I always think of Blake as the gmbn jumper and Neil as the downhill guy, then something like this comes out to remind me they're all great all around riders
I love my hardtail!! I love knowing I'm one of the few left that ride hardtails. I always get respect at the local trails for riding a hardtail. Nothing against full suspension, I just love the predictability of the hardtail! Great video GMBN!
What I love about starting off with a hardtail is it really forces you to choose your line wisely so you have the smoothest/fastest run possible. Full suspension is a lot smoother and more forgiving, but we all will eventually encounter a difficult rock gardens where choosing the correct line is extremely important! Great vid!
I hear this a lot. But I just got my first full suspension after riding hardtail for a few years, and I don't think there's that much difference. It rains quite a bit where i live, but I just hose (not high speed) down the linkage and it's fine.
I've ridden a 26" wheeled hardtail for over 25 years and love it. It taught me how to read the trail, pick the right lines and have fun. I recently bought a 27.5" Whyte 905 hardtail and it is epic!!! It's handled everything that I've thrown at it and rolls better over rougher terrain than my 26" but is still playful. I've also got myself a full suss bike now which is ultra forgiving and capable, but so much less fun.
I've been riding a hardtail for years now. I would say, full suspensions are still nice, but one thing I like about the hardtail is the more versatility of climbing, and I like a challenging climb.
Rather a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow. Hardtails might be an entrypoint because of price, but skills wise I think its the next step from a full suspension if you want to be a great rider.
I'd agree, personally I'd recommend everyone starts on a hard tail, it'll force you to learn good handling technique, line choice etc, stuff that a full-sus bike will cover up, to a point... Also, IMO, some things are easier to learn on a hard tail such as pumping and bunny hops.
@@MaYbYl8eR Yes but many people without much experience buy a fully loaded full suspension bike, but never really make use of it. They could easily make do with a hardtail and feel more involved. More speed means higher risk of injury and for most people who have a job, being able to work on monday is priority. With a HT you can feel more involved at lower speed.
I've always loved Hardtails, I refuse to go dual suspension where we live. And I'm not far off pushing 50 years old with serious spinal injuries. You can make some changes to make it a little easier on your self by swapping out some parts, even tire pressure and tire type. Fantastic videos as always!
I absolutely love my hardtail (Fuse Comp 29) and rode it exclusively while waiting for my new enduro rig to arrive. That 8 months of hardtail riding improved my skills so much, I now feel faster than ever, all thanks to the hardtail!
Hardtail is all I ride & I love it… I ride with groups who are all on full sus, I can hold my own & keep up. I love that “seat of your pants” & direct feeling of knowing exactly what’s happening. I’ve ridden full sus and enjoyed it, but my hardtail makes me smile so much more and it keeps me honest & focused… after all, they are far less forgiving when it starts to go southbound 👊💥
Great job Neil. It's a pleasure to see you on a hardtail. It would be great to see you again with Blake bike packing with your hard tails and after long ride to the campsite, to do some black trails, just to prove how versatile is a hardtail.
I'll be 37 in a few months and I have a 27.5" Stoic (S). It feels like it's more than enough bike for me. Super fun, lo-fi, doesn't feel like I would need more for the local trails. I would see myself going for something like a Kona Honzo ESD before going for a full squishy, which by then it will probably be an ebike because I'm not getting any younger and the fun part is going down. For going up I prefer my gravel bike anyway.
I love my hardtail and am by no means the fastest but race all the enduros on it. I find it sad that there aren't more high tier events where hardtails have there own dedicated category. In races where there is a specific category usually between 5-10 turn out and I will more than likely podium or be just off. This year I will endeavour to change this and hope to get more hardtail riders to events. I think with the lure of big expensive enduro and DH bikes takes too much attention away from the people who stick to the hardtail and master the skills instead of just jumping on a full sus and pretend to ride fast. I don't think hardtail riders get enough credit for riding in competition and would love to see this change.
Yes, that's what I tried to explain in my comment. I love the skill of navigating rock gardens, roots etc. on my hardtail not just fly over them on a full suspension bike. Where do you enter events?
race non-hardtail category, the organizers won’t care, and you’ll have fun beating people on squishy bikes while proving it is the rider that matters most.
I for sure will try to find some events to ride on my hardtail! I'm just a beginner but hey why not? I don't care if i don't win. Riding with faster ppl will improve skills wich is more important.
After 37 years living on this earth, I got into the world of MTB biking and I have owned my hard-tail (trek marlin 8) for about 8 months now and absolutely love it. I've learned alot in my 8 months of ownership and I am still learning. However I am at the point now where I think a decent full suspension bike is on the cards, that being said, I will not get rid of my first hardtail, it means the world to me. :)
I've started with a 100mm XC Hardtail went to a Trek Remedy with 150mm rode it for 5 years and now i went back on a 140mm Orbea Laufey h ltd Hardtail and I love it
My Trek Marlin 6 that I have had for a little over a year ignited my passion for MTB, it was really a fantastic bike to start on. Now a few weeks ago I just got a new full suspension (Santa Cruz 5010) and it's incredible, and at first I was planning on selling the Marlin, but I really don't want to let it go! Glad to see I'm not the only one who gets attached to my bikes :)
I still have my (mildly used) old Gary Fisher HT for nostalgic reasons, intermediates as Rockhopper etc before a Trek FS ... now for Xmas just went back to basics with a Stoic I am preparing for the spring. Enjoy your marlin. Keep it, potentially bring some fun with a Markhor to it and other simple upgrades.
I still have my first hard tail, which was my first MTB😂 commencal meta HT🤘 like Neil said they make great winter bikes, I won’t get rid of mine either even though I forget about it in the warmer months.
I started riding with a friend so we could get into shape and lose weight, got 120 dollar giant revel 3, the thing weighed a metric ton and has unbelievably narrow bars. Fell off of that a lot and bought my first "expensive" bike, a 120 mm 2019 Giant Fathom 1 hardtail. Never thought I would want anything else. I bought a 2020 Kona process 153 DL and have been riding and upgrading that for the last 2 years. I turned 37 last year and I'm going on my 4th season of riding. I love riding and the cool people I know because of it. It's a great sport.
Im riding MTB for 4 years and Im nearly 43. I switched to full-sus trail bike for last 2 months of 2021 from my starting Ghost Lector HT. First few ride were absolute blast and I was laughing from start to finish while going downhill. Ultimately, full-sus bile will be more lenient and comfortable for rider of any skill. Learning the basic is best done on HT to get all the right skills and behabiors and HT might be an option for skilled riders as a 2nd bike but I prefer full-sus as an allrounder bike.
Moved from the canadian rockies to the maritimes and moved from 150mm full sus to progressive hardtail... smaller terrain = smaller bike keeps everything interesting and pure!!! No regrets!
I'm an HT boy since it's the only one I have! Having said that, I adore my HT MTB. I understand its limits as well as mine esp. as a beginner. But, mate, I always have fun riding in it, learning MTB skills with it, and enjoying the trails & off-roads together with fellow bikers. Lots'a love, cheers, & Mabuhay, from tropical Philippines! #KeepBiking
I still remember, many years ago, riding my steel hardtail (with rigid Project 2 forks, 26" wheels and V brakes) Kona LavaDome at Monkey Trail, Cannock. Not the nicest experience but doable. My current bike, still a hardtail - so much easier and more fun to ride and copes with all bikepark I can handle - Gisburn, Grizedale, Whinlatter, Cannock etc and local singletrack. Uphill I can still beat folk half my age on their full sussers - that point got missed in the advantages section...climbing. Amazing what difference disk brakes, front suspension forks and slightly bigger wheels (still 'only' 27.5" with 2.35 tyres) can make vs the old rigid bike! The shocker for me was a dropper though - just being able to move the saddle out of the way...golden. I can't justify the cost of full sus or even a newer 29" hardtail (which would be my absolute dream) but appreciate the best thing is to still get out there and have fun and hardtails make that so simple.
❤️ my hardtail, my exclusive MTB bike for 6 years now 😎 raced loads of enduro, raced down hill, big mountain days, jump days, flat land playing, long XC rides, bike packing and more. Decided to add a full suss to race this year but the hardtail will always stay
Great video, thanks for the content. I picked up a Commencal Meta HT about a year ago and have been loving it. It's really made me a better rider, and jumper as well. A great compliment to my full suspension bike
Yup.. big hard tail lover for all the reasons you mention; primarily simplicity and versatility. I once said in one of Blakes videos that I rode my hard tail more than my full suss and someone responded, "Maybe you've got the wrong full suss". Thinking about that now, maybe I've got the right hard tail?
I have a full suss as well and it just gets boring on some of the local trails in my area. Even when I do ride it I end up keeping the rear suspension more firm. My HT is a Giant Fathom, and I truly love the bike and how it feels on trails!
I just got into MTB'G last year with a Schwinn Boundary hardtail. Made a few improvements to it. Fell in love with the sport and love the ruggedness on singletrack. Now looking to upgrade to a hardcore hardtail. Check out the Jamis Komodo.
You're right, HT is the way to start for sure in MTB. Not only does it make you a better rider, you'll develop the proper respect for "flowing" with the terrain. Eventually you'll want to ride both. HT gives you the extra challenge of trying to pick the best route at all times. Overall though, it's quite a bit more work. That's really what it boils down to, too, where you want to put your energy.
I build a hardtail for myself, bought a 29' ht enduro frame and build with a 160 Fox 36, 125 mm dropper, Nice maxxis Minion dhf 2.5 and i'm in love witht he bike!! Hardtails are the Best 🚀🚀
I love riding a hard tail. It is so much more direct. Yes, it is sometimes tough going downhill but I always manage. And they are so much more down to earth (so to speak). Nothing too fancy...just a good frame and a fork (and all the other stuff). 😊
I love my hardtail dirt jumper which I ride the most mostly due to having 4 small kids and they love bumming around at the pump track. But the FS trail bike is king.
I remember the first Mountain bikes from the late eighties all hardtails with front suspension. Cheaper to maintain and more efficient to ride. It is a bit of a nostalgia trip for me...
I went from a 2018 Giant Trance which I had upgraded with 148mm (RR) and 160mm (FR) travel, to a +27.5 Whyte 900 series which now have 140mm Pikes and Deore 4 pot brakes. The simplicity, playfulness, being lighter, in my eyes just made a FS almost redundant to me. Yes on a full Enduro day out or chasing down my mates it will be slower and will get you tired sooner. But it has highlighted so much of my lack of skill that the FS was masking and in turn I'm having more fun riding it properly, picking the lines, improving my confidence (on an HT you have to commit more, be braver if you like). On the other hand, every time I do a quick front and rear axle torque check, tires and fork pressure check and jump on it without worrying about suspension linkages, bearing, etc etc etc.
I love my Nukeproof Scout! Last summer I did my own video at Snow Summit bike park. I was a little worried about it at first but I ended up having one of my best days up there!
Giant Fathom 27.5 hardtail owner here. I definitely beat my bike to hell and my body feels it the next day. What's always been important to me though, is riding things correctly and getting the technique right while pushing my abilities. Once I get that dialed in, I'll definitely get a full suspension, but I'm also waiting til I'm older (40s) before treating myself. 60s will be when I switch to eMTB 😆
i have my 2008 specialized rock hopper 29er and i have taken it every where and rid anywhere my buddies with full suspensions go. i am a bit slower but i find the simplicity of it appeals to me more even though i also have a stump jumper thats 4 years old and new ridden 5 times. first time at a bike park was in Fernie BC and loved it, i was hitting jumps and clearing bridges farther then most. disadvantage i only notice is like you i have past injuries and you do feel those creep up after some time of riding. going down hill at a bike park i tend to use only the rear brake so i tend to wear out that faster then the front brake. but i love the hard tail.
I like hardtails , couldn't go back to one cos of all the old injuries but had a kona 4x bike back in the day and it was great, basically a dirt jumper with gears and dh tyres it was a bike that was happy to do anything from street n dirt jumps to fort bill WC track
Love hardtails. Learnt to ride rigid on my local trails long ago, had some fullsusses but always got rid of them and just kept on the hardtails. It’s just more engaging. Don’t need to beat anyone down the trail.
Awesome video Niel! So rad to see any RUclips video showcasing hardcore hardtails! I just built a 2021 Ragley Mmmbop mullet with plus size tires! Can't wait to shred soon! Hardtails Rock!!!🤘🤘🤘
I recently bought a cheapo Specialized RH hardtail for those really wet, gear-crunching, brake-wrecking days. I experience too that it makes you a better rider when you jump back onto your fully trail bike. Really pleased with it. BUT.... it gets SO tiring at the end of a long ride with your mates.
Why do I love my ht's? I have two, one is an old Giant and the other is a new Diamondback. They are simple, cheaper, lighter, and easier to maintain. At almost 54, they remind me of what I rode as a kid, just a bigger version. A hardtail is familiar. I tried riding a full suspension bike; but where I live, a lot of flat ground with only handful of difficult elevations, it seemed unnecessary. A lot of money for something I would never use to it's limits.
Good thing about hardtails is that they can make "easier" trails feel a lot harder since you have to work more on the bike to ride at the same speed. This is good for more average riders that don't live near huge bike parks or super nice trails. If I would ride the same trail on a full-sus I'm sure I would get bored pretty quickly of my hometrails.
100% agree. I'm not a racer so I don't care about being the fastest. My goal is to have as much fun as possible, and I feel that it's (arguably) more fun to be underbiked rather than overbiked. That said, one day my knees and hips are not going to stand up to the punishment anymore and that day I'll probably get myself a plush full sus. :-)
Riding my HT fast over chatter and technical areas is resulting in my rear popping up more than I'm used to on my FS. I've been having to break then to maintain control. I've been using the methods suggested in these videos, especially de-weighting and hanging loosely but it sounds like it is what it is on a HT.
I ride a cheap hardtail on trails n also on road to my workplace. But I also ride a foldie when im out with me family on a weekend fun ride at the lakeside.
Best way to describe a hardtail vs full suspension.. full suspension is like pressing the Bluetooth pairing to your headphones wait wait paired.. Hardtail connect the headphone jack to the phone connected..
Love my Hardtails. 😎👍 You have to agree the ride is more harsh but after bombing around on my new Trek Marlin 7 as I wanted a bike to fill the void between my Norco Ryde 26 and my Giant Anthem X29er, I am loving the Hardtails so much, I even did a big OTB (hit a dug out hole but it was a slow crash not hurt didn't get it on film unfortunately) and the only thing I did afterwards was dust off my bike and back on it no damage. Adjusted the gears for optimum performance and rode it again last night having a ball.
Overall rider fatigue is my major issue. Line choice is also something you need to be super aware of. Certainly doesn’t stop me from keeping up and sometimes passing my mates on their full sussers!
I was there that day had the pleasure of meeting both Neil and Rich and chatting to both saw Neil shredding the trails in real life and getting a few pointers was awesome keep up the good work guys love all the videos 👌🏻👌🏻
54yo this year and loving the hardtail (GT Avalanche), transitioned from a BMX (GT Expert) in 2016 when the BMX got crushed by a tree along with all my camping gear😥The only thing I could afford to replace was the bike, so found another GT and hopefully this one lasts me the next 34 years like the last one 😎
I got a new 29er hardtail about 4 months ago. I have been riding a 27.5" 130mm full sus for the last few years. The last hardtail I rode prior to my current one. Had 26" wheels. I've noticed how much extra speed it carries compared to my full sus. My Orbea Laufey has 140mm forks. It can however run 150mm forks.
I have a 2020 timberjack with fox 34 and xt build, and an sworks stevo. If it's not downhill or serious enduro I take the ht. On any xc type terrain I use the ht. Going downhill fast af I prefer the rear tire on the ground more frequently.
I've always ridden a hardtail and love it, need alot more skill on the gnarly stuff as you do feel everything, I've pre ordered a trek slash full suspension so I've got both. my hardtail is a nukeproof scout 390
Love my hard tail Trek roscoe 8 Stuck some fox 34 forks up front ,hope pro 4 hubs all round with hope wheels Goes a little quicker At present just upgrading brakes with a bit more stopping power Use to ride full down hill orange bike thought I'd give a hard tail a go Absolutely loving this ride A little scary at times but mountain biking is Keep up the cracking videos 👊 🤙
I own only a hardtail and it's such a good feeling when you either pass a full sus on the trail or see someone on a full sus hit something worse than you just did.
I started with a hardtail & I have a soft spot for that. No doubt that a full suspension feels very comfortable but that feeling of controlling the bike under you makes you a better rider.
27.5+ are amazing on these bikes. I have a Sonder transmitter and am gonna sell my giant reign because the Sonder is more fun. I am going to the dark side with a full sus ebike though, I think this has to be the perfect combo. Bikepacking, long pedals or fun runs on the hardtail, ebike for short blasts when time is an issue or big days with ruff stuff.
Neil and Blake, you both are something else, man..! I would probably snap my shoulder or hips going down those trails so fast on a hardtail! I own 1 with a sad 100mm fork and 2 rides at my local trail and my problematic shoulder since a motorcycle accident in 2012 is back. I would have to get a full susp with a longer travel now to still ride. Looking at a 130mm fork with 140mm shocks to cushion this ageing body.
I just returned my full suspension Cannondale habit for a Specialized Fuse Sport 27.5. Because of the saving I was able to throw a Fox 36 Kashima coated on it immediately. I will soon upgrade everything else. Full suspension is so expensive to upgrade. I can’t justify spending more than 3k on one bike.
A bought a NP Scout 290 new in 2019. I love it, don't get me wrong, but if I could afford a full suspension, I would buy one (Transition Spur, Pivot Trail 429 or Hugene Propain).
I love my hardtail and it is true that in the winter it's a better ride (I think). When I get back on my dual sus I can actually feel that my riding has improved because of riding my hardtail
Nice bike guys..i also have the similar color scheme..my pedals and grips are also red and my saddle has a red decals..red serves as an accent to my blue hardtail all mountain frame..
My only bike is a 2019 Sant Cruz Chameleon in 29er mode. I'm 54, been doing this sport since '87 and will never own another full suspension bike again...... at least until my health forces my onto a motorized MTB, but hopefully that won't happen.
Was out on my hardtail today actually and managed to break a spoke in the rear wheel on a drop and #i'm completely beaten up after 90 mins on it! Taking the bouncy full susser next few rides.
Feels like I'm a cheating spouse watching a Hardtail video from GMBN without Blake on the Nukeproof Scout in it 😂
Embrace the feeling 😂
ksp 🤝 mtb
Ha! I was expecting a Blake when I saw the video title 😀
Blake and his shenanigans is responsible for contributing to 100% of Nukeproof scout sales, I don't have the data but it's totally true
Fancy seeing you here lol
60 years old, 28 surgeries (and many more injuries that didn't require surgery) and a die hard hardtail lover here :)
WOW!! It's great to see you are still loving MTB and the hardtail life. Safe Riding!
I always think of Blake as the gmbn jumper and Neil as the downhill guy, then something like this comes out to remind me they're all great all around riders
Me too! You guys are something else, man.. I would probably snap my shoulder or hips going down those trails so fast on a hardtail!
I'm a old school hard tail rider !!
COMMENCAL 4 LIFE !!
I love my hardtail!! I love knowing I'm one of the few left that ride hardtails. I always get respect at the local trails for riding a hardtail. Nothing against full suspension, I just love the predictability of the hardtail! Great video GMBN!
Where im from the philippines you hardly see a full suspension
I ride both and love both equally
@@edgarcastillo7005 nah I see fullsus everyday in Philippines its about where you live
What hard tail if you don’t mind me asking
@@Sebsamazingcodmgameplay its. A bike that doesn’t have suspension air or springs That’s what I know
What I love about starting off with a hardtail is it really forces you to choose your line wisely so you have the smoothest/fastest run possible. Full suspension is a lot smoother and more forgiving, but we all will eventually encounter a difficult rock gardens where choosing the correct line is extremely important! Great vid!
I love my hardtail for muddy conditions (less time wasted cleaning) and for learning stuff because it feels the same every time.
I hear this a lot. But I just got my first full suspension after riding hardtail for a few years, and I don't think there's that much difference. It rains quite a bit where i live, but I just hose (not high speed) down the linkage and it's fine.
I've ridden a 26" wheeled hardtail for over 25 years and love it. It taught me how to read the trail, pick the right lines and have fun. I recently bought a 27.5" Whyte 905 hardtail and it is epic!!! It's handled everything that I've thrown at it and rolls better over rougher terrain than my 26" but is still playful. I've also got myself a full suss bike now which is ultra forgiving and capable, but so much less fun.
I've been riding a hardtail for years now. I would say, full suspensions are still nice, but one thing I like about the hardtail is the more versatility of climbing, and I like a challenging climb.
Rather a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow. Hardtails might be an entrypoint because of price, but skills wise I think its the next step from a full suspension if you want to be a great rider.
Absolutely agree…
I'd agree, personally I'd recommend everyone starts on a hard tail, it'll force you to learn good handling technique, line choice etc, stuff that a full-sus bike will cover up, to a point...
Also, IMO, some things are easier to learn on a hard tail such as pumping and bunny hops.
Hard disagree. Just ride the fast bike fast also. Duh
@@MaYbYl8eR Yes but many people without much experience buy a fully loaded full suspension bike, but never really make use of it. They could easily make do with a hardtail and feel more involved. More speed means higher risk of injury and for most people who have a job, being able to work on monday is priority. With a HT you can feel more involved at lower speed.
@@MaYbYl8eR until the talent runs out and they end up in A&E. Speed is not everyone’s friend 😂
I've always loved Hardtails, I refuse to go dual suspension where we live. And I'm not far off pushing 50 years old with serious spinal injuries. You can make some changes to make it a little easier on your self by swapping out some parts, even tire pressure and tire type.
Fantastic videos as always!
I absolutely love my hardtail (Fuse Comp 29) and rode it exclusively while waiting for my new enduro rig to arrive. That 8 months of hardtail riding improved my skills so much, I now feel faster than ever, all thanks to the hardtail!
Hardtail is all I ride & I love it… I ride with groups who are all on full sus, I can hold my own & keep up. I love that “seat of your pants” & direct feeling of knowing exactly what’s happening. I’ve ridden full sus and enjoyed it, but my hardtail makes me smile so much more and it keeps me honest & focused… after all, they are far less forgiving when it starts to go southbound 👊💥
Great job Neil. It's a pleasure to see you on a hardtail. It would be great to see you again with Blake bike packing with your hard tails and after long ride to the campsite, to do some black trails, just to prove how versatile is a hardtail.
Glad you loved the video, Atanas! We love making hardtail content so we're definitely going to have more on the way! Cheers for the support!👍
I'll be 37 in a few months and I have a 27.5" Stoic (S). It feels like it's more than enough bike for me. Super fun, lo-fi, doesn't feel like I would need more for the local trails. I would see myself going for something like a Kona Honzo ESD before going for a full squishy, which by then it will probably be an ebike because I'm not getting any younger and the fun part is going down. For going up I prefer my gravel bike anyway.
Nice! Always great to see Neil shredding any trail, hardtail being a bonus.
I love my hardtail and am by no means the fastest but race all the enduros on it. I find it sad that there aren't more high tier events where hardtails have there own dedicated category. In races where there is a specific category usually between 5-10 turn out and I will more than likely podium or be just off. This year I will endeavour to change this and hope to get more hardtail riders to events. I think with the lure of big expensive enduro and DH bikes takes too much attention away from the people who stick to the hardtail and master the skills instead of just jumping on a full sus and pretend to ride fast. I don't think hardtail riders get enough credit for riding in competition and would love to see this change.
Yes, that's what I tried to explain in my comment. I love the skill of navigating rock gardens, roots etc. on my hardtail not just fly over them on a full suspension bike.
Where do you enter events?
race non-hardtail category, the organizers won’t care, and you’ll have fun beating people on squishy bikes while proving it is the rider that matters most.
I for sure will try to find some events to ride on my hardtail! I'm just a beginner but hey why not? I don't care if i don't win. Riding with faster ppl will improve skills wich is more important.
@@kaedeschulz5422 if there are no events maybe we need to start one! I'm in the UK.
@@gethappycyclingcampingoutdoors Sadly far away in Germany XD
After 37 years living on this earth, I got into the world of MTB biking and I have owned my hard-tail (trek marlin 8) for about 8 months now and absolutely love it. I've learned alot in my 8 months of ownership and I am still learning. However I am at the point now where I think a decent full suspension bike is on the cards, that being said, I will not get rid of my first hardtail, it means the world to me. :)
I've started with a 100mm XC Hardtail went to a Trek Remedy with 150mm rode it for 5 years and now i went back on a 140mm Orbea Laufey h ltd Hardtail and I love it
My Trek Marlin 6 that I have had for a little over a year ignited my passion for MTB, it was really a fantastic bike to start on. Now a few weeks ago I just got a new full suspension (Santa Cruz 5010) and it's incredible, and at first I was planning on selling the Marlin, but I really don't want to let it go! Glad to see I'm not the only one who gets attached to my bikes :)
I still have my (mildly used) old Gary Fisher HT for nostalgic reasons, intermediates as Rockhopper etc before a Trek FS ... now for Xmas just went back to basics with a Stoic I am preparing for the spring. Enjoy your marlin. Keep it, potentially bring some fun with a Markhor to it and other simple upgrades.
I still have my first hard tail, which was my first MTB😂 commencal meta HT🤘 like Neil said they make great winter bikes, I won’t get rid of mine either even though I forget about it in the warmer months.
I started riding with a friend so we could get into shape and lose weight, got 120 dollar giant revel 3, the thing weighed a metric ton and has unbelievably narrow bars. Fell off of that a lot and bought my first "expensive" bike, a 120 mm 2019 Giant Fathom 1 hardtail. Never thought I would want anything else. I bought a 2020 Kona process 153 DL and have been riding and upgrading that for the last 2 years. I turned 37 last year and I'm going on my 4th season of riding. I love riding and the cool people I know because of it. It's a great sport.
Im riding MTB for 4 years and Im nearly 43. I switched to full-sus trail bike for last 2 months of 2021 from my starting Ghost Lector HT. First few ride were absolute blast and I was laughing from start to finish while going downhill.
Ultimately, full-sus bile will be more lenient and comfortable for rider of any skill. Learning the basic is best done on HT to get all the right skills and behabiors and HT might be an option for skilled riders as a 2nd bike but I prefer full-sus as an allrounder bike.
Moved from the canadian rockies to the maritimes and moved from 150mm full sus to progressive hardtail... smaller terrain = smaller bike keeps everything interesting and pure!!! No regrets!
Welcome to the Maritimes!
I'm an HT boy since it's the only one I have! Having said that, I adore my HT MTB. I understand its limits as well as mine esp. as a beginner.
But, mate, I always have fun riding in it, learning MTB skills with it, and enjoying the trails & off-roads together with fellow bikers.
Lots'a love, cheers, & Mabuhay, from tropical Philippines! #KeepBiking
I have been riding a 26” hardtail most of my life and just today picked up a Rocky Mountain Vertex 29er. Can’t wait for spring to arrive!
I still remember, many years ago, riding my steel hardtail (with rigid Project 2 forks, 26" wheels and V brakes) Kona LavaDome at Monkey Trail, Cannock.
Not the nicest experience but doable.
My current bike, still a hardtail - so much easier and more fun to ride and copes with all bikepark I can handle - Gisburn, Grizedale, Whinlatter, Cannock etc and local singletrack. Uphill I can still beat folk half my age on their full sussers - that point got missed in the advantages section...climbing.
Amazing what difference disk brakes, front suspension forks and slightly bigger wheels (still 'only' 27.5" with 2.35 tyres) can make vs the old rigid bike! The shocker for me was a dropper though - just being able to move the saddle out of the way...golden.
I can't justify the cost of full sus or even a newer 29" hardtail (which would be my absolute dream) but appreciate the best thing is to still get out there and have fun and hardtails make that so simple.
❤️ my hardtail, my exclusive MTB bike for 6 years now 😎 raced loads of enduro, raced down hill, big mountain days, jump days, flat land playing, long XC rides, bike packing and more. Decided to add a full suss to race this year but the hardtail will always stay
Great video, thanks for the content. I picked up a Commencal Meta HT about a year ago and have been loving it. It's really made me a better rider, and jumper as well. A great compliment to my full suspension bike
Yup.. big hard tail lover for all the reasons you mention; primarily simplicity and versatility. I once said in one of Blakes videos that I rode my hard tail more than my full suss and someone responded, "Maybe you've got the wrong full suss". Thinking about that now, maybe I've got the right hard tail?
I have a full suss as well and it just gets boring on some of the local trails in my area. Even when I do ride it I end up keeping the rear suspension more firm. My HT is a Giant Fathom, and I truly love the bike and how it feels on trails!
I just got into MTB'G last year with a Schwinn Boundary hardtail. Made a few improvements to it. Fell in love with the sport and love the ruggedness on singletrack. Now looking to upgrade to a hardcore hardtail. Check out the Jamis Komodo.
You're right, HT is the way to start for sure in MTB. Not only does it make you a better rider, you'll develop the proper respect for "flowing" with the terrain. Eventually you'll want to ride both. HT gives you the extra challenge of trying to pick the best route at all times. Overall though, it's quite a bit more work. That's really what it boils down to, too, where you want to put your energy.
I build a hardtail for myself, bought a 29' ht enduro frame and build with a 160 Fox 36, 125 mm dropper, Nice maxxis Minion dhf 2.5 and i'm in love witht he bike!! Hardtails are the Best 🚀🚀
I own a Stoic 4 too. Made some little upgrades and I love ittttttt!...HARDTAIL for life
I love riding a hard tail. It is so much more direct. Yes, it is sometimes tough going downhill but I always manage. And they are so much more down to earth (so to speak). Nothing too fancy...just a good frame and a fork (and all the other stuff). 😊
I love my hardtail dirt jumper which I ride the most mostly due to having 4 small kids and they love bumming around at the pump track. But the FS trail bike is king.
I remember the first Mountain bikes from the late eighties all hardtails with front suspension.
Cheaper to maintain and more efficient to ride.
It is a bit of a nostalgia trip for me...
I went from a 2018 Giant Trance which I had upgraded with 148mm (RR) and 160mm (FR) travel, to a +27.5 Whyte 900 series which now have 140mm Pikes and Deore 4 pot brakes. The simplicity, playfulness, being lighter, in my eyes just made a FS almost redundant to me. Yes on a full Enduro day out or chasing down my mates it will be slower and will get you tired sooner. But it has highlighted so much of my lack of skill that the FS was masking and in turn I'm having more fun riding it properly, picking the lines, improving my confidence (on an HT you have to commit more, be braver if you like).
On the other hand, every time I do a quick front and rear axle torque check, tires and fork pressure check and jump on it without worrying about suspension linkages, bearing, etc etc etc.
I love my Nukeproof Scout! Last summer I did my own video at Snow Summit bike park. I was a little worried about it at first but I ended up having one of my best days up there!
Love my Hard tail rig and I totally agree 👍 it forces you to be a better rider for sure
Just bought my 1st real mountain bike Cannondale trail 7 on 29s...LOVING IT
I've just got a Rockrider ST540 v2 and it's an awesome hardtail i can't complain against hardtails
Giant Fathom 27.5 hardtail owner here. I definitely beat my bike to hell and my body feels it the next day. What's always been important to me though, is riding things correctly and getting the technique right while pushing my abilities. Once I get that dialed in, I'll definitely get a full suspension, but I'm also waiting til I'm older (40s) before treating myself. 60s will be when I switch to eMTB 😆
i have my 2008 specialized rock hopper 29er and i have taken it every where and rid anywhere my buddies with full suspensions go. i am a bit slower but i find the simplicity of it appeals to me more even though i also have a stump jumper thats 4 years old and new ridden 5 times. first time at a bike park was in Fernie BC and loved it, i was hitting jumps and clearing bridges farther then most. disadvantage i only notice is like you i have past injuries and you do feel those creep up after some time of riding. going down hill at a bike park i tend to use only the rear brake so i tend to wear out that faster then the front brake. but i love the hard tail.
I like hardtails , couldn't go back to one cos of all the old injuries but had a kona 4x bike back in the day and it was great, basically a dirt jumper with gears and dh tyres it was a bike that was happy to do anything from street n dirt jumps to fort bill WC track
Love hardtails. Learnt to ride rigid on my local trails long ago, had some fullsusses but always got rid of them and just kept on the hardtails. It’s just more engaging. Don’t need to beat anyone down the trail.
I love my Whyte 905. having the 650b + 2.8 tyres makes it more comfortable and loads of grip
Awesome video Niel! So rad to see any RUclips video showcasing hardcore hardtails! I just built a 2021 Ragley Mmmbop mullet with plus size tires! Can't wait to shred soon! Hardtails Rock!!!🤘🤘🤘
I recently bought a cheapo Specialized RH hardtail for those really wet, gear-crunching, brake-wrecking days. I experience too that it makes you a better rider when you jump back onto your fully trail bike. Really pleased with it. BUT.... it gets SO tiring at the end of a long ride with your mates.
I love my hard tail I have a Nukeproof Scout with 170mm travel up front absolute weapon.
Why do I love my ht's? I have two, one is an old Giant and the other is a new Diamondback. They are simple, cheaper, lighter, and easier to maintain. At almost 54, they remind me of what I rode as a kid, just a bigger version. A hardtail is familiar. I tried riding a full suspension bike; but where I live, a lot of flat ground with only handful of difficult elevations, it seemed unnecessary. A lot of money for something I would never use to it's limits.
Good thing about hardtails is that they can make "easier" trails feel a lot harder since you have to work more on the bike to ride at the same speed. This is good for more average riders that don't live near huge bike parks or super nice trails. If I would ride the same trail on a full-sus I'm sure I would get bored pretty quickly of my hometrails.
100% agree. I'm not a racer so I don't care about being the fastest. My goal is to have as much fun as possible, and I feel that it's (arguably) more fun to be underbiked rather than overbiked. That said, one day my knees and hips are not going to stand up to the punishment anymore and that day I'll probably get myself a plush full sus. :-)
Riding my HT fast over chatter and technical areas is resulting in my rear popping up more than I'm used to on my FS. I've been having to break then to maintain control. I've been using the methods suggested in these videos, especially de-weighting and hanging loosely but it sounds like it is what it is on a HT.
I ride a cheap hardtail on trails n also on road to my workplace. But I also ride a foldie when im out with me family on a weekend fun ride at the lakeside.
Best way to describe a hardtail vs full suspension.. full suspension is like pressing the Bluetooth pairing to your headphones wait wait paired.. Hardtail connect the headphone jack to the phone connected..
Love my Hardtails. 😎👍 You have to agree the ride is more harsh but after bombing around on my new Trek Marlin 7 as I wanted a bike to fill the void between my Norco Ryde 26 and my Giant Anthem X29er, I am loving the Hardtails so much, I even did a big OTB (hit a dug out hole but it was a slow crash not hurt didn't get it on film unfortunately) and the only thing I did afterwards was dust off my bike and back on it no damage. Adjusted the gears for optimum performance and rode it again last night having a ball.
Overall rider fatigue is my major issue. Line choice is also something you need to be super aware of. Certainly doesn’t stop me from keeping up and sometimes passing my mates on their full sussers!
Hardtails all you need 🤟
I was there that day had the pleasure of meeting both Neil and Rich and chatting to both saw Neil shredding the trails in real life and getting a few pointers was awesome keep up the good work guys love all the videos 👌🏻👌🏻
54yo this year and loving the hardtail (GT Avalanche), transitioned from a BMX (GT Expert) in 2016 when the BMX got crushed by a tree along with all my camping gear😥The only thing I could afford to replace was the bike, so found another GT and hopefully this one lasts me the next 34 years like the last one 😎
GMBN is the best !
I got a new 29er hardtail about 4 months ago. I have been riding a 27.5" 130mm full sus for the last few years. The last hardtail I rode prior to my current one. Had 26" wheels. I've noticed how much extra speed it carries compared to my full sus. My Orbea Laufey has 140mm forks. It can however run 150mm forks.
Love my HT, bike of choice during the winter and stops me getting lazy when I ride my full suss a lot
That’s a spot on Neil impression by Blake. Amazing.
I ride my hardtail about 80% of the time. It just feels right compared to the full squish!
Love my Nukeproof scout 290. It really can do it all. Pretty much by just changing the tyres
I often watch this channel one ting i can guarantee i won't skip adds.
I have a 2020 timberjack with fox 34 and xt build, and an sworks stevo. If it's not downhill or serious enduro I take the ht. On any xc type terrain I use the ht. Going downhill fast af I prefer the rear tire on the ground more frequently.
I've always ridden a hardtail and love it, need alot more skill on the gnarly stuff as you do feel everything, I've pre ordered a trek slash full suspension so I've got both. my hardtail is a nukeproof scout 390
Whoever chose your soundtracks, give him a raise cause he knows his music.
Great riding!
I feel like there was a new camera person and/or editor for this video. Seemed like a style I haven’t seen on GMBN before, but I love it
Hardtails are the best. For certain things. The Stoic is a dope bike for sure tho. Just order mine, I hate waiting for delivery tho, it's so painful.
The dropper post really did wonders for those of us who love to ride a hardtail down those rowdy intermediate trails ;)
Amazing video, but this song is also an absolute banger. 🤘
Great content as always. Keep up the great work. Love your videos.
Love my hard tail
Trek roscoe 8
Stuck some fox 34 forks up front ,hope pro 4 hubs all round with hope wheels
Goes a little quicker
At present just upgrading brakes with a bit more stopping power
Use to ride full down hill orange bike thought I'd give a hard tail a go
Absolutely loving this ride
A little scary at times but mountain biking is
Keep up the cracking videos 👊
🤙
i ride an aggressive hardtail. heaps of fun. swap the wheels over and ride it to work during the week.
I own only a hardtail and it's such a good feeling when you either pass a full sus on the trail or see someone on a full sus hit something worse than you just did.
Gotta love Enduro Hardtails! Most fun bike's ever 😀
I love my hardtail ‘cos I came from a love of BMX to mountain biking. Just feels more natural.
Nice job Neil. I must admit that I was expecting Blake with this subject but you filled in very nicely.
Loving the metal soundtrack!
I started with a hardtail & I have a soft spot for that. No doubt that a full suspension feels very comfortable but that feeling of controlling the bike under you makes you a better rider.
You can control a full suspension wtf
27.5+ are amazing on these bikes. I have a Sonder transmitter and am gonna sell my giant reign because the Sonder is more fun. I am going to the dark side with a full sus ebike though, I think this has to be the perfect combo. Bikepacking, long pedals or fun runs on the hardtail, ebike for short blasts when time is an issue or big days with ruff stuff.
Neil and Blake, you both are something else, man..! I would probably snap my shoulder or hips going down those trails so fast on a hardtail! I own 1 with a sad 100mm fork and 2 rides at my local trail and my problematic shoulder since a motorcycle accident in 2012 is back. I would have to get a full susp with a longer travel now to still ride. Looking at a 130mm fork with 140mm shocks to cushion this ageing body.
I just returned my full suspension Cannondale habit for a Specialized Fuse Sport 27.5. Because of the saving I was able to throw a Fox 36 Kashima coated on it immediately. I will soon upgrade everything else. Full suspension is so expensive to upgrade. I can’t justify spending more than 3k on one bike.
i love my black/gold hardtail.
but if i had a Santa Cruz V10 29" 2021 Oxblood paintjob, i would love this one more.
I have a canyon stoic and absolutely love it
A bought a NP Scout 290 new in 2019. I love it, don't get me wrong, but if I could afford a full suspension, I would buy one (Transition Spur, Pivot Trail 429 or Hugene Propain).
I love my scout 27.5 and the challenge of keeping up with my friends on their full sus rigs.
Enduro hardtail and heavy metal - best combination here! :)
Always loved the Scott Scales and will always own one, hardtails are just lots more fun , less forgiving and much more hardcore ;-)
I miss my Scott Scale, beautiful hardtail. Now the owner of a Trek Procaliber.9.6
What a marvellous display of skill!
Awesome video Bro
I’m building a custom trek roscoe. Can’t wait!! Just a little sore over the cost haha. 🤣
Thank you guys for the sick hardtail content! Just can't afford a decent full sus. Hardtails rock!
Man I love the stoic 4, I know hardtails are the entry level but that bike is my dream bike 😂
I love my hardtail and it is true that in the winter it's a better ride (I think). When I get back on my dual sus I can actually feel that my riding has improved because of riding my hardtail
Its not
I was told that on the hardtail you learn to ride clean and with good technique because you don't have the error margin of a fully
Nice bike guys..i also have the similar color scheme..my pedals and grips are also red and my saddle has a red decals..red serves as an accent to my blue hardtail all mountain frame..
the dream of every ht to be ridden by neil and be put in video just to make them look oh so cool
This is cool & inspiring!
My Whyte 901 is plenty capable enough for me, although my calves & achilles are happy to get back on the full susser!
My only bike is a 2019 Sant Cruz Chameleon in 29er mode. I'm 54, been doing this sport since '87 and will never own another full suspension bike again...... at least until my health forces my onto a motorized MTB, but hopefully that won't happen.
Was out on my hardtail today actually and managed to break a spoke in the rear wheel on a drop and #i'm completely beaten up after 90 mins on it! Taking the bouncy full susser next few rides.