Full squish vs Hardtail
10-21-20, 04:52 AM
#2
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I ride a "light sportscar" 13.8kg hardtail 
Jokes aside: what do you expect from the bike? where and how are you going to ride? who will do the bike maintenance? answering that questions may help you make a decision.
I ride a hardtail because:
1) I don't do big drops.
2) I prefer a bike that I can climb with more effectively.
3) I don't want to do (or pay for) maintenance on a rear shock and pivot points.
Jokes aside: what do you expect from the bike? where and how are you going to ride? who will do the bike maintenance? answering that questions may help you make a decision.
I ride a hardtail because:
1) I don't do big drops.
2) I prefer a bike that I can climb with more effectively.
3) I don't want to do (or pay for) maintenance on a rear shock and pivot points.
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10-21-20, 06:24 AM
#3
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I ride a "light sportscar" 13.8kg hardtail
Jokes aside: what do you expect from the bike? where and how are you going to ride? who will do the bike maintenance? answering that questions may help you make a decision.
I ride a hardtail because:
1) I don't do big drops.
2) I prefer a bike that I can climb with more effectively.
3) I don't want to do (or pay for) maintenance on a rear shock and pivot points.
Jokes aside: what do you expect from the bike? where and how are you going to ride? who will do the bike maintenance? answering that questions may help you make a decision.
I ride a hardtail because:
1) I don't do big drops.
2) I prefer a bike that I can climb with more effectively.
3) I don't want to do (or pay for) maintenance on a rear shock and pivot points.
10-21-20, 08:12 AM
#4
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I ride a lighter sportscar, a Specialized Chisel HT at 26.2 lbs. I'd have to pay many thousands to get a full suspension carbon to that weight. I prefer the feel of an HT for where I ride, dirt single track that's twisty, no or few rocks, mostly easy rolling hills, some roots. If I was riding an area that had many more rocks, technical features and/or had a lot of technical downhill runs, I'd use a FS, which offers better control thru the technical terrain.
10-21-20, 08:36 AM
#5
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My thoughts are that calling a full suspension mountain bike a "full squish" is weird.
Last edited by Paul Barnard; 10-21-20 at 08:59 AM.
10-21-20, 09:12 AM
#6
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I've had both and my analogy would be different, but probably pretty close. The SUV part is probably pretty apt, but average hard tails are more in the compact car mold than the sports car mold. There are nice ones and decent ones and crap, while on the SUV side there's sort of a minimum level that's good enough. It's not a given, there are some very nice hard tails, some of them have a nice frame but most of them don't come with a very great build. The "sports car" analogy can run parallel to this. There are very small simple and very large complex sports cars, but they are all premium.
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10-21-20, 12:02 PM
#7
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If you want a sports car, get a road bike.
Hard tail = dirt track racer.
Full suspension = Baja truck.
In my area, there are a lot of washboard fire-roads that are connectors between trails. Riding a gradual washboard at 15 mph, just beats you up, it's not fun and it's not really avoidable. Modern full suspension bikes can climb really well, and don't beat you up on downhills.
Hard tail = dirt track racer.
Full suspension = Baja truck.
In my area, there are a lot of washboard fire-roads that are connectors between trails. Riding a gradual washboard at 15 mph, just beats you up, it's not fun and it's not really avoidable. Modern full suspension bikes can climb really well, and don't beat you up on downhills.
10-21-20, 02:21 PM
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If you want a sports car, get a road bike.
Hard tail = dirt track racer.
Full suspension = Baja truck.
In my area, there are a lot of washboard fire-roads that are connectors between trails. Riding a gradual washboard at 15 mph, just beats you up, it's not fun and it's not really avoidable. Modern full suspension bikes can climb really well, and don't beat you up on downhills.
Hard tail = dirt track racer.
Full suspension = Baja truck.
In my area, there are a lot of washboard fire-roads that are connectors between trails. Riding a gradual washboard at 15 mph, just beats you up, it's not fun and it's not really avoidable. Modern full suspension bikes can climb really well, and don't beat you up on downhills.
10-21-20, 02:51 PM
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10-22-20, 06:06 AM
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Good luck with that.
You seem to have “dirt road” and “off road” confused.
For dirt roads I too would take a rally car... and the hard tail.
For trail riding.... I think you need to try a FS that is not 20 years old or from walmart. Plenty of FS bikes in XC racing in the 21st century.
You seem to have “dirt road” and “off road” confused.
For dirt roads I too would take a rally car... and the hard tail.
For trail riding.... I think you need to try a FS that is not 20 years old or from walmart. Plenty of FS bikes in XC racing in the 21st century.
Last edited by Kapusta; 10-22-20 at 08:17 AM.
10-22-20, 08:56 AM
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Good luck with that.
You seem to have “dirt road” and “off road” confused.
For dirt roads I too would take a rally car... and the hard tail.
For trail riding.... I think you need to try a FS that is not 20 years old or from walmart. Plenty of FS bikes in XC racing in the 21st century.
You seem to have “dirt road” and “off road” confused.
For dirt roads I too would take a rally car... and the hard tail.
For trail riding.... I think you need to try a FS that is not 20 years old or from walmart. Plenty of FS bikes in XC racing in the 21st century.
10-22-20, 09:04 AM
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Enjoy your rigid bike. I find it a good change of pace.
Last edited by Kapusta; 10-22-20 at 09:27 AM.
10-22-20, 09:26 AM
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Folks, ride whatver you like. No need to justify it. I enjoy full suspension, hard tails, and rigid bikes.
But this notion that FS bikes are sluggish and are like driving a dump truck is based purely on lack of experience with different kinds of FS bikes. A modern day FS XC bike is very fast (as shown in XC racing) and many FS bikes are extraordinarily playful and poppy as well.
If you find a HT more fun or you just can’t justify the extra cost of FS, there is nothing to explain.... but at least know what you are talking about when you try to characterize a type of bike that includes everything from XC rockets, to whippet-like trail bikes, to Enduro sleds, to DH bikes.
But this notion that FS bikes are sluggish and are like driving a dump truck is based purely on lack of experience with different kinds of FS bikes. A modern day FS XC bike is very fast (as shown in XC racing) and many FS bikes are extraordinarily playful and poppy as well.
If you find a HT more fun or you just can’t justify the extra cost of FS, there is nothing to explain.... but at least know what you are talking about when you try to characterize a type of bike that includes everything from XC rockets, to whippet-like trail bikes, to Enduro sleds, to DH bikes.
10-22-20, 10:26 AM
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Folks, ride whatver you like. No need to justify it. I enjoy full suspension, hard tails, and rigid bikes.
But this notion that FS bikes are sluggish and are like driving a dump truck is based purely on lack of experience with different kinds of FS bikes. A modern day FS XC bike is very fast (as shown in XC racing) and many FS bikes are extraordinarily playful and poppy as well.
If you find a HT more fun or you just can’t justify the extra cost of FS, there is nothing to explain.... but at least know what you are talking about when you try to characterize a type of bike that includes everything from XC rockets, to whippet-like trail bikes, to Enduro sleds, to DH bikes.
But this notion that FS bikes are sluggish and are like driving a dump truck is based purely on lack of experience with different kinds of FS bikes. A modern day FS XC bike is very fast (as shown in XC racing) and many FS bikes are extraordinarily playful and poppy as well.
If you find a HT more fun or you just can’t justify the extra cost of FS, there is nothing to explain.... but at least know what you are talking about when you try to characterize a type of bike that includes everything from XC rockets, to whippet-like trail bikes, to Enduro sleds, to DH bikes.
Light and squishy...
https://spotbikes.com/products/ryve-...31913352724514
I just bought one of these. Around 28 lbs but fun as hell.
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10-22-20, 11:25 AM
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If you can only have one mtb, then full squish is the way to go, since it can go to more unknown trails/terrain without you getting caught being under-biked. I'd rather have full-sus and not need it, than need it and not have it.
10-22-20, 11:36 AM
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^^^^What he said.
Light and squishy...
https://spotbikes.com/products/ryve-...31913352724514
I just bought one of these. Around 28 lbs but fun as hell.
Light and squishy...
https://spotbikes.com/products/ryve-...31913352724514
I just bought one of these. Around 28 lbs but fun as hell.
10-22-20, 11:38 AM
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I may be bias because I ride dirt bikes as well (as in engine powered dirt bikes). Full Squish seems like a wanna be dirt bike without the fun part (engine).
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10-22-20, 11:43 AM
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10-27-20, 07:14 PM
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^^^^What he said.
Light and squishy...
https://spotbikes.com/products/ryve-...31913352724514
I just bought one of these. Around 28 lbs but fun as hell.
Light and squishy...
https://spotbikes.com/products/ryve-...31913352724514
I just bought one of these. Around 28 lbs but fun as hell.
Last edited by noodle soup; 10-27-20 at 07:17 PM.
10-28-20, 01:14 AM
#24
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Not all full-sus are SUVs--only the heavier, gravity-focused models. My carbon 100mm travel full-sus is nimble in tight stuff and climbs fast and light. I've ridden both HTs and FSs and I like full suspension, even just 100mm, as it takes the rough edge off.
10-29-20, 02:58 PM
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Full squish = faster and more comfortable under most actual MTB situations regardless of the extra 1.5-2 pounds (if the build kits are equivalent )
