Hardtail Vs. Full Suspension E-MTB | Do You Need A Top-Of-The-Range E-Bike?

It's no secret that Steve isn't a fan of hardtail's, but are they really as bad as he says? A hardtail electric mountain bike can often be an affordable entry into the sport, but is it at a disadvantage to a full suspension bike?

Is it all about performance? Just how much better is an electric mountain bike with rear suspension? Does the added weight and different handling of a full suspension bike require a rear shock?

Which do you ride? Let us know in the comments down below ⚡️

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[siriosstar]

There are lots of people riding full suspension bikes that simply don't need one. If your not doing jumps and riding like a kamakazi, then dont waste your money.
i'm 73 so that says it all.
The most air i get is riding over a thick leaf.

[DerFliegendeMocca]

and here i am, on a 400€ used hardtail cube from 2015 and am happy to be able to get up and down the hills in my home town... saving for a e mtb currently, and also my car broke. so honestly guys, be humble. be happy with what you have, even if its old or heavy or not highend.

[willsgro]

I road a hard tail for 10 years in the mountains then full suspension for 10. Hard tail was the best at climbing. I was always the first up the climbs and waiting. I drank less water then other riders and was laughing the way up. With a hard tail the downhill was sketchy but still fun. I couldn’t keep up on the downhill but my adrenaline was pumping fast and hard at my slower pace. I’m thinking about going back to hard tail cause I want a rack on the back. I’m 37 and a father now so my needs have change. Most days I’m riding the dog park trails and I want to get a trailer for my toddler and still hit up a mountain trail with the guys. Then take it easy with the wife on light trails. I’m more into the views and traveling with the bike then the downhills as time goes on. The full suspension guys never stop to take pictures and “feel” the areas we travel in. I’m going to trade my enduro for a hardtail Ebike for sure!

[patrickspapens]

After riding hardtails for 13 years, i got a fully yesterday and i really like it. It's just different and each have their own pro's and cons but both are fine. It's a matter of preference, and wallet size.

[greensocks]

Just home from Queenstown New Zealand yesterday on our hard-tails. Clocked over 130 kms off road. FS not required, we appreciate the lighter weight and lesser complexity.

[dummatube]

Hardtails are so light and fun and flexible in their uses: I converted a strong and springy steel frame Marin Pine Mountain hardtail into an eBike with a 1650w Bafang mid mount motor and a 750w battery. With Maxxis 2.8" Rekons, Hope 203mm brakes and dual Thule lightweight racks it 'triples' as a really fast (75Km/h) Mountain/BikePacking/Cargo bike. I use it every day and do camping trips into the bush with everything including a big tent, table, chair and 'gourmet' cooking gear. I ended up selling my Land Rover!

[gcbsglobalcanicrossbikejor]

Unfortunately this is going to be a debate that’s always going to be on going!! And I think the main point was slightly diluted !! You guys basically proved that a HT e-bike can do everything a FS can !! Yes it takes more of a art to do it and yes its not as comfortable! The bigger picture is that normal joe Bloggs doesn’t have £3000 plus for a e bike !! But they might be able to stretch to £1500-£2000 and their are HT e-bikes out there that will give you a shed load of enjoyment over any terrain !!! 😃👍

[WReinebo]

I had a lumbago once and since my back remains sensitive. I consider FS also as the medically correct decision. Even to commute as in Brussels you have to ride over curbs, cobble stones and holes in the road everywhere

[lexani]

I had the same hardtail for 3 years and now switched to full suspension .. boy what a difference when hitting trails. It will always come down to the cost .. if you can afford you will go with a fully, if you cannot afford, you will go with a hardtail. I couldn't afford a fully three years ago so bought a hardtail and had a great time, now can afford and the difference is really huge to me when riding the fully now especially when it comes to trails that were not always fun with the hardtail

[Nomads_Rowing]

Once again guys, excellent video and yes, given a choice the FS ticks more boxes but (there is always one!), what EMBM seem to overlook is some of us mere mortals have limits to what we can afford!! 😎

[mtbboy]

for me full suspension is a must, due to my twisting and misaligning back & neck. for me hardtail means slow careful riding & walking all rocky rooty sections, but with full suspension it means shooting trough everything. but when climbing I still get issues sometimes. but I work on my strength, so hopefully it will help.

[Sharpiesailor]

I just found your channel and look forward to viewing your content. I entered into the e-MTN bike world just ten months ago at the age of 56 and I’m having a great time. I got a TREK Powerfly 5. It works well in various disciplines. In ECO mode my longest ride was 60 miles and on Single track with black and double black segments using MTN mode I’ve covered between 20-32 miles before I’m completely worn out. I’ve been over the bars and had a few hard crashes. I think you hit the pros and cons between full and hard tail. I just got a complete set of 3.0 Bontrager XR2 tires, rims, cassette and 180mm rotors for the trail and can dedicate the original set for street rides. I think e-bikes are awesome and wish more Florida parks allowed them. My favorites are Alafia and Croom. Cheers.

[eddiejefferies]

Hardtail all the way for me. Having owned both at the same time, the FS sat around pretty much unused for 8 months, until I decided to sell it. Hardtails suit my requirements perfectly, and I am now on my second one after having upgraded from the first. I certainly don't miss the annual rear shock rebuild, or having to replace rear suspension bushes and bearings two to three times a year, due to wear and tear from riding in wet and muddy conditions. Riding a hardtail through the wet winter months makes a lot of sense. Running plus size also makes a lot of sense on a hardtail, as it certainly lessens impact and helps to smooth things out. Whilst pedal strikes are pretty much down to poor riding technique, they are certainly something that seem to crop up with riders of FS bikes,  but not HT. The only negative for me of riding a HT over an FS is that I can ride considerably faster and confidently at speed on an FS bike, measurable in group rides, but as that isn't really my thing any way, and slow technical climbing is, I don't see that as issue either. For anyone to say that one is better than another within the comments, is just utter rubbish though. It is just personal choice and nothing more.

[bbarker]

I believe the HT for learning how to pick your lines and sticking to them. Then when you go to the FS you learn how to pick the fastest lines and the skills learned in the HT for being smooth will allow you to be faster on the FS because it only helps to be smooth right...

[rterry]

First time I got on a full sqish, it was like riding a cloud, my spine thanked me.

[JamesLorentzen]

We have both (rear hub hard tail), and each of them are fun. More versatility with the hard tail riding roads & shared-use paths makes for good value.

[PeteK]

Best thing I ever did was buy a Suntour suspension seat post. Got one on Giant normal hardtail and one on my Voodoo EMTB hardtail. Best upgrade for comfort you'll ever buy. Just as long as you don't want a dropper post that it. Which at 58 I am not bothered about.

[danytheunicorn]

hardtails are better at pump tracks, for some jumps, pedalling efficiency but for the rough stuff, having some suspension on the rear helps with grip, stability and keeping your feet on the pedals, so put simply, they are both tools, it depends on where you ride and what you want to do.

[lastdimestudios]

I literally asked myself this question the other day. Thanks guys.

[SteYoung]

Im definitely one of them riders that straddle the need for a full sus bike over hard tail. I enjoy the longer offroad slightly technical trails rather than downhills/jumps and tight technical trails. Although I do enjoy a blast along the red route at Sherwood pines. However having bought a hardtail emtb which I thought suited what I needed, I found the constant bashing of my backside whilst heading over trails over longer distances no joy at all. So swapped to a full sus and its like night n day. Way better, if more expensive.

The only drawback which still erks a bit is the fact that despite both bikes being powered by the same bosch gen 4 85nm motor, the Hardtail is noticeably punchier allround. I expected a dropoff given the extra weight of the full sus bike but not the estimated 15% or so. Shame but both are still great bikes.