9 Tips for Picking the Right Bike - Hardtail Party's 95% rule

In this video we look at 9 tips to picking your next bike, aka the 95% rule. These tips will help you make sure you get the right bike for your needs. Want to support this channel and help it grow? Tell your friends about it, and consider becoming a Patron: / hardtailparty
Show your love for hardtails by sporting some Hardtail Party Swag (hats, shirts, hoodies, etc.): shop.spreadshirt.com/hardtail...
Here are some links to the gear I use:
The glasses I wear: bit.ly/3aXBeKp
The tire sealant I use: bit.ly/2ULJirZ
The pedals I ride: amzn.to/2V9DzuK
The dropper I use: bit.ly/3dXWq4D
The stem I use: bit.ly/2xUreD2
What's in my water bottles: bit.ly/2Xbxy3q
Hardtail Party Shirts, Swag, etc:
Suppor the channel and save some money by shopping using these links:
bit.ly/2WbHycF - 20% off at Club Ride using code "hardtailparty"
bit.ly/2UwrmQq - Ryan Leech Connection: $19 off - coupon code "hardtailparty"​
bit.ly/2U8OyFE - Velocirax racks - 5% off using coupon code: "hardtailparty"
bit.ly/3dj2nZP - RSD Bikes - 5% off any bike or frame. Use code "party"
bit.ly/3adSvyv - CushCore - 15% off using code: "HTparty20cush"
Amazon: amazon.com/shop/hardtailparty
Note: some of my links are affiliate links. That means I get a small commission on the purchases you make through these links. You don't pay anything extra, but it helps support the channel. If you've learned something from my videos, consider using the affiliate links above.

[@50mtb44]

The 95% Rule applies to picking a spouse too. : )

[@spddrcr9801]

I think you meant the 65% rule.

[@robertbogardus7318]

Bikes are Much less Dangerous

[@radiocontrolled9181]

Bikes are much less expensive.

[@reallybigphilly]

I do find many mountainbike channels and most marketing channels tend towards glorifying the 'extreme and hardcore' enduro and downhill racing - good to see someone else catching on to that :D But flowy cross country trails through beautiful scenery on a hardtail with XC tyres can be unbelievably satisfying. It's easy to forget when checking out all the tricked out full suspension bikes though...

[@alexw3246]

I totally agree with you!

[@CasperRc81]

There raccoons 🦝...oh shinny

[@JohnnyCarlsen]

Why has KZbin never recommended your channel. ?? But I'm glad I found it myself. :-) I have a hardtail and are tired of hearing that the only right choice is a fullsuspension

[@hardtailparty]

I ask myself the same question. ;) As more people watch and subscribe, it gets recommended to more people. So thanks for watching and subscribing. Hardtails are often the perfect choice! Check out my "hardtails on hard trails" playlist, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Welcome to the party.

[@bensieber6960]

30 years of mountain biking and it's the flow, the swoops, the pops that are fun for me. Extreme steeps and drops and tech look cool in videos but are high risk, high impact and only great for elite level skills. Give me an old school hardtail and miles and miles of smooth singletrack snaking through a forest and I'm in heaven. I guess I still operate from the mindset when mountain bike choice was steel or aluminum, 2.25 tires seemed huge, and "do I really need a suspension fork?" Yes, I've owned a number of full sus rockets, but it's hardtails that I still ride, including a rigid single speed. Love your channel, love your videos, love your attitude!

[@hardtailparty]

That's the exact attitude i have too.

[@boneheadmck]

Well said. Exactly my thoughts. Most guys i know are way over-biked. They think the better a rider they are, the more suspension they need. Enjoying your content.

[@carravagio16]

I think you may be going about it wrong, the guy you may be calling "overbiked" could also have less skill, coordination or other reasons to have the bike he does. It may be that he feels more comfortable, stable and helps him ride better on the trails. I just think its to easy to label people because of what they are riding just because someone thinks the local trails only should require a certain type of bike.

[@SuperSarlatan]

This is your 3rd video in a row, in which you taught me something I have never heard of. And I am watching a lot of US-UK MTB videos, GMBN, Bikeradar... Cheers from Hungary! Besides, I am hardtail fun too. In my country a hardtail is good 95 % of the time... ;)

[@TheDiablosix6six]

Gmbn is absolutely useless when it comes to learning anything!! It's MTB fluff and it's basically a big advertising company disguised as a MTB channel!!

[@jonmarshall1502]

I’m guessing you won’t get a job at Mountain Bike Action magazine 😂 it’s taken me years to come around to your way of thinking. Well thought out video.

[@LeDore38]

Great advice, I'm living in the center of Paris and don't own a car, so a gravel/cx bike is actually my 95%, in the forests around Paris technical spots are pretty rare and leaving the city is at least 15 km each way so tarmac efficiency is still important. The fast acceleration and snapiness actually makes the easy singletracks way funnier. Doesn't hurt that it doubles as an almost road bike with a second wheelset. Some friends ride tracklocross with mtb geo for the same reason. Now, my parents live in the Alps and I left my 13 y old Al deore mtb at their place and I'm actually quite underbiked with it (mostly steep chunky descents and going up by jeep trails, with a few flowier trails and tight turns mixed in). Still having fun but I'm considering getting a trail hardtail that would double as a remote bikepacking rig. The gravel bike is a bad choice there, 95% of the trails are too rough, and a light road bike is way better for climbing roads.

[@MaddBaggins]

This is a great video and so true. I spent a lot of time thinking long and hard about what bike I would build. I finally realized a good hardtail 29er with 130mm forks was going to be my jam.

[@jeffloucks2120]

Thanks for the info. Really gets me taking a harder look on what to go for next.

[@SvensonGus]

Omg starting to want a hardtail so much looking at you videos.

[@WrexBass]

Good video, probably some of the best info and advice as I quarantine shop for a new bike!

[@sycipcroll]

Awesome channel and great intro. Thanks dude!

[@j.l.5966]

Been binging your videos, you post the best current advice for both novice and experienced riders alike. I’ll point anyone thinking about getting a new bike directly to this video. When I want to make my local trails more interesting and different I’ll take out the 26” single speed short travel dirt jumper 👍🏼

[@hardtailparty]

Thanks for spreading the word, I appreciate it!

[@crankerson]

I love your channel man. You give very real & unbiased information. Thank you.

[@Stupidoldlady]

One of the most informative and beneficial videos on MTB that I’ve come across. Thank you!

[@Max-xl3ml]

Totally agree with this. Although I think I follow the 50 percent rule. On most of my local blue and blue to black trails I'm a bit underbiked on a rigid. Then again my skill level isnt quite there either lol. Couldnt be happier running the rigid right now though. Front range colorado trails are so busy its impossible to maintain social distancing so ive been stuck in the city. A rigid or hardtail make great urban shredders, ive been bombing alleyways, staircases, urban dirttracks and my backyard. A full squish would be boring soaking up curbs and concrete chunk like a road bike on fresh asphalt.

[@oscarpolanco3067]

Great advice. Very real and down to earth. This applies to roadies as well

[@mikecarter6758]

Great advice. Thanks Steve!

[@caseyas8572]

Hey Steve thank you for the great videos. This video really explains ideas that I have been getting from your channel since I started watching it and why I subscribed. I started mountain biking recently and I am still a beginner but so much info out there is "full sus is the only way to go" or "carbon is the only way to go" but it really isn't. My budget hardtail is a good bike and a great bike for me and my needs. Thank you and keep up the good videos!

[@timothywarlow6631]

Best video Steve, must have watched this 10x before getting my paradox. Such good advice!

[@jamespilar9840]

Great info new to ridding,decided to go with hard tail,to learn how to ride the Right way. Thanks

[@_drawkward_]

This is the most balanced take I have seen about this on the KZbins. Way late with the thank you, obviously, but thank you.

[@frylock1192]

Great advice and Channel. Thank you!

[@sixate]

I have helped a few friends get into mountain biking over the past year. I have had them all watch this video and your video of the phases we have all gone through. Very helpful vids to help point people in the right direction who are newer to the sport.

[@hardtailparty]

Thanks for spreading the love!

[@hardtailjefe]

some great info here! I had these same things on my mind.

[@ronin550]

What a sobering, thought provoking video... Nicely done 🤔💪🏾

[@andresperez5387]

Long live this guy's honesty. After 25 years of riding in all sorts of terrain, I could not agree with him more.

[@Or5mr]

You are the voice of reason in the bike world, I swear I can't agree more with almost all the content you put up, well more than the content is the way you use your experience to give us your opinion on the topic without getting biased. Thanks.

[@hardtailparty]

Thanks for the kind words.

[@danielrgusa]

I feel like a broken record but I have to say it again, great video. I really enjoy these educational videos you are putting out. Keep it up.

[@jl3567]

Thanks, great video

[@Tribal260]

just want to say your videos are great. Rare form of concentrating on the real world, not a forum style theory min/maxing that looks good on paper. Learned a lot from your videos

[@SprSonik13]

THANK YOU! I read this in an article by a pro 20+ yrs ago and have embraced this approach since then. Seems most people follow the 5% rule because that's what is marketed as "cool".

[@thorbenvelden9116]

I had to learn the 95 % rule myself. Bought a trail Fully for 3k in December, I felt completely overbiked and it was too large for the commuting and uphill. So I came to the conclusion that I need a solid trail hardtail and sold the fully brokenhearted 2 weeks ago and lost 600 bucks. Now I already was in stage 6 of your buying phases and found your channel when looking for bike reviews (commencal meta) . And then this video showed up and it soo much hits the nail on the head. I wish I had watched it earlier. With your help I condensed my desired frame to a nukeproof scout or alutech cheaptrick (local). Now if only I could get a hold on a scout frame :S

[@MrFowl]

LOL ...The dog pooping at 0:56 😂

[@Karla-Flr]

Very very good instructions!

[@easyridetv8183]

Really love your video

[@mattdelcomyn8012]

Well said again, Steve!!

[@douglawrence4066]

Great explanation again Steve...... I ride a Chromag Hartrail up hear in BC because my full squish erased my local trails..... my Hardtail (with modern geometry), Made them come alive again.. I do ride a little slower but still do everything I used to on my squish...... like Steve says be RIGOROUSLY honest with yourself and you will have more fun riding......

[@shanemb3]

Erased. Accurate.

[@zsom1987]

I'm also in BC and looking at getting a hardtail for the climbs and even the descents.

[@douglawrence4066]

@@zsom1987 If I was to get a new Hardtail for most of BC, I would go with a Banshee Paradox, Chromag Rootdown or similar bike. Most important thing about a BC Hardtail is we need slacker head angles. I would go with anything 65 or slacker. I also wouldn't go with anything less than a 75 or 76 seat angle. Don't discount Aluminum either.... I like a metal frame over carbon for MTB, + Aluminum is lighter than Steel and can be made (Paradox) with enough give...… Check out the new Growler?

[@zsom1987]

@@douglawrence4066 Huge fan of RM bought a blizzard this past winter and fell in love with its geo. I have been looking at steel and even titanium frames and like the idea of a longer lasting bike. I just got in to mtb this is my second season bought a trance and regretted not starting out with a hardtail. FS are great but too forgiving. I totally agree about SA and HA we definitely need a more aggressive Hardtail out here. I've been looking at RSD Middlechild, Pole taival and Canyon stoic (its AL but for the components and geo its at a great price). I'll definitely look in to chromag heard great things about it.

[@manhamsem]

Useful knowledge.... Thks...

[@palicar]

That’s nice. Sounds like I should just keep what I have and stop window shopping. I do want a rigid fat bike tho.

[@enpluson1539]

I love your perspective on this, as it is something i have seen firsthand, working as a salesman in a bikeshop. Seemingly everybody is asking for an Enduro bike, despite the fact that there are no trails requiring that sort of thing near where i live and ride. This applies mostly to very unexperienced riders that are getting their first proper Mountainbike and struggle with getting a proper bunnyhop done. Selling the idea of a trail hardtail is something i do on a daily basis.

[@hardtailparty]

Bravo my friend. So few shops do this

[@chesapeakeaerialphotollc5954]

So glad to hear this perspective coming from the other side of the sales counter. Seems like most of the bike shops around me barely even stock hard tails. The push is toward fs on our mostly smooth, rolling trails with lots of climbing.

[@hardtailparty]

@@chesapeakeaerialphotollc5954 100% agree. It's getting rough to find decent hardtails at shops these days.

[@alexw3246]

Thanks for this honest video! After watching this, I know that buying a hardtail bike was the correct decision. In my area there's no need to ride a fully because there's no terrain for it. But I think at least 95% of the people here a ride fullys (which will never be pushed to their limits).

[@akidone]

Steve, THAT was super useful! I'm riding my Orbea Laufey HT on mainly greens and blues, and I love it. Had been caught in the marketing trap and was thinking about getting a full-suspension, but the 95% rule told me that this is just marketing bs. THANKS!

[@hardtailparty]

Glad to hear it! Marketing is a powerful force. Nice job resisting it.

[@williamkinzel3635]

so good! you are 100% right. we have so much of that here. people on $12,000 170mm enduro sleds riding green and blue flo. get your HT folks!

[@joebikes]

I agree 100%. BUT, the right bike is actually.... two bikes.... haha! Especially in Northwest Arkansas where I'm at. A capable 150-170 full suss and an mild/aggressive hardtail is the perfect combo for the trails here.

[@hardtailparty]

I think you're on to something.... But there's a lot of truth in this statement. A lot of people are now buying hardtails for their second bikes, as they've realized their 160mm Enduro bikes aren't very fun on their local trails.

[@danfrst1]

I have the same bike setup here in AZ!! It's the perfect combination for my riding.

[@noelwarner8874]

Another video so good I’ve watched twice! (So far) A good concentration of blue trails here in SE Pa. with enough black options that I haven’t tried yet. I would be very interested in the 130 mm fork test as I “think” 120-130mm would be enough for what I currently ride.

[@rakewawrz5200]

I kind of look at it different you should be on your bike 95% of the time and on the ground to eat and to go to bathroom 5%. Oh yeah I forgot to leave some percentage for Wipeouts.Thats up to you to figure that out.

[@superawesomefuntimego]

Picking the bike right for you 95% of the time, so very true and great advice. After fiddling with some different bikes, I personally ended up deciding on a pretty aggressive 130mm hardtail (Whyte 905) and a well rounded enduro rig (Orbea Rallon), so I should have most any situation covered. Although if I was doing just one bike the Rallon is overkill for a solid chunk of what I ride most often and I'd go for something more on the trail end of the spectrum.

[@hardtailparty]

I've been wanting to try a Whyte 905. I've heard good things.

[@superawesomefuntimego]

@@hardtailparty You absolutely should. After my first ride I looked at my Trek Fuel EX and thought, don't need you any more and sold it. I popped on some Ibis 742 Carbon hoops (stock wheels are tanks) + Vitorria Air-Liner in the rear + a couple other updates and the thing is even more fun. Too bad all my local trails are closed, my 905 is taunting me daily.

[@JimmyBeanz13]

I built a Big Al to add all the components to that I want for a future FS build. We have some crazy billy goat rocky trails here in Michaux Forest PA! Stepping it up one paycheck at a time is what's nice about the Ragley, until I graduate to the skill level of a FS ride. Fundamentals of my bmx years at 16 expert are quickly coming back at age 40.....wish my body would bounce back as fast as 16.

[@hardtailparty]

You might end up loving the ragley even more than the FS one day

[@skater10abq]

I live in Albuquerque, NM. I have a hardtail and a full suspension. I have a BMX background. I ride my hardtail 95% of the time here. I see people riding FS on the trails around here, and honestly, I feel it's overkill. A FS is appropriate for our East Mountains, Sandia Mountain backside, Glorieta (Holy Mole, Jagged Axe, Chili Dog, etc). But for Placitas, North and South foothills, a killer HT is the way to go!

[@devincook3278]

Really good video

[@TrailBreaker]

Nice! I recently converted my really old (vintage) HT to single speed and it has opened my eyes to what "easier" trails can offer. But I do miss the modern geo😀

[@hardtailparty]

i love restos

[@kylee.8918]

Couldn’t agree more. I’ve been riding rigid bikes for almost a decade now. Mostly in Northern California and it’s rare I feel I need more bike. Honestly it makes me think twice about plowing through some technical terrain and slows me down at a pace that’s enjoyable and not full on “bro blasting speed,” but party pace as Russ calls it over on his Path Less Pedal channel. BUT, I’ve recently decided to get a hard tail to try modern geo and some suspension. I’ll never get rid of my full rigid bike packing bikes (crust evasion and surly troll). Thanks for reviewing so many hardtails so I could decide on the RSD Middle Child!

[@matthull7504]

I've always cycled on the roads and my go to road bike is a 12 year old aluminium felt single speed , my new job has given me the opportunity to cycle to work on trails so I bought a second hand Cannondale SL3 single speed hard tail with a rigid fork , it's a heap of fun although it can be a bit brutal on the rough stuff , I'm really enjoying the ride , can't recommend a single speed road bike or MTB enough , train hard ride easy , cheers Matt 😎

[@ReindeerBork]

I injured myself a while ago and coming from DH rigs and doing faster downhill most of the time I figured I'd replace my old bike with another DH rig, which was an amazing bike, but I was in pain and didn't really enjoy pushing around a DH bike on trails (Duh) and found I haven't really overcome the anxiety of continuing riding DH and being off work if I am injured so instead I have have really been enjoying trail riding and slightly slower paced descents. So the following year I sold my DH rig and I built an enduro bike with 160mm front and rear and love riding it. So this year I figured building up a HT would be a fun way to change things up while riding with my fiancé. I really like riding these bikes at the pace I am and it's WAYYYY cheaper than paying for lift service all the time haha, mind you I have to sweat a little.

[@Mr-lm2dv]

In May I got back into mtb after a 20 years away from it. Back then I was into full-sus, but this time I was on a tighter budget so I got a decent-ish hardtale (2019 Specialized Chisel Comp-X1). I did suffer a bit of buyers regret at first... what with all the other dudes riding full-squish at the local trails (Waterloo, Ontario). After riding a few more weeks and reflecting I became convinced that 2/3 of those dudes are way over-biked for where we were riding). Maybe I'm just cherry picking my information, but this video very much sums up and resonates with my feelings. Lovin' my hard-tale (95% of the time!).

[@vivek_v]

Funny since I also started off on a Specialized Chisel Comp. I enjoyed the bike so much in the first 8 months, but then I started moving to more difficult trails where the bike simply couldn't keep up with me. I could still ride those trails which had features that you would see in ews races, but it wasn't very kind on my back and arms. And there was also the concern of breaking the frame. So frame failure was the main reason why I got a more capable full sus bike.

[@Mr-lm2dv]

@@vivek_v you're worried about breaking an aluminum frame, what kind of air are you getting? :-o

[@vivek_v]

@@Mr-lm2dv I used to ride it on light enduro trails with drops into rock gardens, and sometimes huge g-outs with rocks at the bottom. The fork is also developing a creaky csu, so that's why I'm toning down my riding on that bike a bit.

[@cibulino8604]

Thanks! This is the best bike advise which i've ever heard. Currently I am arguing with myself do I need to change the frame of my bike. I have Canyon Spectral 2017 and I am happy to ride it. However it's not slack and long by the modern standards. But after this video I realised that I don't ride too fast so the modern geo will play huge role so I will stick to the bike I have. But before this I need to install ordered Works Components angle headset and thanks for this advice too.

[@shanemb3]

Glad you posted this. I have a Norco Fluid HT (aluminum, middle of the road geo, plus bike). Simple, not expensive, capable for what I ride in central NC. I'm mostly interested in a similar type of bike that's just really poppy and super supple. That's what I would totally trade up for.

[@hardtailparty]

Cool. I've got a couple hardtails coming in for review that should fit that description. I think a short rear end will probably lead to it feeling more poppy.

[@bigwave7207]

I’m so glad this advice is getting out there. Where I live , I look around and am thinking, “ why the heck is almost everyone dropping $4k on a 150mm FS and all they ever ride are smooth blue trails?” I had a FS trail bike in the PNW, but just moved to the northern Rockies. My first week of riding trail here it was clear the FS was overkill. Now I’m building an aggressive hardtail. I am so stoked to get the right tool for the job. This video is smart advice. Thank you!!

[@vivek_v]

Riding a 150mm FS does have its merits on difficult trails; but only if you are riding on the trail for more than 3 hours. 99% of people don't ride for 3 hours straight, but every weekend, I do 3.5 hour rides because I can't go during the school week. Admittedly, I am over-biked for some segments of the trail, but the extra travel does pay dividends in some extremely hard sections where the fatigue really starts setting in.

[@JaimeEstradaCesar]

Your perspective is a bit obvious, but only after watching this video. I will follow your channel, what a pleasant surprise to know content like this. Cheers!!

[@randomstuff3672]

Pffft - Steve your are completely wrong! All you need to know, all anyone needs to know when it comes to picking the right bike is N+1. It should be noted I have not yet watched this video. I will do so now. Ride safe and stay healthy. :-)

[@G.H.74]

This video should be mandatory for hardtail buyers. I just finished a build following this rule (hadn’t seen the video until today). TBH I couldn’t be happier the way the bike is. Love my 150 fork though🙂

[@patchesthejaybird8431]

Great stuff! I hope the younger riders, new to the sport, will watch this and take it to heart. After buying a full suspension, and riding it for some years, I put a better 100mm fork on my hardtail, and rode that... and fell in love with a hardtail again! Well, that hardtail is now nearly 20 years old, so I decided to upgrade to a Cotic Soul while I can still ride stuff at least somewhat suited to its capacity. I'm closing in on a half a century, so I know I'm not getting any better or stronger.. ha. Once again, your content is full of wisdom.

[@hardtailparty]

I used to have a cotic soul. What a cool bike.

[@user-lc2mu9jk2b]

Phillip Stevens Did almost the same- Hardtail for about 10 years, then full suspension for about 9, and back to hardtail. There is nothing like a hardtail!

[@patchesthejaybird8431]

@@hardtailparty Nice to hear you liked yours. Hopefully I like mine. Sorry if I somehow end up mentioning the Soul every time I post. I'm very excited to test it, but our trails are still snowed over, and won't be clear and dry until nearly June. No idea if public trails will even be open this summer. What really caught my attention about the bike, is the weight, and somewhat reasonable price, Its probably one of the lightest production steel frames out there for the money. Now that I paid, the big question is: will I like the modern geometry? Also, does it have the feel I have appreciated in my other steel bikes? The agony! Ha ha. Ok, I hope you all can get out and find places to ride ... Legally? Stay well.

[@patchesthejaybird8431]

@@user-lc2mu9jk2bToo cool. Something about the the way the hardtail just surges forward. Its just more fun on the trails I ride. Stay healthy and ride on!

[@standandeliver8376]

4:12 Exactly! If only everyone realised this. People are missing out.

[@jasonlewis6914]

Love the content man keep it up. So have a a hardtail all xtr. And got a a full suspension bike and did a bunch of upgrades. I took it out for the 1st time on some real trails with a friend. Such a difference. Full suspension is horrible at climbing. Great going down hill. My hardtail is better at everything. Besides taking some of the bumps.

[@hardtailparty]

which full squish do you have?

[@jasonlewis6914]

@@hardtailparty it's a Polygon d7 for upgrades rockshox pike rct3. Rockshox monarch rl Rear shock. Shimano zee brakes. Raceface affect wheelset.

[@h3yn0w]

Well said ! Even if you ride blacks and double blacks , trails are rated black and double black for very different reasons depending on location and terrain.

[@impleague]

Thanks for making this! I realized after reviewing several choices for a bike, that there were several bikes that I liked that are all different. Someone from here recommend a chromag, and then I thought that was the right bike. But after really listening to advice from people who’ve been riding longer, I decided on the chameleon.

[@hardtailparty]

Congrats, the chameleon is a cool bike!

[@mcndjxlefnd]

I live in Northern California and have been riding rigid my entire life, most recently on a 1994 Specialized Rockhopper. I'm baffled every time I see $5k+ bikes out riding the same trails as me.

[@anotheryoutuber_]

hard tails teach you how to be smooth and single speeds teach you how to be efficient.... i rode a full rigid single speed for the first ten years of my mountain biking, i learned a lot. other than my older wrists not liking full send the next day, they are still my heart.

[@evancole2880]

My dad and I still ride 90’s HT, him a Klein Pulse Race and me a Trek Singletrack. Both are great fun for the local trails here in WV. Tech, climbing, and rolling descents are our fun. We’re both looking to upgrade though bc I’m 6’2 on a medium and he is 55 and looking at a plusher full squish bike.

[@danielcodreanu3390]

Wow it helped me to find my right bike thanks

[@hardtailparty]

Glad to hear it!

[@joppek77]

Solid advice all around! Yea, buy a bike for your home trails and not for the bike park that you'll visit once or twice per year. You can rent a bike for that instead.

[@hardmtnbiker]

I had a FOES FXR with a 36 Fox 160mm and 6.5" travel with a coil over shock. #1 I only went to the park a few times a year. When climbing up my local trails, it was a beast and I don't do shuttles. Fast forward to the past 5 years. I ride a fully rigid single speed and a Esker Hayduke with 34Fox 130mm and 2 sets of wheels 29er with i35 rims and 2.4to 2.6" tires and a new set that I haven’t tried. A 27.5plus with i45 rims and 2.8 to 3" tires.

[@hardtailparty]

Two sets of wheels is often a better solution than two separate bikes. Well done!

[@SoCo_Surfcasting]

Here in Rocky Rhode Island, a 5 mile hardtail ride is about my threshold at age 45.

[@joshkerr48]

Thanks you so much! I live in the Midwest and was lookin at the specialized fuse 2020 and think an XC bike may be a little bit better

[@hardtailparty]

The 2020 fuse is a pretty rocking bike. It's heavy, but it would be really fun in the Midwest. See me review of that bike.

[@Basement_CNC]

By this rule i have the perfect Bike but i still want a 140mm hardtale

[@chameleonpogono]

If I get the opportunity for any demo days, I want to try some hardtail bikes. Curious how my joints will feel. I miss riding hardtail bikes. Good video.👍

[@adrianszabelski8105]

Thanks for this video my local trails that I ride a lot of are farmer johns which is jumps at top steep tech at bottom delamere forest has flat singletrack and some steeper downhill and jumps and pimbo which is mostly jump and some xc and tech I think I'm still going to get a whyte 901 it'll be a bit aggressive but I've gone otb a couple times on my current less aggressive hardtail

[@captjerski4165]

I dont do trails anymore I live where trails are so far from home also covid makes me grounded, so I bought a Dirt jumper now having a blast in urban riding, my hardtail mountain bike will have to wait. Thanks for the tip.

[@captjerski4165]

I know its odd but I plan to put gears on my DJ bike so I can go far too.

[@blakemason2142]

I’m glad you kept mentioning NorCal, being from Chico. I’ve been thinking a lot about what bike I want to get soon. Short travel 29er is what I think I’m deciding on. I rode a 2020 Norco sight last week (160/150 w a 64 ha and long reach) and it was too much and made things feel dead. I want something in the middle of fs and ht without super aggressive geo

[@hardtailparty]

The good news is that there are a lot of options in that range. A short travel 29er is a ton of fun.

[@blakemason2142]

hardtail party I think I’m gonna go with the salsa spearfish, add some offset bushing and change the head angle .5-1 degree so either 66.8 or 67.3 and see how I like that also depending on how low the bb feels and how much the handling changes.

[@tonyboughman8050]

Thanks for this one Steve. I previously had the impression you believed "slacker is better, slacker is better, slacker is better." Not for me, most of the time.

[@arbjful]

For me budget is most important point. After that comes upgradability . If the bike can be upgraded at a later stage, then its good for me. Since most hardtail are cheaper than double suspension bikes, so I opt for hardtails. But I think most important factor is enjoyment out of each ride...if you enjoy that ride then I think its worth it.

[@mthe007]

great video! it s misleading how the bike industry media really pushes the enduro tech stuff so you think you ll need those bikes. on the other hand in my experience having at least 2 bikes is the best scenario because then you re covered for both home trails and when travelling, like a cheaper hardtail and a full suss are the best combination

[@TheDiablosix6six]

I have a trek fuel ex 9.8 which is a 130mm travel with a 140mm fork and I can ride all kinds of stuff with it. Be that a nice mellow trails, to xc trails and all the way up to -30% gradients, it does it all!! And I'm only new to biking, just less than a yr!!

[@offthemaps]

This should be required viewing for anyone in the market for a new bike. 95% of people over bike - that's the real rule of 95%.

[@rjahn3000]

My final top three list: Trek Stache 7 Salsa Timberjack, Orbea Laufey . I'm fortunate not to live on one place we travel across the USA in a motorhome so no local trails for me. I need a good versatile bike..Thanks for the reviews.

[@hardtailparty]

You're in luck.ive ridden all 3 bikes. I'll be releasing reviews for the timberjack and laufey in the next month.

[@jackcarter233]

I’ve loved almost every mountain bike I’ve ever owned.

[@slashmtb8124]

wish i saw this vid earlier, thanks

[@justgo4033]

i know what you mean about where you live . i live in alberta about 2 hours away from the rockies . A hardtail is great for my local trails , flatter tight single tracks , bike parks with pump tracks and dirt jumps .On the other hand when i do make it to the rockies you need a dh or longer travel enduro bike .

[@mountainlessmtb9940]

Hardtail party rules !

[@hardtailparty]

My subscribers rule! What makes hardtail party so great are all of you who watch and comment.

[@eddyandchrisnz9793]

Food for thought. Looks like you got your 130 travel bike .....Binary Maniac 😀

[@hardtailparty]

Yup! That is my dream bike.

[@adventuresona700dollarhard5]

Great content! My dream bike is an SB165, but I know the only place I'd ever need it, is Megavalanche. I see full squish all over Minnesota and North Dakota, and I'm like...Why? You could build up an aggressive hardtail for 1/3 of what a Santa Cruz costs, and have thousands of dollars left over to travel around the country with your bike, to places it's made for. Full squish on hardtail trails is like dating someone for their looks. It's fun at first, but pretty soon you're bored and unfulfilled.

[@hardtailparty]

Lol. Spot on!

[@CycloneKracken]

You may have just saved me 4k 😂

[@samvilla6290]

Totally true. I’d love a norco torrent ht and it’s be so sick to have but I don’t need that bike at all especially because I want to race cross country. What is a better bike for me is the ibis dv9 because I don’t ride super technical trails near me all the time but I do ride them sometimes but I do it on a 32lb 100m hardtail so I don’t need any more travel really than what I have now and everything I ride now, I ride on a hardtail so I know it can be ridden in one. Also I want to convert my dads old rigid trek 930 to single speed.

[@stevemurray2737]

You should have, "Hank Snow / Johnny Cash's" Song, "I've been everywhere"... Good Stuff.. Hardtail!

[@hardtailparty]

Thanks. I don't say it to brag, I say it so my.viewers know I've ridden a lot of places and seen many many trails with all kinds of different riding.

[@JohnnyTrulove]

I came accross a full susp bike recently. I find that I reach for my 26inch hardtail more often.

[@johnnydoe66]

Like Dirty Harry said, "A man's got to know his limitations"......That's the mantra I follow when it comes to riding. I am currently looking to buy a new hardtail myself, nothing crazy; 120-130mm fork and 27.5+ tires. I am 53 yrs old and I don't bounce when I hit the ground like I use to. I am definitely not a Red Bull Rampage guy either....lol

[@hardtailparty]

27.5+ tires are the way to go! They make riding a hardtail so much more comfy!

[@johnnydoe66]

@@hardtailparty The main reason I am looking at 27.5+. I have test ridden several bikes and absolutely love 2.6 and 2.8 tires. For the areas I ride, a plus hardtail is perfect. I know of several guys that ride Fat bikes most of the time, but those are a bit too sluggish for what I like

[@AdrenalineIsLife]

Lots of wisdom in this video!

[@tmwei396]

This is why I have 3 mountain bikes: a HT, a mid-travel full squish, and a long travel enduro bike for lift access bike park.

[@hardtailparty]

There ya go.

[@SplatteredWRX]

I live in Illinois near the STL area. I have an Specialized Epic and also a Fuse fattie. Just enough suspension to be fast and handle some chunk, but still have the hard tail for those single tracks!

[@fdfurlan]

Yes, I agree! I live in the STL area. I rode Castlewood and Zombie in a Roscoe 8 (HT) with 3.0mm tires, and I'm very happy. Today my only struggle is to migrate or not to flat pedals.

[@SplatteredWRX]

@@fdfurlan I love flat pedals because anytime I’ve been clipped in and got to some tech stuff. The moment I needed to jump off quick or throw a leg out I couldn’t. It’s a safety thing for me is why I stick with flats.