Hardtail Mountain Bikes
Hardtails mountain bikes are one of the most basic forms of MTB, but while they might seem simple at first glance they can still pack some pretty serious tech to rival full suspension frames and have many benefits over the more complex full suspension designs, too.
For instance, hardtail mountain bikes are lighter and easier to maintain the full suspension models and can feel more involving and fun to ride as a result. Being simpler means they are also more cost-effective to build and buy, making them an excellent gateway into the world of mountain biking, with many high-quality hardtail mountain bikes from the likes of Scott and Cube available for less than £500.
Most hardtail MTBs will come with a suspension fork with around 100mm of suspension travel, disc brakes and fast-rolling but grippy tyres to provide a light and exciting ride. Higher-end hardtail mountain bikes can also feature super lightweight carbon frames and if you want something with more comfort, steel frames can offer improved comfort over aluminium and carbon frames. If you want a fun, light and easy to maintain mountain bike, you won’t go wrong with a hardtail.