Hardtail or Full Suspension Mountain Bike? | Which Should You Buy?

This video contains a paid product placement for Identiti.

When it comes to full suspension or hardtail for trail riding the choice isn't as always as simple as it seems. A full suspension bike may be more playful and offer a greater degree of control, but comes at a cost in terms of weight and maintenance time. Whereas a hardtail can be more reliable and lighter, but can loose some of the the trail shredding control associated with a full suspension bike.

As always there is no right or wrong answer, so Senior Technical Editor Tom Marvin reveals the pros and cons for each bike, to give you a better idea on which could be right for you.

Seb's Suspension Setup Guides:

MTB Suspension Setup - How To Get It Dialled In 10-Minutes:

Advanced MTB Suspension Setup - How To Find The Perfect Balance

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[bikeradar]

Do you prefer to ride a hardtail or full suspension mountain bike? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! 🗻🚵🏽‍♀️⛰

[MattBargain]

Conclusion: all about the wallet
1. Poor: no bike
2. Medium: hardtail
3. Privileged: Full sus
4. Posh: both

[robaxr]

Started on hardtail, got a full sus for 10 years, now going back to hardtail. Main reasons is simplicity, reliability, low maintenance, pedal efficiency. I believe that a some point skills overcomes the need for full suspension.

[maxlockwood]

I prefer Hardtails as they are more playful and you get more feedback from the trail. They are also easier to maintain with less moving parts to fail.

[myrants]

More often than not i used to take my hardtail to a downhill track instead of my downhill bike. I used to love proving a point and catching up with riders on their big DH rigs. Had a lot of fun doing that!

[alinz]

I think a hardtail can make you a better rider when starting out; and certainly has its place for XC. But there's just too much benefit with a full sus for regular trail use, even if it means buying second hand instead of new.

[IKhanNot]

Full suspension because knowing me I constantly don't pick a good line on rough terrain so having the more forgiving suspension does my body wonders. There is something nice and light about a hard tail though and it does feel "tossable" but my knees and back have something else to say about that.

[Prince_Pig]

It‘s a very good point. So many people lean towards the enduro bikes but a lower travel trail bike is probably the better choice for most.

[BikeTripBro]

I bought 3 HT prior FS.. When I finally got the FS, I never looked back.

1. Buy entry level practice trail bike. 120mm sweet spot.
2. Get your dream fs bike.

[mikecoglione]

I own both. I got a hardtail a couple years ago, full suspension not long ago as some of the harder trails were punishing. Money is not infinite but in a perfect world start and build skills on easy trails with a hardtail. It will pay off when you discover how to balance. Do this as you save your nickels and your dimes along with building skills as I say eventually do both keeping your hardtail as a beater, winter or snow bike. Just when you think you are really good as you keep taking your full suspension bike as your hardtail starts getting dusty, then take your hardtail out and eat a big slice of humble pie. It keeps your skills sharp as full suspension is so good that it can render you sloppy and complacent.

[WorldwideCyclery]

Hardtails definitely have their place but I like the full squish!

[kylehoffman]

I grew up on 20" BMX bikes and 26" dirt jump bikes, not touching a proper mountain bike until I was nearly 30. I went through a handful of 26" and 29" hardtails, with a Giant Anthem 27.5" tossed in as my intro to full squish. Most recently, my wife and I have went to full squish (Transition Scout GX and Trek Fuel EX 8) because we powerlift competitively, and we have found that the little reduction in abuse on the trails equates to more quality training in the gym. I still have a soft spot for hardtails and vouch for developing your body mechanics and line sighting on one, then develop your speed on a full squish. If your choices are between a well equipped hardtail or a budget full squish, snag the hardtail and party on. You won't be cheating yourself one bit.

[trelane]

This is easy. Hardtail. Literally in every category you should start on a Hardtail. DJ or slopestyle? Hardtail. XC? Hardtail. Enduro? Hardtail. Trail riding? Hardtail. Freeride? Hardtail. DH? Hardtail. 4X (4 cross) or Dual slalom? Definitely a Hardtail. Fat biking? Yep, Hardtail. Bike packing? Hardtail. Street riding? Why is this a question? Hardtail! Almost all successful pros started on a HT and if you can't ride fast on a ht, you can't on a fs

[Fajah]

I have both. I use the hardtail way more. I do full aerobic/mileage biking through easy-moderate routes. Too old for doing jumps and or technical terrain lol

[wwaytobe]

Have both! started on an older HT learned a lot! Now have a much newer + nicer FS and love it! Still love braking out the HT for flow and pump track. Looking to get a more modern HT really ! But in Short GET BOTH!

[J-Stoic]

Hardtail or full sus in 2021? Which ever ones in stock!

[marcdemichele]

I'm 50 and have been riding mtb's over 30 yrs I have recently sold my full sus and have gone back to kickin' it on a hardtail. I climb better and enjoy getting beat up throwing a 25lb HT around more than I like gliding over the trails on my plush FS.

[mhe]

Whatever you have get out and ride. Both looked like lots of fun!

[rstrakovsky]

Short travel 29er with modern geo is probably the closest you can get to having the best of both worlds. Ideally you have one of each though!

[Svenmpa]

Well, I ride full suspension Specialized Epic. It rides like a HT when it needs to, and a FS when it needs to :)