Hard-tail vs. Full Suspension

[Thennavan Subbiah]

All,

 

I am a beginner to MTB and am looking to buy a bike. To start off, I am planning to do off-track cross-country around known trails in Bangalore.

I would looking for advice on the following...

 

1)  Hard-tail and full suspension, and

2)  Cannondale vs. Trek

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Thennavan

[Rohan Kini]

Cannondale vs Trek (vs the other decent brands in the market)  is a similar argument as a Nikon vs Cannon (for the camera buffs). Its a futile question which will draw our opinionated answers, IMO. These are good established brands in the market and if one was better than the other in some major life-altering aspect, every one would have mostly bought that brand.

and Please dont tell me about smooth welds, Alpha aluminium frame materials or CO2 frames  (for the uninitiated these are bullet 'marketing' points from assorted brands in the market - Trek and Cannondale to be specific). Everyone will tout the good technologies they have, not necessary that it converts to a 'better' bike

Instead, to attain bicycle nirvana - figure out what kind of biking you are looking at doing. Make sure you understand what options are available. What your budget is. And which bike shop/brand gives you the best in terms of price/comfort and confidence.


hard tail vs full sus - if you are planning to use the bicycle to pick up vegetables or commute to work - a full suspension is not necessary (unless you live in the western Ghats for example). If you plan to get a full suspension bike, get a good full suspension bike (which is going to cost you quite a bit). If not you can get better bang-for-the-buck if you stick with a hard tail rather than compromizing and going for a jazzy full suspension bike which looks like it can take off anytime :)


~ ROhan
@ http://blog.bumsonthesaddle.com
awesome cycling group: http://bangalorebikersclub.com

[Rohan Kini]

I own a hard tail (only front suspension) and I can do all the riding that is happening currently in and around Bangalore. Am yet to ride a trail which leaves me wanting a full suspension bike (maybe the ride will be smoother, maybe I will have better control - but then these are skills I want to learn on my hard tail before upgrading)

is a full suspension required - http://notebook.bumsonthesaddle.com/faq:newbie
I would say no if you have a budget constraint.

On Fri, Jun 5, 2009 at 5:33 PM, Thennavan Subbiah <then...@gmail.com> wrote:

Rohan,

Thanks for your response on Cann vs. Trek.

Eventhough a full-sus would be handy in the HAL market(:-), the main objective is to explore new trails during weekends. I read about the BBC rides in this list for the last three months. I would like to understand whether the riding trails around Bangalore need the additional comfort of a full-sus.  Looking for some local color here....

Thennavan

--
"The best way to predict the future is to create it." -- Peter F. Drucker

[Vikram Krishna Paramanandhan]

Thennavan,
Reg Full Suspension vs Hard Tail :
I agree with Rohan ,until and unless you are not doing extreme riding like MTB himachal race or something like that ,You may not require Full Suspension.I own RockRider 5.3 (Hard Tail),I have tried  few trails in bangalroe its doing good.You willnot find a major difference between Hard Tail and Full sus.You can go ahead with Hard Tail.

--
------------
Regards ,
Vikram Krishna
+91 9663330797

"YOU CAN WIN ! IF YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN".

********** As Per Policy of Vikram Krishna.This is Strictly confidential info between you and me.Until and unless needed , Pls don't Share/Pass this info Electronically or through any other media. *********

[Thennavan Subbiah]

Rohan,

Thanks for your response on Cann vs. Trek.

Eventhough a full-sus would be handy in the HAL market(:-), the main objective is to explore new trails during weekends. I read about the BBC rides in this list for the last three months. I would like to understand whether the riding trails around Bangalore need the additional comfort of a full-sus.  Looking for some local color here....

Thennavan

On Fri, Jun 5, 2009 at 4:39 PM, Rohan Kini <rohan...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Sri.]

What we really need is skill in riding trails .. only with this can
you get the benefits of a full SUS.
Remember a full suspension is not efficient when it comes to
pedaling ,its like a old cow struggling to move, but ripping the
trails its like a goat.
Depends on your need , if its commuting and trails over weekend .. a
hardtail is good enough.

On Jun 5, 5:03 pm, Thennavan Subbiah <thenna...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Rohan,
> Thanks for your response on Cann vs. Trek.

> **

> Eventhough a full-sus would be handy in the HAL market(:-), the main
> objective is to explore new trails during weekends. I read about the BBC
> rides in this list for the last three months. I would like to understand
> whether the riding trails around Bangalore need the additional comfort of a
> full-sus.  Looking for some local color here....
> Thennavan
>
>
>
>
>

> On Fri, Jun 5, 2009 at 4:39 PM, Rohan Kini <rohan.k...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > *Cannondale vs Trek* (*vs the other decent brands in the market*)  is a
> > similar argument as a Nikon vs Cannon (*for the camera buffs*). Its a

> > futile question which will draw our opinionated answers, IMO. These are good
> > established brands in the market and if one was better than the other in
> > some major life-altering aspect, every one would have mostly bought that
> > brand.
>
> > and Please dont tell me about smooth welds, Alpha aluminium frame materials

> > or CO2 frames  (*for the uninitiated these are bullet 'marketing' points
> > from assorted brands in the market - Trek and Cannondale to be specific*).

> > Everyone will tout the good technologies they have, not necessary that it
> > converts to a 'better' bike
>
> > Instead, to attain bicycle nirvana - figure out what kind of biking you are
> > looking at doing. Make sure you understand what options are available. What
> > your budget is. And which bike shop/brand gives you the best in terms of
> > price/comfort and confidence.
>

> > *hard tail vs full sus* - if you are planning to use the bicycle to pick

> > up vegetables or commute to work - a full suspension is not necessary
> > (unless you live in the western Ghats for example). If you plan to get a
> > full suspension bike, get a good full suspension bike (which is going to
> > cost you quite a bit). If not you can get better bang-for-the-buck if you
> > stick with a hard tail rather than compromizing and going for a jazzy full
> > suspension bike which looks like it can take off anytime :)
>
> > ~ ROhan

> > @http://blog.bumsonthesaddle.com

> > awesome cycling group:http://bangalorebikersclub.com
>