[Closed] Never ridden a full suspension

Don't get one, You'll only want to get a hardtail again because its not as fun.

Next step...Rigid singlespeed.

Get one. Most fun you'll ever have!

Depends on what you like about riding - if you like the direct pedalling and acceleration the hard tail gives you then you will need to be careful about which FS you go for - a try on a giant anthem X might be worthwhile.

I am on my first FS - a turner flux - and love it.

You can't knock it til you've tried it, and if you do, make the time to set up the shock properly, not just 'twil do 'ish'
Any mates got one you could try?

Yeah I really like the connection of the hardtail with the terrain. I also worry if I do try one I'll convince myself I'll need one!?

My riding tends to be local blasts, trail centres and lond dales rides.

the connection of the hardtail with the terrain

think you'll find that FS bikes are better connected with the trail! i have a lot of fun on my HT...but so much more on the FS. depends how & where you want to ride though.

Don't get one, You'll only want to get a hardtail again because its not as fun.

Next step...Rigid singlespeed.

[img] [/img]

Take a demo one out. I had a fs after a ht and went back to ht - much more fun. But depends on what you want from riding and how you ride. An anthem is very different to an orange 5 which is very different to a Scott voltage FR

I am tempted to leave it this way until my body may need it. Do I live in blissful naivety and 'save' this experience or do I muddy the water and test it out?

Why would you leave testing/trying something until your bodies too knackered to use it well?
Try one you might like it, as mentioned there lots of different type and they all handle/feel different. Kinda like HT's really eh?

I prefer them, no I might not have any 'skillz' from hardcore riding on a HT, but I'm having a lot of fun on my FS & shirely that what counts?

Never had one, never ridden one and don't feel like I'm missing anything, I get enough thrills and spills from the hardtails.

You're not missing much....exceopt bills.

"Why would you leave testing/trying something until your bodies too knackered to use it well?
Try one you might like it, as mentioned there lots of different type and they all handle/feel different. Kinda like HT's really eh?"

Good point, hopefully not too knackered but more in need of comfort?

Never had one, never ridden one and [s]don't feel like[/s]have no idea what I'm missing[s] anything,[/s] I get [s]enough[/s] thrills and spills from the hardtails.

I ride both either alternating or a few months on 1 then the other. I love the directness & feel of my Steel HT especially after the rattle fest that was my Al frame.

I love riding my Full Suss as it adds another level & depth to my riding and saves me from pain on some of the rougher trials.

Both are great fun but don't knock Full Suss till you have tried it - demo somewhere like the lakes and see what it offers

[i]You're not missing much....exceopt bills.[/i]

Thats true, but IF you can afford it then why not? I'm finding myself climbing stuff I couldn't manage on my HT & descending a lot quicker.
I do really think that you should learn to ride on a HT first though. I love both my bikes & would never part with the HT.

I find riding nothing beats riding a road bike off road

Both are great fun but don't knock Full Suss till you have tried it - demo somewhere like the lakes and see what it offers

It simply wouldn't give me anything extra to my current style of riding.

Why on earth wouldn't you want to try on anyway, just to see what it's like?

I loved riding my old hardtail, but I love riding my full suss a lot more. I mostly ride rocky stuff in the Lakes though.

flow - Member
I find riding nothing beats riding a road bike off road

Road bike? Boring.

I prefer my ride; which I think you shall agree is much more fun.

[img] [/img]

Why on earth wouldn't you want to try on anyway, just to see what it's like?

Fair enough, just seems odd to me to be closed-minded about things - It's like people who say they don't like a certain type of food even though they've never tried it.

Bit sensitive aren't we? This is a forum, people debate, question stuff etc

Light full suspension bikes climb better than hard tails unless its dead smooth. Not to mention being faster and more fun downhill, and more comfortable. I wouldn't try one either, what a stupid idea!

Retro83, can I have a go please?

To the OP

I see no need to avoid reying it

you may not like it.

benefit you know a haqrd tail is right for you

You may like it

benefit you can get a bike you prefer

The only reason not to try it is if you then can't afford to buy and maintain one, then it might be better not to know......

Bit sensitive aren't we? This is a forum, people debate, question stuff etc

Rorschach - Member
You're not missing much....except bills.

I see this quoted so much and have yet to understand it. I've owned 4 different FS bikes since 2004 (though 1 was replaced under warrenty twice), mainly single pivot FS's (simple designs, but I like the susension action over 4 bars), and happily ride them all year round. The only 'extra' bill I've had over my HT owning colleagues is a yearly bill for a shock service, hmm an extra £70-80 a year. So where these extra bills that are costing me the earth?

It's a sweeping statement that holds little basis in fact IME.

(...and to answer the obvious "bearings for 4 bar/multi-linkage systems" retort, we happily replaced my m8's giant bearing every 2/3 years for pennies from a bearing shop, WOW the expense)

🙄

Try the FS out first. I have a HT and a FS, I currently have to sell one of them and I'm afraid it's going to be the FS. I find that the HT is just more my kind of ride. So make sure you try it before you buy it!

don simon - Member
So how would a fs omprove my climbing?

I find I can climb better on rough ground on my fs rather than my ht as though it's heavier it's got more grip and lets me maintain a smoother pedaling rhythm.

I find that the HT is just more my kind of ride.

I find I can climb better on rough ground on my fs rather than my ht as though it's heavier it's got more grip and lets me maintain a smoother pedaling rhythm.

Don't you realise that if you don't fit in with the narrow minded views of others

Except that he's actually tried a full suss so has made up his own mind. Oh the irony of calling other people narrow minded 😆

I can sit on the ht for 4-5 hours without problems and it gives me better feedback and drive.

Better than the full suss that you've never tried? :p

Oh the irony of calling other people narrow minded

The point where you make a tit of yourself? Keep going, it's funny. 😆

I'm not sure I knocked fs bikes, just said I'd never ridden one nor have the intention

It simply wouldn't give me anything extra to my current style of riding.

Because I don't see how it would improve my climbing, much the same as SSing takes climbing to yet another level.
Why don't you try something new like accepting other people's points of view without questioning them??

lol.

I'm happy that folks want to ride FS bikes, my personal choice is an HT and I have not seen any evidence to tell me that a FS will serve me better. The most convincing argument in favour have been that not trying a FS akes me stupid, and that I'm making a **** of myself. If you can only resort to insults, might I suggest that you improve your

Bit sensitive aren't we? This is a forum, people debate, question stuff etc

Suspension's alright for gurls and old men, I suppose.

😆

don simon - Member

The only difference I saw was that he descended sitting in the saddle and I had to do it on the pedals.

You mean to say, he didn't really know how to ride a bike? 😕

Possibly, but I wouldn't dream of trying to sit on an HT unless going ridiculously slowly. The point being that a FS gives a level of comfort that not only allows you to ride though/over any obstacle without thought but you also lose any sensation of feedback from the trail.

don simon - Member

The point being that a FS gives a level of comfort that not only allows you to ride though/over any obstacle without thought but you also lose any sensation of feedback from the trail.

I can see how your extensive knowledge of riding full suss bikes could lead you to such a conclusion.

Don't you realise that if you don't fit in with the narrow minded views of others

Oh boy, where to start with this utter naivety of this poster. 🙄

He said...

If you simply want to crash over things without a thought then fine

..in spite of the fact that,

I'm not sure I knocked fs bikes, just said [b]I'd never ridden on[/b]

So he thinks (like many others blinded by their own ignorance) that no skill whatsoever are required if you happen to have a shock and some linkages making the middle section move about?
I challenge him to sit down all the way on a comfy armchair skills compensator, over black graded rough rocky stuff, off 3 or 4 feet jumps and drops offs on steep terrain, I'll be happy to call the ambulance for you. 😉

But wait, this is what his point is really about about isn't it? It's the same old usual (and uttertly yawnworthy) blinkered view from those who get quite defensive in these HT vs FS debates, the common theme I notice is that most don't own or have yet to try (read can't afford possibly) the style of bike they so readily knock.
The usually always ends with a testosterone filled statement about how rad and super gnarly they are, getting so much pleasure out of beating all those poor fools with no skills (assuming and generalising to the max) because mountain biking it's such a big competition isn't it? And your life depends on it? 🙄

As proven with the next post..

I came down a descent with a guy last year, he was on some Specialized fs. I'd say we were hitting speeds in the region of 50km/hr, off road. He was sufficiently impressed to comment on my ability to stay with him. The only difference I saw was that he descended sitting in the saddle and I had to do it on the pedals. I probably enjoyed it more than him, but I couldn't possibly comment on that.

Let's all bow down to the Sam Hill of the HT world. 🙄

Anyway, back on topic.

The truth is, both are well worth experiencing.
Ht riding is an essential ground base to teach new riders all the basics they need to know, FS will help take the sting out of the really rough stuff but you still have to transfer the skills your learned on a HT (like standing up while descending LOL) 😉

By watching others and listening to them... 😉

You can do a lot more one a full sus bike, been riding for 16 years most of them on a full sus, there a lot better than they used to be. My first one didn't work when you stood up. But i must say you do have to spend quite a bit more on one, so why not just get a second hand giant trance frame of ebay.

Edit:
They improve you're climbing because the rear wheel can track the ground a lot better thus giving you better grip.
Also thought id just show the Luddite's what a real mountain bike looks like, cant see the point in hard tails my self 🙂
[IMG] [/IMG]

don simon - Member
The point being that a FS gives a level of comfort that not only allows you to ride though/over any obstacle without thought but you also lose any sensation of feedback from the trail.

don simon - Member
just said I'd never ridden one nor have the intention

can't decide if you are a poor troll or highly opinionated on things you have little experience of? or maybe both?
the 😆 🙄 😉 's aren't making it any clearer either.

I am going to go for the controversial approach of having a hardtail, a full suss and a fully rigid and thinking they're all ace, and all do the exact same job but in different, interesting ways.

Ive never ridden a road bike, nor intend to.

MrSmith - Member

don simon - Member
The point being that a FS gives a level of comfort that not only allows you to ride though/over any obstacle without thought but you also lose any sensation of feedback from the trail.

don simon - Member
just said I'd never ridden one nor have the intention

can't decide if you are a poor troll or highly opinionated on things you have little experience of? or maybe both?
the 's aren't making it any clearer either.

Maybe [url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/never-ridden-a-full-suspension/page/2#post-2592922 ]this [/url] will help a little, but don't worry about reading everything before commenting, I see your problem, you're trying to contrive a negative picture of me and neither of your options are true, I do, however, have opinions and they are based either on first hand experience or the experiences of people I trust. Just to correct you, I said I have NO experience of riding Full sussers and as a poor troll I seem to have had a reasonable reaction.
If I tell you something tastes like dog shit, several other people tell you something tastes like dog shit, are you going to try it to confirm that it tastes like dog shit?

If I tell you something tastes like dog shit, several other people tell you something tastes like dog shit, are you going to try it to confirm that it tastes like dog shit?

i would give it a sniff to see if it was bovine or canine

But would you taste it? We all know that the smell might not be representative of the taste.

I said I have NO experience of riding Full sussers

So how exactly are you qualified to critique their ride feel? Is it because one of your equally well informed Halfords bike riding associates told you that the Shock-wave sucked?

don simon - Member

If I tell you something tastes like dog shit, several other people tell you something tastes like dog shit, are you going to try it to confirm that it tastes like dog shit?

I'd wonder why you know what dogshit tastes like.

don simon - Member
If I tell you something tastes like dog shit, several other people tell you something tastes like dog shit, are you going to try it to confirm that it tastes like dog shit?

I'd wonder why you know what dogshit tastes like

Maybe he has it in his sandwiches with some pesto.

I'm happy that folks want to ride FS bikes, my personal choice is an HT and I have not seen any evidence to tell me that a FS will serve me better.

Me and you find a rocky decent (doesn't even have to be rocky infact) and see how long I am waiting for you at the bottom for. Then you will see a lot of evidence why a FS bike will serve you better.

So how exactly are you qualified to critique their ride feel? Is it because one of your equally well informed Halfords bike riding associates told you?

Me and you find a rocky decent (doesn't even have to be rocky infact) and see how long I am waiting for you at the bottom for. Then you will see a lot of evidence why a FS bike will serve you better.

Well that would depend on whether the 400m climb was before or after the decent.

If I tell you something tastes like dog shit,

But would you taste it?

i wouldn't believe anything you say so no, i wouldn't taste it.

i wouldn't believe anything you say so no, i wouldn't taste it.

Well that would depend on whether the 400m climb was before or after the decent.

Do you want to correct that, surely if you don't believe me you would taste it?

no. no desire to edit that as i haven't changed my mind.

And of course that is your choice and I wouldn't dream of trying to convince you otherwise,

then why ask me to?

insult you or try to impress people with cheap (and crap) funnies

you haven't insulted me so no offense taken.
you did make me laugh though.

Nope it would be faster both up and down hill. People think you're stupid for a reason, im new hear but i take it ur the forum troll/annoying person that really knows very little. Also Spanish beer sucks, and in my experience tastes a little like gone off lemonade.

Nope it would be faster both up and down hill.

no. no desire to edit that as i haven't changed my mind.

Once I offer you my advice you can do what you want with it, I wouldn't dream wasting a Sunday afternoon trying to tell you that you're wrong.

You're a funny little chappy aren't you? Could you explain to me why I'm stupid? And why you feel you need to call me stupid.

You are stupid because you claim to have in-depth knowledge of a subject that you clearly have no experience off. Hence you are stupid.
I want to know how you can critique the ride of a bike that you have never even ridden?

You are stupid because you claim to have in-depth knowledge of a subject that you clearly have no experience off. Hence you are stupid.
I want to know how you can critique the ride of a bike that you have never even ridden?

It never fails to amaze me how ****ing dumb some people are, mostly found on internet forums. I don't know why I bother!

I wouldn't dream wasting a Sunday afternoon trying to tell you that you're wrong.

I concur. Why do you bother?

I'd wonder why you know what dogshit tastes like.

😆

don simon - give up, you're really not doing yourself any favours here. If you don't think full suss is for you then fine, I'm just not sure why you keep posting in a thread about something you clearly have no knowledge of. Don't knock it til you've tried it is a fairly good maxim imo.

Calling other people narrow minded is hilariously ironic too.

Nope it would be faster both up and down hill.

Are h/t's faster?

Just watched the mens world cup xc race at Dalby, & the winner was on a full susser....

don simon - give up, you're really not doing yourself any favours here. [b]If you don't think it's for you then fine[/b][u], I'm just not sure why you keep posting in a thread about something you clearly have no knowledge of. Calling other people narrow minded is hilariously ironic too.

Where have I said that I have in depth knowledge? I have an opinion based on the views and experiences of people who's opinions I trust, and who know me and my riding style and things I have witnessed. Resorting to calling people stupid doesn't do much for your debating skills either. Anything else?

Actually thinking about it I think you are both stupid and ignorant.

I rode more or less the same route yesterday (25lb HT) and today (30lb FS). Yesterday I was more tired. Today the trails seemed a little boring.

I concur. Why do you bother?

bother with what?

MrSmith - Member

I concur. Why do you bother?

bother with what?

[url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/never-ridden-a-full-suspension/page/2#post-2593119 ]With this.[/url] 😉

Actually thinking about it I think you are both stupid and ignorant.

Just watched the mens world cup xc race at Dalby, & the winner was on a full susser....

Apparently not fine, as you all want to tell me that my personal opinion is wrong and as most of the arguments against me appear to be less informed than you claim my opinion is or simply insults.
I have a question, why don't we see full suss bikes at the XC World Championships? Soft tails are creeping in, but the majority of riders are on hardtails. Why is that, if full sussers will beat a hardtail on the climbs?

The way I see it, doesn't matter which is faster, never something I've cared about as I ride both style of bikes. It's all about the rider input/skills/fitness/etc etc in my opinion. And why people care is beyond me. Just ride the bike and have a larf.

.. back to the original question I guess.

I ride two bikes, both stumpjumpers, one being a carbon hardtail, the other an FSR. Both have 120mm minimum of front travel (sids and revelations).

Now I may be missing the point a little, and no doubt influenced by one to many injuries but I don't equate outright speed to "fun". I'd much rather the challenge, and if I fail then the off is at a speed that I am going to walk away from mostly in tact.

I find the HT means I get more of a work out, have to lift the bike over obstacles, look further ahead, mentally find a line and stick with it. I get tired a lot quicker but the thrill factor is higher. Its more of a rattle attack but I have more "feel" of what is happening.

The FS is more forgiving, I can climb in comfort and find my cadence a lot smoother so grip seems improved, aided by the fact Im not being bounced out of the saddle so often ( ... poor form or not im to ignorant to know). Coming down the "flow factor" is higher. Descents are at a higher speed in no small part I am sure due to the confidence it gives. Its more forgiving but if I cock up hopefully it wont chuck me to hard into a tree. I can ride longer but not necessarily further on it.

If I had to chose one it would be a FS, albeit a shorter travel ie Camber, Genius, Zesty etc (I'm sure there are plenty of others) which would allow the best of both hard argued for camps ...

Also Spanish beer sucks, and in my experience tastes a little like gone off lemonade.

That's going a bit far, a cold Mahou on a hot summer's evening is pretty close to perfect.

while we are on the subject of new stuff, is that colour telly any good never seen a problem with the old black n white. Also will 35mm prints really be any good? Slides work so well especially when you have friends round

OP try one, buy one. FS bikes are better than hardtails in every conceivable way, you'd be crazy not to. There's a lot of gibberish spouted by HT nerds all over the internet, ignore these 'sperglords though.

Before this thread descends into a hardtail jihad, here are a few myths and truths to get you started:

Myths:
- HT teaches you rad gnar skillz, FS makes you lazy.
- FS makes things "too easy" (har, yeah ok if you're Steve Peat maybe)
- FS will "roll over anything" (It's a pushbike, not a range rover)
- FS are a lot of hassle to keep running.
- You should "learn to ride properly" (whatever this means) on a HT first
- A HT can turn an overweight IT consultant from Reading into a biking hard man (extra gnar awarded for lack of gears and boutique brands from Northern England. Blokes on fully rigid 29ers are so masculine they manage to impregnate women at 500 yards)

Truths:
- FS is faster than HT downhill.
- FS is more comfortable.
- FS allows you to attempt more rad gnar things because it's better offroad than HT, because it has suspension both ends.
- Bike nerds are easy to wind up.

About right RJ

I would say though...
HT teaches you rad gnar skillz - Helps though makes you think about line a bit more which does translate back on the FS

FS is faster than HT downhill. - Depends on the rider!!

Bike nerds are easy to wind up - Oh no there not

FS is faster than HT downhill.

I'll be at Erlestoke 12 next Saturday and I'll be aiming to reach 65km/h down that long chalk track on a hardtail 29er. I'll post the GPS evidence here afterwards.
I challenge anyone, on any bike, to post evidence that they went faster.

Graham, the previous claim was that a full suss bike would be [url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/never-ridden-a-full-suspension/page/2#post-2593084 ]faster uphill too[/url]. 🙄

HT are great for those who think being battered about is exciting.

Don - there are plenty of climbs by me that I could not do on my HT and I could on my FS when I had both.

How would a fs that simply rides over all obstacles

OMG where can I get one of these incredible machines that can ride over ALL obstacles?! Cos last time I was on my FS I had to steer around all sorts of boulders and trees and things, I guess it's just not good enough.