How A Full Suspension Mountain Bike Works?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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You want a more comfortable ride:

A full-suspension mountain bike will soak up most of the jarring bumps that would otherwise be sent to your body

(and in some cases, buck you off your bike). This can help reduce fatigue, which in turn can allow you to ride faster, for longer, with greater comfort.

What do I need to know about full suspension mountain bikes?

A full-suspension mountain bike means that

the bike has TWO suspension points: a front shock (the fork) that absorbs movement on the front end and a rear shock that absorbs movement on the backend

. A full-suspension bike (sometimes called ‘full squish') makes for a smoother, more stable ride along rough terrain.

What are the benefits of a full-suspension bike?

This

added traction ultimately gives a rider more control over the bike

. A full suspension bike will dart left and right between trees, even when the wheels are rolling over exposed roots. It will also slow down or stop quicker, as the tires don't lose contact with the trail as easily.

Can you ride a full suspension mountain bike on the road?

Can a hardtail go downhill?


Yes, you absolutely can ride a hardtail downhill

. You'll feel every bump your back tire hits but you can sure do it. In fact, many riders will ride a hardtail bike downhill to force themselves to learn how to pick a better path.

Why are Hardtails better?

The hardtail, with its

lower weight and rigid rear end

, is more efficient when your ride consists of road or smoother trails and plenty of pedalling.

How do you know if your bike is full suspension?

A full suspension (FS) bike

has the same fork out front, but it has a frame that consists of two pieces, a front triangle and rear triangle, that are joined by pivots

. This allows the two sections of the frame to move independently, and the rate of that movement is controlled by a shock absorber.

How does suspension lockout work?

A Lockout is a small switch placed atop the front right stanchion of your MTB/Hybrid Bicycle's suspension which

when engaged decreases the low speed compression rate of the front fork, adjustable to the point of being fully rigid

. This switch can also be routed to the handle bar which is called as a remote lockout.

How much easier is a full suspension mountain bike?

So although the difference in time may have been marginal, riding the hardtail required less power for a slightly quicker time and comes out a clear winner. Moving on to the second rough lap, which featured the large climb and descent,

the full suspension bike was faster by 6.93 seconds (1.43 percent)

.

Are full suspension bikes worth cheap?

In the end, we can say that if you need a mountain bike that can handle an enduro or downhill riding style and you only have a budget of 1500 to 2000$ then it is worth buying a cheap full-suspension mountain bike but if your budget can be stretched, definitely do that.

Can you do jumps on a hardtail?


Hardtail mountain are good for jumps

. It is also easier to jump on a hardtail mountain bike compared to a full-suspension mountain bike. However, because of the lack of a rear suspension, the drop on a hardtail won't be as forgiving compared to a full suspension.

Can you convert a hardtail to full suspension?

What kind of travel does that bad-boy get? To the OP, as you can probably tell from the wise-cracks,

there's no way to convert your hard-tail bike to full suspension

(the marvelous Shockster not-withstanding). The best you can do is try to sell your old bike and get a new one.

Can you wheelie a full-suspension mountain bike?


Suspension shouldn't effect wheelies if you use the correct technique

. Look up manual techniques, use the manual technique to get the front wheel up, find the balance point and pedal. Keep the back brake covered.

Why is my mountain bike so slow?

If your bicycle usually feels sluggish and slow it can be caused by

mechanical issues such as friction in the brakes, the wheel or the drivetrain, extra weight, loss of power or some unusual riding condition

.

How do you ride a full suspension bike?

Are hardtails more fun?

Hardtails are a little rougher, but that just adds to the sense of speed, even if you're not riding as fast.

They can even be more fun on some trails

: the kind of trail that isn't too rough and needs a bit of pedaling, a sweet jump trail, or a fresh secret trail where you're surfing loam all the way down.

Does Youtube make a hardtail?


YT Dirt Love hardtail 2020

It's a basic steel hardtail frame at a decent price and it is available in two sizes (some companies only offer one size dirt bike).

Can you do black trails on a hardtail?

The whole top half of this trail is like this, but then it mellows out to more of a single black. Since it's relatively slow, steep tech,

the hardtail really does a fine job handling it without it seeming too rough or chattery.

Is a full-suspension bike better than a hardtail?


Full-suspension bikes are more forgiving and less likely to buck a rider over the bars

. If you live in an area where most of the trails are smooth and flowing, the difference between a hardtail and a full-suspension bike is marginal.

Does anyone still ride hardtails?


Hardtails are largely absent from the party

, though. Even XC racers (yes, those still exist) are most often riding short-travel full-suspension bikes because they've become so light in recent years that there's no reason to go without some cush.

Why is mountain biking so hard?


Tire resistance and aerodynamics

.

Mountain bike trails often have sharp, steep climbs, while roads usually stick to milder, more consistent grades. However, roads can have steep grades and quick reversals, just like mountain bike trails can be flat.

Is 120 enough to travel?

In addition, you're not likely to notice much difference between a 120mm, 130mm, and 140mm fork. Honesty,

a 120mm fork is enough travel for most Trail riders

.

What is a rear suspension?

The rear suspension of a luxury coupe is

designed to maximize comfort and will have a softer suspension that absorbs more movement

. A rear-drive sports car will require a stiffer suspension that allows power to be transferred from the drive shaft to the rear wheels more efficiently.

How do you adjust rear coil suspension on a mountain bike?

When should I lock my mountain bike suspension?

The best time to lock out the suspension on your mountain bike is

when you are doing a long non-technical trail climb or riding a long distance on a flat surface

. Lockouts are typically used at specific times to help prevent wasting pedaling energy in the form of bobbing of the suspension.

How do you adjust front suspension on a mountain bike?

Can you lock out rear suspension mountain bike?


Many rear shocks (as well as front forks) have a lockout feature

, which essentially stops it from compressing, and “locks out” the shock in a fixed position. This is used to at specific times when riding to help prevent wasted pedalling energy in the form of bobbing of the suspension.

Kim Nguyen
Author
Kim Nguyen
Kim Nguyen is a fitness expert and personal trainer with over 15 years of experience in the industry. She is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and has trained a variety of clients, from professional athletes to everyday fitness enthusiasts. Kim is passionate about helping people achieve their fitness goals and promoting a healthy, active lifestyle.