milkbone, why are you considering a soft tail over a FS? The soft tail will not have any ride difference from a hard tail unless you are sitting down and then there are pros and cons. The ST can provide some nice cush when climbing and the back wheel does roll ever stuff a bit more easily than a HT BUT it will not provide any suspension once you are out of the saddle. A FS will absorb some bangs even when you are standing, so shock absorption can take place in the frame rather than in your knees and hips. Also, a soft tail can pogo on level bumpy trails when a good FS won't. Example, you see a lovely nice level trail curving out through a meadow of wildflowers and you just want to cruise through in an idyllic flowerdy daydream. You can't because the *$%^* squirrel and gopher holes in the trail are popping up the back end of the bike and the soft tail bounces you skyward with every *$% hole.
I had all 3 and I love my Litespeed Unicoi for the glorious flowing singletrack in Central Oregon but it comes with some drawbacks. My Titus Racer X climbs better than the Stumpjumper HT and the Unicoi ST and provides more shock absorbtion in all terrains. FS also provides a much larger margin of error over obstacles.
If you are looking to protect your neck, you need cush -- and you need to make sure that the fork and rear shock can be fine-tuned to your weight or they won't activate properly to provide that cush.
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05-22-2008, 06:27 AM #1
Inner Geekette
- Join Date
- Aug 2003
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- Bendemonium
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- 9,673
Frends know gud humors when dey is hear it. ~ Da Crockydiles of ZZE.
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05-22-2008, 07:21 AM #2
I do my own stunts
- Join Date
- Apr 2008
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- S. Lake Tahoe CA and Marion Mass
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- 359
ride it like you stole it
I can say that I know about that addiction!
I rode my Specialized Hardrock until it basically fell apart. I could do almost everything with that bike that I can do with my new one. I rode it for probably 3 years until I just made the leap. And leap I did. I got a FS but there was a learning curve to it, definately with the shocks (read: over the handlebars). I think with your accident a FS would be easier on you, but to me, I would just go for broke and buy the bike of your dreams if you know you are going to stick with it. But try them out too. I rode a couple of different bikes, and found the Ellsworth but never test drove it. Which is pure luck on my part that I liked it. But it rides like a dream, and the guys at Wrench Science really know how to fit a bike.
Good luck! Best addiction I ever picked up!
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