Hardtail Mountain Bike Setups
Mountain Bikes – Do you prefer Hardtail or Full Suspension??
I would like to know your opinions on what setup you prefer. I have been building up my older hardtail mtb, but now i am thinking about getting a new bike and have a few picked out.
If you have any comments on the models I am looking at; they are welcomed. Canondale Prophet 4, Specialized RockHopper Comp, and Specialized FSR XC.
I like both, and actually have both (well, waiting for a frame on a full suss).
Which one would be better, it depends on the terrain. Now, the following are preferences, not hard facts. If most or all of the trails I rode were pretty smooth, then a light hardtail is pretty nice. When you get to more rough trails, a full suspension blows away a hardtail. It’s not a matter of being more confortable, but the rear suspension drives the rear tire to be more time on the ground, providing better traction. So, when you’re doing steep climbs, probably a FS will be better than a HT. Going downhill, well, pretty much a FS is a no brainer, unless, it’s a pretty groomed downhill, in which a HT can do pretty well too.
Of the three bikes you’ve posted, they are different, at least on the Prophet and the FSR XC. The Prophet is more a rough ready bike, with a bit more suspension travel and the geometry might be better dialed for harder trails. The FSR XC has less travel, might be a bit lighter (I don’t know the numbers), and probably better for XC.
[HD] Flip UltraHD Bicycle Handlebar Cam test – NYC Winter 2011
