HardTail or Full Suspension MTB?

markzz SG

For all u Cross Country riders out there!
Which type of bike do u prefer?

Hardtail ( eg: Giant XTC Team )

or

Full Suspension ( Giant NRS Air ) ?

I heard the trails in Singapore are not severe enough to require rear suspension! I even know of a guy who rides BT with a RIGID MTB! Shocked

Hidden^OnE SG

www.togoparts.com

de_middle SG

Im using a hardtail, very old bike giant atx 890, depends on individual prefrence, i feel there is more control on a hardtail.

Besides i don't like most full suspension frames. But my fren just got his santa cruz blur 4x, thats a nice frame for a full suspension.

sinicker SG

what's a hardtail?

i'm using a GT Tempest. nearly all parts have been upgraded - handlebar, brakes, suspension, seat, rims, tires, crank arms. front suspension only. catch me twice a week along changi coast rd.

zanza SG

Personnally , i prefer a hardtail . If your buying your first bike , a hardtail would be a better choice as , 1. easier to control , 2. Cheaper , 3. Less maintainance. The trails at Bukit Timah don't require a full sus imho , the slight advantage u get from better control downslopes will probably not be worth the extra weight up the slopes . The downslopes are not that hardcore with hardly any 1-2 feet drops , no need full sus at all. At most u get better traction from the rear wheel. An average hardtail bike will be much cheaper than the full sus version and u can use the extra cash to get a better helmet which is always worth the investment.

deathjesterr SG

It depends more on personal preference. Hardtail = more versatile imho. Im not really into XC..into street riding..so i use hardtail.

markzz SG

when do u go Changi Coast Rd and around wad time? I cycle there only during holidays or when not tied up with school work. I'm thinking of cycling at Mandai (tarmac ) after my Term Tests! Very Happy

seow SG

Hardtail = no rear linkage. Just a stiff rear.

sinicker SG

i cycle frm my hse ard 2.15 - 2.30pm. so i shud reach changi coast rd at abt 3.15pm? i just finished my As. i go there any day i like. when the weather's cloudy. if it's sunny, forget it. Very Happy

my route is.. Tampines Loyang Ave Changi Beach Changi Coast Rd ECP Benjamin Sheares Nicoll Hway ECP Bayshore Rd/Upp East Coast Rd Tampines.

RED GT Tempest MTB.

sinicker SG

oh that. looks hideous to me. Very Happy

seow SG

A hardtail is just a bike without rear suspension leh. Shocked

sinicker SG

yup. anyway my MTB no rear suspension. not hardtail too.

seow SG

Aiya, Its a hardtail lah. Laughing

Or if you have a rigid fork fitted, then its rigid.

markzz SG

heh... here are the possible HardTail frames I'm considering:

1) Giant XTC Team ---- $450 , very light, not too expensive, tough, made of high grade Aluminium

2) Voodoo Sobo --- $900 , lighter den XTC, good at absorbing shocks but still rather stiff for better energy transfer when pedaling, made of Scandium which is a light weight Aluminium Alloy

3) Kona Titanium ---$950, specs not known yet.. but its of lower grade Titanium. Must ask Bike shop Boss to let me inspect it b4 can make conclusion.

4) A Titanium frame at GHC --- $1500, Taiwanese brand, very very light (lighter den Sobo ) but reliability? after all, its a Taiwanese brand, as compared to Itallian or USA brands, I trust the Ang Mors more!

4) LiteSpeed's cheapest Titanium frame ---- $2500!!!! And those guys at Treknology call it "cheap"! Sheeeeesh! But its performance is really Tok Kong!
If I work after army I might consider it! hehe..

5) Airborne Titanium--- $2000.... Specs unknown!

Whew! which frame would u guys buy huh? Smile

zanza SG

The giant XTC Team!!!

The frame is damn strong, theres a reason its one of the commonest bikes around in singapore.

seow SG

Damn strong? Shocked

Its being kown as the coke-can frame for being easily dented 0_0

de_middle SG

I should be going there this SATURDAY, but I got a long way, all the way from WEST COAST.

Im going to changi village for dinner & back, should see me clocking above 100 km easily. My route, west coast, west coast highway, robinson road, nicoll highway, stadium boulevard, tanjong rhu, east coast park, changi coast road & BACK AGAIN.

markzz SG

1. Why not go Jalan Kayu for some Prata? If I'm free on Fri, I might go there for lunch. I dun cycle in the night, I'm more of a day cyclist!

2. Regarding the XTC Team frame: U serious about it being easily dented?!! Shocked
The bike shop boss told me he had made 5 XTC Team bikes for semi-professional XC Riders (Privateers who travel Asia to compete ) ! As compared to the VooDoo Sobo, do u think the Sobo will survive a harsher beating den the XTC Team? Question

markzz SG

do u use a flat handlebar or a riser bar? I now using Titanium Flatbar. Really improves my aerodynamic, agility in corners and greatly reduced the weight in the front half of my bike! Wink

seow SG

The XTC is widely known to be the "coke-can" frame that gets easily dented.