[Closed] 'enduro' hardtail itch.... Is it a daft idea?

It's a common feeling, usually known as "n+1". Hardtails are a fun thing to have around.

Maybe as a second bike but not a replacement!

That's the thing, I cant have a n+1, has to be a one in one out thing.

I have a couple of 100mm xc hardtails (ss and geared) and I have had longertravel hardtails before (raced a couple of the Dragon DH series on a hardtail 10 or so years ago and loved it).

The mega really is great and I can't fault it, never looked at another full suss bike/frame and thought of swapping to that. But it's just full suss vs hardtail

How old / tough are you! My brain loves riding my 160mm hardtail, my body, less so......

I'm 35 and I've always loved riding hardtail.

Had more hardtail than suss in the past, ridden most things on a hardtail that I would on suss and usually had bigger smiles without rear travel... That's was 10 years ago though.

Got a 650b P7 and it's flipping ace - can ride pretty much anything on it (30 milers through to steep Calderdale tech and rocks etc), albeit a slower and with less comfort than my full-sus. If I could only keep one bike, I'd keep the full-sus. I wouldn't fancy the hardtail for a week of Alps descending - it would f*ck me right up. I am 47 though, with a slightly dodgy back. Long, slack hardtail as a second bike...great idea.

a hardtail will compliment your big bike.Try and keep both. If you cannot keep your current fs bike.Sounds like you really like it.Be a shame to swap it. Can't you get rid of the single speed xc bike instead.

I've just handed down my full suspension to my son, riding only my LLS hardtail now. Used it for a week in the alps, was a bit bumpy for sure, but now its my only bike. FLippin love it.

Difference for me was that I had to finally admit that I just don't like my full sus, the LLS HT was so much more confidence inspiring.

Now of course I am hankering after a nice LLS full sus...

Cheers all, the ss is also my commuter.

I really do like the mega and I know the logical and best option is to keep it. But it's just this niggling thought of a a HT.

Cheers for the replies, you've pretty much confirmed what I thought. HT as a compliment to the Mega, but not a replacement.

My "full suss" is a steel 3" tyre hardtail. Love it, take it to Zona Zero every year, never feel underbiked. Although..... just turned 50 and the back's starting to niggle. That Cortex looks nice 😉

My spare bike is a 160mm BFe.

When the alloy part of my HB160's Hope cassette died last week, I went out on the BFe once while waiting for the new part.

I then bought a load of XX1/GX Eagle kit to put on the HB160. That's how much fun hardcore hard tails are for me.

N+1 is great when the +1 is the right bike for you.

Lose the geared 100mm xc hardtail and get a burlier hardtail that isn’t full on mental and it will cover steep tech and your xc hardtail needs. Thinking 140-150mm travel and maybe 65-66 degree head angle. Long reach but keep the chainstays short for snappy fun manualling and popping off stuff.

I’ve got a Bird Aeris 145LT and wanted a hardtail that would be more lively on flat pedally stuff but could handle some steeper (but slower) tech stuff so went with a Vitus Sentier with 140mm Pikes / e1900 DT Swiss wheels to take some abuse and 1x11 sram etc. Maybe if you went for something a little longer and slacker than that without going crazy it might do a great job.

I was also wondering about a Nukeproof Scout / Airdrop Bitmap / Orange Clockwork 137 (now Evo) at the time - but went with a bargain.

I had an HT, a short travel 29 trail bike, (but good geo) and a big travel race bike.

The only time the HT got used was when both the others were in bits. It was basically a sh*tter version of a good short travel bike. I wasn't even any lighter either, being made of steel.

Hob Nob

I had an HT, a short travel 29 trail bike, (but good geo) and a big travel race bike.

The only time the HT got used was when both the others were in bits. It was basically a sh*tter version of a good short travel bike. I wasn’t even any lighter either, being made of steel.

I have pretty much the same setup right now. HT hardly gets used. But I spend a lot of time looking at new HT frames and thinking about buying one.

Absolutely, the amount of times i've purchased in my head a Stanton Switch9 Ti is beyond a joke 🙂

I think a new road/gravel/CX bike would probably get more use!

Hob Nob

Absolutely, the amount of times i’ve purchased in my head a Stanton Switch9 Ti is beyond a joke 🙂

I think a new road/gravel/CX bike would probably get more use!

Yep. Bought the gravel bike, still looking at Solaris/Moxie/Switch9er etc

Thanks for the reassurances.

The 100mm geared bike stays as I started racing XC this year and want to continue race.

SS is my commuter/short local loop bike.

It would be mega or hardtail.... I reckon I'll keep the mega and fantasise about a HT.

Thanks all

Good choice.

To play devils advocate, I went from a 26" Mega (160mm), to a Mk 1 Bird Aeris (160mm), to a Sonder Transmitter, with the Bird parts - so 160mm on 2.6" tires.
For Lakes and Wales hike-a-bike (my local and regular riding) and enduros it's great fun, harder and slightly slower but more satisfyingly demanding. The only thing significantly less fun on it is long stone pitched descents (eg Birkside off Helvellyn) and uplift alpine bikepark descending trips, which are a bit too punishing for me after a few days.
Big tough tires, clutch mechs and tyre inserts have really made technical hardtailing much more enjoyable for me in the last few years. My next plan is to upgrade the Pikes with a Smashpot coil as I'm riding much more over the front than before.

P7 tubeless great fun, rides everything except uplift ‘cause I’m getting older.

I think if all the other bikes have to stay then hats the right call keeping the mega. I think you would regret losing the big full suss. Some days you just want / need full suss imo.

Swapped my Hightower for a Pace RC529 and regretted it.

Some of my favourite hard tails I've owned have all been 100-120mm. I just don't think long travel hard tails are a good idea. Big fork never reminded me that the rear wheel had no suspension 🙂

I've just been reminded what a hoot my HT is - Marin Nail Trail 7.
I've just spent a couple of days around Bike Park Wales. Great fun keeping up and overtaking FS bikes, but only on the blues and flowy reds. Rim Dinger felt a bit slow...but I'm still faster than half of Strava users on there. 👌

A few days before I rolled around Hayling island and a couple of laps of Queen Mary Country Park.

A few days before that I explored East Anglia bridleways and forest tracks, and a couple of road rides.

It's done it all, and been a great tool for the job. It's not even that Enduro with 130mm forks, 2.4 tyres and only middling LLS geometry.

sold my Rocketmax frame and built up a Chromag rootdown. Way more fun!!!!!!!!!!

Love my HT and wouldn't be without it. However, I wouldn't be without the FS as well! Need both really. Much that of love to take the HT to the Alps etc, I could only use it for a day or so, the rocks and braking bumps etc would tire my body double as quick as normal.

harder and slightly slower but more satisfyingly demanding....Big tough tires, clutch mechs and tyre inserts have really made technical hardtailing much more enjoyable...

This.

My optimum is a HT and an FS. If I was really pushed, I'd keep the HT over the FS, because I find 85% of my riding more rewarding on it.

I'd really miss my FS for the other 15%.

I'm about to swap my Cannondale Trigger for Chromag Doctahawk, I have the frame but need to get the parts together. It will probably have a 180mm Lyrik installed on it. I'm going back to a hardtail because I prefer riding them but also wanted something rather daft and the Doctahawk fits the bill.

Always preferred hardtails. It’s all about what works for you though. I just find them more fun and less faffing around. Tried full sus and for my riding, Peaks, Marple, Macc Forest and occasional jaunts elsewhere a HT just makes more sense.

Saying that my only bike at the moment is a rigid plus bike. If I could have two bikes the second would be a steel or Ti HT.

I have a 18 Long-sized Stanton Switchback and it is a fantastic bike for technical riding.  With 2.8 tyres on 650b rims it rides so well.  It’s certainly not the poor relation to my Transition Patrol.  I ride them slightly differently - but both are very good in steep and technical terrain.

I think hardtails are becoming main bikes, rather than n+1ers, thanks to plus tyres.