Many brands (particularly small or mid-sized) offer frame-only options that you can build up on your own or with the help of your local shop. Hardtails also make an excellent second, third-or tenth, or twelfth-bike to have around to loan to friends, for when your primary bike is in the shop, or for dabbling into other areas of riding. Still, for a fast, brutally efficient ride, nothing beats a hardtail.Īn adjustable dropout allows a geared bike to be converted to a singlespeed. Though, you lose some traction (especially under braking) without the rear suspension. Climbers, especially, appreciate the extra responsiveness. The lack of rear suspension creates a more efficient-feeling pedaling platform, so acceleration feels more immediate. Ride QualityĪ hardtail can feel more responsive than a dual-suspension bike when pedaling. The simplicity of not having a rear shock and rear suspension system increases the durability of the bike as it requires less maintenance and fewer replacement parts. And higher-quality parts mean those parts are less likely to need fixing. Maintenance and Durabilityįewer moving parts mean fewer things that could potentially go wrong. With their combination of lightweight, lower cost, and wheel size options, hardtails make ideal bikes for young riders starting out or teens who quickly outgrow bikes. The explosive growth of youth cycling programs and NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association) racing got a ton of kids onto the trail and needing mountain bikes. Some hardtails will accept different wheel and tire sizes, allowing you to swap out options to suit your riding needs. You’ll find wheel sizes of 29- or 27.5-inches, standard tire widths (up to 2.6-inches), plus-size (2.8- to 3.0-inches), and fat tires (3-inches and wider). Hardtails come in many wheel sizes and gearing options. Despite this, there are desirable characteristics in all frame materials. Carbon fiber frames have the best strength-to-weight ratio of any material but are typically more expensive than metal-framed bikes. For riders who climb a lot, the weight saving can make a difference-both physically and mentally. Thus, they are generally lighter than comparable full-suspension frames. Hardtail frames lack rear shocks, pivots, linkages, and the associated hardware. The design allows manufacturers to either reduce the bike’s overall price or include better components than you would find on comparably priced full-suspension rigs. You almost always get more bang for your buck with a hardtail. A hardtail (left) will tend to be lighter and require less maintenance than a full-suspension bike (right).
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