opinions on riding a hard tail bike

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rebellious-D

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hey guys i looked around but couldn't find much.

Im looking at getting a xs650 as my first bike. Probably a bobber because i love the look and insurance is cheep. I want a bobber and not a ss because im only 20 and have only had my m2 since may. My question is for those that have ridden hard tail is it really that bad? The farthest I would ride is from Mississauga to niagara once a month. But for the most part no big road trips.

thanks
 
The vibrations are pretty intense. Thought the bike was at red line when in reality it was only half way there.
Had a buddy told me when he was younger he used to have to tape his keys in the ignition so they didn't fly out.
Can't comment on the hardtail portion as I never took it out of the parking lot...
 
I haven't ridden one myself but some of my friends ride hardtails. If you have any back issues, do not ride a hardtail. Those little coiled seat springs don't do much to absorb the shock from the rear wheel. There are high tech solo seats with small hydraulic shocks hidden underneath that do a better job.
 
With a hard tail the only suspension you get other than the seat is the defelction of the tires. When you hit bumps or holes you will actually loose traction since the tire will physically leave the ground. While going in a straight line this is not a bad problem, it can be in any kind of turn or corner. If the bike is leaned over and you loose traction the back end will no longer go where you want it to and you get to meet the pavement. Many people have these types of bikes so they can be ridden, but watch them go around a corner, especially one that is rough, they will be going slow to compensate for the lack of traction.

A custon job with a hard tail can look good, and with enough springs in the seat and low pressure tires the ride might be bearable, but in the end they are more of a fashion statement and not meant for real riding.
 
Outlaws Justice said:
A custon job with a hard tail can look good, and with enough springs in the seat and low pressure tires the ride might be bearable, but in the end they are more of a fashion statement and not meant for real riding.
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Yes and there's nothing wrong with that. No one is taking a hardtail to the track.
 
RetroGrouch said:
Yes and there's nothing wrong with that. No one is taking a hardtail to the track.
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I agree, no one would normally take a hard tail to the track, that being said I have seen gold wings and other unusual bikes at the track and plan to run some laps on the Vmax at some point.

On point, real riding is not limited to the track, I like to ride days that range from 800 to 1500 km. Doubt that would be much fun on a hard tail.
 
My XS650 isn't a hardtail and it already beats the crap out of me on longer rides. They are great bikes but I don't know that I'd recommend a heavily modded one as a first bike. A mildly cafe'd XS would probably be ok, but the more they have been modded the more stuff is likely to break. They vibrate like mad and will quite literally shake parts right off the bike. I love mine, but I'm also very glad I have a more modern bike to fall back on.
 
Outlaws Justice said:
On point, real riding is not limited to the track, I like to ride days that range from 800 to 1500 km. Doubt that would be much fun on a hard tail.
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Probably not, but the guys in the Horse that are going around the world on rigid choppers don't seem to mind longs days in the saddle. Motorcycles come in a million different flavours, nothing is really right or wrong if it works well enough for the owner.
 
Lunatic said:
Probably not, but the guys in the Horse that are going around the world on rigid choppers don't seem to mind longs days in the saddle. Motorcycles come in a million different flavours, nothing is really right or wrong if it works well enough for the owner.
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Very True, Most I see do not ride very far, and I used to watch some of those biker build-off programs where they had to ride to meet after the build. If you have seen any of those shows, did you notice they seem to travel all big highways not rough secondary roads, have to have a full support crew and usually end up making repairs on the road (At shops) when the bikes vibrate apart.

Some of them are really cool designs and not all are rigids by any stretch, some air rides hydralic and lots of others in the mix.
 
Outlaws Justice said:
Very True, Most I see do not ride very far, and I used to watch some of those biker build-off programs where they had to ride to meet after the build. If you have seen any of those shows, did you notice they seem to travel all big highways not rough secondary roads, have to have a full support crew and usually end up making repairs on the road (At shops) when the bikes vibrate apart.

Some of them are really cool designs and not all are rigids by any stretch, some air rides hydralic and lots of others in the mix.
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Truthfully, how may people that own motorcycles really ride them much? It's always seemed to me that the majority barely get ridden while there are a hard core minority that ride all the time. How many full dresser Harleys get ridden to Starbucks and back and that's all.

But let's not get too far off topic here, the important thing is the original poster's questions about the viability of a hardtail XS as a first bike. To which I would say, I wouldn't but that doesn't mean you can't.
 
rebellious-D said:
the beauties of being young. no back issues what so ever. i know i wont have the bike much longer than a year than once ive had insurance on a bike for a year i can move upto a ss bike.
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You would be almost certain to get a back problem (amongst other problems) with an XS650 converted to "no rear suspension" from the standard swing-arm rear. Especially if the standard type of seat (fixed to the bike frame) was retained. Even the so-called "hard-tail" bikes of the pre-WW2 era had sprung saddle systems of one sort and another and riders even then tended to wear heavy leather "Kidney belts" to ease the back pains they had to endure.
Two of my old bikes have rigid rear ends as standard, and both are tolerable to ride because they have the standard double-sprung saddles which came on the bikes when they were made in the 1920s and 1930s. But they have nothing like the comfort or handling of more modern bikes with full, long travel suspension.
I also doubt that, at your age, a modified hard-tail "bobber" would be as cheap to insure as a standard, stock motorcycle. Or as satisfactory in performance.

AFJ
 
I equate a hard tail bike to buying a Flintstones sofa. Chiseled out of rock.

It works, but what's the point if you have a better alternative?
 
I ride a sportster. the suspension is pretty tight as is on the hardest setting. I switched out my drag bars cuz the shock was going straight up my spine and it was killer.

Hardtail it and you're in a world of hurt. Those springer seats do pretty much jack.

Now, a thought about control which outlaw basically covered - your rear end can bounce off the road with enough of a bump, (no swingarm/shocks to keep control)....also with your feet pitched forward, your body will basically fly outta your seat easier... you really need to be aware of your ride and also hang on (none of that one handed business)...

Personally I dig hardtails and wish to get one someday...someday.
 
rebellious-D said:
Im looking at getting a xs650 as my first bike.
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Why not get one with functional rear suspension ... like the suspension the bike was built with in the first place??

I apologize for being "form follows function" but in this case, it makes the difference between something that you can ride just about anywhere and as much as you want, and something that will end up being too painful to use.
 
Brian P said:
Why not get one with functional rear suspension ... like the suspension the bike was built with in the first place??

I apologize for being "form follows function" but in this case, it makes the difference between something that you can ride just about anywhere and as much as you want, and something that will end up being too painful to use.
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+1 and agree with Outlaws Justice points. While you never know and perhaps u would absolutely fall in love with hard tail - do you think it is a good idea to get hard tail as first bike, especially the one you described (heavy variation from original design)? Why not go with regular beginner bike like 125/250/500 especially if your intent to only ride it for a year? You most likely will get your money back when it is sold next spring and you'll actually be able to concetrate on learning to ride and not on fighting with hard tail.
 
Uncomfortable and especially bad for the chopped up junk excuse for roads we have in Toronto. In areas of the southern USA where the roads are in much better shape, I can see them being a fun toy but not as your primary ride. Your internal organs and spine will thank you for buying a bike with suspension. Take care of your body man!
 
Sounds like a pain in the butt lol On a serious note, very hard on the spine...if you don't already have back problems this will be a good way to acquire some. You may not recognize the problems now since your 20 but you'll regret it when your in your 50's and can't stand straight up anymore without back pain.
If your gonna do it, get the best seat possible and register for regular chiropractic sessions.
Good luck and have fun :)
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