Nothing comes closer to flying than a wild ride on your bike, to where you really want to be. Just dive off somewhere in the here and now, maybe all by yourself. Just forget about time and breathe, even a little harder. Who knows what it feels like to review the day in the evening, when it's saturated with adventure, breaking down your own boundaries and a subsiding dose of adrenaline?! Who, if not us, the passionate bikers? The courage to do everything a little differently, to finally tackle it, is what distinguishes us. MTB also stands for motivation, temperament and determination. This pushing of boundaries can mean something completely different for everyone: Sometimes it means just getting up and sweating, but for you it could go much further...
The most important thing for you is to consider in advance exactly which trails you prefer, because this will determine whether a hardtail or a fully is more suitable for you. With a hardtail, the rear part remains stiff, i.e. hard. With a hardtail you don't need a rear shock, a sprung front wheel is sufficient. Besides titanium and steel, carbon and aluminium are the preferred materials. Your hardtail should therefore weigh a maximum of 13 kg. Long day trips are no problem, and maintenance is also less of a problem. You can vary the wheel sizes and thus better adapt your bike to your needs. With larger wheels (29 inch) your pedalling energy is optimally converted, and you should also prefer slightly wider tyres if you like to ride over stones and roots, as this gives you better grip and smoother running. The disadvantages are the higher weight and more effort uphill, as well as slightly reduced manoeuvrability.
If, on the other hand, you choose the 27.5 inch version, you can look forward to more manoeuvrability and less weight, and you may also find the look more appealing. On the other hand, the rolling characteristics are poorer and the grip is reduced. All in all, this results in only minimal losses in terms of speed. The stiffness of a hardtail provides better grip if you mainly use paved roads and only occasionally ride cross-country. At the same time, you can save a few euros, as the additional suspension in the rear area of a fully costs quite a bit. Expect a difference of about 800 euros. Good hardtails start at 1200 Euros. You should only buy a fully suspension bike for 2000 Euros or more. At first glance, additional suspension may seem more advantageous, but this is deceptive, because power transmission and braking efficiency are the decisive criteria in your individual case.
Classic
The hardtail is completely original. The era of the MTB was ushered in in California in 1973, and since then these popular bikes have continued to develop, are constantly being improved ergonomically and are adaptable to individual needs. With fewer moving parts, a hardtail is less prone to wear and tear than a full. Generally speaking, you can say that the advantages and disadvantages between these two MTB specifications are in balance. And if your wallet has something to say about it, then rather be happy with a first-class hardtail than having "just about" bought a reasonably good fully. Excellent and durable fullys are, as already mentioned, much more expensive. If you're still in the market for a full-suspension bike, you'll need to buy a full-suspension bike.
If you are still not sure, then listen to yourself. Surely you can guess what the next few months will bring - and what you have already proven to yourself in the past. You know yourself. Think about how you want to organise your everyday life in the future, should you still be thinking back and forth ... Do you want more, but not too much? Does the idea of "safe wildness" appeal to you more than the term "adrenaline rush", and do you want to use your bike mainly for paved and asphalt routes? Do you see yourself more as a sensible and considerate rebel who likes to stay in control? Then a hardtail is the perfect choice for you. Don't forget: Your bike should suit you, should do what you want it to do. So this is not about better or worse bikes, but about tailor-made "joy-supporters"!
The suspension
Thanks to the suspension fork/telescopic fork on the front wheel, shocks are absorbed, while the frame's stiffness ensures a more precise riding technique. This stability promises you noticeably more safety. A Fully should only be considered if your demands require it due to technically difficult routes and your preferred terrain variability. Generally speaking, a hardtail gives you more options when it comes to choosing routes in less demanding areas.
Overview/Comparison
The advantages and disadvantages of hardtails compared to fullys can be mentioned quickly.
- Rejoice in your hardtail's weight, price and low maintenance.
- Look past a spark less clearance, the lower tractions and a minimal loss of speed.
Your individual hardtail wishes ...
Additional specifications would be:
CROSS COUNTRY or also RACE-BIKE
These are preferably suitable for cyclists, with a focus on performance in short races up to 50 kilometres and fast tours. Over hill and dale, on tours full of demanding sections, less fast but precise. Primarily, you want to be ready for anything with this bike, despite time pressure and changing trails alike. Thanks to the balanced characteristics of these bikes, you will surely reach your goals. For marathon bikes, the specification is modified to be ready for long tours and marathon races. Expect less comfort, but your energy will be perfectly converted, and the weight of these bikes is kept as low as possible. In figures, this means a maximum of 13 kilograms, but preferably less than 10 kilograms. Unpaved terrain is no problem with these bikes, but you should refrain from technically very demanding routes. This is followed by the trekking versions, whereby here we move away from difficult terrain even further - perfect for you if you are a bit more oriented towards riding on asphalt routes.
DIRT JUMP
As the name suggests, this variant primarily concerns the cycling variation of jumping with the bike to perform various so-called "tricks" in the air. Meanwhile, the boundaries between the hardtail and fully variants are beginning to blur. We have therefore only listed the usual classifications here, as there have hardly been any noteworthy developments in the transitional area so far.
