Yeah absolutely I'm riding a cheapish hardtail that I've been upgrading over the last two years, and I've even still got the xcm fork on it and amazingly it hasn't died on me yet 😅 120kg with a tendency to jump everything 🤣
You can do so much stupid shit on a fast trail when you're overbiked and a little skilled but never forget your hardtail times and try riding one once in a while for appreciation of that travel.
I am almost perpetually underbiked (mostly out of budget) I find that I can usually blow away people who think they are more skilled, if you take away their ridiculous Enduro bikes and put us on similar bikes.
For many of us, our bike is how we get around. Doctor, groceries, work,etc. Millions of people dont have a car, and their bike is primary transport. When we choose a bike it must meet many different needs, and hopefully, a little recreation as well. The peaky stratosphere of bikes we can afford is about $600-$700. And thats a stretch, with deals, loans, favors, etc.
@@ebarr9476 i think he mean he got a really expensive enduro bike as a total noob not an xc bike. besides xc bikes are plenty capable of being fun and riding technical stuff.
@@bananasstuff3344 Hell yeah, tech seems to be most all the tracks around me and my XXXC works great. XXXC of course being an XC Scott that I built to handle downhills as well. Just about finding the right balance between bike, trail, and skill.....oh and balls, you gotta have balls taking a bike designed for XC and start doing long downhill techs with
No video has better displayed the core of why I love hardtails.... UNDERBIKING MAKES RIDING MORE FUN! Most people think I'm crazy but less suspension = more skill needed = more feeling the trail = greater challenge. And the greater the challenge, the greater the fun. That's why we all love riding difficult trails with our friends we didn't realize we could do... because we all love a good challenge. Okay, rant over..... #Hardtails4life
Oh the beating tho. 55 and still top 5% in the Toronto Don Valley trails. 40kms of single track in a city of 4 million. Keep it a secret...... A Cadillac is my preference, not a Ferrari.
@@mtbsavant5414 hikers suck, because they always show up right at the exact moment you've reached optimal velocity and have to stop or slow down or come off your line. Or worse, get off the path and stand in the bush. Bleh.
I believe that more is better. Slower car faster feels faster and on teh edge. But having a faster car, when ever you want to floor it, you'll have the right tools for it and will never find the limit (well, the car's limit, because the driver's limit usually never outdoes the car's). If I had the budget, I would go for the bigger is better approach. At the end of the day, if you like rideng, you end up working on your technique so you can enjoy the fullest potential of you bike.
Yeah :D 550€ Cube Aim in 2015 xDD it still works though..and Im a heavy guy (185cm - 85kg) so yeah, pretty happy the frame didnt break on me on jumps after such mileage :D
@@MisoElEven Got 15 Cube Aim SL's in rental here. The frame will unlikely fail before the Suntour coil fork. Decent Aluminium frames just get the job done for not much money. My back gives up before these bikes.
I did my time under biked on my cheap hard tail. Upgraded to a canyon strive and I’m never looking back! I ride a good mix of everything. I’ll deal with the tough climbs!
@@Jobbazz Used for the win! Just find something that has decent components and is in good condition. No need to overthink it. I think that all lower end bikes feel similar, just make sure it fits you in terms of size.
My bike is a Canyon Strive too, and there’s a really good mix of trails where I live. If it’s over biked, I’m just about to make it more so, with a 170mm Zeb fork. I’ll take the climbs for the downhill fun (even though I’m 59 now, and booked in for yet another shoulder reconstruction). Maybe I should look at a cross country bike and trails to match? . . . . Nah
I have a 10 year old 26" cross country hardtail which is nice and light and it makes trails so fun and challenging because it will do exactly what you think you're about to do and i just love how easy it is to climb back to the top
I find myself regretting my decision on 80% of the trail when I'm out on a long travel bike. Park and really challenging double blacks just aren't something I'm riding consistently enough. I'll rent a bike if its something my 4 to 5 inch travel bike can't handle.
Lol. I was wondering what category aggressive HTs fall in. Now my old ass appreciates a full squish for not getting beat up so much, but man I wish 4 years ago when I got back into mtbing after a 15 year layoff and wanted a HT to regain my basic skills that these aggressive HTs were in the market.
I'm currently underbiked with my 26" hardtail on my local trails, but I'm happy cause I know it'll only make me a better rider. Looking forward to upgrading soonish and hopefully reaping the rewards of better technique.
Both: overbiked for my everyday trails, underbiked for my urban sends and bikepark visits @ 160/150 27,5. I gotta say, I like it better when I'm underbiked. Feels like you're outsmarting/outperforming the trail. You're actively engaging in 'solving' the problems the trail constantly tries to outdo you with. Being overbiked is much less engaging and interactive... Bit dumb feeling IMO. You're just rumbling through, not minding the trail. Underbiked: an awesome struggle Overbiked: careless inefficiency
Nigel Lax weren’t talking abt mech brakes. Most low end mtbs have hydraulic brakes. Also if you have a decent enough bike it should come with an ok drivetrain so that’s not a problem. I’d say it would be good to be a bit underbiked but not overly so that it ruins your bike
Graham S, I sort of agree, but that’s also kinda the point. Being underbiked will definitely mean it will get destroyed if you ride it hard imo. Last year I had a Norco Storm 4, by all accounts as close as you can get to an intro trail HT without being in that range. So I was BARELY under-biked for the blue trails I was riding (just started mtb two years ago). Quick release wheels should be all I need to say lol, but I’ll go further lol. I broke my derailleur off twice, pressure punctures like crazy on the back wheel (yes, not always riding as smoothly as a pro) had arm pump like you’ve never even heard of before going down roots trails, and had to avoid rocks any bigger than quarters because it could rub out a wheel instantly. It was fun as hell, and I wouldn’t have improved as much in such a short time with a better bike, but I did trash the thing simply by taking it on trails it barely wasn’t meant for (and a couple it really wasn’t meant for). I would recommend everyone goes this way, and I couldnt be happier with my FS trail bike now, but it really does come at a cost of body and wallet.
I under and over bike on all my local (and non-local) trails weekly. Helps bring to light why I bought each bike. I agree with you, who is to say which bike you "should" ride on which trail... just go ride!
Long travel bikes are so good these days - it’s hard to argue that being overbiked is even possible any more (short of a DH bike). My Ripmo climbs darn well and I’ve ridden it effectively on blue trails to DH parks and had a blast every where along the way.
Indeed, if it's a rough and long up-hill long travel only hinders by weight. Rigid wheels, frames and thick forks make for train track precision.... mostly just the weight of all the tech. On the fly tire pressure modulation is needed somehow
I like hardtail, but that's also because I ride a gt aggressor pro so that's a given. For me full suspension is like running in sand or snow, it just takes so much more energy uphill. Thanks for the video.
Dude I have an Aggressor Pro as well and I've been riding black diamonds in Tennessee. Love the bike! Any suggestions for a new fork though?? The stock suntour is pretty much done. I'm also on a budget
@@hoseawhitt9723 I went with ZTZ forks for $109 dollars. Most of my upgrades are budget oriented. A lot of us aggressor pro riders can't shell out large amounts for MTB riding if you know what I mean.
Lol I started out hitting trails on an 80 bucks fully rigid mountain bike. Still had tons of fun, even then I switched over to a 150 bucks hardtail with front suspension until I finally layed down good money for a proper XC bike
26" wheels, 12 yrs old dirtjump frame, too old fork that only somehow still works on the springs inside (about 180mm of travel going top to bottom all the time), chain rocking on the frame, catching up to a guy on a new full suspension trail bike on a black downhill trail. The best fun you can have :D
Started mtb last year, hooked! Gonna keep my hardtail for another year with some minor upgrades (dropper post, pedals, tubeless) then hopefully go full suspension next spring.
Sort of the the same here. I already have the 180mm travel bike and the 100mm xc but a trail bike won't do it when I am in a Bikepark. I also have a lot of rough trail's that only the heavy tires survive. I even need heavy tire's for the xc 😒
Excellent comparison approach - I"m a trail bike guy myself for versatility, but feel underbiked on bike parks on mountain runs. Wish I had an enduro for that different feel. Would give me more stability.
I’ve been riding a fully riding single speed the past 3+ years and I love it, mostly for the way it has forced me to improve everything about the way I ride. That said I’ve recently begun experiencing a plateau in my riding and I think it’s time to think about a trail bike. Being under biked is fun and I think I’ve learned a lot from it, but I’m ready for a new challenge.
ive been overbiked (for 30% of the trails i ride) for about 3 years now and I finally decided to get a enduro hardtail recently..... i honestly was completely blown away on how well they climb and how many more skills you need to ride fast and smooth on even a regular blue trail.
I love the direct feel and feedback of an hardtail....and you train your mind and riding skills more. After that it feels spongy and a little bit to easy riding a fully suspended. It can depend on the flat hills in Sweden, but for big and steep slopes in Åre or the alps i woud prefer a fully lockable trail/enduro. But for my needs i would take a aggressive 27,5" hardtail, like the cube reaction tm or so. And by the way a really underpowered bike can be fun as a challenge too!
I ride a 160mm travel full suspension on XC trails. It’s about 30 lbs but I love it. In Florida the trails are rooty so it absorbs it and I can pedal continuously without any pedal strikes.
All Day - over I just moved from a short travel Santa Cruz 130/120 to a 160/150. The bike is heavier and not as lively as the shorter travel bike but I love the comfort overall being in my 60's I also moved from 2.25 tires to 2.4 on the longer travel bike. So that adds some weight too but still helps to grip the ground better.
I'm a slight under-biker - with my trail bike - my experience compensates, and I can lock out my rear shock for the climbs, tremendous difference. Though I still love my hardtail, the hard ride does leave me wanting for a smoother ride.
I started out with a hardtail, even used it at a DH park a couple of times and survived. I added an enduro over the winter and won't go back. You can lock out the fork and shock about 90% so it's really not that bad on the climbs.
A good suspension is helpful on technical climbs and doesn't hinder untechnical climbs. I recommend that you work on smoothing your pedaling technique.
Last week, I rode the same trails 4 times; twice on my hardtail, then twice on my trail bike. The hardtail helped me when I got back on the fs. I rode it faster, braked later, picked better lines. It was the fastest and smoothest I’ve ever ridden some of those trails. It was a really fun thing to do.
Moved from a dual suspension XC to a hardtail and I did really enjoy it, then bought a light old trail bike but 27.5 and 150mm travel, and if you're not racing, damm this light trail bike is amazing (giant trance) and I even used it on bike parks and it handles everything pretty nice, mayne not double blacks but anything else no problems. Now I have to test my new bike 29 and 160mm, canyon spectral....I think I'm not going to miss anything, XC bikes are for racing if you have the fitness to do XC trails on a trail bike I would go for a trail bike.
I have a Kona Process. It feels amazing on the climbs but still is stable on the DH. It's not as forgiving as something like the Megatower, but that's what makes it fun.
If you get some more aggressive tires and some longer travel fork. If its possible you can get bike like marin san quentin which has different geometry made for downhill trails, light dirt jumps and enduro.
Great video! Interesting that you took the approach of riding both on the same trail. I think a "Part 2" of this video could be to ride the enduro bike on a green trail and ride the hardtail on a black trail and see what your thoughts are there as well. When you have a 1 "do it all" bike, you will be riding both under and over it's ability and I found that green trails on an enduro bike aren't that much less fun but black trails on a hardtail is absolutely miserable. That said, I think 90% should and do overbike.
I ride a YT Capra 27.5 and I love it on anything from gnarly enduro to sprinty jump trails to skate parks and pump tracks. I definitely pay with a strong kadence on the steep uphills though.
unfortunately, I only have 1 bike, which means that sometimes I'm an over biker, sometimes I'm an under biker. It's kinda like what Seth's Bike Hacks said about single speeds; "and you don't need to worry about if you're in the right gear, because you're never in the right gear". (paraphrasing).
I am so glad you finally mentioned what the most dont get. Being overbiked gives yourself the confidence to go further and further and you are never in a Position like oh shit will my bike break or not
I am happy when im out in the woods, regardless of bike and as long as shifting is good im fine. Still there must be a difference otherwise nobody would spend five grand on a megatower like bike. Nice video though
I’m a Over-Under Biker. I bought a “entry” leve Marin Bobcat 3, and so far added enough parts to my body posture and ride style. Tires, they’re the BIG difference maker on any bike. From the weight, to the grip, tires and different brands play a big factor in bicycles in general.
I had a full coil evil wreckoning and a hardtail for climbing/quick lap days. Tried a Pivot Mach6 and sold both bikes, the M6 climbed nearly as good as the hardtail and descended nearly as good as my wrecker. Now I have an 11-6 and a vorsprung tuned 36 and can say this is the best all around one bike quiver killer
This is exactly why I held on to my Cube Analog when I bought my Canyon Torque. The Torque is my main bike which I love for bikeparks, sending jumps and downhill trails. But I realize for intermediate trails (which I still love to ride cause being out in the wild on a beautiful trail, even though its not very technical is still a joy) my Cube is a lot more flexible, agile and much easier on the climbs.
I am to I have a 2008 specialized stumpjumper hard tail . I beat that bike down several times a week and it won't die. I thought many times to upgrade I just cant do it ether .lol
So very true wildernessoutside, I won't lie I have replaced alot and upgraded brakes and handle bars and went to a 1x setup after doing those little things the bike ride awesome and performs very well for me.
On my trails, my 180mm YT Capra felt incredibly sluggish and was almost boring unless I was going crazy fast or chose to ride harder riskier trails. I pulled the fox 36 off that Capra, reduced it to 140mm and put it on a santa cruz 5010 with an ext storia coil and I feel that like that's the perfect bike for 95% of trails. It encourages me to pop off of stuff, rail corners, and still plenty of bike to fall back on. The suspension itself feels firmer, giving the bike a sharper personality but when you're really pushing that gives a different type of confidence. The long-travel bike gave confidence for charging the middle of the trail and trusting the capability to soak it all up, but it felt vague and unpredictable if you try to ride more actively not to mention exhausting. For me, I choose the 5010 all the way. The group you ride with is a good point too but so is how much time you have to ride. The 5010 I can do 35-50 miles a week which is way more laps, on the enduro bike I was more 25-35 miles at the same level of effort.
Got tired of my local trails being buffed out. I like getting my teeth rattled and love a good rock garden. Went with a smaller bike , specialized epic evo. Makes the little bumps seems big. Love it.
I had a scary experience riding with some people with full suspension high end bikes, while I was riding a *steel 90s MTB* 😂 Was amazing to know that you can keep up and even exceed. But traction (700-32c Gravel tyre) and brakes where for sure a big difference on the path and braking points. Not being Able to follow the same path, made me be more free and thoughtful through the ride
@@andygilbert1877 I have a Kona kikapu deluxe from 06 but have just recently bought a Santa Cruz Bronson ,its a great great bike for hitting the bumpy stuff
I think the tyres are what makes the biggest difference. My full suspension came with fast rolling trail tyres and it felt so easy to peddle compared to my old one. As soon as I swapped to DHR II tyres, it was just the same as before and you can clearly feel the drag.
Had a Trek XCal9. Put a short stem, wider bars and Minions on it and could really handle some stuff. I rode it on the same gnarly trails I ride on my Bronson, just not as fast and beat up a lot more. The downfall of it was jumping and bike parks, which I wanted to get into. I started looking at ways to slacken the HTA and considered a better fork. But conclusion I came to was I could spend a lot of time and money on that and still have a 5 year old bike (that would also have needed a drivetrain upgrade at some point to a 1x) and still not have as a good of a machine as I could get buying a newer bike designed for what I wanted to do. But if I wasn’t interested in jumping, I might have just kept that bike as it was, maybe just slacken the HTA a bit, as there was nothing else it couldn’t do.
I didn’t mess with the HA but I did shorten the stem and add a dropper. Main reason for not messing with the HA is not snapping the frame, it’s used well outside recommended use as it is. Shorter stem and dropper make it behave better in the air.
Been a underbiker for my life, This video actually confirms how i like to use my bike, Thats usually uphill that i enjoy, Even then i use a Tiagra / ZEE 10spd gear combo because i still think having a race gearset on a hardtail gives a unique experience
A great look into the second bike buying decision making process with this video. I own the 23lb HT and a 32lb Marin RZ3, both 29ers. I have ridden everything but extreme DH on the hardtail and absolutely loved almost every minute of it. The only thing I will say about it is you have to be prepared for the one obstacle on the trail you cannot avoid. It is always the one that gets you or at least stops you in your tracks! I rode the RZ3 in Pisgah for a week straight and never wanted for the HT except on those days with 7-10 miles of climbing. But I never minded the climbing after the descent started. I never feel over-biked on either of my bikes, usually more under-biked on both. I used to feel over-biked on the old Cannondale Jekyll though. Being over-biked really sucks on the really steep technical climbing sections.
I've ridden a gravel bike on MTB trails, and a light full suspension bike, and had fun doing both, but Going down hills fast what I find fun, so being over-biked will almost always be more fun.
I find that riding a big bike on blue trails, even descending is more work. But I also find it's more capable of doing big gaps I find on the trails and the rear end doesn't flex as much when I shralp. But I find that being under biked improves your skill significantly.
I have ridden a 100mm hardtail for three years now and Cinderella was definitely chattery for me as well. My friends rode trail and enduro bikes so I always killed it on the climbs compared to them. The only thing was i took the bike places it shouldn't have gone compared to my friends and ended up crashing more often trying to push the limits of the bike. Overall it was fun, but its definitely time for an upgrade.
I'm an underbiker on purpose. Just recently bought the Dartmoor Primal with Suntour Aion forks (150mm) travel. It's a Trail/Enduro Hardtail, and boat loads of fun!
I'd say that there's an appropriate amount of bike. I prefer hardtails to full suspension on my cross-country rides as it makes the trail more challenging and the descents more playful. I ride a pretty aggressive hardtail with 6" of travel in the front, plenty of brakes, and a slack headtube. This makes the chunky stuff less nerve wracking, but still makes me earn it skill wise. A full suspension bike makes for faster descents, but in my opinion, at the cost of fun. Plus the climb soon after is way less punishing on a hardtail. Balance is key. I find people focus too much on having a high spec and tech bike, when in reality if you try a bunch of frames and ride the one you enjoy you walk away happier. Nothing is more rewarding than passing someone on the trail with full carbon/ travel bike, on your relatively budget machine. The best bike is what gets you out there.
I was thinking about this video this morning when I was riding my Megatower on some blue trails. A lot of my gear choice is constrained by the fact that I’m a big, heavy rider, so I’m pretty much limited to DH and enduro equipment. But I have two strategies for keeping it fresh on a big bike. First, I ride it wide open and go for the craziest lines available. On Cinderella, for example, the fast line through the big rock garden is far left. But you don’t need to take that line. You can shout “LEROY JENKINS” and send it right down the middle and it’s a totally different experience. Most blue trails have a lot of dumb line options, and I know that plowing through dumb lines has been a solid way for me to work on my handling skills and confidence, if not my line selection or Strava times. Second, you can lock out your rear shock and crank up the LSC on your fork all the way up and then you’ve basically got a giant XC bike. Riding blue and green trails with your suspension locked out means you’re back to focusing on smooth lines and good times. Plus, if they’re mostly blue trails with a couple of gnarly sections, you can open up your suspension for those instead of sketchily picking your way through.
I live here in Southern Californian and most people ride 150mm+ and I've always wondered why. I agree that more suspension is safer, and definitely necessary in really steep chunk if you want to go fast. But I'm not sure it's needed. My brother blasts past 90% of the big suspension dudes (down and uphill) on a hardtail and he's almost 50. Me, not so much, but I have matched some of my FS PRs on my new HT and I'm 48. I call it HI DEF MTB. That said, I'm just stoked I can get better on any bike that doesn't have a motor. Cheers!
I'm atm, & not by choice, an underbiker.. I'm on a fully rigid chromoly 29er (about a size too small unfortunately)...BUT, on my local blue & black trails, still having a blast looking for new and other lines. Not 1 to complain (at least not too much), I'm just super stoked to be ripping techy singletrack now on my new 2.35 High Roller 2 Maxxis tires. Thats after a 10yr mtb break, basically my Redline monocog is like a big BMX bike to me. Still able to clear some gnarly sections other local guys are struggling with on their 6in travel dual sus bikes. It's amazing what a rigid 29er can do, but just does everything kinda differently lol... Totally saving up for an aggressive, modern geometry hardtail ASAP tho!!!!
I don't think it's just the weight that's the difference in the pedal efficiency. I believe it's a combination of tires with more rolling resistance and pedal bob in the rear suspension. Even on flat terrain my my full susp is a pig to pedal compared to my hardtail
I ride an old Jamis exile; everything on this bike has been replaced except for the transmission, yes it's still a 3X9. Even after investing probably 3 times the bikes original cost in like 2008, I still love this underbiked steel workhorse. I have different wheel and tire setups depending on where I'm riding, from asphalt with roadie friends to hardpack trails with hybrid friends to trail riding in the woods with teens. Hi, my name is Ike, and I'm an underbiked (but I still have fun).
Great idea for a comparison. Never thought of that angle. Nicely done😀 Oh, and I'm an over-biker for sure. I love my 160/153 travel enduro on my local green/blues
I like that you made this about which bike was the most fun to ride. Not which one gave you the fastest lap times, although that would be interesting to know too. For most of us it's about the enjoyment you get out of your ride. I find that in the 27.5 vs 29 debate, the fun-factor is often overshadowed by which one is fastest when people make comparison videos.
Thanks for doing this comparison. I have been wondering this for years. I still wont give in into full suspension. I have a hard tail and I love it. Yeah, is it hard on your arms while down hilling? Probably, but I always thought the extra weight and the lack of stiffness on the drive train half of the bike has to be horrible for climbing. The loss of power being absorbed by the shocks has to hurt your performance too.
I live in Norway, that means there is a great mix of cross country and gnar, rough terrain. I live in a place where that definitely is the case. So 170mm travel is not wrong choice for me, especially with my back,neck issues. but geometry, sizing plays a big role in how well a bike climbs, my Geometron G1 climbs much better than my old bikes, 2014 Fuel ex, or my old xc hardtail, 2010 Trek 6300. it's much easier to climb, and that bike fits me. the older bikes did not fit me. with 120mm I was always on the limit, and had to have pressures quite high, but I did not try volume reducers, but the fork already came with a long volume reducer stock, those long grey ones. but now I have a much better suspension setup, EXT Storia V 3 shock, FOX 36 GRIP2 with Vorsprung Smashpot coil conversion, BTW V is pronounced as F, cus it''s German name. it's plush,yet supportive setup, a lot of adjustment on the fork. and the fork is stiff, so on with hard riding and advanced moves it does not feel too flexy like fox 32 did. I love the new bike, but I think I should get Onyx Vesper hubs, for instant engagement.
I was watching some early and mid 90's UCI MTB downhill world championship videos and I was actually surprised to see that they were running hardtails! And bikes actually held up through the entire ordeals!
Most of the over biked options have geometry chips to lose a little bit of slack, and can tweek compression and dampening to use less travel and make a smoother flow trail ride more poppy and pedal efficient.
I went from a Scott 740 to a Giant Glory did DH, then sold them and got a Santa Cruz Bronson 27.5, but started going out with a more XC group and decided to get a XTC hardtail and now after 2 year of a HT bike just got a Giant anthem 29 90mm in the back and 100mm front because the HT its to hard long descend. I hope now with the anthem to keep having fun.
Rode a Pivot Mach 5.5 (140/160) for two full seasons on anything from mellow blue trails to Lenzerheide Bikepark and the small line at Huckfest in Norway, super fun! Yes, a DH Bike or even just a longer travel enduro bike would have been easier on the hands, but never as playful and poppy on the jumps. Now I got a Chromag Stylus hardtail (160) which I don't intend to take into the high alps, but it slays descents while being very fun to ride. Next up is a self built steel frame with 140/160mm travel but more progressive geo than must long travel enduro bikes, curious how that will feel. Great video on the topic btw! :)
I'm a student with a very limited budget, so I bought an enduro bike for 12.000 NOK (or 1.250 USD). It's on the lower end of full suspension bikes. I have tried back and forth with settings on the bike and in the start it was for sure underbiking hard, but after fiddling with suspension settings and air pressure I've found a perfect mix. So now I would say it's middlebiking! I learned a lot from this and looking forward to be able to afford a more expensive bike! Thanks for the great video, interesting topic for sure :)
My favorite part was starting the diet tomorrow. 😂 To answer your question I’m definitely and under biker lately. It’s just been breathing new light on trails I ride a lot.
I rode an aggressive hard tail which fits most of both worlds. Climbs well and also feels great on the descents. And in my area and the people I ride with anything trail is gonna be a good choice.
I now run 145/160mm after riding a 130mm for a year; I just prefer the comfort and plush feeling of a little extra travel. Climbing efficiency shouldn't hurt much when you're pedaling seated most of the time either, and there's always that shock lockout if you feel you need it. Most people can't swap bikes like that every year, but I ride a GG and the modular platform allows me to do just that after for essentially no cost after trading some parts on facebook marketplace.
I live in Florida and I own two bikes. Neither a trail bike in the traditional sense. One is a Kona Big Honzo ST, set up SS. The other a Transition Sentinel. I normally bring both bikes to the trail and grab the one that I think would be the most fun. Sometimes both bikes see action on the same day, but either way, it keeps it interesting always being under or over biked.
The budget demands I under bike lol
As a public high school student, relatable.
Yeah absolutely I'm riding a cheapish hardtail that I've been upgrading over the last two years, and I've even still got the xcm fork on it and amazingly it hasn't died on me yet 😅 120kg with a tendency to jump everything 🤣
Me too I have a 600 dollar hardtail with a few upgrades but it hasn’t failed me haha
That just means your fun to dollar ratio is off the charts!
Connor Parmelee Mtb mine failed me
Go underbiked to gain skills
Go overbiked when you're already skilled and you want to SHRED
Go underbiked if you like to be scared too lol
That is how my mtb life has gone so far
You can do so much stupid shit on a fast trail when you're overbiked and a little skilled but never forget your hardtail times and try riding one once in a while for appreciation of that travel.
I am almost perpetually underbiked (mostly out of budget) I find that I can usually blow away people who think they are more skilled, if you take away their ridiculous Enduro bikes and put us on similar bikes.
@@liquidwombat oh yeah!
It's cool to pass a group of "enduro" rides on a budget hardtail and see their reaction 😄
I am a classic "under biker" ...based purely on budget though 😎🇨🇦
Money doesn't equal fun!
@@mtbsavant5414 truth. I prefer to smash the trails on an under bike. It's way more fun to go fast on a slow bike than to go slow on a fast bike 😎🇨🇦🤘
Well in CA youre probably happy to have a place to live :D having a 10k bike probably isnt a priority xDD
For many of us, our bike is how we get around. Doctor, groceries, work,etc. Millions of people dont have a car, and their bike is primary transport. When we choose a bike it must meet many different needs, and hopefully, a little recreation as well. The peaky stratosphere of bikes we can afford is about $600-$700. And thats a stretch, with deals, loans, favors, etc.
@@steveharrigan7811 just buy used
You forgot to factor in UNDERRIDERED! I bought a really expensive bike and started crashing my way downhill one ride at a time. 😂
Yes! XC bikes are designed to win races.... not a technical or fun ride. I've seen this purchase mistake a few times.
@@ebarr9476 i think he mean he got a really expensive enduro bike as a total noob not an xc bike. besides xc bikes are plenty capable of being fun and riding technical stuff.
@@bananasstuff3344 Hell yeah, tech seems to be most all the tracks around me and my XXXC works great. XXXC of course being an XC Scott that I built to handle downhills as well. Just about finding the right balance between bike, trail, and skill.....oh and balls, you gotta have balls taking a bike designed for XC and start doing long downhill techs with
Ha. Brilliant
Ed Barr That’s the exact purchase mistake I made! Now I have an XC bike that doesn’t look like an XC and I have I lot of XC parts laying around 🤣🤣🤣
No video has better displayed the core of why I love hardtails.... UNDERBIKING MAKES RIDING MORE FUN! Most people think I'm crazy but less suspension = more skill needed = more feeling the trail = greater challenge. And the greater the challenge, the greater the fun. That's why we all love riding difficult trails with our friends we didn't realize we could do... because we all love a good challenge. Okay, rant over..... #Hardtails4life
Couldn't agree more!
Oh the beating tho. 55 and still top 5% in the Toronto Don Valley trails. 40kms of single track in a city of 4 million. Keep it a secret...... A Cadillac is my preference, not a Ferrari.
Right there with you! I'm having way too much fun on my Rootdown, including on Cinderella Trail!
“ WE “ ?? If you can’t include ME , then it ain’t WE .
@@Error-hc7mp I completely understand...and as a favor, I will be more than happy to take your full frame off your hands.
the “when there’s no hiker” and “starting tomorrow” had me laughing so hard lol
Feel me?!
Same here!
@@mtbsavant5414 hikers suck, because they always show up right at the exact moment you've reached optimal velocity and have to stop or slow down or come off your line. Or worse, get off the path and stand in the bush. Bleh.
@@colinfruend5537 you mean standing in poison oak! Lol
@@mtbsavant5414 They say it builds character and is good for the soul! Lmao
Ride whatcha got!!!
What if you have 6 bikes? #1stworldproblems
MTB Savant flip a coin. 😁
@@jctrails You mean 6 sided dice? lol
@@mtbsavant5414 or flip a coin in a elimination tournament style
MTB Savant You need to do atleast 6 laps every time you ride!
Does the, “Its more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow” mantra work here?
To some extent yes.
I believe that more is better. Slower car faster feels faster and on teh edge. But having a faster car, when ever you want to floor it, you'll have the right tools for it and will never find the limit (well, the car's limit, because the driver's limit usually never outdoes the car's). If I had the budget, I would go for the bigger is better approach. At the end of the day, if you like rideng, you end up working on your technique so you can enjoy the fullest potential of you bike.
I am as biked as the budget allows! 😆
lol, touche
Yeah :D 550€ Cube Aim in 2015 xDD it still works though..and Im a heavy guy (185cm - 85kg) so yeah, pretty happy the frame didnt break on me on jumps after such mileage :D
@@MisoElEven Got 15 Cube Aim SL's in rental here. The frame will unlikely fail before the Suntour coil fork. Decent Aluminium frames just get the job done for not much money.
My back gives up before these bikes.
I did my time under biked on my cheap hard tail. Upgraded to a canyon strive and I’m never looking back! I ride a good mix of everything. I’ll deal with the tough climbs!
You don't need a license to ride bikes, but I'd mandate eveyone do their time on a cheap hardtail
MTB Savant absolutely.
MTB Savant any recommendations of a cheap hard tail?
@@Jobbazz Used for the win! Just find something that has decent components and is in good condition. No need to overthink it. I think that all lower end bikes feel similar, just make sure it fits you in terms of size.
My bike is a Canyon Strive too, and there’s a really good mix of trails where I live. If it’s over biked, I’m just about to make it more so, with a 170mm Zeb fork. I’ll take the climbs for the downhill fun (even though I’m 59 now, and booked in for yet another shoulder reconstruction). Maybe I should look at a cross country bike and trails to match? . . . . Nah
Measuring suspension in inches #murrica
"freedom fractions"
I have a 10 year old 26" cross country hardtail which is nice and light and it makes trails so fun and challenging because it will do exactly what you think you're about to do and i just love how easy it is to climb back to the top
I find myself regretting my decision on 80% of the trail when I'm out on a long travel bike. Park and really challenging double blacks just aren't something I'm riding consistently enough. I'll rent a bike if its something my 4 to 5 inch travel bike can't handle.
Agreed!
I agree. I was wanting to upgrade bikes but why bother if my 5” travel is sufficient for 95% of riding environment.
Considering I mainly ride my hardcore hardtail, I'd say I'm over-under biked
Right on
Lol. I was wondering what category aggressive HTs fall in. Now my old ass appreciates a full squish for not getting beat up so much, but man I wish 4 years ago when I got back into mtbing after a 15 year layoff and wanted a HT to regain my basic skills that these aggressive HTs were in the market.
That's me on my Rocky Mountain Growler.
I would say overbike Just because all my friends have enduro bike and most of the trails where I live are fire road climbs and chunky descents
Makes sense to me!
I'm currently underbiked with my 26" hardtail on my local trails, but I'm happy cause I know it'll only make me a better rider.
Looking forward to upgrading soonish and hopefully reaping the rewards of better technique.
Both: overbiked for my everyday trails, underbiked for my urban sends and bikepark visits @ 160/150 27,5. I gotta say, I like it better when I'm underbiked. Feels like you're outsmarting/outperforming the trail. You're actively engaging in 'solving' the problems the trail constantly tries to outdo you with. Being overbiked is much less engaging and interactive... Bit dumb feeling IMO. You're just rumbling through, not minding the trail.
Underbiked: an awesome struggle
Overbiked: careless inefficiency
Agreed
Pump up yur shocks and tire pressures
Underbiked = drive train issues that will ruin your climb and mech brakes that will pop every tendon in your hand on steep tech.
Nigel Lax weren’t talking abt mech brakes. Most low end mtbs have hydraulic brakes. Also if you have a decent enough bike it should come with an ok drivetrain so that’s not a problem. I’d say it would be good to be a bit underbiked but not overly so that it ruins your bike
Graham S, I sort of agree, but that’s also kinda the point. Being underbiked will definitely mean it will get destroyed if you ride it hard imo. Last year I had a Norco Storm 4, by all accounts as close as you can get to an intro trail HT without being in that range. So I was BARELY under-biked for the blue trails I was riding (just started mtb two years ago). Quick release wheels should be all I need to say lol, but I’ll go further lol. I broke my derailleur off twice, pressure punctures like crazy on the back wheel (yes, not always riding as smoothly as a pro) had arm pump like you’ve never even heard of before going down roots trails, and had to avoid rocks any bigger than quarters because it could rub out a wheel instantly. It was fun as hell, and I wouldn’t have improved as much in such a short time with a better bike, but I did trash the thing simply by taking it on trails it barely wasn’t meant for (and a couple it really wasn’t meant for). I would recommend everyone goes this way, and I couldnt be happier with my FS trail bike now, but it really does come at a cost of body and wallet.
I under and over bike on all my local (and non-local) trails weekly. Helps bring to light why I bought each bike. I agree with you, who is to say which bike you "should" ride on which trail... just go ride!
Long travel bikes are so good these days - it’s hard to argue that being overbiked is even possible any more (short of a DH bike). My Ripmo climbs darn well and I’ve ridden it effectively on blue trails to DH parks and had a blast every where along the way.
I agree. I ride a canyon torque and have zero issues climbing and I can still take it to a downhill park.
Indeed, if it's a rough and long up-hill long travel only hinders by weight. Rigid wheels, frames and thick forks make for train track precision.... mostly just the weight of all the tech. On the fly tire pressure modulation is needed somehow
I like hardtail, but that's also because I ride a gt aggressor pro so that's a given. For me full suspension is like running in sand or snow, it just takes so much more energy uphill. Thanks for the video.
Awesome, thnx for the comment
thats were yeti comes into play
Dude I have an Aggressor Pro as well and I've been riding black diamonds in Tennessee. Love the bike! Any suggestions for a new fork though?? The stock suntour is pretty much done. I'm also on a budget
@@hoseawhitt9723 I went with ZTZ forks for $109 dollars. Most of my upgrades are budget oriented. A lot of us aggressor pro riders can't shell out large amounts for MTB riding if you know what I mean.
@@WOLFTICKVIDEOS Yeah for real lol. Thanks so much!!
I am an underbiker because of my budget and when you're underbiked, you can really see your progress as a rider.
Scott Spark FTW. Can’t go wrong. Perfect bike
Im in 4th category: UnderUnderbiked with my 400$ hardtail
Underbiked doesn't mean underFUN.
Same🙁😌
Try a used $40 hardtail
Which one do you have at $400?
Lol I started out hitting trails on an 80 bucks fully rigid mountain bike. Still had tons of fun, even then I switched over to a 150 bucks hardtail with front suspension until I finally layed down good money for a proper XC bike
26" wheels, 12 yrs old dirtjump frame, too old fork that only somehow still works on the springs inside (about 180mm of travel going top to bottom all the time), chain rocking on the frame, catching up to a guy on a new full suspension trail bike on a black downhill trail. The best fun you can have :D
Started mtb last year, hooked! Gonna keep my hardtail for another year with some minor upgrades (dropper post, pedals, tubeless) then hopefully go full suspension next spring.
Don't go under or over. Just get a trail bike! Nice vid.
100% over bike, more of a workout on the climbs, and way more fun on the descents.
Yup, depends on what you value
So if I have to ride a downhill bike a long way up the mountain, I wouldn't want to go downhill anymore.
@@mtbsavant5414 Is there anyone you disagree with?
Just found the channel yesterday and I gotta say this is one of the best of its kind!
Overbiked, I need one for the bike park (even though my local trails don’t warrant one) and I can’t afford to have 2 bikes or rent every time.
Sort of the the same here. I already have the 180mm travel bike and the 100mm xc but a trail bike won't do it when I am in a Bikepark. I also have a lot of rough trail's that only the heavy tires survive. I even need heavy tire's for the xc 😒
Excellent comparison approach - I"m a trail bike guy myself for versatility, but feel underbiked on bike parks on mountain runs. Wish I had an enduro for that different feel. Would give me more stability.
I was a trail bike guy myself for 5 yrs. Only recently considered an Enduro sled in my stable
I’ve been riding a fully riding single speed the past 3+ years and I love it, mostly for the way it has forced me to improve everything about the way I ride. That said I’ve recently begun experiencing a plateau in my riding and I think it’s time to think about a trail bike. Being under biked is fun and I think I’ve learned a lot from it, but I’m ready for a new challenge.
ive been overbiked (for 30% of the trails i ride) for about 3 years now and I finally decided to get a enduro hardtail recently..... i honestly was completely blown away on how well they climb and how many more skills you need to ride fast and smooth on even a regular blue trail.
I love the direct feel and feedback of an hardtail....and you train your mind and riding skills more. After that it feels spongy and a little bit to easy riding a fully suspended. It can depend on the flat hills in Sweden, but for big and steep slopes in Åre or the alps i woud prefer a fully lockable trail/enduro. But for my needs i would take a aggressive 27,5" hardtail, like the cube reaction tm or so.
And by the way a really underpowered bike can be fun as a challenge too!
Couldn't agree more!
I ride a 160mm travel full suspension on XC trails. It’s about 30 lbs but I love it. In Florida the trails are rooty so it absorbs it and I can pedal continuously without any pedal strikes.
Ride what you got
Hardtail with 26" tires and a 1x9 is what I'm on.
Microshift?
All Day - over I just moved from a short travel Santa Cruz 130/120 to a 160/150. The bike is heavier and not as lively as the shorter travel bike but I love the comfort overall being in my 60's I also moved from 2.25 tires to 2.4 on the longer travel bike. So that adds some weight too but still helps to grip the ground better.
Geezus that Santa Cruz is gorgeous.
Their bikes are beautiful
I'm a slight under-biker - with my trail bike - my experience compensates, and I can lock out my rear shock for the climbs, tremendous difference. Though I still love my hardtail, the hard ride does leave me wanting for a smoother ride.
I hear ya. The HT rips on the smoother stuff though!
I started out with a hardtail, even used it at a DH park a couple of times and survived. I added an enduro over the winter and won't go back. You can lock out the fork and shock about 90% so it's really not that bad on the climbs.
@the simpson cz brother same
I'm just too fit and light weight 😂
The coil spring is for fat shits
A good suspension is helpful on technical climbs and doesn't hinder untechnical climbs. I recommend that you work on smoothing your pedaling technique.
Currently trying to choose between a Kona Process 134 and a 153. Have demoed both, hard choice!! Helpful video, thanks!!
Up-vote for using the phrase "Body English" properly.
I bet you work in IT bruh
Last week, I rode the same trails 4 times; twice on my hardtail, then twice on my trail bike. The hardtail helped me when I got back on the fs. I rode it faster, braked later, picked better lines. It was the fastest and smoothest I’ve ever ridden some of those trails. It was a really fun thing to do.
The best thing about a hardtail is just how much they can make you appreciate your fs
Moved from a dual suspension XC to a hardtail and I did really enjoy it, then bought a light old trail bike but 27.5 and 150mm travel, and if you're not racing, damm this light trail bike is amazing (giant trance) and I even used it on bike parks and it handles everything pretty nice, mayne not double blacks but anything else no problems. Now I have to test my new bike 29 and 160mm, canyon spectral....I think I'm not going to miss anything, XC bikes are for racing if you have the fitness to do XC trails on a trail bike I would go for a trail bike.
I have a Kona Process. It feels amazing on the climbs but still is stable on the DH. It's not as forgiving as something like the Megatower, but that's what makes it fun.
That's a great bike for sure
Which one? I've been eyeballing the process line up for a while. They seem really neat. What do you think of yours?
@@thetinkerer5763 I have the 153 DL, It's freakin' awesome, best all-rounder on the market in my opinion. Super "playful".
If you get some more aggressive tires and some longer travel fork. If its possible you can get bike like marin san quentin which has different geometry made for downhill trails, light dirt jumps and enduro.
Great video! Interesting that you took the approach of riding both on the same trail. I think a "Part 2" of this video could be to ride the enduro bike on a green trail and ride the hardtail on a black trail and see what your thoughts are there as well. When you have a 1 "do it all" bike, you will be riding both under and over it's ability and I found that green trails on an enduro bike aren't that much less fun but black trails on a hardtail is absolutely miserable.
That said, I think 90% should and do overbike.
Part 2 is coming :)
I ride a YT Capra 27.5 and I love it on anything from gnarly enduro to sprinty jump trails to skate parks and pump tracks. I definitely pay with a strong kadence on the steep uphills though.
unfortunately, I only have 1 bike, which means that sometimes I'm an over biker, sometimes I'm an under biker. It's kinda like what Seth's Bike Hacks said about single speeds; "and you don't need to worry about if you're in the right gear, because you're never in the right gear". (paraphrasing).
Words to live by
I am so glad you finally mentioned what the most dont get. Being overbiked gives yourself the confidence to go further and further and you are never in a Position like oh shit will my bike break or not
Agreed although it's clear from the comments many people enjoy cheating death lol.
I am happy when im out in the woods, regardless of bike and as long as shifting is good im fine. Still there must be a difference otherwise nobody would spend five grand on a megatower like bike. Nice video though
I’m a Over-Under Biker. I bought a “entry” leve Marin Bobcat 3, and so far added enough parts to my body posture and ride style. Tires, they’re the BIG difference maker on any bike. From the weight, to the grip, tires and different brands play a big factor in bicycles in general.
thats why i cant say bye to carbon hardtails, makes climbs almost fun to do, and descents sketchy af.
They're so FUN!
I had a full coil evil wreckoning and a hardtail for climbing/quick lap days. Tried a Pivot Mach6 and sold both bikes, the M6 climbed nearly as good as the hardtail and descended nearly as good as my wrecker. Now I have an 11-6 and a vorsprung tuned 36 and can say this is the best all around one bike quiver killer
I can see that. The wreck was a sled!
Well I got third in a cross country race with a 180, 170 Commencal
Clash? Changed the wheels to carbon?
Danail Delchev naw a 27.5 Meta Am v 4.2
I used to ride that trail as the last part of my commute from walnut creek. On a cyclocross bike. My favorite trail of all time on any bike!
It's a great trail (when there's no hikers) lol
2:39 'Starting Tomorrow'🤣
This is exactly why I held on to my Cube Analog when I bought my Canyon Torque. The Torque is my main bike which I love for bikeparks, sending jumps and downhill trails. But I realize for intermediate trails (which I still love to ride cause being out in the wild on a beautiful trail, even though its not very technical is still a joy) my Cube is a lot more flexible, agile and much easier on the climbs.
I’m an older-biker. I’m still in a 2001 Giant that won’t die, so I have a hard time getting rid of it or upgrading.
Keep on riding it!
ive got 06 Kona kikiapu deluxe and is still ride that from time to time
I am to I have a 2008 specialized stumpjumper hard tail . I beat that bike down several times a week and it won't die. I thought many times to upgrade I just cant do it ether .lol
@@danhart2411 tbh when you get a bike dialled they just feel right
So very true wildernessoutside, I won't lie I have replaced alot and upgraded brakes and handle bars and went to a 1x setup after doing those little things the bike ride awesome and performs very well for me.
On my trails, my 180mm YT Capra felt incredibly sluggish and was almost boring unless I was going crazy fast or chose to ride harder riskier trails. I pulled the fox 36 off that Capra, reduced it to 140mm and put it on a santa cruz 5010 with an ext storia coil and I feel that like that's the perfect bike for 95% of trails. It encourages me to pop off of stuff, rail corners, and still plenty of bike to fall back on. The suspension itself feels firmer, giving the bike a sharper personality but when you're really pushing that gives a different type of confidence. The long-travel bike gave confidence for charging the middle of the trail and trusting the capability to soak it all up, but it felt vague and unpredictable if you try to ride more actively not to mention exhausting. For me, I choose the 5010 all the way. The group you ride with is a good point too but so is how much time you have to ride. The 5010 I can do 35-50 miles a week which is way more laps, on the enduro bike I was more 25-35 miles at the same level of effort.
Considering my only bike was a DH for the last 14 years until a month ago I finally got an enduro, I'd say overbiked.
Right on!
Got tired of my local trails being buffed out. I like getting my teeth rattled and love a good rock garden. Went with a smaller bike , specialized epic evo. Makes the little bumps seems big. Love it.
Over biked to re-balance my lack off skills. #stafetynet 🤕
I had a scary experience riding with some people with full suspension high end bikes, while I was riding a *steel 90s MTB* 😂
Was amazing to know that you can keep up and even exceed. But traction (700-32c Gravel tyre) and brakes where for sure a big difference on the path and braking points. Not being
Able to follow the same path, made me be more free and thoughtful through the ride
I watched this wishing I had a full sus Santa Cruz
Ride what you got!
Funny. I’m watching this wishing I had a sweet hard tail. Grass is always greener.
@@jymtb n+1!
John Yeun I’m fortunate to have both. (Both Konas) Would still like a full sus Santa Cruz though! :)
@@andygilbert1877 I have a Kona kikapu deluxe from 06 but have just recently bought a Santa Cruz Bronson ,its a great great bike for hitting the bumpy stuff
I think the tyres are what makes the biggest difference. My full suspension came with fast rolling trail tyres and it felt so easy to peddle compared to my old one. As soon as I swapped to DHR II tyres, it was just the same as before and you can clearly feel the drag.
Tires are def a factor for sure.
I prefer my hard tail just because it feels more manly
ive ridden black on my xc hardtail, i just ordered my first trail bike a vitus mythique excited to see the difference
Report back!
Who else converted their Xc Hardtail to a slack trail machine!!!??
Had a Trek XCal9. Put a short stem, wider bars and Minions on it and could really handle some stuff. I rode it on the same gnarly trails I ride on my Bronson, just not as fast and beat up a lot more. The downfall of it was jumping and bike parks, which I wanted to get into. I started looking at ways to slacken the HTA and considered a better fork. But conclusion I came to was I could spend a lot of time and money on that and still have a 5 year old bike (that would also have needed a drivetrain upgrade at some point to a 1x) and still not have as a good of a machine as I could get buying a newer bike designed for what I wanted to do. But if I wasn’t interested in jumping, I might have just kept that bike as it was, maybe just slacken the HTA a bit, as there was nothing else it couldn’t do.
I'm in the process of converting my giant talon 27.5 to more of a trail bike right now
I didn’t mess with the HA but I did shorten the stem and add a dropper. Main reason for not messing with the HA is not snapping the frame, it’s used well outside recommended use as it is. Shorter stem and dropper make it behave better in the air.
Been a underbiker for my life, This video actually confirms how i like to use my bike, Thats usually uphill that i enjoy, Even then i use a Tiagra / ZEE 10spd gear combo because i still think having a race gearset on a hardtail gives a unique experience
I enjoy the climbs as well. Would love to add a race hardtail to my stable
A great look into the second bike buying decision making process with this video. I own the 23lb HT and a 32lb Marin RZ3, both 29ers. I have ridden everything but extreme DH on the hardtail and absolutely loved almost every minute of it. The only thing I will say about it is you have to be prepared for the one obstacle on the trail you cannot avoid. It is always the one that gets you or at least stops you in your tracks! I rode the RZ3 in Pisgah for a week straight and never wanted for the HT except on those days with 7-10 miles of climbing. But I never minded the climbing after the descent started. I never feel over-biked on either of my bikes, usually more under-biked on both. I used to feel over-biked on the old Cannondale Jekyll though. Being over-biked really sucks on the really steep technical climbing sections.
Great insight, thanks for sharing
I've ridden a gravel bike on MTB trails, and a light full suspension bike, and had fun doing both, but Going down hills fast what I find fun, so being over-biked will almost always be more fun.
I find that riding a big bike on blue trails, even descending is more work. But I also find it's more capable of doing big gaps I find on the trails and the rear end doesn't flex as much when I shralp. But I find that being under biked improves your skill significantly.
I have ridden a 100mm hardtail for three years now and Cinderella was definitely chattery for me as well. My friends rode trail and enduro bikes so I always killed it on the climbs compared to them. The only thing was i took the bike places it shouldn't have gone compared to my friends and ended up crashing more often trying to push the limits of the bike. Overall it was fun, but its definitely time for an upgrade.
Underbiker. Fs xc with an offset shock pin and 10mm longer fork to compensate. Love it!
The underbikers are out in full force. I love it!
I'm an underbiker on purpose.
Just recently bought the Dartmoor Primal with Suntour Aion forks (150mm) travel.
It's a Trail/Enduro Hardtail, and boat loads of fun!
I'd say that there's an appropriate amount of bike. I prefer hardtails to full suspension on my cross-country rides as it makes the trail more challenging and the descents more playful. I ride a pretty aggressive hardtail with 6" of travel in the front, plenty of brakes, and a slack headtube. This makes the chunky stuff less nerve wracking, but still makes me earn it skill wise. A full suspension bike makes for faster descents, but in my opinion, at the cost of fun. Plus the climb soon after is way less punishing on a hardtail. Balance is key. I find people focus too much on having a high spec and tech bike, when in reality if you try a bunch of frames and ride the one you enjoy you walk away happier. Nothing is more rewarding than passing someone on the trail with full carbon/ travel bike, on your relatively budget machine. The best bike is what gets you out there.
I was thinking about this video this morning when I was riding my Megatower on some blue trails. A lot of my gear choice is constrained by the fact that I’m a big, heavy rider, so I’m pretty much limited to DH and enduro equipment. But I have two strategies for keeping it fresh on a big bike. First, I ride it wide open and go for the craziest lines available. On Cinderella, for example, the fast line through the big rock garden is far left. But you don’t need to take that line. You can shout “LEROY JENKINS” and send it right down the middle and it’s a totally different experience. Most blue trails have a lot of dumb line options, and I know that plowing through dumb lines has been a solid way for me to work on my handling skills and confidence, if not my line selection or Strava times. Second, you can lock out your rear shock and crank up the LSC on your fork all the way up and then you’ve basically got a giant XC bike. Riding blue and green trails with your suspension locked out means you’re back to focusing on smooth lines and good times. Plus, if they’re mostly blue trails with a couple of gnarly sections, you can open up your suspension for those instead of sketchily picking your way through.
I live here in Southern Californian and most people ride 150mm+ and I've always wondered why. I agree that more suspension is safer, and definitely necessary in really steep chunk if you want to go fast. But I'm not sure it's needed. My brother blasts past 90% of the big suspension dudes (down and uphill) on a hardtail and he's almost 50. Me, not so much, but I have matched some of my FS PRs on my new HT and I'm 48. I call it HI DEF MTB. That said, I'm just stoked I can get better on any bike that doesn't have a motor. Cheers!
150mm bikes are def popular these days for sure
Oh shit! Cinderella trail is some nice chunk! Love that trail
One of my favorites as well
Got this video in my recommendations, so glad I did.
Great production quality and very informative. New sub :)
Yay for algorithms!
I'm atm, & not by choice, an underbiker..
I'm on a fully rigid chromoly 29er (about a size too small unfortunately)...BUT, on my local blue & black trails, still having a blast looking for new and other lines.
Not 1 to complain (at least not too much), I'm just super stoked to be ripping techy singletrack now on my new 2.35 High Roller 2 Maxxis tires. Thats after a 10yr mtb break, basically my Redline monocog is like a big BMX bike to me. Still able to clear some gnarly sections other local guys are struggling with on their 6in travel dual sus bikes. It's amazing what a rigid 29er can do, but just does everything kinda differently lol...
Totally saving up for an aggressive, modern geometry hardtail ASAP tho!!!!
Tires make such a big difference
I don't think it's just the weight that's the difference in the pedal efficiency. I believe it's a combination of tires with more rolling resistance and pedal bob in the rear suspension. Even on flat terrain my my full susp is a pig to pedal compared to my hardtail
I ride an old Jamis exile; everything on this bike has been replaced except for the transmission, yes it's still a 3X9. Even after investing probably 3 times the bikes original cost in like 2008, I still love this underbiked steel workhorse. I have different wheel and tire setups depending on where I'm riding, from asphalt with roadie friends to hardpack trails with hybrid friends to trail riding in the woods with teens. Hi, my name is Ike, and I'm an underbiked (but I still have fun).
Great idea for a comparison. Never thought of that angle. Nicely done😀 Oh, and I'm an over-biker for sure. I love my 160/153 travel enduro on my local green/blues
I like that you made this about which bike was the most fun to ride. Not which one gave you the fastest lap times, although that would be interesting to know too. For most of us it's about the enjoyment you get out of your ride. I find that in the 27.5 vs 29 debate, the fun-factor is often overshadowed by which one is fastest when people make comparison videos.
I'm too scared to push the HT for a timed run ;)
Thanks for doing this comparison. I have been wondering this for years. I still wont give in into full suspension. I have a hard tail and I love it. Yeah, is it hard on your arms while down hilling? Probably, but I always thought the extra weight and the lack of stiffness on the drive train half of the bike has to be horrible for climbing. The loss of power being absorbed by the shocks has to hurt your performance too.
Fun topic! Overbike! It allows you ride faster and not worry about the rear chatter.
I live in Norway, that means there is a great mix of cross country and gnar, rough terrain. I live in a place where that definitely is the case.
So 170mm travel is not wrong choice for me, especially with my back,neck issues.
but geometry, sizing plays a big role in how well a bike climbs, my Geometron G1 climbs much better than my old bikes, 2014 Fuel ex, or my old xc hardtail, 2010 Trek 6300.
it's much easier to climb, and that bike fits me. the older bikes did not fit me.
with 120mm I was always on the limit, and had to have pressures quite high, but I did not try volume reducers, but the fork already came with a long volume reducer stock, those long grey ones.
but now I have a much better suspension setup, EXT Storia V 3 shock, FOX 36 GRIP2 with Vorsprung Smashpot coil conversion, BTW V is pronounced as F, cus it''s German name. it's plush,yet supportive setup, a lot of adjustment on the fork. and the fork is stiff, so on with hard riding and advanced moves it does not feel too flexy like fox 32 did.
I love the new bike, but I think I should get Onyx Vesper hubs, for instant engagement.
I was watching some early and mid 90's UCI MTB downhill world championship videos and I was actually surprised to see that they were running hardtails! And bikes actually held up through the entire ordeals!
That's NUTS
I’m calling 150k subs by the end of the year. Your videos are top notch.
Most of the over biked options have geometry chips to lose a little bit of slack, and can tweek compression and dampening to use less travel and make a smoother flow trail ride more poppy and pedal efficient.
Geo chips are very subtle
@@mtbsavant5414 this is true. Hopefully more aftermarket altered geometry links come out for more bikes.
I went from a Scott 740 to a Giant Glory did DH, then sold them and got a Santa Cruz Bronson 27.5, but started going out with a more XC group and decided to get a XTC hardtail and now after 2 year of a HT bike just got a Giant anthem 29 90mm in the back and 100mm front because the HT its to hard long descend. I hope now with the anthem to keep having fun.
Rode a Pivot Mach 5.5 (140/160) for two full seasons on anything from mellow blue trails to Lenzerheide Bikepark and the small line at Huckfest in Norway, super fun!
Yes, a DH Bike or even just a longer travel enduro bike would have been easier on the hands, but never as playful and poppy on the jumps.
Now I got a Chromag Stylus hardtail (160) which I don't intend to take into the high alps, but it slays descents while being very fun to ride. Next up is a self built steel frame with 140/160mm travel but more progressive geo than must long travel enduro bikes, curious how that will feel.
Great video on the topic btw! :)
Liked the video but the “starting tomorrow “ got you a new subscriber. Want a comedic timing, was not expecting that cut.
I'm a student with a very limited budget, so I bought an enduro bike for 12.000 NOK (or 1.250 USD). It's on the lower end of full suspension bikes. I have tried back and forth with settings on the bike and in the start it was for sure underbiking hard, but after fiddling with suspension settings and air pressure I've found a perfect mix. So now I would say it's middlebiking! I learned a lot from this and looking forward to be able to afford a more expensive bike! Thanks for the great video, interesting topic for sure :)
Awesome video, currently in the market for a new bike to replace my hardtail XC bike and this is making me lean more towards a trail bike
My favorite part was starting the diet tomorrow. 😂 To answer your question I’m definitely and under biker lately. It’s just been breathing new light on trails I ride a lot.
Love that!
I rode an aggressive hard tail which fits most of both worlds. Climbs well and also feels great on the descents. And in my area and the people I ride with anything trail is gonna be a good choice.
I now run 145/160mm after riding a 130mm for a year; I just prefer the comfort and plush feeling of a little extra travel. Climbing efficiency shouldn't hurt much when you're pedaling seated most of the time either, and there's always that shock lockout if you feel you need it.
Most people can't swap bikes like that every year, but I ride a GG and the modular platform allows me to do just that after for essentially no cost after trading some parts on facebook marketplace.
I live in Florida and I own two bikes. Neither a trail bike in the traditional sense. One is a Kona Big Honzo ST, set up SS. The other a Transition Sentinel. I normally bring both bikes to the trail and grab the one that I think would be the most fun. Sometimes both bikes see action on the same day, but either way, it keeps it interesting always being under or over biked.