If you're looking for a mountain bike, chances are you'll be faced with the decision of getting a hardtail or full suspension. Hardtail mountain bikes are bikes with only a front suspension fork while a full suspension mountain bike will have both a front suspension fork and rear suspension (rear shock). Here's a quick guide to the merits of the two.
Browse our range of hardtail or full suspension mountain bikes
1. WEIGHT
HARDTAIL
A hardtail will be at least a kilo lighter weight than a similarly-spec'd full suspension mountain bike. This translates as a bike that can ride faster uphill but not be quite so forgiving on the downhill sections. Its rigid rear end makes a hardtail feel more natural when you climb out of the saddle.
FULL SUSPENSION
A heavier bike with suspension can actually be an advantage on downhills because it will feel more stable and ‘planted'. This is thanks to the suspension maintaining tyre contact with the ground on lumpy descents. Full suspension can even be welcome on uphills, such as when traversing steps and waterbars. A full suspension mountain bike will also be more forgiving on technical trails as the rear suspension smoothes out rough terrain.
2. Speed
Whether it's to smooth out the rough stuff or to cushion landings when you jump, there's little doubt that a full suspension bike will help you enjoy the number one thrill most people enjoy about mountain biking - faster downhills. For less technical terrain, xc racing and for flatter trails, a hardtail mountain bike might be the better option due to the added efficiency of a rigid rear end.
3. Price
With its simpler frame and a lack of rear suspension, a hardtail will be less expensive than a similarly-equipped full sus MTB. For instance, if you’re looking at Whyte mountain bikes such as the Whyte 905 hardtail, it is £1,950 while the Whyte T-160 S full sus will set you back £3,399.
4. Skill Builder vs Immediate Gratification
There's a good case for starting off on a hardtail mountain bike because it gives you a fantastic incentive to learn the skill of picking the best line when swooping round rocky and rooty trails. You might not develop such finesse if you rely on a full susser that allows you to plough through near anything. Having said that, the very fact that a full suspension mtb can be more forgiving means that beginner mountain bikers often find mountain biking more enjoyable on a full susser. Take, for instance riding long, rutted downhills. One run might be enough for an MTB novice on a hardtail. Take the same run with full suspension with a smoother ride especially on rough ground and rock gardens, and you'll be more likely to want to repeat the experience.
5. More Technical Terrain

When the terrain gets proper gnarly, even the most gifted mountain biker reaches for the most appropriate full suspension rig, depending on intended usage. The general rule is that the more you prioritise the downhill, the more travel you require and the slacker frame geometry you need.
DOWNHILL
If you’re doing the World Cup DH course at Fort William, you want a mountain bike with 200mm travel, front and rear, to absorb the most punishing hits.
ENDURO RACING
150-160mm travel has settled down as the optimal level for serious enduro riding.
TRAIL/ALL MOUNTAIN
Beginners often find mountain biking more enjoyable on a full susser.
A full sus trail bike with 130-140mm suspension achieves the trick of being fit for black grade riding with big drop-offs, yet light enough to ride back uphill.
XC (CROSS COUNTRY)
A 100mm-travel full suspension MTB is closer in feel and weight to a similar spec hardtail than it is to a 200mm-travel full susser. 100mm travel XC (cross country) full sussers are recommended for enjoying natural trails and trail centres up to red grade level. (Apologies to readers who can clean double-black routes on their unicycles. We inevitably have to generalise when creating a guide like this.)