Heavy guy... Hardtail or dual suspension

[Papawolf]

Hi guys, I'm torn between either buying a dual suspension bike or a hard tail. First my budget is limited but I can get a 26er dual suspension or a 29er hardtail. My thoughts was to get a dual suspension since I weight 115kg, but I'm not sure if my thinking is right. I do more cross country with some single track riding. I ruined the freewheel body of my previous bike from doing jumps with it. Any advise will be appreciated.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

What's the budget? A full suss 26er will always be fun, and will handle jumps better than the hardtail XC bike, unless the hardtail you get is an actual jump bike.

 

26er is also loads of fun in the technical stuff. 

[MarcBurger]

Weight has nothing to do with that decision imo. Can set either bike up accordingly. 115 isn't enough to be panicking.

 

If you know what your budget is, there are a hundered people here that will throw ideas at you within it.

You won't regret a full sus 26, I promise.

[lerouc]

I am heavier than you and have always been on a hardtail since january i got a dually. The only real difference i have noticed, my back does not get sore that fast anymore. But i have back problems from rugby.

[Pete the Pirate]

My 5 cents worth.

I have a 50k dual suser that I have ridden only twice this year.

I am thrashing about on my 8k fat bike.

Admiditly, no epic rides, just 30k technical cross country stuff, but what a blast.

I am also 115kg.

Good luck.

[Big Ray]

If you can afford it, go dual 26er!

[Dubbin]

How tall are u? My first bike was a 26 er and I am 1.93. My point is:There is no wrong answer to this question! My personal point of view is: If you are just  a heavier guy and not too tall, a dual 26er would be a great fun. If you are one of the taller guys (1.85+), go 29er rigid.

[Christie]

Look at a Niner ROS 9 or ROS 9 plus, fitted with a Pike.

[Dubbin]

Look at a Niner ROS 9 or ROS 9 plus, fitted with a Pike.

Excellent choice.

 

Not sure it will fit the " my budget is limited" criteria. Pike was R 17k at last count. That was before the rest of the bike was added.

[johanpre44]

Steel Hard Tail frames last very well (can take almost any punches you can throw at it). Problem is the premium they sell at. Personally I will love a ROS9+ or even a Ragley Bigwig (2016 model can run both 29 and 27.5+ wheels).

 

On the other hand, nothing wrong with a 26er Dual-Sus, you will have lots of fun on it (just a little more maintenance than a hard tail). Only problem with these bikes is that you mostly get them in 100mm travel front and back, 120mm will be way more fun.

 

Benefit of being on the heavy side is that a heavy bike will not be a big problem (compared to a heavy bike for a light rider) so you can save bucks by not adding the most expensive parts.

[Christie]

You could always build it with a rigid fork for starters, while you save & hunt the classifieds for a nice fork - I dont know if a 29er Pike can take a 3.0 tyre, but that is what I would aim for for my next build, with Hope Tec M4 brakes, that would be sweet.