Whether it’s your first mountain bike or you’re in the market for a new one, making a choice can be challenging due to the abundance of options available. And that’s not even considering the various brands out there.
Your initial decision revolves around choosing between two main types of mountain bikes: a hardtail or a full suspension.
In this article, you’ll discover the benefits of both types of mountain bikes.
Hardtail mtb
A hardtail mountain bike, as the name suggests, features a “hardtail,” meaning that it lacks rear suspension. Instead, a hardtail is equipped only with a suspension fork, typically offering a travel of around 100 mm. This allows the front fork to compress by 10 centimeters when navigating rough terrain.
Additionally, with most brands, the front fork can be locked, primarily for use during climbs or on smooth surfaces. For instance, Scott’s mountain bikes come with a front fork lockout feature with three positions: fully locked, semi-locked, and fully open.
Full suspension mountain bike
A full suspension, also known as a fully, features not only a suspension fork with slightly more travel than a hardtail but also a rear suspension.
Depending on the type of full suspension bike you purchase, whether it’s an Enduro, trail, or downhill model, the rear shock typically offers a travel range from 100 to even 200 mm. Most full suspension bikes are equipped with a lockout feature for the rear suspension, which is particularly useful for climbing or riding on smooth surfaces.
Hardtail vs full suspension?
The choice you make depends on several factors. Firstly, you need to determine your budget for the mountain bike and consider the type of terrain you’ll primarily be riding on. To gain a better understanding and make the decision easier, it’s best to compare the advantages and disadvantages of both types.
Pros and cons of a hardtail mountain bike
Pro
Lightweight
Quicker ascent and on flat trails.
More bikes for less money compared to a full suspension.
Always a solid choice for beginners on gentle terrain.
A rigid frame ensures significant acceleration and efficient pedaling.
Maintenance is straightforward.
Con
Less comfort; the rider absorbs shocks on rough terrain with obstacles.
Slower on demanding and technical terrain.
Pros and cons of a full suspension mountain bike
Pro
Can handle any terrain.
Faster on challenging terrain with numerous obstacles.
More stable and more comfortable over obstacles and downhill.
More forgiving; the bike compensates for errors, giving beginners immediate confidence.
Full suspension bikes are also becoming more efficient, partly due to the option to lock the rear suspension.
Con
More expensive to purchase. For the same specifications as a hardtail, you’ll pay around €1000 more.
They are less rigid due to the rear suspension, making them slower on flat terrain and uphill.
The frame is heavier.
Maintenance is more complex.
As mentioned earlier, the choice largely depends on your budget and the terrain where you’ll be riding most frequently. Additionally, before making a final decision, consider how often you’ll be riding on the move.
Are you planning frequent cycling holidays where you’ll take your mountain bike along? Do you often visit the Ardennes or bike parks? These are all factors to consider.
Of course, you can also rent a bike at a bike park, and a hardtail can suffice for riding in the Ardennes. You’ll need to piece together the full picture for yourself.
Softtail mountain bike
If you thought that technology in the mountain biking world was at a standstill, then your choice was made with a hardtail or full suspension MTB. However, nowadays, an option also falls somewhat in between the two. How exactly to name it is still a mystery to me, but I have already come across names like “mini hardtail” and softtail.
TREK Isostrut
TREK Isostrut Isostrut is the new secret weapon of Trek Factory Racing. It is an integrated shock absorber that gives you more grip, control, and speed on rough terrain compared to a hardtail mountain bike. The bike is less complex and weighs less than a true full suspension.
This suspension, with a travel of 60mm (gen 1) or 80 (gen 2), can be fully adjusted to your preferences and is also equipped with a lockout that allows you to turn your softtail into a super-fast hardtail. This system can only be found on the Supercaliber 9.7, 9.8, and 9.9 from Trek. The Trek Supercaliber has been voted mountain bike of the year 2020, partly due to this ingenious system.
Update 2024: Trek introduced an updated Supercaliber with 80mm of travel for the 2024 models (Supercaliber gen2). Additionally, at Specialized, you can now also opt for a softtail with the Specialized Epic offering 75mm of rear travel.
BMC Micro Travel Technology
BMC has also been busy. With the new Teamelite 01, they introduced the Micro Travel Technology. This is a type of rubber damper with 15mm of travel, which is integrated between the rear fork and the seat tube. With a “softtail,” you also have a little more comfort on rougher terrain than with a hardtail.
Final thoughts
Although the new systems are currently only found in the most expensive price ranges, they may become affordable for everyone in the future. This makes the choice a bit more difficult again. In most regions of Belgium and the Netherlands, you can get around with a hardtail.
If you still want a bit more comfort on the rougher trails, a full suspension can also be a good option.
If you want the golden mean, then you choose the softtail or the increasingly popular downcountry mountain bike, but unfortunately, you have to dig a little deeper into your wallet.
The true trail, all-mountain, enduro, and downhill bikes are, of course, always fully suspended.
My choice goes to a full suspension because I enjoy riding in the Ardennes, and the extra comfort is also beneficial during marathons.
I’m already curious about which mountain bike you ride. Be sure to let me know in a comment below this article.
