Hardtail or Full Suspension for a newbie?

[looksfast]

Hello all, I normally inhabit the motorised version of this thread, so please take it easy on me.
I need some thoughts as I am dipping my toe into the world of proper mountain bikes having persevered for a while with a Carrera Vulcan I bought a few years ago.
My son has just discovered Aston Hill which is near to us and I find myself following him very gingerly around the top sections, but I suspect that he will soon be leaving me long behind. Now I know that in all likelihood he will be leaving me for dust very soon, but I at least want to be able to follow him albeit much more slowly (I have broken bones before- he hasn't).
Now I know that once you mention somewhere like Aston Hill, most people will say FS, but that is only part of my riding and once my boy is fed up waiting for me, I will pick up the trails nearby and go through the woods and down the canals for the majority of the time.
That is a long winded way of asking whether I should get FS or a hardtail. I've seen the Bossnut and read the rave reviews and have also gone misty eyed today over a Saracen Mantra Carbon which is slightly more expensive, but may be a better long term prospect.
I don't plan to replace the bike for a long while, but am happy to upgrade components over time. I'm happy to spend about £1k (The Saracen is on special at £1299), but will push it for the right bike.
Sorry for the long ramble, but I am really getting myself in a twist and want a new bit of shiny stuff! Thanks.

[Kermit power]

I bought my first MTB about 12 years ago. It was a full susser.

Last year, I replaced it with another full susser and decided to strip the parts off the old one, buy a second hand hardtail frame (in my case a lovely steel Cove Handjob) and build one up.

Whilst I do still enjoy my full susser, and the ride is a lot more comfortable, I really, really wish I'd gone for a hardtail back in 2004, as I reckon it has done a lot for my riding skills now (at the definitely not immortal age of 45), but could've done so much more over the course of a decade!

Whichever you go for, though, to maximise your chance of staying with your lad (I'm looking forward to seeing how long I can stay faster than my 10yr old! ), I'd definitely recommend getting a dropper post if you can.

[g7jhp]

Whyte 901?

[R1gtr]

I just bought a Cube LTD SL 2016 (27.5) hardtail and really like it, light, fast, great spec for the money so can recommend that if you go down the Hardtail route.

If I was in your shoes this is what I would be buying-
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
These only hit the shelves a few days ago and the spec looks superb for the money, that is an expensive front fork and very good quality wheels.
£1500 is over budget but Halfords do 10% off if you are a member of British Cycling (sign up, will cost you £15) and you get 10% off by buying Halfords vouchers ( £1000 of vouchers will cost you £900) do it that way.

[Kermit power]

R1gtr said:

I just bought a Cube LTD SL 2016 (27.5) hardtail and really like it, light, fast, great spec for the money so can recommend that if you go down the Hardtail route.

If I was in your shoes this is what I would be buying-
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
These only hit the shelves a few days ago and the spec looks superb for the money, that is an expensive front fork and very good quality wheels.
£1500 is over budget but Halfords do 10% off if you are a member of British Cycling (sign up, will cost you £15) and you get 10% off by buying Halfords vouchers ( £1000 of vouchers will cost you £900) do it that way.

I'd still be inclined to go for a decent hardtail to get the skill levels up first, but that Boardman does look outstanding for the money!

I thought my Boardman CX Pro was outstanding at £1,500, and it was certainly better than anything else at even remotely the same price when I bought it, but £1,500 for a full susser with a Pike and 1x11 groupset is nuts!

The only thing I'd want to check first would be whether those wheels will take a tubeless setup.

[R1gtr]

Kermit power said:

R1gtr said:

I just bought a Cube LTD SL 2016 (27.5) hardtail and really like it, light, fast, great spec for the money so can recommend that if you go down the Hardtail route.

If I was in your shoes this is what I would be buying-
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
These only hit the shelves a few days ago and the spec looks superb for the money, that is an expensive front fork and very good quality wheels.
£1500 is over budget but Halfords do 10% off if you are a member of British Cycling (sign up, will cost you £15) and you get 10% off by buying Halfords vouchers ( £1000 of vouchers will cost you £900) do it that way.

I'd still be inclined to go for a decent hardtail to get the skill levels up first, but that Boardman does look outstanding for the money!

I thought my Boardman CX Pro was outstanding at £1,500, and it was certainly better than anything else at even remotely the same price when I bought it, but £1,500 for a full susser with a Pike and 1x11 groupset is nuts!

The only thing I'd want to check first would be whether those wheels will take a tubeless setup.

It really is a great price for spec like that, the fact that you can easily get it for £1250 is amazing, if I had not bought my Cube in December I would be heading to Halfords asap. Throw on a set of DMR pedals, maybe upgrade the bar and stick on some lizard skin grips and that would be a perfect all rounder to my eye without spending thousands.

[looksfast]

Thanks for the replies, I've read elsewhere too that a hardtail will at least teach me a few things. I will look at the Whyte and the Boardman, as neither were on my radar. As for the option of a carbon frame, the magpie in me is drawn to that, but am I kidding myself that this is going to be apparent to someone at my level?

[R1gtr]

A carbon bike at your price range will likely have a crap spec and you will end up paying a fortune upgrading it, aluminium bikes have come a long way over the years. If you are willing to order a bike blind then check out 'canyon' bikes, made in Germany and they are lovely bikes, good spec for the money.
1200 would get you this with XT 11 speed-
https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/mtb/grand-canyon/gran...

Or if you really want Carbon( spec is not as good as the above bike)- https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/mtb/grand-canyon/gran...

Or full Suspension-
https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/mtb/nerve/nerve-al-7-...

[g7jhp]

g7jhp said:

Whyte 901?

Here's the review which is why I'm looking at getting one: 10/10 MBR Magazine for Whyte 901

[anonymous-user]

Realistically, a modern, mid spec, short to medium travel 29er is going to be "enough" bike for most people!

Say something in the 110 to 120mm bracket. Fit chunky soft knobbly tyres for Aston Hill (watch out for the roots and flints..... and some more XC tyres for general trail riding.



Anything from Trek or Specialized will be a winner ;-)

Plenty of s/h bikes, from around 2012 onwards on ebay that are good value and could be upgraded as time / money permits.

\spec\-camber-evo

Or some new bargains to be had at this time of year (last of 2015 bikes being sold before 2016 stock)

ie

specialized_camber-comp

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 30th January 17:27

[looksfast]

Here's the review which is why I'm looking at getting one: 10/10 MBR Magazine for Whyte 901

[/quote]

Went to have a look at one of these yesterday and all the dealer had was a 905 which was nice, but of course not what I was after. They certainly get a good right up, but I need to find one now!

I'm still struggling with the question of whether I get FS or not frankly, but hardtail doesn't seem to be the compromise I expected.

[Kermit power]

Personally, at around £1,200, I'd go for a really nice 650b (or maybe 29" if you're really tall?) hardtail. There would be nothing to stop you shifting everything over to a full suspension frame in a year or two if you decide you want to go in that direction.

[anonymous-user]

Do FS need muck more servicing & generally need more care & attention?
Workmate of mine seems to have to change the rear suspension bushes etc regularly...

[anonymous-user]

For me, the limitation of any hardtail is rough uphill bits!
Downhill, you can pump and stand up so no real issues (your legs have plenty of suspension travel) but when you want to maintain a good pace up a rooty or rocky path, aren't fit enough to stay standing up, and therefore have to sit down and pedal up it, then a decent short travel FS just pedals away, ime, as it allows its rider to stay pedalling on every bump.....

[richardxjr]

Paulscycles were doing '15 Cannondale Triggers massively reduced. FS push shock both 650b and 29er. A mate bought one, great bike for the money and the longer travel at a flick of a switch a useful feature for your intended riding.

[Mark83]

My Santa Cruz Chameleon (aluminium hardtail) will be going on eBay et al in the week if you're interested? It has hardly been used hence I'm selling. I built it from all brand new parts. Frame was brand new from Stif (5 years warranty). I built it early 2015 with a 2014 frame which I picked up in their sale as Santa Cruz moved the Chameleon to 27.5.

Rock Shox SID forks
Stan's No Tubes Crests with Nobby Nics
1x10 Shimano XT
XT disc brakes and rotors
Raceface cranks, stem, seat post, handlebars
V12 pedals
Absoluteblack oval chainring
Charge saddle

[Herman Toothrot]

Mark83 said:

My Santa Cruz Chameleon (aluminium hardtail) will be going on eBay et al in the week if you're interested? It has hardly been used hence I'm selling. I built it from all brand new parts. Frame was brand new from Stif (5 years warranty). I built it early 2015 with a 2014 frame which I picked up in their sale as Santa Cruz moved the Chameleon to 27.5.

Rock Shox SID forks
Stan's No Tubes Crests with Nobby Nics
1x10 Shimano XT
XT disc brakes and rotors
Raceface cranks, stem, seat post, handlebars
V12 pedals
Absoluteblack oval chainring
Charge saddle

Sounds a nice bike OP could certainly do worse. My opinion on FS is learn on a hardtail 1st.

[battered]

I still like hardtails. At the price you are talking you get a lot more hardtail for your money. In terms of maintenance, there's not much on a susser, the bushes for sure after a couple of years, depending on use, and keeping the pressure right in the shock. That's all though and you do that for your forks.

A HT is slightly more demanding of your skills, personally I like this.

[Kermit power]

battered said:

I still like hardtails. At the price you are talking you get a lot more hardtail for your money. In terms of maintenance, there's not much on a susser, the bushes for sure after a couple of years, depending on use, and keeping the pressure right in the shock. That's all though and you do that for your forks.

A HT is slightly more demanding of your skills, personally I like this.

I've got a 150mm/150mm FS and an 85-110mm HT. I'm really fighting the urge to add a long travel HT to that!

[snorkel sucker]

The calibre bossnut gets good reviews:

http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/bikes/m...

And, having seen the new Boardman FS bikes yesterday I was very impressed by what you get for your £1500!

Buying new has its advantages, but the current industry obsession with introducing new standards on a constant basis means there are masses of second hand bargains to be had.

I have a hardtail I built up myself after buying the frame for £40 on eBay. All-in it cost me about £700 or so buying parts from Merlin, ChainReaction, Wiggle, Alltricks, Superstar.

On One do decent frames, as do Slam69 with the Dartmoor framesets.

EDIT: http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/74916/Ko...

Edited by snorkel sucker on Monday 1st February 14:23