Hardtail vs Full Suspension aricle

Discussion in 'Bike Reviews' started by rossage, Oct 4, 2018.


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  1. rossage

    rossage iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    East Sacramento
    Name:
    Ross Lawson
    Current Bike:
    Highball
    MrGreedom, Danmtchl, -ROCKY- and 6 others like this.
  2. Sidewalk

    Sidewalk iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    The road is where I call home
    Name:
    Josh
    Current Bike:
    N+1
    I looked back at my race lap times at Fontana and was bummed to see that the Epic I demo'ed was faster than my F-Si. It didn't feel faster (slower on the climb, just a little faster on the downhill). But lap times confirmed, I'm faster with full suspension.

    I love my bike, but, those are the facts. And...why I am saving up...
     
    MrGreedom, Danmtchl, mike and 5 others like this.
  3. Luis

    Luis iMTB Addict

    Location:
    Sylmar
    Name:
    Luis
    Current Bike:
    La Diabla
    It’s like comparing my 100mm suspended Epic vs my 160mm Enduro. Both are fun but each one gets the job done in a different manner.
     
    MrGreedom, Danmtchl, mike and 4 others like this.
  4. rossage

    rossage iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    East Sacramento
    Name:
    Ross Lawson
    Current Bike:
    Highball
    For me, it's about the fun. Of course fun is subjective, but hey!, I'm the one riding the bike. 5 years ago I started riding a 29er hardtail and it took me to a place where riding was a lot more fun again. And a little scarier...

    Got my eye on one of those new Epic fullys though. Sweet bike!
     
    mtnbikej, LLPoolJ, Danmtchl and 4 others like this.
  5. Runs with Scissors

    Runs with Scissors iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    West Anaheim
    Name:
    Mark Whitaker
    Current Bike:
    Giant XTC with pedals
    Yep, with the right bike all FLoops are epic.:thumbsup:
     
  6. herzalot

    herzalot iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Laguna Beach
    Name:
    Chris
    Current Bike:
    2020 Revel Rail,Yeti SB 130 LR
    Fixed it for ya...
     
  7. Runs with Scissors

    Runs with Scissors iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    West Anaheim
    Name:
    Mark Whitaker
    Current Bike:
    Giant XTC with pedals
    Hell, with any bike - or no bike - the FLoop is epic. :thumbsup:
     
  8. mike

    mike iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Western US
    Name:
    Mike O
    Current Bike:
    HT, FS
    Own one of each, problem almost solved!

    Wish I could ride my HT more. It's a lot of fun, but it beats me up more than I deserve. If not for bikepacking I'd own only FS.
     
  9. Cyclotourist

    Cyclotourist iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Redlands
    Name:
    David
    Current Bike:
    Don't fence me in!
    Thanks for posting this. I have a hard tail now, and always kick around the idea of getting FS, but have issues with the justification. I don't feel beat up after rides, except a little in my arms. Probably cuz' I ride pretty slow. And my rides are typically an hour or so. Maybe a hard tail for the mid-week rides, and FS for the longer weekend ones!
     
    mike, mtnbikej, Danmtchl and 2 others like this.
  10. rossage

    rossage iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    East Sacramento
    Name:
    Ross Lawson
    Current Bike:
    Highball
    I don't get beat up on my Chisel with the 120mm fork.
    Now, the rigid bike is a full mind and body experience which will leave lasting memories of each rock, root, and rut you encountered on the ride.
    The monkey motion on most full suspension bikes hurts my lower back so I'm thinking the Brain platform might be a good match for me... After years of talking about how much it sucks!
     
    mike, kioti, mtnbikej and 3 others like this.
  11. Danmtchl

    Danmtchl iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Bakersfield
    Name:
    Dan
    Current Bike:
    2020 Trek Fuel EX 9.7
    9596B7D2-7E15-4264-B3E1-BCE88A6929CD.jpeg
    I just built a Sworks Epic today, very light and very expensive.
     
    doublewide, MrGreedom, mike and 7 others like this.
  12. rossage

    rossage iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    East Sacramento
    Name:
    Ross Lawson
    Current Bike:
    Highball
    Freaking awesome! I love building up the high end stuff. I couldn't imagine letting someone else get intimate with my $10K bike
     
    MrGreedom, mike, mtnbikej and 6 others like this.
  13. Danmtchl

    Danmtchl iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Bakersfield
    Name:
    Dan
    Current Bike:
    2020 Trek Fuel EX 9.7
    I feel privileged to get to build these great bikes
     
    Grassblade23, mike, mtnbikej and 4 others like this.
  14. Cyclotourist

    Cyclotourist iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Redlands
    Name:
    David
    Current Bike:
    Don't fence me in!
    Wow!
     
  15. Sidewalk

    Sidewalk iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    The road is where I call home
    Name:
    Josh
    Current Bike:
    N+1
    This is likely my next bike. Saving now.
     
    MrGreedom, mike, mtnbikej and 4 others like this.
  16. LLPoolJ

    LLPoolJ iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Moreno Valley
    Name:
    James Johnson
    Current Bike:
    Specy Epic, Stumpu and Enduro
    I have the expert model no need for me to spend 2x as much not a pro and don't care about lookie Lews. This bike feels fast and rides well. Brain took a bit of getting used to. Prefer my Stumpy though. Been looking at HT'S not sure that I would ride it much.
     
    mike, Sidewalk, mtnbikej and 4 others like this.
  17. rossage

    rossage iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    East Sacramento
    Name:
    Ross Lawson
    Current Bike:
    Highball
    I might just get the alloy frame, then over-fork it, and put some big tires on the slim beast.

    The micro-second hang up of the rear wheel on a HT feels a lot like the shorter lag that the Brain has before it lets go. I usually run the Brain wide open.
    I can feel this action on the HT as it actually slows me down in very rough downhill sections. Sometimes, if I make a bad line choice, the hang up becomes what I call a correction.
    A correction is when the rear wheel of a hardtail meets an immovable object at speed and gets deflected.
    Up-watch the huevos!
    Left or right--listen to your buddy behind you say " Whoa! " as your whole frame moves 30 to 40° off-line while you hang on to the bars for your life.
    Stopped-you're eating shìt!
     
    Luis, mike, mtnbikej and 4 others like this.
  18. Danmtchl

    Danmtchl iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Bakersfield
    Name:
    Dan
    Current Bike:
    2020 Trek Fuel EX 9.7
    Here is the Epic, cool color, I built him a Stupmy also. So this customer has 3 Sworks bikes. Must be nice to have the cash laying around. 325B827E-ED04-47DF-85AE-893A187ACCE6.jpeg49FD0C3D-DD31-4A40-864C-3192D3FF18A5.jpeg
     
  19. LLPoolJ

    LLPoolJ iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Moreno Valley
    Name:
    James Johnson
    Current Bike:
    Specy Epic, Stumpu and Enduro
    I got that kinda bread but those 2 bikes lesser bikes be in my stable. Mmmmmm
     
  20. Sidewalk

    Sidewalk iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    The road is where I call home
    Name:
    Josh
    Current Bike:
    N+1
    I did the Palm Canyon Epic on a stock Epic with the Brain off. But I raced it with the rear Brain on full (front still off).
     
    mike, Cyclotourist, rossage and 2 others like this.
  21. LLPoolJ

    LLPoolJ iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Moreno Valley
    Name:
    James Johnson
    Current Bike:
    Specy Epic, Stumpu and Enduro
    I rode the PCE with a guy named Brian once slso.
     
  22. mike

    mike iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Western US
    Name:
    Mike O
    Current Bike:
    HT, FS
    You could rip on my HT all day, steel with 130/29x2.6. : ) Your spine is prolly closer to normal than mine... I'll never be the same after owning a fully rigid trail bike. :eek: (But back was toast long before...)

    Freedom Linkage™/RS coil works for me; all-day comfort, managed bob, climbs wickedly, descends wickedlier.
     
  23. LLPoolJ

    LLPoolJ iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Moreno Valley
    Name:
    James Johnson
    Current Bike:
    Specy Epic, Stumpu and Enduro
    Is that a word?
     
  24. Danmtchl

    Danmtchl iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Bakersfield
    Name:
    Dan
    Current Bike:
    2020 Trek Fuel EX 9.7
    Today’s build361ACA96-6DD9-4A9A-8338-096E597F38B4.jpeg
     
    Grassblade23, herzalot, UPSed and 9 others like this.
  25. Runs with Scissors

    Runs with Scissors iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    West Anaheim
    Name:
    Mark Whitaker
    Current Bike:
    Giant XTC with pedals
    Neologism by @mike.:thumbsup:

    Almost as good as @jimbowho's "wussificationistic.";)
     
    Danmtchl, mike, SnakeCharmer and 6 others like this.
  26. Sidewalk

    Sidewalk iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    The road is where I call home
    Name:
    Josh
    Current Bike:
    N+1
     
  27. Luis

    Luis iMTB Addict

    Location:
    Sylmar
    Name:
    Luis
    Current Bike:
    La Diabla
    That’s my next demo bike. My LBS has a large that I can go thrash.
    My current bikes are both XL’s but the geo on these new bikes has me feeling more at home on a large.
     
    herzalot, Danmtchl, mike and 5 others like this.
  28. rossage

    rossage iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    East Sacramento
    Name:
    Ross Lawson
    Current Bike:
    Highball
    That's right @Luis, yours is the baby blue bike behind the Pivot...
     
    herzalot, Danmtchl, mike and 3 others like this.
  29. Luis

    Luis iMTB Addict

    Location:
    Sylmar
    Name:
    Luis
    Current Bike:
    La Diabla
    But it matches your eyes best!
     
    Danmtchl, mike, rossage and 2 others like this.
  30. SnakeCharmer

    SnakeCharmer iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Front Range, San Gabes
    Name:
    Mike, aka "Ssnake"
    Current Bike:
    YT Izzo
    True, my medium Mach 429 was more like a large. Pivot is known for running a size larger in their sizing.
     
    pperrelle, Danmtchl and mike like this.
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As a former Amazon Associate I continue to get screwed trying to stay qualified as an Amazon Affiliate. So I quit!


Want to donate to imtbtrails?