by A hardtail bike is a bicycle that only uses a front suspension and not rear suspension. Unlike a full suspension bike which has suspension at the front and the rear.
The term hard tail is used as the front fork provides suspension (soft) while the rear (tail) of the bike has no suspension (hard).
The term hardtail usually applies to bicycles with a front suspension fork. Bicycles with no front or rear suspension are referred to as rigid bicycles
The Benefits of Hardtail Bicycles Over Rigid Bicycles
- Front fork dampens imperfections on the road for smoother ride
- You’ll be knocked around less by bumps leading to faster riding of off-road trails
- Takes pressure off elbows and wrist joints as suspension fork takes brunt of the impact
The Benefits of Hardtail bikes over Full Suspension Bikes
- Lighter weight overall than full suspension meaning less pedalling effort uphill
- Stiff rear end means better climbing performance
- Lower price due to less components means you can get more for your money
- Simpler & cheaper to maintain as there are less moving parts
Who should buy a hardtail?
Anyone planning to do any extended riding off-road should consider a hardtail. The comfort benefit over a rigid bike will be immediately noticeable.
Hardtails should also be considered if the roads where you live are rough. A hybrid bicycle with wider tires and a front suspension fork can make easy work of imperfections in the road.
If you plan to take up mountain biking and are not sure if you’ll like it or not, a hardtail is most recommended to get you started.
The cheap price over a full suspension bike means you can put your foot in the door of the sport for much less.
Hardtails such as the Giant Talon can be bought at an affordable price brand new. Talons are considered by most to be extremely capable mountain bikes.
What to Consider if Buying a Hardtail?
The more travel a suspension fork has the better it is able to absorb harsher bumps on the road or trail.
Bikes that come in sizes extra small or small will sometimes come with 80mm of travel to compensate for the smaller bike size to keep the proportions correct.
If you plan on doing the majority of riding on paved roads then 75mm suspension will suffice. If off-road, then you should considered getting a hardtail with minimum 100mm suspension.
