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The humble hardtail seems to be going through a mini-revival, with a raft of cross-country, downcountry, trail and potentially even radder rigid frames being introduced.<\/p>\n
The advantages are clear. Where uphill speed matters, the direct connection from crank to axle, without some energy-inefficient suspension spoiling the fun, is the quickest way to get up to speed.<\/p>\n
Riding rough-and-ready trails on a hardtail might beat you up a little more, but there\u2019s something almost zen-like about being able to pick the smoothest line between the chunder, while pumping through rollers to generate free speed.<\/p>\n
Hardtails might also be lighter, easier to maintain and cheaper too, because there are simply fewer moving parts to add weight, a requirement to service or that need building in the first place.<\/p>\n
Here, we\u2019ve put together our pick of the best hardtail mountain bikes as ridden, rated and reviewed by the BikeRadar team.<\/p>\n
While many hardtails make their way into our best mountain bikes under \u00a32,000<\/a> list, competing with the best trail bikes<\/a> and the best cross-country bikes<\/a>, the simplicity of hardtails makes them a more affordable option for many.<\/p>\n So, if you\u2019re looking for a less expensive bike you can skip to the best hardtail mountain bikes for under \u00a31,000<\/a> below.<\/p>\n We also have a guide on how to choose the right mountain bike for you<\/a> if you are still deciding what type of mountain bike to pick.<\/p>\n