What Is a Hardtail Mountain Bike?
If you are a fan of cross country racing or going on trails with a lot of uphill climbs, you might want to consider going for a hardtail mountain bike. What is a hardtail mountain bike exactly, you might ask and how does it differ from a regular mountain bike? It all comes down to the rear suspension.
A hardtail mountain bike only has a suspension or rigid forks on the front but not on the back. Without a rear suspension, a hardtail is able to offer a wide range of advantages to riders, which will be discussed below.
Contents
Why Get a Hardtail Mountain Bike?
Riders can benefit from getting a hardtail mountain bike. From performance to maintenance, this bicycle has clear advantages over a full-suspension bike. Here are just a few:
Easy Maintenance
With the lack of a rear suspension, you can expect the hardtail mountain bike to be easier to maintain. After all, it does have fewer parts so there will be fewer problems that will arise.
Convenient Transportation
A hardtail mountain bike is definitely lighter than a full suspension bike. Aside from only having a front suspension, its frame, tires, wheels, and other parts are also lighter. Bringing your hardtail mountain bike to the great outdoors shouldn’t be any trouble too as it can work with tailgate bike pads.
Great Performance
Some of the advantages of not having a rear suspension are a hardtail mountain bike offers efficient pedaling and improved speed on smooth trails plus climbs. This makes the hardtail the perfect choice for cross country racing.
Riders can also perform bunnyhops easily with the lighter hardtail mountain bike. This vehicle is definitely limber and lighter, which allows for moves and maneuvers like this.
Who’s It For?
The versatile hardtail mountain bike can be used by just about all types of riders. Whether you are an experienced rider or a newbie, you can learn or perfect jumping, cornering, pumping, and more.
The Experienced
With a hardtail, experienced riders can improve their riding technique as they can’t rely on a rear suspension. When it comes to riding rough trails or going through training during the winter, riders will be challenged to be more careful and improve on their forms. At the same time, they can focus more on being fast as a hardtail can offer the speed a full-suspension bike cannot.
A hardtail mountain bike can be used as a practice vehicle before moving on or returning to a regular mountain bike.
The Newbies
New riders who are looking for an entry-level bicycle may opt for the hardtail mountain bike. Not only are they more affordable but they are also quite versatile. It can be used on different terrains plus it doesn’t require frequent maintenance.
You’ll be pleasantly surprised that keeping it clean and the upkeep is easier than with a regular mountain bike. There are no bushes, bearings, linkages, or pivots. Generally, a hardtail’s maintenance is just on the disc brakes, the 1x setup, and the dropper一pretty much just the basics.
What To Look For in a Hardtail Mountain Bike
Not all hardtails are built the same. Getting the right model can make or break your riding experiences. Here are some features you might want to watch out for:
Tubeless Tires
Since hardtails don’t have rear suspensions, you can expect their rear tires to take all of the shocks during rides. This can lead to increased damage, including punctures. To avoid this, it’s best to stick with tubeless tires with sealants.
Disc Brakes
Although disk brakes are becoming the standard with hardtails, there are still several models that make use of rim brakes. Opt for the disk brakes, especially if you plan on off-road rides. If you are looking to save a bit of money, mechanical disk brakes are cheaper than hydraulic ones but are still durable and reliable.
Mid- to Top-Range Groupsets
If you don’t want to find yourself stuck in the middle of a trail, don’t buy hardtails with cheap groupsets, which usually have triple cranks. Instead, go for double cranks to make shifting easier and smoother, which are found in mid-range or top-of-the-line groupsets.
So, What Is a Hardtail Mountain Bike Again?
Again, a hardtail is a type of mountain bike that does not have a rear suspension. It is an all-terrain vehicle that is light and versatile. It’s also cheaper and easier to maintain than a full-suspension mountain bike.
Now that you know what is a hardtail mountain bike, you can decide if it is the right type of bicycle for you. Again, this bicycle can be used by both beginners and seasoned riders alike.