[Closed] Changing to a Hardtail from a full susser

What makes you think you'll use a hardtail more?.

It’s just a maintance thing as well, plus will use it more going to and from work and out with the kids

Can’t you use the Scout for that? I like my hardtail but I wouldn’t want it as my sole bike for trails like those you describe!

After a Scout I think you’ll find a hardtail a shock - especially on rocky / granite step type terrain.

You'll certainly work harder on a hardtail.  Stopped riding my full-suss when I bought a hardtail and rarely go back.  Also appreciate the easier maintenance. Perhaps look at Cotic BFE, Stanton Switchback and Stif Morf.

I gave up on FS again a couple of years ago and still occasionally find myself entertaining going back but right now HHTs do what I want and make me happy.

Demo some seriously on trails you know before taking the plunge. Line choice is the main difference I think. Picking a line rather than riding out whatever is in front makes the difference.

Currently in this frame of mind myself, though I'd be going from my ageing 26" Santa Cruz 130mm, and was hoping to negate some of the lack of rear bounce by going the 27.5+ route to get some give from the tyres. I'm far from the most gnar of rider, and long epic days out are few and far between, so the reduced cost and maintenance would be welcome.

I've switched from a 150/130 FS 29er to a Whyte 909 and the plus tyres and modern geo make it great fun to ride. Grip is much better but it's not faster. Probably as fast on certain trails but I'm having so much more fun, so I don't care! For now, a HT is all I want. Bottom line, you'll always be one bike away from your perfect bike, so don't worry about what you currently ride.

keep the scout and get a second hand banger for riding to work and family outings. You'd miss it sooner or later.

I've yoyo'd between FS and hatdtails over the years and have recently gone back to a HT.

Incidentally, that's after a year riding a second hand Scout frame.

I think it all depends on what your main riding is like and what you enjoy. I dipped my toe back into the FS water with a second hand Scout because I wanted to try the long, low, slack thing at a cost that reflected my uncertain attitude - and because my old HT was built around 27.5 parts. It's pretty expensive changing otherwise.

I found that I really enjoyed the ride, but that my riding hadn't changed. Really, I mainly ride XC trails and I found the Transition a chore on non technical climbs. I now have a light XC 29er, which is a better match for me and my riding.

I would caution against change for change' s sake, though. HT frames are relatively cheap and therefore invite the impulse buy more readily.

I've just done the same thing

I had a nice Specialized Camber 29er but have recently traded it in for a Mondraker Vantage with 650b with plus wheels. Running the tyres at about 12.5 psi really does help and I find it suits my riding (XC trails, Elan Valley and Nant Yr Arian)

I like the fact that I don't have to worry about bearings, etc (irrational, I know, but that's the way I am) and can just pootle about with the kids on family rides

I think it all depends on what your main riding is like and what you enjoy.

This, If I only ever rode trail centre type trails, or some of the milder riding that some do, I'd only have a HT. But lots of my riding is lumpy, steep and rocky. My Bronson with a MM up front and a Slaughter out back is perfect for this, and adept at every other ride I take it on too, family pootle along the local cycle path last night frinstance.

And as it's a SC, bearing costs are nil anyway.

I have had an HT again for about a year now, and it's probably my most ridden bike.

That said, I certainly wouldn't want to be on it solely.

I've recently  (actually January, so not that recently) bought a Cotic Soul, to replace my aging 26" PA for winter use to save my whyte T-130.

So far I've taken it to some south Wales trail centres & Bike Park Wales & had all the fun, even to the point I'm thinking the BFe might've been the better choice as the Soul is making me ride like a hooligan.

I'm sure I'll ride my Whyte again one day...

Trek Remedy to Cotic BFe for me; do it! 🙂

I went Cotic Soul > Cotic Flare > BFe > Rocket > BFe > Switchback. It does everything I want it to from 70-odd mile trundles to local DH races. The few times I've had a HT and a FS at the same time I've pretty much always defaulted to the HT or wished I'd been on it instead of the FS, even for (admittedly fairly tame) DH stuff. I do enjoy the misery though and think nothing of binning perfectly good gears off to go singlespeed when the weather turns nasty towards the end of [s]October[/s] [s]September[/s] [s]August[/s] July.

Spitfire to BFe here, albeit unwillingly. Has taken close to 15 decent rides out to get used to it, as the style of riding, comfort and line choice is completely different to a full sus.

Part of it is down to the fork. Currently, my BFe has a straight steerer Rev, and itsi a wet noodle in comparison to my old Yari.  That's why I'm going to get a newer BFe with a tapered head tube.

The 50mm closed cell backing rod from Dortech has made a massive difference as i no longer need to worry about snakebites or dinging the rim.

It's ultimately fun in a different way to full sus, but I can't wait until w/c 16 July for my HB160.