Those looking for a new mountain bike would have to choose between a full-suspension ride and a hardtail ride. However, the configuration that is best for you is determined by a variety of factors such as weight, terrain, maintenance, and cost. Many factors must be considered when determining the perfect configuration.
However, not all mountain bikes are created equal. Others have more features than some, and others have subtle differences that make the bike a completely different bike. For their style of riding, some riders choose a full suspension mountain bike, while others prefer the simplicity and reliability of a hardtail mountain bike. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a hardtail mountain bike.
What Is a Hardtail Mountain Bike?
The term “hardtail” refers to motorcycles with front suspension but no rear suspension. The hardtail is the workhorse of the mountain bike world, being lighter, easier, less costly, more robust, and more reliable than a frame with rear suspension.
Hardtails are perfect for having fun, jumping, riding some street trials, or simply enjoying the same trails as normal. Hardtails are a little rougher, but that just adds to the sense of pace, even if you’re not going as fast. Hardtails are easier to clean, have fewer moving parts, and are less expensive to maintain than full-suspension bikes. The power delivery is unrivalled, and with no squat in the back, you can sprint up smooth climbs with complete performance. Finally, you know precisely what the rear wheel is doing and can do.
A carbon fibre hardtail could be the bike for you if you’re looking for a powerful race machine. Hardtails are also excellent adventure bikes for bikepacking and other long-distance adventures. Build a hardtail with a longer-travel fork and plus-size tyres for a fun ripper for romping around your local trails—and you’ll save a few hundred pounds or more over a full-suspension alternative.
Are Hardtails dead?
Riding a hardtail can be seen as a downgrade, but there are several more sides to the tale. The hardtail is still the king for many applications, such as riding dirt and pump tracks.
Where does a hardtail mountain bike shine?
Hardtail bikes thrive on slower, tighter trails with more traction in the dirt. Hardtails also provide a more simple, engaging ride on less rugged terrain. When climbing or sprinting, the rigid back end provides excellent power transfer to the rear wheel.
Riders on hardtail bikes have a stronger link to the trail. Riders can pump through undulating terrain and produce speed with full efficiency thanks to the bike’s increased responsiveness and feedback. Many claim that they even make a stronger rider. Riders must predict the reaction to abrupt changes in direction and take better lines into corners without the accommodating handling associated with full-suspension bikes.
Another important factor, which is taken very seriously by those competing at the highest level in XC, is the weight savings provided by a hardtail. On average full-suspension models are 1.5kg heavier, and this can make all the difference when trying to save seconds on the ascents.
Budget is also usually a factor when considering your next bike. If equipped with similar component ranges, hardtails are usually cheaper than a full-suspension option by about £800-£1,500. Additionally, hardtails require less maintenance as riders only have to set up the front suspension and fewer moving components on the frameset itself.
Hardtails continue to be popular among riders due to their ease of use and the numerous ways in which they can be customised. Here’s what you need to know about these dependable bikes.
Are hardtail mountain bikes suitable for jumping?
Hardtails are excellent for jumping. On the way up, you can improve. They are, however, more vulnerable to change when you land. There’s a reason why dirt jumps and trials bikes are hardtails when AM and DH bikes are (mostly) full-suspension.
Is it possible to ride a hardtail downhill?
You can, in fact, ride a hardtail downhill. You’ll feel every bump your back tyre encounter, but you can do it. Indeed, many riders would ride a hardtail bike downhill in order to push themselves to learn how to choose a better course.
Is riding a hardtail going to make you a better rider?
There is no doubt that it would improve your riding abilities! It will make you more fluid – A hardtail can either bounce you off the trail or rattle your teeth out if you don’t learn how to float your bike over roots and rocks. You’re forced to make some kind of flow.
Hardtails are less expensive, which makes them more affordable.
A hardtail will almost always give you more bang for your buck. Because of the simpler nature, manufacturers may either lower the total price of the bike or provide better components than would be seen on a comparably priced full-suspension bike.
Hardtail features
A hardtail frame is lighter than a comparable full-suspension frame because it lacks pivots, linkages, and a shock. The reduced weight will make a big difference for riders who do a lot of climbing or spend a lot of time in the saddle. Carbon fibre frames have the greatest strength-to-weight ratio of any material, but they are also the costliest. Despite this, all frame materials have desirable properties.
Wheel Size
Hardtails come in many wheel sizes and gearing options. You’ll find wheel sizes of 29 or 27.5 inches, standard tire widths (up to 2.6 inches), plus-size offerings (about 2.7 inches wide or more), and fat tires (more than 3 inches wide). Some hardtails are designed to accept several wheel and tire sizes so you can swap out options to suit your ride.
The 29ers are good for rolling along. Though 27.5” are a personal favourite, they are quite unheard of in the UK.
Unlike most full-suspension bikes, hardtails can easily be converted to single speed setups. If the simplicity of that design appeals to you, look for models that employ adjustable dropouts or eccentric bottom brackets to tension the chain without a derailleur. An adjustable dropout also allows you to adjust the length of the wheelbase on geared bikes.
A hardtail mountain bike is right for you if:
You’re on a budget: You can almost always get more bike for your buck with a hardtail, especially if your budget is set at about £1,000 or less. This is because hardtails have a simpler design that’s less expensive to manufacture, which allows bike makers to include higher-end components (like derailleurs, shifters, brakes, etc.) than are typically featured on similarly priced full-suspension bikes.
You mostly ride smooth trails: If you spend the majority of your time on fairly smooth trails, then a hardtail bike can offer you a fast and fun ride that will soak up moderate bumps with its front suspension fork.
You like low-maintenance: With fewer moving parts, hardtail bikes are simpler and less expensive to maintain than full-suspension bikes. Of course, a certain amount of basic maintenance is still required.
You want a light bike: Hardtail bikes generally weigh less than full-suspension bikes because their simpler design has fewer parts. Less weight can be a good thing if your ride will include lots of climbing or covering long distances. With that said, higher-end full-suspension bikes can be quite light, so if you’re willing to spend the money, the weight difference can be minimal.
Our Best Hardtail Bikes Under £1,000
Vitus Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain Bike 2021
MSRP: £749.99
The Vitus Nucleus is a four-time winner of MBR magazine’s £500 Hardtail of the Year competition, and it offers more value and style than anything else at this price.
The Shimano Deore 1×10-Speed groupset with an 11-46T wide-range cassette and hydraulic disc brakes make this 27 VRS model agile and fast on 27.5″ wheels. This hardtail is ideal for XC riding and trail centre all-day epics, providing a flexible and dependable performance anywhere.
Don’t be fooled by the price point, the Nucleus isn’t your run of the mill entry-level mountain bike. It’s the foundation of the Vitus mountain bike range, with aggressive geometry designed to get you hooked. Don’t say we didn’t warn you. For 2021 all models now come with 1x groupsets.
The low, long, and slack geometry is combined with 120mm of Suntour Air suspension to handle any rugged terrain on the trails, while the Tektro M290 brakes provide sufficient stopping power. The Nucleus 2021 now has a threaded bottom bracket for improved longevity, as well as a broad range groupset thanks to the Shimano 1×10 M5100 Deore groupset. A clutch-activated rear mech and a narrow-wide 1x chainring upfront will hold you riding all day.
Vitus’ tried-and-true combination of WTB tyres and rims provides superior performance and grip. The Nucleus 27 VRS has stepped up to take your riding to the next stage, with a mix of Vitus and Nukeproof parts.
Thanks to a clutch-activated rear mech and a narrow, comprehensive 1x chainring up front, you’ll be able to stay on the trails all day. Vitus has also used their tried-and-true WTB tyres and rims for superior toughness and grip.
With a combination of Vitus and Nuke proof pieces, the Nucleus 27 VRW has stepped up to take your riding to the next stage.
This is an excellent entry-level bike at an affordable price. The geometry is incredible. However, as some have complained, the seat post is excessively long, but the Brand X Ascend dropper post solves the problem. Everything you need to do is fine-tune the rear derailleur and make minor changes to the brake callipers.
You might want to make sure that the derailleur is set correctly and the rest of the bolts tightened to the correct Torx. Though we will say that the pedals sent with the bike are going to be one of the first things you will upgrade due to the poor grip they provide. Otherwise once set up to your needs the bike is great and will allow you to enjoy all of your cycles. And if you have enough money make sure you upgrade to tubeless.
The specifications, ratings, and value for money will astound you. We suggest the VRS for the minor improvements it provides over the base model. The build quality is strong, and you’ll feel secure riding down everything you throw at it. This is a bike that I would not outgrow in the first year of ownership.
With the provided components and aesthetics of the bike, this bike is certainly worth 750 quid and just requires fine adjustment, as most new bikes purchased online do. The only real drawback is that the seat post won’t go all the way down, which is easily fixed.
Technical Specifications:
- Colour: Burnt Red
- Frame Size: M, XL, S, L
- Wheel Size: 27.5″ (650b)
- Gender: Unisex
- Speed: 10 Speed
- Material: Aluminium
- Fork Travel: 120mm
- Frame: Nucleus Aluminium 6061-t6 BSA Threaded Bb, IS Disc Brake Mounts, 135mm x 9mm QR
- Fork: SR Suntour xCR32 Boost Air Lor Ds 27.5″ Tapered Alloy Steerer, 120mm Travel, Post Mount Disc Brake Mounts, 110mm x 15mm Thru Axle
- Headset: FSA No:57b 1-1/8″ Upper 1.5″ Bottom
- Handlebar: Nukeproof Neutron V2 Riser 6061 Alloy, 25mm Rise, 9° Back Sweep, 760mm Wide S/m, 780mm Wide L/xl 31.8mm
- Stem: Vitus 50mm Alloy, 50mm Reach, 3° Rise
- Grip(Tape): Vitus Lock On
- Front Rim: Wtb St I30 Tcs 2.0, 27.5″, 32h TCS Tubeless Tape Fitted
- Rear Rim: Wtb St I30 Tcs 2.0, 27.5″, 32h RCS Tubeless Tape Fitted
- Hubs: Front Hub: Vitus MS6F Front Disc Hub, 32H/14G, Anodized Black, VITUS, 15x110mm, 6-BOLT TYPE; Rear Hub: Vitus K68R, Rear Disc Hub, 32H/14G, Anodized Black, 10x145x135mm, 6-BOLT TYPE, 8/9/10S, W/Anodized Black Semi-RLCA QR, W:151MM
- Front Tyre: WTB Vigilante Comp High Grip Compound, 27.5″ x 2.3”
- Rear Tyre: WTB Trail Boss Comp 27.5″ x 2.25”
- Spokes: Vitus
- Chain: KMC x10 10 Speed 114l
- Crankset: Shimano Deore M5100 170mm, 30t
- Bottom Bracket: Shimano Bb52, BSA
- Front Brake Set: Tektro Hd-m290
- Rear Brake Set: Tektro Hd-m290
- Rotors: Tektro Tr180-tr160 180mm Front, 160mm Rear, 6 Bolt
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore M5120, Shadow Plus, Long Cage, 10 Speed
- Rear Shifter: Shimano Deore M4100 Rapidfire Plus, 10 Speed
- Freewheel: Sunrace 11-46t 10 Speed
- Saddle: Nukeproof Neutron
- Seat Post: Vitus 6061 Alloy, 31.6mm x 400mm, 0mm Offset
- Seat Screw: Vitus Bolt 34.9mm
- Weight: TBC
Verdict:
Pros: big beefy tyres, price, geometry, front air fork with lockout, tubeless-ready rims, ease of assembly, best bang for the buck, quality parts, slack geometry, great paint finish, decent parts for its price
Cons: long seat post on a small frame. Tyres are not tubeless-ready, brakes need adjusting, lack of colours, seat post wouldn’t go down that far
Vitus Nucleus 27 VR Mountain Bike – Blue 2021
MSRP: £599.99
With the exception of the colour of the bike, the price and the number of speeds. The VR is almost identical to the VRS.
So if the 150 quid spike is work two additional speeds and a midnight blue colour definitely go for the VRS, otherwise the VR might just do you well enough.
Technical Specifications:
- Colour: Midnight Blue
- Frame Size: L, XL, S, M
- Wheel Size: 27.5″ (650b)
- Gender: Unisex
- Speed: 8 Speed
- Material: Aluminium
- Fork Travel: 120mm
- Frame: Nucleus Aluminium 6061-t6 BSA Threaded Bb, IS Disc Brake Mounts, 135mm x 9mm QR
- Fork: SR Suntour XCR32 Air Lor Ds 27.5″ Tapered Alloy Steerer, 120mm Travel, Post Mount Disc Brake Mounts, 100mm x 9mm QR
- Headset: FSA No:57b 1-1/8″ Upper 1.5″ Bottom
- Handlebar: Nukeproof Neutron V2 Riser 6061 Alloy, 25mm Rise, 9° Back Sweep, 760mm Wide S/m, 780mm Wide L/xl 31.8mm
- Stem: Vitus 50mm Alloy, 50mm Reach, 3° Rise
- Grip(Tape): Vitus Lock On
- Front Rim: WTB ST I30 TCS 2.0, 27.5″, 32h TCS Tubeless Tape Fitted
- Rear Rim: WTB ST I30 TCS 2.0, 27.5″, 32h TCS Tubeless Tape Fitted
- Front Hub: Vitus KT K68f 32h, 6 Bolt, 100mm x 9mm Qr
- Rear Hub: Vitus KT K68r, 32h, 6 Bolt, 135mm x 9mm Qr
- Front Tyre: Wtb Vigilante Comp High Grip Compound, 27.5″ x 2.3”
- Rear Tyre: Wtb Trail Boss Comp 27.5″ x 2.25”
- Spokes: Vitus
- Chain: Box Four 8 Speed 112 Link
- Crankset: Samox 170mm, Narrow Wide Chainring, 32t
- Bottom Bracket: BSA
- Front Brake Set: Tektro Hd-m275
- Rear Brake Set: Tektro Hd-m275
- Rotors: Tektro Tr180-tr160 180mm Front, 160mm Rear, 6 Bolt
- Rear Derailleur: Box Four 8 Speed Wide W/ Clutch
- Rear Shifter: Box Four 8 Speed Multi Shifter
- Freewheel: Sunrace 11-42t 8 Speed
- Saddle: Nukeproof Neutron
- Seat Post: Vitus 6061 Alloy, 31.6mm x 400mm, 0mm Offset
- Seat Screw: Vitus Bolt 34.9mm
- Weight: TBC
Verdict:
Pros: big beefy tyres, price, geometry, front air fork with lockout, tubeless-ready rims, ease of assembly, best bang for the buck, quality parts, slack geometry, great paint finish, decent parts for its price (same as the VRS) + quality, smooth, great ride, decent brakes, cheaper to buy
Cons: long seat post on a small frame. Tyres are not tubeless-ready, brakes need adjusting, lack of colours, seat post wouldn’t go down that far (same as the VRS) + seat is uncomfortable, less speeds (8 as opposed to 10)
GT Aggressor Expert 29 Hardtail Bike 2021
MSRP: £480.00
For less than £500, the GT Aggressor Expert is a great bike. Not only are the components reasonable for the price, but they also have a high-end feel to them, with everything running smoothly.
If you’re riding smooth singletrack, sessioning difficult descents, or spending long days in the saddle for all-mountain adventures, the Aggressor Expert is up to the task. It has a GT Triple Triangle aluminium chassis, SR Suntour suspension, a microSHIFT 3×8-Speed drivetrain, and Tektro hydraulic disc brakes. This bike has a versatile performance output that allows it to be used anywhere on the mountainside.
As for its frame, well it feels big. How big? For the M-sized bike, the standover was too high and it made the S-size appear quite lucrative however, I’d reckon it would’ve felt too high as well. But any smaller and the reach etc. would have been cramped for the average cyclist.
The Aggressor is definitely a looker, the frame shape and the triple triangle feature just has a real aesthetic look to it.
The lockout forks are ideal for getting around town. With them closed, you can achieve strong out-of-the-seat acceleration.
I strongly advise you to ensure that your bike has a lockout, particularly if you plan to ride around tarmac roads. The bike has hydraulic disc brakes, which should sum it up nicely.
Given that it’s a Tourney, the gearing is adequate. It’s slick enough because it’s fresh, but you should take it easy for a change; there’s no forgiving in a poorly timed change. It should be perfect with proper treatment and washing. Though it is noticeably slow when adjusting, you can’t complain at this price. To be fair, Tourney is excellent for recreational riding. It can handle recreational mountain bike trails.
The GT Aggressor Expert is an excellent all-arounder. Off-road capability is available, but it also looks good and performs well in town.
Technical Specifications:
- Frame: GT 6061 T6 Aluminium Frame, Triple Triangle w/ Floating Seat Stays, Forged Drop-outs w/ Disc Brake Mounts, Zero Stack 1 1/8″ Head Tube, 29″ Wheels
- Fork: SR Suntour XCM-DS, 80mm, Hydraulic Lockout and Preload, Coil
- Headset: Semi-integrated, Sealed Cartridge
- Stem: GT All Terra, 6061 Alloy, 31.8mm, 8-degree Rise
- Handlebar: GT All Terra Alloy Riser, 25mm Rise, 8-deg Sweep, 6-deg Rise, 720mm Width
- Grips: GT Statement
- Shifters: microSHIFT 3 x 8s Thumb-tap shifters, light shifting design, with optical gear indicator
- Brakes: Tektro M275 Hydro Disc, 160/160mm Rotor
- Crankset: ProWheel 42-34-24T, 175mm
- Bottom Bracket: Cartridge, Square Taper
- Chain: KMC Z8.3, 8-speed
- Cassette: microSHIFT 12-32T, 12-13-15-18-21-24-28-32, 8-Speed
- Front Derailleur: microSHIFT 7/8-Speed, Chainstay Angle 66-69, dual pull
- Rear Derailleur: microSHIFT 8/9-Speed, long cage, max. sprocket: 36T, total capacity 45T
- Tyres: WTB Ranger Comp, 29×2.25″, DNA Compound
- Rims: WTB SX19, 32H
- Front Hub: Alloy Disc, QRx100m
- Rear Hub: Sealed Alloy Disc, QRx135mm
- Saddle: GT MTB
- Seatpost: GT All Terra Two Bolt Alloy
- Colour: Silver, Blue
- Frame Size: L, S, XL, M
- Wheel Size: 29″
- Gender: Unisex
- Speed: 24 Speed
- Material: Aluminium
- Fork Travel: 80mm
Verdict:
Pros: Looks good, upgrade potential, price, triple chainring w/ guard, lockout forks, well balanced, quality parts
Cons: lower-spec gearing, not a tapered hardtail, pedals, tyres a little wide
Fuji Nevada 29 1.7 Hardtail Bike 2021
MSRP: £649.99
The Nevada 1.7 29er is ready to explore on any kind of terrain, providing you with the capable power you need for rugged trails as well as the ability to roll over gaps and hurdles as though they weren’t there. It has dependable Shimano Tourney gears, powerful Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, and Suntour suspension forks with 100mm of ride.
Fuji’s mid-level aluminium frame material and most commonly used frame material, with a double-butted profile in the frame tubes that eliminates material in low-stress areas and provides a lightweight, highly sturdy frame.
This realistic and capable hardtail can keep you in charge no matter how difficult the terrain becomes. The Nevada has internal cable routing for smooth shifting and a tidy appearance. The Suntour XCT30 forks are also highly flexible and can be locked out for faster climbing or road rides. Furthermore, Fuji has added powerful Tektro hydraulic disc brakes to help you maintain fine control of your speed and the ability to “break the anchor” when necessary.
The carefully spaced braze-ons are able to embrace most aftermarket shelves, raising your bike’s usefulness.
The bike’s price is greater for a bike in this price range, but there aren’t many bargains for a bike under a grand. Even if it has Suntour forks, the components are adequate for an XC MTB. The output of the forks is identical to that of the rockshox. This is a capable, smooth-rolling 29er built for light trails and cross-country biking. The geometry is somewhat different as compared to a 26er, but it is beneficial on the lumps and bumps on descents. The 180mm front disc gives the 1.7 version a confidence boost. The drivetrain is satisfactory but is built for a combination of urban pace and XC.
The bike is also really visually appealing; and has upgrade possibilities for wheels, forks, and grips.
Technical Specifications:
- Frame: Fuji A2-SL custom-butted alloy front triangle, Fuji A1-SL alloy rear triangle
- Fork: SR Suntour SF19-XCT30-HLO-DS-29, hydraulic lockout, 100mm
- Brakes: Tektro HD-M275, 180/160mm rotors
- Headset: 1 1/8″ sealed bearings
- Handlebar: Fuji flat bar, alloy, 710mm
- Stem: Fuji, forged aluminum, +/-6° rise
- Grips: Fuji Performance Grip
- Shifters: Shimano Altus, Rapid Fire, 3×8-Speed
- Crankset: Prowheel, 42/34/24T
- Bottom Bracket: Sealed cartridge bearing
- Front Derailleur: Shimano Tourney
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano Acera
- Cassette: Shimano HG31, 11-34T
- Chain: KMC HV700
- Wheelset: WTB SX19 rims 32H, Formula DC-20 front, DC-22 rear hubs, black spokes
- Tyres: WTB Ranger Comp, 29×2.25″, 27tpi
- Saddle: Fuji Performance saddle
- Seatpost: Fuji, Alloy, 30.9mm diameter
- Colour: Satin Grey
- Frame Size: 43.5cm (17″), 19″, 21″
- Wheel Size: 29″
- Gender: Unisex
- Speed: 24 Speed
- Material: Aluminium
- Fork Travel: 100mm
Verdict:
Pros: solid all-rounder, upgrade potential
Cons: price not competitive due to bike demand