26", 29", hard or soft?

[chris_w_65]

Is this a personal preference thing or is there some good advice to be had?

 

I have a 26" hardtail at the moment and I feel like I take a bit of a pounding and feel a soft tail would be more comfy (I am getting old).

 

Some people say 29" hard tail is much "smoother" than 26" hard tail and you don't really need a 29" soft tail

 

29" soft tail seems a bit heavy unless you want to spend big bucks

 

Comments please (be kind )

 

These are the weights of the bikes I am looking at

 

26" hard tail - I have this now - 11.6kg

 

26" soft tail - 12.35kg

29" hard tail - 11.4kg

29" soft tail - 13.25kg

[RodTi]

I'm also very interested in this topic, Chris...

 

Next bike will be a 29" - but so prefer the maintenance-free fuss(ness) of a hardtail... So if at all possible, would also like to go for the 29"HT option...

 

Kind of makes sense in that you run bigger tyres at lower pressure - but other than this, surely can't be in the same realm as a 29" full-susser??

 

Guess we would have to speak to someone who has done both - and I recall seeing a 29" HT on sale here, think it was a Niner(?), since then the Hubber upgraded to a full-susser?

 

One last thing - Moots and a few others, are now making a 29" softails - google a Moots YBB to to put you on the trail...

Edited December 17, 2010 by RodTi

[covie]

My next bike will be a anthem 29, love my anthem x 26 one more upgrade run and she is where i want her to be then its building up a 29'er. I will however never go back to a HT, i ride trails mostly and i ride more for fun than races. Wont say wheight is not an issue for me since my anthem is on a serious diet at the moment. But hey if the bike is a kg heavier you wont even notice that unless your a serious race snake.

Edited December 17, 2010 by covie

[chris_w_65]

 

One last thing - Moots and a few others, are now making a 29" softails - google a Moots YBB to to put you on the trail...

 

They say 1" maintenance free travel. Where does that happen? I see a strange looking dropout for the rear wheel

[multimad]

I have just got a Anthem X29 and loving it!!! For what you get it is good value for money compared to all the other full sus 29ers. Once you have tried a 29er you will be sold! I will not go back to 26". Weight is not to shabby,but hey it is a big bike! If you a racing snake then go hard tail. The comfort of the full sus is great when you not fit enough to hang onto your hardtail!

[chris_w_65]

I have just got a Anthem X29 and loving it!!! For what you get it is good value for money compared to all the other full sus 29ers. Once you have tried a 29er you will be sold! I will not go back to 26". Weight is not to shabby,but hey it is a big bike! If you a racing snake then go hard tail. The comfort of the full sus is great when you not fit enough to hang onto your hardtail!

 

I wish Giant would give weights for their bikes, this is from their site and it sucks. Do you know what it weighs before bits are added?

 

How much does this bike weigh? It’s a common question, and rightly so. But the truth is, there are no industry standards for claiming bike weights—and this leads to a lot of misinformation. Variances exist based on size, frame material, finish and hardware. And as bikes get lighter, these differences become more critical. At Giant, we believe the only way to truly know the weight of any particular bike is to find out for yourself at your local retailer

[RodTi]

They say 1" maintenance free travel. Where does that happen? I see a strange looking dropout for the rear wheel

 

 

Check out this link: Moots 29" YBB

 

The 1" comes in from the flex in the Ti chainstay/seatstay - controlled by the elastometer situated behind the saddle...

 

Keep it clean/protected - and you theoretically have no maintenance, on a 29" ride that soaks up some of the nasty stuff...

Some variants have a small air-shock instead - but the principal remains the same...

[covie]

Chris i wished it too but it makes sense, in the states if you claim a weight of 12.2kg and your bike end up weighing in at 12.25 because someone at your lbs added to much stan's you might just get sued.

 

However how difficult can it be to introduce an industry standard? all you need is the same digital scale with the same digital configuration at every manufacturer. And btw multimad thats a bold statement since i see softails kicking HT ass so much of regularly especially if the race has more than 5km of singletrack on it.

 

Everyone has his /her prefrence but if you ask me with the comfort and control offered by a dual sus, there is no motivation out there that will get me to buy a HT.

[chris_w_65]

Check out this link: Moots 29" YBB

 

The 1" comes in from the flex in the Ti chainstay/seatstay - controlled by the elastometer situated behind the saddle...

 

Keep it clean/protected - and you theoretically have no maintenance, on a 29" ride that soaks up some of the nasty stuff...

Some variants have a small air-shock instead - but the principal remains the same...

 

 

I see they have a 77kg weight limit on that frame

 

I am sure too expensive for me as it is Ti

[covie]

Yeah 77kg or one drop and maintenance doesnt matter, also not sure where everyone comes from saying a FS is more maintenance intensive I ride it harder than i ever did my HT and more things broke and got misaligned on my HT. Yeah sure there is the yearly full service on all bearings but thats negligable price wise. And most people i know dont even do the yearly bearing replacement.

[chris_w_65]

Yeah 77kg or one drop and maintenance doesnt matter, also not sure where everyone comes from saying a FS is more maintenance intensive I ride it harder than i ever did my HT and more things broke and got misaligned on my HT. Yeah sure there is the yearly full service on all bearings but thats negligable price wise. And most people i know dont even do the yearly bearing replacement.

 

 

Maybe ok for lighter riders (within a narrow weight range), a non adjustable design like that must have limitations

[Slowbee]

was in the bike shop yesterday.

 

Chatting to the salesman he indicated that not all frames can handle a rolofph hub, due to the extra weight flex. As I am also looking to go the 29'er route (dual) do you guys have any suggestions ?

[Pusher]

Glad to see I'm not the only one looking at upgrading from a 26" HT to a 29er FS.I'm tired of feeling like I've just ridden a rodeo horse after some of the tougher races. The prices also seem to have dropped a bit recently because of the R/$ rate.

[scotty]

I dont think you get a 29'er as a softail. dual suspension yes.

[Top Fuel]

Going from an Epic to a 29er Bulls hardtail. I get my frame next week (I Hope). I will post on this topic once I have ridden it for a a bit. I tested their bike first and fo the 15kms I did I loved it. I know a guy who went up to 29er full sus and he says he would go 29er hardtail if he had to do it again. He is not a racing snake just a fun rider like myself. 29er Seems the way to go. Just depends on what sort of setup you want. Are test bikes not an option for you? I see lots of guys on Giant 29er's and they all swear by them. My 2c.

[stringbean]

Have both,a 9.6kg 26'FS and a 9.2kg carbon 29"HT.Love them both but i have to say if i only had one bike it would be the 26"FS.The 29er is comfortable but at the end of the day it is still a ht.It all depends on where you ride.From the info you give i would go for the 26"FS,probably a Giant X3/X2.If you are stuck on the 29er again the Giant HT can't be beat for price and spec.I don't ride a giant but looking at the 2011 bikes nothing comes close.Again a good 26"FS bike will do everything well.The 29er HT will do some things well but still has some drawbacks.

Good luck,let us know what you get.

SB