When you’re looking for a new mountain bike, you’ll be faced with the choice between a hardtail and a full-suspension mountain bike. Finding out more about the options will help you to get this choice right, improving your riding experience and finding the best fit for your budget and your lifestyle.
Let’s take a look at the difference between hardtail and full suspension mountain bikes, and explore which will work best for you. You are always welcome to come and visit us in-store and see the difference for yourself, and our experienced team will be happy to help you with the decision-making process.
What is a Hardtail bike?
A hardtail is a simple mountain bike with a suspension fork on the front wheel. The rear wheel is attached to the frame of the bike, and most entry-level mountain bikes are designed this way. When you’re riding on trails, you’ll find that a hardtail mountain bike enables you to really connect with the experience, riding actively and building your skills as you learn how to jump obstacles and use your legs more effectively.
Hardtail bikes are lighter than full-suspension MTBs and can provide a faster ride on smooth trails because of this. This gives scope for high-quality components that are lightweight and improve your riding experience without inflating the cost too much, and your hardtail might be more responsive than a comparable full-suspension bike. These bikes are designed to be affordable and easy to maintain, and could be the perfect choice if you favour this type of riding.
What is a Full Suspension Mountain Bike?
A full suspension mountain bike is designed to provide suspension for the rear wheel as well as the front wheel, and this makes it a little more complicated and a lot smoother to ride. A full suspension mountain bike gives you the comfort and traction you need to tackle even the roughest trails and will usually offer a more comfortable ride than a hardtail MTB.
When you are riding a full-suspension mountain bike, you’ll find that the rear wheel is able to grip the ground better, and this will give you the confidence to chase your personal bests. A full-suspension MTB will require more maintenance to keep the suspension bushings and bearings in good condition, and learning to maintain your own bike can save you a great deal of money and time. A full-suspension mountain bike generally gives you more options, especially on rough terrain, as it is more responsive and smoother than a hardtail MTB.
Our Top Picks
Many people suggest starting out with a hardtail MTB and graduating to a full-suspension mountain bike when you have gained a good amount of experience and skill on the trails. We have a great range of mountain bikes in our catalogue, including hardtail and full-suspension MTBs, and we always recommend seeing as many as you can in person to compare the different models and find the very best fit for your riding style and your budget.
Our most popular models include:
Hardtail MTBs:
- Trek Procaliber Hardtail. This is an excellent cross-country mountain bike that is built for racing and recreational rides, and sports a modern alloy frame that can handle the corners with ease. We love the 12-speed Shimano drivetrain and 120mm RockShox fork for comfort and durability, and it’s a popular choice for beginners and intermediate riders alike.
- Cube Aim SLT Mountain Bike. Cube bikes always feel extra special, and we love the Aim SLT, with an aluminium frame and high-performance components. The elegant design routes cables internally to give a sleek finish, and sports a high-quality gear selection with an XT derailleur and superior tyres. You’ll appreciate the versatility that comes from the easily adjustable Suntour air-sprung suspension fork, and the powerful Shimano hydraulic disc brakes that give you the quick response you need.
- Nukeproof Tracker. The Nukeproof Tracker is designed for off-road exploration that makes the most of modern MTB geometry, and is much loved by new and experienced riders. It’s a good choice for mixed terrain and popular on the forest trails as well as in the city, and the beauty is in the details such as the convenient mounting points for racks, stands and mudguards. Whether you’re commuting, riding the trails or heading out on a weekend adventure, this is a versatile option that is great fun to ride.
Full Suspension Mountain Bikes:
- Trek Fuel EX 5. A versatile aluminium trail bike such as the Fuel Ex 5 is designed to give you superior control for acceleration and braking, and is a great choice even on rough terrain. The tubeless-ready wheels ensure that you’re ready for anything, and there are plenty of options for aftermarket upgrades, including angle adjust and anodised colours. If you want storage, you’ll love the storage and accessory mount stash ride essentials, with in-frame storage on all models, both carbon and alloy, as well as top tube accessory mounts that let you load up even more.
- Orbea Oiz M20. If you’re looking for an ultra-light mountain bike that can enhance your riding experience, you’ll love the Orbea Oiz with neat internal cable routing and SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain. We love the impressive cassette with 10-50T gear range that makes climbing and pedalling easier, even on rough terrain. The Shimano M6100 hydraulic disc brakes give you the control you need, and the OC MC20 Mountain Control Dropper enables you to quickly lift and lower your saddle with one press of the lever for full versatility.
- Trek Remedy 7. We love the Remedy 7 in stunning crimson, and it’s the perfect choice for mountain towns. This model offers light handling even on the most technical trails, and the long travel suspension and dropper post combine with the 12-speed drivetrain to ensure a quality ride. This is a bike that is built to impress, and if you’re ready to leave the ground, you’ll love the durable Alpha Platinum Aluminium frame with 150mm of rear travel and RockShox Deluxe Select+ shock. A great pick, we recommend this bike because it’s designed the same way as the top-end Remedy at a fraction of the cost.
Outdoor Equipment in Ireland
At The Edge, we stock all the cycling equipment and clothing you need to ride in all seasons, and we have bikes designed for gravel biking, mountain biking, city cycling and more. We also have a good selection of eBikes for the ultimate in green transport methods, and we can help you to find the perfect solution for your budget and your lifestyle.
We’ve got all of your outdoor activities covered, and you’ll also find everything you need for swimming, surfing, triathlon and running, including clothing and equipment. Pop in and chat with our friendly team in-store or explore our extensive range online.
