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I’m 5′-8" tall and stocky. For the last few years I’ve been riding a 2006 K2 Lithium full suspension. It was a large frame, way too long for me but it was comfortable enough for long rides. A couple weeks ago parts started breaking on it and I had enough. I stripped it down to the frame, keeping the newer upgraded parts, like the new crank set and rebuilt Tora fork. My son’s bike WAS a 2007 Kona Cinder Cone, 17in frame (HT), bone stock. I stripped it to the frame, I didn’t like the Dart 2 fork or the heavy as hell FSA crank set, or the Kona cockpit or the Shimano Deore shifters.
Last night I had my first ride on the Kona. What a difference! We started with a climb last night, up some switch backs. The front tire is very happy to come up, took a while to get used to that. Once we started down, the hard tail was very quick to turn, the back would drift and step out, I could actually manual over roots and rocks and the thing was super fun to rally! I even took a couple small drops that I would have shied away from on the front heavy K2. I’m happy I stole my son’s bike. It was more fun to ride and way more playful.
I always felt like I would endo on the K2 because I was so stretched out.
Now to upgrade those 3000g wheels 😄
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"tonkota" wrote
I’m 5′-8" tall and stocky. For the last few years I’ve been riding a 2006 K2 Lithium full suspension. It was a large frame, way too long for me but it was comfortable enough for long rides. A couple weeks ago parts started breaking on it and I had enough. I stripped it down to the frame, keeping the newer upgraded parts, like the new crank set and rebuilt Tora fork. My son’s bike WAS a 2007 Kona Cinder Cone, 17in frame (HT), bone stock. I stripped it to the frame, I didn’t like the Dart 2 fork or the heavy as hell FSA crank set, or the Kona cockpit or the Shimano Deore shifters.
Last night I had my first ride on the Kona. What a difference! We started with a climb last night, up some switch backs. The front tire is very happy to come up, took a while to get used to that. Once we started down, the hard tail was very quick to turn, the back would drift and step out, I could actually manual over roots and rocks and the thing was super fun to rally! I even took a couple small drops that I would have shied away from on the front heavy K2. I’m happy I stole my son’s bike. It was more fun to ride and way more playful.
I always felt like I would endo on the K2 because I was so stretched out.
Now to upgrade those 3000g wheels 😄
Hardtails rock! Lighter, less complex to maintain, fewer things to break or creak. A lot less expensive too.
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"dgaddis" wrote
Hardtails rock! Lighter, less complex to maintain, fewer things to break or creak. A lot less expensive too.
There are some trails that will make your back end wish you have FS though…
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"Ginny_Tory" wrote
[quote="dgaddis":2r977tj5]
Hardtails rock! Lighter, less complex to maintain, fewer things to break or creak. A lot less expensive too.There are some trails that will make your back end wish you have FS though…[/quote:2r977tj5]
Eh. If you ride a hardtail the right way they’re just fine on most trails, anything short of a full on DH. You can’t ride a HT the same way as a FS, you HAVE to get off the seat more. FS will let you descent faster, but I spend waaaay more time climbing than I do descending. I don’t feel my HTs ever really significantly slow me down anywhere I ride, and for most of my local trails I actually prefer my rigid bike with no suspension.
Ride what you like is what I say! As long as you’re having fun it’s all good.
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"dgaddis" wrote
[quote="Ginny_Tory":3rtgyff3][quote="dgaddis":3rtgyff3]
Hardtails rock! Lighter, less complex to maintain, fewer things to break or creak. A lot less expensive too.There are some trails that will make your back end wish you have FS though…[/quote:3rtgyff3]
Eh. If you ride a hardtail the right way they’re just fine on most trails, anything short of a full on DH. You can’t ride a HT the same way as a FS, you HAVE to get off the seat more. FS will let you descent faster, but I spend waaaay more time climbing than I do descending. I don’t feel my HTs ever really significantly slow me down anywhere I ride, and for most of my local trails I actually prefer my rigid bike with no suspension.
Ride what you like is what I say! As long as you’re having fun it’s all good.[/quote:3rtgyff3]
Both my bikes are HTs, i’ve actually never ridden a FS. But I did one trail which was very long, for the most part flattish, but was riddled with ditches with dead, blown away tufts of grass and rabbit holes. There was no avoiding them on or off the track surface. It was like riding on the rumble strip of a highway for some miles. And I wasn’t gonna be on my feet that entire time. So I just was in the saddle till my @ss hurt, then I stood up till my legs got tired,,,and continued back and forth. Sure it was a fun track as a hole but man was it obnoxious at the same time.
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"Ginny_Tory" wrote
Both my bikes are HTs, i’ve actually never ridden a FS. But I did one trail which was very long, for the most part flattish, but was riddled with ditches with dead, blown away tufts of grass and rabbit holes. There was no avoiding them on or off the track surface. It was like riding on the rumble strip of a highway for some miles. And I wasn’t gonna be on my feet that entire time. So I just was in the saddle till my @ss hurt, then I stood up till my legs got tired,,,and continued back and forth. Sure it was a fun track as a hole but man was it obnoxious at the same time.
FS would still beat you up on something like that. It takes the edge off, but it doesn’t totally flatten the trail.
My first real bike was a FS, the original Giant Anthem. Then I got a rigid 29er, and eventually a hardtail 29er. I really like the direct power transfer feel you get with a hardtail, so if I ever do get another FS it’ll have to have an autolockout shock, like the Brain Shocks used on some Specialized bikes.
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I’ve been riding FS for about 10 years, but I find myself going back towards a HT. I have a Rocky Mountain Element (3") and a Kona Coiler (5"), both of which serve a purpose, but for most trails in my area, I’ve come to the conclusion that a HT is fine, and definitely helps on the climbing! Can’t be the Kona as an all mountain bike, though. It can rip aggressive downhills and still climb reasonably well. To bad it is heavy as hell!
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"dgaddis" wrote
My first real bike was a FS, the original Giant Anthem. Then I got a rigid 29er, and eventually a hardtail 29er.
FS 26er to any 29er isn’t really a fair comparison.
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I’m more happy about switching to a bike that fits vs a bike that doesn’t fit. That was honestly the biggest improvement.
Hard Tail Kona:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonkota/9152032499/The picture makes those bars look really tall! They are actually even with the seat.
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"tonkota" wrote
I’m more happy about switching to a bike that fits vs a bike that doesn’t fit. That was honestly the biggest improvement.
Absolutely! Who cares how nice the parts are if none of them are in the right place for you.
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"dgaddis" wrote
FS would still beat you up on something like that. It takes the edge off, but it doesn’t totally flatten the trail.
My first real bike was a FS, the original Giant Anthem. Then I got a rigid 29er, and eventually a hardtail 29er. I really like the direct power transfer feel you get with a hardtail, so if I ever do get another FS it’ll have to have an autolockout shock, like the Brain Shocks used on some Specialized bikes.
Anything to take the edge off woulda made me happy at the time.
Yeah, I imagine the rear suspension taking a lot of power out. And I ride my bikes on the road to the trails. So I like being able to lock out my front shocks and speeding around on the way over.
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Glad you found a good fit!
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I started on a hard tail Trek 4500. Riding today on my FS EX 8 i still feel like i ride the same as on my HT. I rarely if ever am sitting in the saddle and still try and use my arms and legs to soak up all the not so smooth parts of the trails.
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