Hardtail vs Full Suspension eMTBs: How to Choose Between Two Wheel Frame Types

Making the decision between a hardtail electric mountain bike and a full suspension eMTB model involves weighing factors like cost, weight, efficiency, capabilities, and your riding style. This comprehensive guide examines the key differences, pros and cons, and ideal use cases for both hardtail and full suspension eMTBs.

Key Takeaways – Hardtail vs Full Suspension eMTBs

Hardtail eMTB Overview

A hardtail electric mountain bike has a suspension fork in the front to absorb bumps, but a completely rigid frame and rear triangle without any suspension. Hardtails are simpler and more affordable than dual suspension eMTBs.

Hardtail eMTB Characteristics:

• Front suspension fork only, no rear suspension
• Lightweight and efficient pedaling
• Costs less than full suspension
• Better acceleration and stiffness

Hardtails work well for cross country trails, beginner mountain bikers, and smooth flowy singletrack. The lack of rear suspension does limit downhill capability compared to a full suspension eMTB however.

Full Suspension eMTB Overview

Full suspension eMTBs have suspension forks in front and a rear shock built into the frame to absorb bumps. This adds traction control and comfort but also increases cost and weight over a hardtail.

Full Suspension eMTB Characteristics:

• Suspension fork plus rear suspension shock
• Improved comfort and handling over rough terrain
• Maintains grip and stability better
• Heavier and more expensive than hardtails

A full suspension eMTB allows tackling rougher downhill runs, technical obstacles, big jumps, and demanding terrain. The added capability comes at a price premium over hardtails though.

Hardtail eMTB Pros and Cons

Let’s take a more in-depth look at the advantages and disadvantages of choosing a hardtail electric mountain bike:

Hardtail eMTB Pros

More Affordable Price

The simpler hardtail design costs significantly less than an equivalent full suspension eMTB. Savings of $500-$1500+ are common comparing hardtail and dual suspension models from the same manufacturer.

Lighter Overall Weight

Not having a rear shock and linkage allows hardtail eMTBs to weigh 5-7 lb less typically. This makes them easier to maneuver and accelerate.

Better Pedaling Efficiency

Without rear suspension bobbing under power, hardtails transfer your pedaling effort into forward motion more efficiently. Less power gets lost flexing the rear end.

Snappier Acceleration

Closely tied to weight and stiffness, hardtails snap up to speed quicker when pedaling or sprinting out of corners. Rapid fire pedaling feels more responsive.

Ideal for Cross Country Riding

For covering long distances over rolling terrain, a hardtail eMTB offers a nice balance of light weight with front suspension for comfort.

More Affordable Upgrades

The savings upfront on a hardtail frame allows putting more budget into the components. You can build up a high spec hardtail eMTB for less than a basic dual suspension model.

Beginner Friendly Platform

Hardtails allow new riders to develop fundamental skills without getting overwhelmed by complex rear suspension setups. The simplicity helps build riding confidence.

Hardtail eMTB Cons

Rougher Ride Over Technical Terrain

Without rear suspension, hardtails transmit bump forces into your body rather than absorbing them smoothly. Expect a rougher, harsher ride over rocks and roots.

Reduced Traction and Control Downhill

During steep descents, the rear wheel of a hardtail can bounce and lose contact with the ground. Full suspension sticks to the trail better and maintains speed.

Higher Fatigue and Arm Pump

Trying to manually absorb bigger hits puts more strain on your body. Hardtails are more physically demanding over truly rough terrain.

Slower When Pointed Downhill

The rear end suspension on full suspension eMTBs allows carrying more speed through rough sections. Hardtails require slowing down more for big impacts.

Less Confidence Inspiring

Riders may feel more tentative pushing their skills on a hardtail since the bike provides less margin for error when the terrain gets hairy.

As you can see, hardtail eMTBs offer some nice advantages but do have limitations relative to full suspension models. Choose a hardtail when cross country terrain dominates, budgets are tight, or you’re after simplify

Full Suspension eMTB Pros and Cons

Now let’s examine the trade-offs and considerations with choosing a full suspension electric mountain bike:

Full Suspension eMTB Pros

Greater Comfort and Less Fatigue

Full suspension smooths out bump forces rather than transmitting them directly to your body. You’ll feel much fresher after long rides covering rugged terrain.

More Traction and Speed Downhill

The rear wheel sticks to the ground over rough conditions, allowing you to carry more momentum compared to a hardtail that can deflect off obstacles.

Increased Control Hitting Obstacles

Landing jumps and navigating technical rock gardens is easier with the added rear suspension absorbing the forces rather than your arms or body taking the full brunt.

Capability to Handle Rougher Trails

Full suspension bikes greatly expand the type and difficulty of terrain you can comfortably ride and maintain control descending. Bigger goes bigger!

More Fun Riding Experience

The added capability and confidence of full suspension allows taking on thrilling terrain. The bike handles obstacles so you can focus just on having fun ripping downhill.

Added Forgiveness

Suspension provides more margin for error when you make a mistake compared to an unforgiving hardtail. You can push your limits more and progress skills faster.

Clearly full suspension electric mountain bikes excel when riding aggressively on the roughest and steepest terrain. But there are some disadvantages as well.

Full Suspension eMTB Cons

Higher Upfront Cost

Full suspension frames require more complex engineering and construction leading to prices $500-$2000 higher than hardtails. Good suspension equipment also adds cost.

Heavier Overall Weight

The rear shock and linkages add around 5-7 lb typically. You feel this weight when climbing or maneuvering at slow speeds.

Potential Pedaling Inefficiency

Pedal bob can rob some power on climbs as the suspension compresses with each pedal stroke. Lockouts help maximize efficiency when needed.

Increased Maintenance

With more moving parts and linkages, full suspension eMTBs require more frequent suspension servicing and pivot maintenance than hardtails.

Adjustment Complexity

Tuning the rear shock spring rates, rebound damping, sag, etc requires learning technical details. Poor setups can ruin the ride quality.

There are certainly more factors to consider with full suspension. But the gains in capability, control and comfort outweigh the downsides for aggressive trail riders.

Hardtail vs Full Suspension: Ideal Use Cases

Now that we’ve covered both the benefits and trade-offs, here is an overview of the ideal riding conditions and terrain types where each excels:

Hardtail eMTBs

• Cross country and endurance rides – Light weight and pedaling efficiency are ideal for covering long distances on rolling terrain.
• Smooth flowy singletrack – Maintain momentum pumping through bermed turns and smaller trail features.
• Newer mountain bikers – Develop fundamental riding skills without getting overwhelmed managing rear suspension.
• Budget conscious riders – Get quality components at lower cost compared to full suspension at the same price.
• Less technical terrain – Hardtails work well on flatter trails with smaller roots and rocks.

Full Suspension eMTBs

• Downhill bike parks and lift served trails – Plush suspension lets you lap gravity focused trails all day with less fatigue.
• Rugged all mountain terrain – Maintain control and stability pointed downhill over rocks, roots and drops.
• Bigger jumps and drops – Landings feel more effortless and smooth with rear suspension absorbing the impact.
• Advanced/aggressive riders – Confidence inspiring for pushing your limits hitting technical features at higher speeds.
• Steep gnarly descents – Suspension keeps you planted and in control rather than fighting the bike.
• Professional enduro racing – Dual suspension gives competitive racers an edge to go faster through demanding stages.

Motor and Battery Considerations

Do the motor and battery choices differ going for a hardtail versus full suspension eMTB?

For the most part you can use the same mid-drive motors and batteries that work well on either frame style. Hardtails do benefit a bit more from lighter 250-380W motors to maximize efficiency. Full suspension gives the option to spec beefier motors if pursuing downhill performance. But many all-mountain bikes use the same 500W motors as many hardtails.

In terms of batteries, smaller 293-400Wh capacities help keep hardtail weight down for cross country rides. Full suspension eMTBs can leverage the extra frame space to integrate larger 500-700Wh batteries for longer run times if you’ll be self-shutting extended downhills. But either frame type works with most mid-capacity battery sizes.

The flat downtube battery position does compliment the stiffness goals of hardtails slightly better. Full suspension designs integrate batteries in various frame locations to maintain balance with the rear linkage. But high quality frames minimize drawbacks.

Overall, battery and motor selections involve other factors beyond just frame design. Try to match long range batteries with the longest rides rather than limiting your eMTB choices solely based on suspension type.

Hardtail vs Full Suspension eMTB Examples

To better visualize how hardtail and dual suspension eMTBs differ, here are some top model examples from leading brands:

Hardtail eMTBs

Scott E-Aspect 910

• 500Wh Battery
• Custom 250W Syncdrive Motor
• Remote Lockout Fork
• Shimano Deore 1×10 Drivetrain
• 27.5″ Wheels

Giant Fathom E+ 2

• 400Wh Battery
• Yamaha PW-X2 Motor
• RockShox 35 Gold Fork
• Dropper Post
• 27.5″ Wheels

Trek Powerfly 4

• 500Wh Battery
• Bosch Performance Line Motor
• RockShox Recon Fork
• Shimano Deore Groupset
• 29″ Wheels

Full Suspension eMTBs

Pivot Shuttle

• 700Wh Battery
• Shimano EP8 Motor
• Fox 36 Fork, DHX2 Shock
• Wireless SRAM AXS Drivetrain
• 29″ Wheels

Yeti 160E

• 700Wh Battery
• Custom Yeti Mid-Drive Motor
• Fox 36 Fork, DHX2 Shock
• Shimano XT Drivetrain
• 27.5″ Wheels

Specialized Levo

• 700Wh Battery
• Brose S Mag Motor
• RockShox Fork, Thinline Shock
• SRAM NX Eagle Gearing
• 29″ Wheels

These leading brand examples showcase how full suspension builds spec heavier duty for aggressive riding, while hardtails keep things lighter for cross country efficiency.

Cost Comparison: Hardtail vs Full Suspension eMTBs

One of the biggest differences between hardtail and full suspension is price. Here is an overview of typical eMTB costs for each frame type:

Hardtail eMTB Costs

• Budget – $1500 – $2500
• Mid-range – $2500 – $4000
• High-end – $4000 – $6000

Full Suspension eMTB Costs

• Entry-level – $3000 – $4500
• Mid-range – $4500 – $6000
• High-end – $6000 – $9000+

As you can see, there is significant overlap, but full suspension costs more at any given spec level. The same brand’s hardtail model may retail for $3000, while their dual suspension costs $4500 or more.

With hardtails, you can get higher end components for less. But don’t sacrifice on the fork quality just to save money.

For full suspension, invest more into the rear shock, suspension linkage design, and frame quality over components. Cheaping out on suspension severely compromises downhill capability.

Hardtail or Full Suspension eMTB: Which is Right for You?

Choosing between a hardtail vs full suspension eMTB largely depends on your budget, local trails, and riding style preferences. Consider your needs:

Hardtails for:

• Cross country terrain
• Tight twisty singletrack
• Long backcountry adventures
• Smoother dirt trails
• Improving fundamental skills
• Tight eMTB budgets

Full suspension for:

• Downhill bike parks
• Launching big jumps and drops
• Rocky, rooty, loose terrain
• Advanced aggressive trail riding
• Riding comfort over long distances
• Pushing handling limits downhill

Ideally demo both types if possible to experience the differences firsthand. An eMTB tailored to your trails, goals and skill level leads to more smiles per mile!

Frequently Asked Questions

Still trying to decide between hardtail and full suspension eMTBs? Here are answers to some common questions riders have:

Are hardtails only for cross country riding?

Not necessarily. While a full suspension eMTB opens up rougher terrain, skilled hardtail riders still shred black diamond trails. Big travel forks and plus tires expand hardtail capability.

Is a cheap full suspension eMTB better than a quality hardtail?

Usually not. An entry level full suspension makes too many compromises on components and suspension design to outperform a mid-range hardtail. Prioritize quality over rear suspension at low prices.

Can you upgrade a hardtail eMTB’s fork and tires to perform like a full suspension?

Upgraded components help, but don’t fully match how a properly engineered full suspension design absorbs impacts and maintains traction. Hardtails require picking smoother lines.

Does full suspension waste eMTB motor power flexing the rear end?

Minimal power is lost with well designed suspension linkage on quality bikes. Plus the traction gains outweigh any small efficiency losses for technical terrain. But lockouts help maximize climbing efficiency.

Should beginners start on hardtail eMTBs before considering full suspension models?

Not mandatory, but recommended. Hardtails teach good line choice and bike handling skills that translate to full suspension mastery later. Starting on over-biked full suspension bikes can overwhelm new riders.

Conclusion

Hardtail and full suspension eMTBs excel under different riding conditions. Hardtails promote efficiency for cross country use. Full suspension boosts control for aggressive downhill riding.

Consider your budget, local trails and riding style when choosing between these electric mountain bike designs. Both can provide huge fun and memorable adventures when matched well to your needs! The ideal eMTB for you comes down to weighing priorities – efficiency vs capability, cost vs components, fitness vs pure fun.

With an eMTB matched to your trails and riding goals, you’ll maximize enjoyment on your favorite singletrack climbs and descents. Now get out there and ride!