How to: Understand the Differences Between Full-Suspension and Hardtail Mountain Bikes

In addition to the different categories like cross-country and trail, you'll also find that mountain bikes come in three different suspension configurations. Rigid, hardtail, and full suspension. Rigid bikes don't have any built-in suspension. They rely on tire pressure along with the rider's arms and legs to absorb shock when riding over bumps. Hardtails have a suspension fork allowing the front wheel to move over bumps as the shock absorbs the impact. The rear wheel does not have any suspension. It's rigid back there hence the term hardtail. Full suspension bikes have both a front suspension fork and a rear shock that absorbs bumps allowing the rear wheel to move smoothly over trail obstacles. In addition to the shock itself, rear suspension designs rely on strategically placed linkages and pivot points to make that suspension work. So why would a rider choose one over the other? Well to answer that question, let's dig into the benefits of suspension. First, suspension helps keep the bike's tires in contact with the ground. Keeping your tires planted firmly in the ground means that you'll have more traction and traction equals control. Without traction, tires slip causing a scary moment to regain control. And whether pedaling on bumpy terrain or hitting a rock through a corner, a full suspension bike is going to keep both wheels planted on the ground when it matters. Next, full suspension helps riders take on more challenging terrain. Hardtails require more maneuvering and rider skill to navigate through technical trail sections. Hardtails also require the rider to stand more often using their arms to lift the bike over rocks and their legs to absorb the hits. Suspension makes this easier by absorbing more of the bumps for the rider, allowing them to hit the same section of trail head-on and trust the suspension to absorb it. And if they make a mistake or come up short on a jump, the suspension will make up for it. More traction, more control, and covering for potential rider mistakes all translates to more confidence. Finally, there's comfort. If suspension is absorbing the blow from repeated bumps on the trail, your body isn't. This means less muscle fatigue and it allows you to ride more. So with all those benefits, why wouldn't everybody just ride full suspension? Well, for most hardtail riders, it's simply a matter of price. All the extra technology, shock, and parts that go into a suspension bike increases its price versus a hardtail. Also, because hardtails have fewer moving parts, they require less maintenance over the long haul. Finally, hardtails tend to be lighter weight than their full suspension counterparts. But lighter weight does not always equal more speed. Many riders will be able to ride faster because of the advantages full suspension provides. Now, you'll find both hardtails and full suspension options when looking at cross-country mountain bikes and trail mountain bikes. But remember, full suspension bikes provide better traction and control, more confidence in difficult terrain, and more comfort. Because of all these benefits, we recommend full suspension models to most customers first.