Why are hard tail mountain bikes faster than full suspention?
January 22, 2011 by pbik
Filed under Mountain bikes
I am thinking of buying a hard tail or full suspension mountain bike. i had read that full suspension is slower but i wonder why because i will probely do some mountain bike races. I was also wondering if you would have a suggestion on a bike. I am 13 and weigh 90 pounds and 5 feet tall with a limit of $900.
It depends on the terrain you’re going over. If it’s fast hardpack that’s smooth, then a hardtail will be more efficient.
If it’s a gnarly downhill or just about any trail in AZ, then full suspension is more efficient because the bike isn’t bouncing around all the time.
If you want to race, go for a hardtail and learn to ride smoothly. You will have less weight, get more bike for your money, and have less maintenance to take care of.
In XC racing HT is usually faster due to lighter weight and more efficient pedaling as more sus soaks up more pedaling power. Even front sus robs you of energy. At your light weight I’d go with a light as you can afford HT unless you ride very, very rough trails.
If your talking DH the FS will be good.
1. Weight. Full suspension bikes are heavier than hardtails.
2. The rear suspension absorbs some of your pedaling power.
Under some circumstances, its worth the power loss and weight because the full suspension will do a better job of keeping your rear wheel planted and transmitting power to the ground.
As a 13 year old beginner, its extremely unlikely you’re going to race on courses technical enough where that will matter. On top of that, at 13, you have less power to work with than us grizzled old veterans. You’ve heard of “old man strength”? Its real. You can’t develop enough horsepower that you can afford to waste it pushing extra weight or mushy suspension.
Last point, unless you’re spending a lot more than $900, you’re not going to get a full suspension bike that’s worth racing. Get a hardtail. If you shop around, you can get a lot of hardtail for $900. Just another note, you haven’t hit your growth spurt yet. In two years, at most 3, a bike you buy will be too small to ride. In just a few months, my brother went from 5′4″ to 5′10″ at age 15. My son went from 5′8″ to 6′1″ at 15 just over a summer. In both cases, I got a lot of nice hand-me-downs.
if your budget is $900 i would go with a hardtail, and it depends on what terrain to tell which is more efficient. i would recommend a cannondale or trek
maybe a 29er
http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/09/cusa/model-9FS4.html this one is nice but does not have a lot of travel
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/mountain_hardtail/6_series/6500/ i know this one is over your budget but if you find a 2008 or 2007 it might fit
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/mountain_hardtail/6_series/6000/ this one fits your budget but it has mechanical brakes and a rockshox dart fork(you can find those forks on department store bikes)
http://www.fisherbikes.com/bike/model/piranha this one has somewhat decent components but thats what youll find in that price range
http://www.fisherbikes.com/bike/model/tassajara this one is a litle over your budget but again if you find an 07′ or 08′ you might be able to get it and i personally dont like the shifter but it is probably because i am used to mine
http://www.fisherbikes.com/bike/model/cobia this one again has cheaper comonents but it is just so they can make it a 29er, this one is to much for you but is was only like $890 at one of my local bike shops
http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=39224&eid=107 this again is over but if you find a older one you might make it, my friend has this one and loves it
http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=38431&eid=107 this ones not bad either
i would at the bikes in as many bike shops as you can ( i made the mistake of not doing that and now 3 years later i had to get a 2007 cannondale rush 5) pick the one that fits you the best, not which one looks the best. im 13 too and just got a new one for $1500, you also should not rule out craigslist i was going to get a used 2006 cannondale rush 600 for $800 but i decided not to because i wanted to put a $400 rear shock and thought it would be a waste. you can email me at csi13@sbcglobal.net with the town,county, and state you live in i can look on craigslist for you and email some of them back to u that look good and may be worth buying( you might also find a used full suspension) after buying this bike i would never go back to hardtail and lucky for me this was the last full suspension cannondale in the state that had everything i wanted
and dont feel small there is a kid in my grade who is a year older than u who cant even ride a bike( i would think you may be a medium or small frame size, i would go with a bike that is just a tad too big so u can grow into it