All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

what hardtail do you have?

 

The Stumpy is really an in-betweener but with the 160 up front I'd probably consider that my "big bike." So I'd personally be looking at something like a Transition Spur. Maybe a steel HT, but I just think something like a Spur is more versatile for me and my riding.

 

Pivot Trail 429 or Diamondback synchr would be my answer to the question. I must've misworded something. Never had the intent to say anything rude or snarky.

 

I'd venture into the 100mm rear suspension world if I had a stumpjumper or enduro bike.
Even a trail hardtail maybe around 140mm front.

 

yeah that's why I say "basically enduro". 160/140 there isn't much I feel I can't do because of the bike. is there bigger? sure, but can this do it fine? yep. especially considering I don't ride DH parks and am not smashing jumps lol.

how different would a short travel full squish bike be? I haven't ridden many different bikes. this question of which #2 is basically for fun so I can be contemplating for the future.

 

this would probably be the short travel full squish I'd look at...it's my favorite bike of all time...

https://www.revelbikes.com/our-bikes/ranger/

 

You can get savage on a 120mm forked hardtail just fine. Maybe not enduro race qualified, but rowdy trail and under surely.

 

rowdy trail is how I'd describe a lot of what's local to me. my stumpy makes stuff feel nice, but I know it can be ridden on a sweet hardtail. got a buddy that rides an 80mm Niner hardtail, and he's a hell of a rider.

 

That'd be a good choice for a smaller travel trail bike.

I still vote hardcore hardtail with @SenatorBlutarsky

 

give me a bike!

 

Even in a lot of the more chunk and enduroish sections of trails we got here the top times are by a road biker / cross country guy on a 100mm Specialized.
Given he races Pro on all races he joins, which pros aren't known to live around here so may be why as well.

 

Honzo ESD, Any of the Chromags, STACHE!!! (I'll cut you a deal on one ), The Syncr Carbon from DB is a tempting choice off the top of my head. Go watch Hardtail Party on Youtube. Steve does a great job breaking down sick hardtail rides.

Stanton if you wanna drop some cash on a UK steel frame.

@SenatorBlutarsky has some fancy Ti bike as I remember, just struggling to remember which brand.

 

Lotta the skilled crosscountry guys are lethal in the gnar. I think it has to do with the learned line choice with little margin of error on a 100mm hard or soft tail vs a 160mm bruiser than can just eat int and save your ass.

 

I have always been drawn to the Kona Honzo, I liked the mint green one they had last year. Don't so much love the red on the ESD...

 

The ESD is a little radical in the paint dept, but the bike is a ripper.

I'd so rock one though!

 

I have a custom titanium frame. Picked it up second hand from some rich dude in Park City who happened to be my size.

I personally love the feel of steel and titanium bikes, so that's my recommendation, but I've heard great things about the carbon SC chameleon. Honestly, any frame that can take a 120mm to 140mm fork and boost spacing is going to be a nice hardtail IMO. Build it up with some good components and you can ride any of the rowdy stuff on it. You just need to slow down a bit till you learn to use your body as suspension.

 

That's a great looking bike!!!

 

this is a beaut



I like green if you can't tell...

 

I would like to try a more modern 29er HT. My last HT was an "all mountain" steel 26er. It was indeed playful and fun and I probably liked it best on my local bigger rougher descent than any of the foresty type trails. While it was fun on the steep rocky stuff it was for sure more punishing and also a good bit slower.

I just found in our twisty rooty rolling forest trails that I basically needed to stand the whole time because you'd get bucked by the roots if you sat. In pedally sections I found myself struggling to keep up with older slower guys on XC full squish 29ers that could just sit and spin through all that stuff. Maybe the 29er HT would allow for a bit more sit and spin with the better rollover.

Then on bigger XC epic type rides I just found the HT was an ass and back killer for big days in the saddle and would much prefer a light agile FS.

I do have one newer trail system close by now that's smoother and more of MTB playground and that old HT would be super fun there - basically a DJ bike with a bigger fork.

So for me and my riding I just don't see where a HT gives me much advantage in speed or fun compared to something like a Transition Spur, Revel Ranger, Evil Following, etc. The big question I have is if I get something like that, will I really "need" a big bike?

 

That's perfect! Get that one