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Home / Mountain Bikes and Gear / Mountain bikes / Hardtail bikes / Survey

If You Had $2,500 to Spend, Would You Buy a Hardtail or a FS Bike?

Twenty five hundred dollars is a lot of money but let's face it, that amount of cash doesn't go as far as we would like, especially when it comes to buying a new mountain bike.

By Jeff Barber
May 1, 2022 Last Updated: August 29, 2023

33 comments

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Brown County Bike Shop. Photo: Danielle Wolter Nolan.

Twenty five hundred dollars is a lot of money but let’s face it, that amount of cash doesn’t go as far as we would like, especially when it comes to buying a new mountain bike. Full suspension is really nice to have, but at this price point tradeoffs and compromises will need to be made when it comes to factors like component quality, features, weight, and durability.

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Jeff Barber

Jeff Barber has been mountain biking since 1992 and has tested hundreds of mountain bikes and components. He is the co-founder of Singletracks and serves as Editor in Chief. Contact him at [email protected].

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33 Comments

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Called2RideMTB Maryland // 2017
May 1, 2022

A used FS bike.

6 reply

AUTHOR

Jeff Barber Georgia // 1998
May 2, 2022

We've been seeing a lot of overpriced 5-year-old bikes on the market lately...

0 reply

Sean Gordon Maine // 2017
May 2, 2022

I recently purchased a used aluminum 2018 Jet 9, informed by your review. It's got fox shocks front and rear and is only 2lb heavier than the carbon model. I really love it, even though it's noticeably heavier than my hardtail I can ride for longer without lower back pain and fatigue, which I can't seem to get rid of despite many hours of strength training.

3 reply

Called2RideMTB Maryland // 2017
May 2, 2022

True!

0 reply

dajimmers Michigan // 2022
May 3, 2022

Fat bike. Can get a nice rigid fat bike, with potentially carbon frame or decent components, for $2500. If you already had an MTB this is the route I'd go (and went). Depends a lot on where you live, but if there is snow and groomed singletrack around you fat biking is an awesome way to extend the season, and some like their fatties on dirt too (me not so much). But it can really go anywhere so is a good spare/buddy bike too and opens up winter/sand/adventure and other things you may not have had access to otherwise. We get around months of groomed biking where I ride though, so likely a bit biased...

3 reply

ABhardtail Illinois // 2019
May 1, 2022

I have purchased both a $2500 hardtail for myself and a $2500 full suspension for my wife. The Polygon Siskiu T8 hits this price point and really isn't too compromised, other than lack of local dealer support.

3 reply

Chin Gao New Mexico // 2016
May 5, 2022

$2500 hum will not get you to much of a FS so HT it is to include a HT rides faster, less maintenance, better climber so there. I have owned FS (Santa Cruz and Scott) as you just read owned I no longer have interest on FS once you master riding your pedals mainly on technical trails IMO it is much more responsive and much more fun on a HT… Have a Great Ride U All.

1 reply

robert.o.mabrey South Korea // 2018
May 2, 2022

Gravel Bike

1 reply

vapidoscar Ohio // 2018
May 2, 2022

Right there with you and then some. I would go with a State Bicycle Offroad Steel Gravel Bike and I would spring for the second set of wheels. Then I would have 700c and 650b options.

Then I would replace the parts that I cheaped out on my last build. Have already replaced the grips, pedals, brake levers, cables and housings. I would also get a new saddle and clutch derailleur (ordered wrong part first time).

I would also get new wheels for my other bike and have the suspension serviced.

Finally, I would buy some accessories for my bike. Internal tool storage.

0 reply

Danny Hinckley California // 2022
May 2, 2022

How about $2,500 in component upgrades to my current bike?

1 reply

Thesaltyoklahoman Oklahoma // 2022
May 2, 2022

That's what I'm doing. Little by little I'm replacing all the stick components on my Axum.

1 reply

Muke Colorado // 2021
May 3, 2022

If I had an extra $2500 right now I would definitely buy a fat bike. I guess that's technically a hardtail!

1 reply

Dr Sweets Georgia // 2016
May 1, 2022

Save an extra $500+ and buy a Specialized Status complete or build a hardtail frame up from scratch. Potentially build said aforementioned Status frame from scratch. One can get almost anything they want yet save a a great deal of money if they are patient, flexible and a smart shopper.

1 reply

gerryg New Mexico // 2019
May 8, 2022

$2399 for Fezzari Abajo peak 29er is 140/130 with dropper, DVO fork, X-fusion shock, NX drivetrain, Maxxis DHF/Agressor tires.

$2349 for Marin Rift Zone 29 2 is 130/125 with dropper, Rockshox fork & shock, Shimano Deore drivetrain, Vee Flow Snap tires.

The Fezzari looks like a better deal and more capable to me, but both should be competent trail/mountain bikes.

Add a few bucks at $2599 for Polygon Sikiu T8 and you get 150/140 29er with dropper, Fox fork/shock, Shimano SLX drivetrain, and "Performance Tire" (could be WTB, Schwalbe, or whatever is on hand). At $200 over the Abajo you do get a little more capability, but potential for tires to disappoint (or not), which is important to get right at this price point.

A little richer is $3799 Fezzari Delano Peak carbon 150/135 29er with dropper, DVO fork/shock, SRAM NX drivetrain, Maxxis tires, better brakes and other components. Or $3899 aluminum Ibis Ripmo AF, very similar to Delano Peak but 150/147 and slightly heavier.

Any one of these is a good entry into mountain biking and reasonable platforms to upgrade. First upgrade of the cheapest ones is the brakes.

While I started out on a hardtail, most riding is WAY better on FS bike, especially if you ride bumpy/rocky/rooty trails. Hardtails work for certain conditions, but IMO limit your riding options.

0 reply

williedillon Georgia // 2012
May 5, 2022

$2500 buys a brand new Polygon Siskiu T8, which is a ton of bike, so that's a good option. I got my Marin Hawk Hill 3 before the pandemic inflation for $2600, and I feel like it didn't need much. So if I was buying a single bike I would get one with full suspension, but I would like to add a sweet hardtail to the fleet someday and $2500 buys you a really sweet HT.

0 reply

MurseDubya Colorado // 2022
May 2, 2022

$2500 is barely frame money anymore it seems, but I bet I could find a titanium HT frame for that and build it out for fun!

0 reply

troutwest66 Idaho // 2019
May 8, 2022

Assuming a new bike the hardtail would give me better components for the money. I'm thinking any full suspension bike is going to be $3500 or more to get decent components.

0 reply

Sidecarfurniture California // 2020
May 5, 2022

Buy a Hudski Doggler and have money left over!

0 reply

Bombardier28 New South Wales // 2021
May 8, 2022

FS at $2500 is what I'm about to get.

0 reply

OhioFatBiker Ohio // 2016
May 3, 2022

Fat bike

0 reply

[email protected] Connecticut // 2022
Dec 6, 2022

I am 70 year old rider. Nothing crazy, rail to trail, double some single track. Wanted something to replace Kona Dawg 14 yo. Wanted efficient pedalling and full suspension. Found Polygon Sicku 7. Adequate components price 1500. Perfect for me.

0 reply

S_g_xxx_82 Wisconsin // 2012
May 2, 2022

I bought a new HT frame fork and wheels then used parts I already had for my latest build. Think came in somewhere just over 2k

0 reply

Thesaltyoklahoman Oklahoma // 2022
May 2, 2022

I prefer a full rigid

0 reply

AUTHOR

Jeff Barber Georgia // 1998
May 2, 2022

Fully rigid, $2,500 should almost buy a titanium fork and frame!

0 reply

Thesaltyoklahoman Oklahoma // 2022
May 2, 2022

Or really upgrade an Axum. With that 2500.00 I could really upgrade my 1x drivetrain!

0 reply

Gregory Nichols Massachusetts // 2022
May 2, 2022

I would get a Breezer thunder full rigid and spend the rest on accessories, or a Marin team 2

0 reply

astralzombie Minnesota // 2021
May 5, 2022

My wife’s Trek Fuel EX 5 is right around $2,500 and it actually isn’t bad, I took it to the bike park when mine was out of commission and it handled it surprisingly well.

0 reply

Trail_Robber13 Ontario // 2022
May 3, 2022

Personally, I can't really see myself ever buying a finished bike to begin with. I like building them as much if not maybe a little more than riding them. I could easily build a bike worth $4000 with that $2500 buying used parts and frame set, restoring them by hand and tailoring the bike to exactly what I want it to be. Im a fan of hard tails personally, nothing against FS I just like feel like a hard tail let's you feel the ride more, it's easier for me to feel like the bike is an extension of me rather than something I'm riding if that makes any sense. Last - dollar for dollar, if you don't have to spend any of that $2500 on rear suspension and the increased frame cost that goes with it, that money saved can be then be used for things like upgrading your front suspension and/or switching over to carbon fibre on things like seat post, stem and bars.

Just my two cents

0 reply

stormpeakco Colorado // 2010
May 5, 2022

Rigid fatty w/ two wheel sets.

0 reply

Varaxis New York // 2010
May 3, 2022

The better "groomed" the trails are, and/or the shorter my ride time, the more likely I'd pick the HT. Otherwise, the FS just offers better capability that will have me spending more time in raw chunky stuff. 2500 is borderline just enough to get a truly trail-worthy FS these days. Polygon Siskiu T7/T8 are exceptions. Canyon Spectral 6 and YT Jeffsy Core 2 start at around 3k. Marin Alpine Trail 7 and the Vitus Sommet CR all interest me too. Ibis Ripmo AF Deore build seemingly shot up from 3k to 3900.

0 reply

edtorres1976 Arizona // 2022
May 2, 2022

You can buy a good FS bike with a Rockshox fork and Shimano Deore or SRAM NX drivetrain for this price. Bike manufacturers will raise the price by 1k to go from Deore to SLX or from an SX to GX. Or, you can simply upgrade the derailleur for $100 to $135 + bike shop fees and still save $800....

0 reply

handmat78 France // 2022
May 5, 2022

for $2,500 I'll buy a gravel

0 reply

Sunspot Colorado // 2019
May 2, 2022

I would spend some of that coin on groovy hubs and rims for a couple of my plussers... Already have a bivvy of tires for them that are genuine plus tires. Love each of my three plussers.

-1 reply

Tagged: budget, survey, gear, hardtail bikes

First published May 1, 2022 @ 3:06:00