Hardtail or Full Sus

[TheHighlander]

As above,

Currently have a Carrera Vulcan - Nothing fancy was bought from Halfords a couple of year ago, decided I want to get back into biking again.

Living where I do I have trails all around me from Redrock/Nevis Range/Laggan Wolftrax and even some man made runs up behind the house that the locals have made.

I'm not going to be riding the World Cup track at Nevis Range but want to get into doing some jumps, nothing mental tho.

The Carrera is getting pretty ruined now, its got burst fork seals and is generally run down as i've been using it more and more and with Christmas coming up its the right time to get the misses to get me a new bike.

But not sure what to go for. Hoping some help from you lads will assist me in making a choice.

Budget - Spotted a Giant Trance in the local shop, full sus and can get it for £1k but don't know is this a bit overkill for my skills.

Would I be more suited to a decent hardtail.

[Silvs]

I was in your position, I went for a hardtail around 6 months ago. I got a Specialized rockhopper. I loved it. It is a great way to learn MTB skills and my riding has improved massively. However, it never really scratched the itch. I have just bought a Canyon Nerve full sus because it's tough riding with mates who are all on full suspensions.

I still use my hard tail if we are doing 40km plus... it is easier on the legs. In hindsight, I wasted £600 quid i didn't need to. Go full sus.

The Giant Stance has had really good reviews but it does use natural flex in the frame to keep the rear pivot simple. Take a look at Canyon. There entry level Full sus had 10/10 on most MTB magazines.

[anonymous-user]

I'd go for a hardtail but then they suit my style and choice of riding so I am bias but unless you are spending £2kish, I think you will be disappointed with a full sus as there are lots of corners cut to make a £1k FS. This Saracen Zen ticks a lot of boxes, good long travel fork with 15mm axle (makes a huge difference on low-mid level long travel forks which tend to have weaker stanchions), 650b wheels and a dropper post. Unfortunately they only have 15" and 19" left but its a lot of bike for the money so have a look who else has them on sale.

[Herman Toothrot]

Hardtail, did 95km along the Ridgeway today on my most recent purchase a Vitus Rapide 275 from Chain Reaction, when I bought it reduction was £1300 down from £1800 which was a bargin, currently in the sales they are selling it for £1100 absolute steal, XT drive train full carbon frame, Easton wheelset, maxles both ends etc great bike. FS comes into its own when you ride downhill trails and are really pushing on, else its bit of a waste of time. No way would I have managed todays ride on a FS as well.

[Hell27]

Depends what you want to use the bike for. If you are doing any other road riding / commuting as well then a Hardtail is that wonderful Swiss army bike that does most jobs very well, including some tough courses. If it's all about the off road with minimal roadwork, then the full sus will be the one you want. Modern bikes have lockouts as well for roadwork if needed. See if you can get a trial of both styles, see what you like.

[Carl-H]

Hardtail for me at that price. I prefer hardtails anyway and it'll teach you to ride smoother and with a better line. I love mine

[TheHighlander]

Thanks for the info lads.

Will be very minimal road riding, the closest trail to my house is about 750metres so that would be the only onroad apart from the odd canal track cycle with the misses but could keep my hardtail for that.

My mate has one of these and says its brilliant, I haven't seen it yet as he is not local to me so can't get a shot, he has done some harder downhill style trails, not full on WC downhill just some trail centre ones. He said its a tad heavy but fully capable.

Anyone heard of them before as I haven't.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-520-s-full-su...

[duff]

I'd go Full Suss living where you do - there's not always a massive weight penalty and they are nicer to ride on rougher trails. Don't buy a full RRP £1k bike though as the spec won't be great, either go secondhand or get a 2014 bike. There are some good deals around on Giant, Trek, Scott and Whyte.

[Carl-H]

1k can get you a pretty good second hand full suss but brand new I probably wouldn't bother. Personally I wouldn't touch that b-twin either, they make some good bikes but for something to keep you'll end up spending loads upgrading everything and still have a heavy bike. Buy right first time imo.

[TheHighlander]

What are good sites to look at deals on bikes?

I think it is full sus I'm going to go for as I will keep the hardtail and maybe stick new forks (2nd hand) ones on it incase the time comes I need to hit the road.

[duff]

Usually some good deals on these sites:

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/category/3720/Mo...

http://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/

Evans and CRC have some decent offers too.

[RobDickinson]

Tested a Giant Trance 1 27.5 at the weekend, have only ridden HT before now ( have a trek 26" and a KHS 29er).

Lighter, more nimble, more capable, all round better bike. But it is $4600 so roughly 3 times the cost of my old HT's lol. Thinking a Trance 2 is a good compromise and a lot cheaper ( $2600) , trails here are easy ( 29er) or technical.

[TheHighlander]

Cheers lads.

Went to have a look at a few bikes today. I need a large which I've been told is 17-18".

Wanting a full sus bike now for sure.

Just need to test a few. Had a go of one today and I didn't like it, just didn't feel right.

[Bobley]

What did you try and what did it feel like. Its worth seriously sorting all the sizing in detail. A mate just waited 5 months for a YT Capra and sold it after a week as it didn't feel right.

That Trance sounded quite nice, I had an Anthem for years and always regretted not getting the more robust bike. Saying that I had a medium and now I have a large bike which I'm much happier with.

[BadgerBenji]

Depending where you ride a full sus bike it will feel very odd coming from a hardtail.

I've got an Anthem, it's not my first bike to come out the toy shed, but it is if I'm going somewhere rough and rocky, peak district, etc.