Dual VS decent hardtail

[Martin PJ]

I have ridden a HT for ten years, but would love a Dual Sus. Not willing to splash out for something that does not weigh a ton. My one mate has a superlight HT Swift. I picked it up and almost threw it over the car it was so light. This type of bike does make you think. Maybe a superlight HT would do the job better. I don't think there is a right answer.

 

I currently have the Rapide dropper post on my HT, it does allow you to go a bit faster on downhills. Also for comfort there is the suspension seat post, which I also used for a while. It also worked pretty well in improving comfort, the Zoom on Aliexpress is pretty cheap and bulletproof, easily serviceable.

[Skubarra]

I have ridden a HT for ten years, but would love a Dual Sus. Not willing to splash out for something that does not weigh a ton. My one mate has a superlight HT Swift. I picked it up and almost threw it over the car it was so light. This type of bike does make you think. Maybe a superlight HT would do the job better. I don't think there is a right answer.

 

I currently have the Rapide dropper post on my HT, it does allow you to go a bit faster on downhills. Also for comfort there is the suspension seat post, which I also used for a while. It also worked pretty well in improving comfort, the Zoom on Aliexpress is pretty cheap and bulletproof, easily serviceable.

 

If you have a decent specced HT you can just save for the FS frame and then have your HT parts built over onto your FS frame. That's what I did, got beyond the point where shaving off a few grams would have made a real difference on my HT.

[CtnSmith]

Thanks for all the responses. I may look at saving up and spending a bit more. In the meantime I'm considering changing to a 2x or 1 x setup. I've read a few different posts on various platforms that the 1 x is an issue on the climbing cos it doesn't have the granny gear. Any thoughts around this?

[DieselnDust]

Thanks for all the responses. I may look at saving up and spending a bit more. In the meantime I'm considering changing to a 2x or 1 x setup. I've read a few different posts on various platforms that the 1 x is an issue on the climbing cos it doesn't have the granny gear. Any thoughts around this?

1x forces the rider to think about their gearing needs there's no posing. An average rider should be able to get up most long steep climbs with 32T chainring and a 50T sprocket. Fitter riders will obviously go to 34T or 36T

PROBLEM is most bikes ship with a 34T chainring

[bluewhite]

If it were me I’d rather get the bike I really wanted brand new by putting the biggest deposit down then financing the balance solong as you can afford it. Id rather take a few months of pain but at the end have a machine that you absolutly love. I did something like this recently just not through the bank . I put a deposit down on a 2019 scalpel borrowed the rest from a friend and now I got a bike that I’m 100% happy with with and in 3 months hopefully if I have a few good months the bike is paid off.

[RobertWhitehead]

I would always advocate a build rather than an outright buy, I mean you already have majority of the parts at your disposal on the HT  . All you basically need is a new frame, depending on the compatibility of the new frame.

 

 

Thanks for all the responses. I may look at saving up and spending a bit more. In the meantime I'm considering changing to a 2x or 1 x setup. I've read a few different posts on various platforms that the 1 x is an issue on the climbing cos it doesn't have the granny gear. Any thoughts around this?

[MORNE]

If it were me I’d rather get the bike I really wanted brand new by putting the biggest deposit down then financing the balance solong as you can afford it. Id rather take a few months of pain but at the end have a machine that you absolutly love. I did something like this recently just not through the bank . I put a deposit down on a 2019 scalpel borrowed the rest from a friend and now I got a bike that I’m 100% happy with with and in 3 months hopefully if I have a few good months the bike is paid off.

LIES lol...there is always something on a cookie cutter bike you don't like

seat?, stem?, grips?, tires?!!, handlebars?, DROPPER?. These alone can run about 5-10k in upgrades if you want nice things....whereas if you built custom...they would have been on your list already and you wont hypothetically be on here trying to flog cannondale branded bars and stems worth absolutely nothing 

 

PS:I only build custom...I know what i want.

[gemmerbal]

I cannot agree with your sentiment

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NlHYdxi85w

 

dual-sus riders don't like the word 'soft-tail' because it alludes to the fact that your 'tail' has become soft?

 

 

Hardtails are like Slayer, 'soft tails' like Metallica 

They are both pretty metal...but only one ends in a riot... 

click them

[MORNE]

I cannot agree with your sentiment

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NlHYdxi85w

thats pretty tame, even the one below in that case but thanks for proving my point to an extent    (good song/vid though- sandman)

 

please observe from 1m:20s 

 

 

ps: to keepit On Topic...the people in the crowd all ride hardtails. Some will say they have a screw loose...or that is why they are bouncing about so much....but they know they are having the best time ever haha

[TyronLab]

thats pretty tame, even the one below in that case but thanks for proving my point to an extent    (good song/vid though- sandman)

 

please observe from 1m:20s 

 

 

ps: to keepit On Topic...the people in the crowd all ride hardtails. Some will say they have a screw loose...or that is why they are bouncing about so much....but they know they are having the best time ever haha

 

Seeing Raining Blood live is part of any metalhead's bucket list, along with Master of Puppets for me. Don't know if I'd have the balls to be in GC (Goldern Circle, not General Classification) for it though, pretty intense.

 

On topic though, to me the question is why do you want to go full sus? Do you want to be faster? If so, faster doing stage races / marathon, enduro riding? Do you want to be more comfortable, take fewer knocks while sitting down and pedaling? 

[dasilvarsa]

Thats a nice bike but I'd replace that fork and rear shock ASAP. Have the Suntour Fork on my daughters GT and the bushes have too much play out of the box. New bushes will be required soon.

People like to "put down" Suntour Components" When in fact it is decent Stuff.

I have a Merida Kalahary MTB that has done 16000 km on a Suntour Drivetrain without problems, Chain was replaced at every 4 K  but the Chainrings and Cassette are still original and it still goes fine.

The same bike has a Suntour Fork as well, Which has never packed up and I just greased it myself every 4 K. It still works fine.

The nice thing about XCR Forks is that you can service them yourself with just a bit of grease and cleaning.

Suntour also has Top End Forks etc etc.

The XCR Air fitted to the Merida 120 is a better fork than some of the Low end RockShox. For 20K it is a Low End Dual Sus but it will give you a good service as Merida is a reputable Supplier of Bicycles and even owns some of the top brands.

[Hairy]

Thats a nice bike but I'd replace that fork and rear shock ASAP. Have the Suntour Fork on my daughters GT and the bushes have too much play out of the box. New bushes will be required soon.

you get budget suntour, and then you get high end suntour.....

[Dicky DQ]

On topic though, to me the question is why do you want to go full sus? Do you want to be faster? If so, faster doing stage races / marathon, enduro riding? Do you want to be more comfortable, take fewer knocks while sitting down and pedaling? 

Full Suss will always be faster and you will be fresher and more comfortable. But then you need $$