Bike shopping: fully and hardtail - what's the difference?

The bike industry experienced an unprecedented boom because of the pandemic and mountain bikes are the leading category in this. We clarify the most important fundamental question on the subject, namely the difference between fully and hardtail.

How much suspension can it be? That is the question with Fully or Hardtail.

Who would like to enter freshly into the Mountainbiking, which faces a fundamental decision with the purchase. This should be well thought out.

Fully and Hardtail: Difference explained

The terms Fully and Hardtail can be found everywhere in shopping. The meaning is quickly clarified:

• Fully is the abbreviation of "Full Suspension", which stands for fully suspended bikes. The bike thus has shock absorbers on the front fork and rear wheel.
• Hardtail bikes, on the other hand, are only suspended at the front, the rear is rigid ("hard").

This means the following differences:

• The heavier the surface, the more the advantages of a Fully come into play. Since the shocks are also damped in the rear, the wheel has more ground contact, which provides safety and stability. In addition, the ride comfort is much higher.
• Hardtails consequently require more body and force use in the terrain to compensate for the lack of suspension. In return, they are lighter and because of the rigid rear also more agile. In uphill parts or even rides in light terrain (as well as apshalt roads) hardtails are more efficient and faster, because less pedaling energy is swallowed. The lower weight does the rest.

The decision thus depends on the driver profile as well as the planned area of application. Due to the additional component Fullys are on average more expensive and have a higher maintenance effort. For this they allow more reserves for increasing skill and more difficult courses. Hardtails are more uncomplicated and all-round.