/b><\/p>\n

Price<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"More<\/a><\/p>\n

More technology used on the suspension systems will always make the frames more expensive. You pay more when you acquire the bike and later you must count on bigger expenses on maintenance and service. For the same price you get the hard tail frame made <\/span>with<\/span> modern technology and equipped with better components.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Winner: <\/span>Hard tail<\/b><\/p>\n

Result<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"You<\/a><\/p>\n

You can <\/span>still<\/span> enjoy wonderful experiences on the hard tail bike. Keep <\/span>in<\/span> mind it’s always better to go out on a cheap bike than sit in the office, earning money <\/span>for<\/span> the latest model of <\/span>an<\/span> \u201cenduro\u201d mountain bike. However, in case you can make a choice<\/span>, although for higher price<\/span> the full suspension bike will make your ride better, safer, faster<\/span>,<\/span> and will bring you more joy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Score:<\/span> 4:3<\/b><\/p>\n

Overall winner:<\/span> Full Suspension Bike<\/b><\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pondering buying a new mountain bike? For the same price, is it better to have full suspension bike or a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":137313,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[328,335],"tags":[354],"global-categories":[],"class_list":["post-137303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-outdoor-mountain","category-safety","tag-ask-the-expert"],"yoast_head":"\nHard Tail vs. Full Suspension: Which One Should You Choose? - \u0160koda We Love Cycling<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Pondering buying a new mountain bike? 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