Hardtail 29ers Are Dead??? Local Shops Don't Stock Them?

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joeg26er
Posts: 122
Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2008 3:40 am

by joeg26er

My buddy says "29er hardtails are dead/dying because shops don't stock/show them" and "all everyone is interested in is Enduro FS"

I can't believe that this is true In USA bike shops?

Please help me win the argument (there's a beer at stake)

reply to this thread with:

I am in _____________ city and ____________ shop has 29er hardtails from $_____ to $______ on the floor?

OR -

Yep - zero zip nada 29er hardtails, only enduro bikes man

by Weenie


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TheRookie
Posts: 926
Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:23 pm
Location: Midlands, United Kingdom

by TheRookie

I am in Leamington Spa (UK) and the Giant shop has 29er hardtails from $600 to $1800 on the floor.

When I'm in India one of the local popular bikes is the Firefox Maximus, a 29er hardtail that can do anything from commuting as a hybrid through to some mild offroad, that comes in at about $300 equivalent.
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joeg26er
Posts: 122
Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2008 3:40 am

by joeg26er

Thanks - that is interesting
would you say they have more full suspension by a large margin on the floor vs 29er?

TheRookie
Posts: 926
Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:23 pm
Location: Midlands, United Kingdom

by TheRookie

No, the most common of the MTB's are lower end hardtail which for Giant are mostly 27.5, its probably about a 50:50 split between HT and FS but as the price point goes up it does swing heavily towards FS bikes. Giant now of course have the non-Maestro (cheaper to make) Stance as their entry level FS which is an indication of how they see the market buying.

I think that as the cheaper end FS (circa £800 in UK, which is circa $1000) have improved to be genuinely decent to ride I see more people going for an entry FS versus a higher spec HT as they are easier for beginners at trail centres to go fast on.
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silvalis
Posts: 765
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2015 1:02 am
Location: Aus

by silvalis

There's a big revival recently on mid travel hardtails in both 27.5 and 29.
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MikeD
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Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2014 9:55 pm

by MikeD

No enduro or hardtail for me. XC FS fits my needs.

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Lelandjt
Posts: 832
Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2016 7:10 am

by Lelandjt

20lb full suspension bikes are killing off the hardtail in Colorado's Rockies. Racers from the Denver area where there's more smooth trails sometimes have hardtails but up in the mountains most people agree that full suspension is worth the 2lb penalty when you can still have a bike under 22lbs. And that's among XC racers. For general play riding, yes the hardtail is dead. Everyone wants a 5-6" travel trail bike (or maybe a 6.5" enduro bike) because they're more fun. No one is timing you on the climb and you might as well enjoy the descent.

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LeDuke
Posts: 2022
Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2012 2:39 am
Location: Front Range, CO

by LeDuke

I only use my HT for short track races. It's 18.8lbs or something like that.

I much prefer my FS, a Yeti ASRc, here on the Front Range. Not only is it more comfortable, but it's faster on many of our trails here.

Ghost234
Posts: 397
Joined: Sun Apr 24, 2011 2:21 am

by Ghost234

I live in Toronto. All the local shops have hardtails. Most shops have them in the 500-2200 range, but some of the more MTB oriented shops stock higher end ones. Enduro bikes are pretty much non-existent except for the truly MTB oriented shops, and even then the pickings are thin.


We don't have many hills worthy of more than 120mm suspension.

joshpeck
Posts: 25
Joined: Thu Jan 11, 2018 11:02 pm

by joshpeck

In So Cal 29er hardtails are abundant. from entry level to 10k+

aaronpass
Posts: 32
Joined: Sun Aug 12, 2012 2:32 am

by aaronpass

I have an 120mm AM hardtail. It's one of the most fun bikes I have ever been on and I can go down pretty much everything my 150mm FS can.
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bm0p700f
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by bm0p700f

rigid 29er are even rarer.

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