SuzukiSavage.com - Hard Tails

cheapnewb24

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Hard Tails
01/03/16 at 22:19:20

I noticed that someone is selling struts for making hardtails. I remember talking to a mechanic who does custom Harleys, and he prefers hardtails.

So, tell me your opinions on this matter. I gather a lot of people can't stand hardtail bikes and the whole Easy Rider quote about leaving one's kidneys down the road or something. Anyone here prefer riding hardtail most of the time? Why? Better handling? Lower center of gravity? Just Looks?

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2004 Suzuki Savage, Riding since fall 2015.

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jcstokes

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Re: Hard Tails
Reply #1 - 01/04/16 at 01:56:53

I'm not a motorcycle historian, but a reasonably educated guess says hard tails were on most bikes before WW2 and they had for the most part been abandoned before 1950. Road holding and comfort were the main reasons. The people that do them now want nostalgia, or possibly the awful "cool" factor without paying the price of an antique bike. The S40 can be a good platform for conversion, but I doubt there is much to be gained for practical purposes and certainly not for long distance riding.

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Completely stock 2010 S40, aftermarket rev counter and back pack, Airhawk seat pad

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pg Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 5273 In Transit	Re: Hard Tails Reply #2 - 01/04/16 at 02:02:51 but I doubt there is much to be gained for practical purposes and certainly not for long distance riding. Well said, my other bike is dual sport with just over 7 inches of travel in the front and back. I can honestly say I have done two 800+ mile days crossing Texas. Best regards,
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arteacher Serious Thumper Offline Ride as if your naked and invisable! Posts: 2581 London ontario Gender:	Re: Hard Tails Reply #3 - 01/04/16 at 05:16:35 I never found a hard tail with a properly sprung and fitted seat to be any less comfortable than a sprung rear wheel. The problem inherent with them is the fact that there is a lot more unsprung weight which makes handling on anything less that good surfaces worse.
Back to top	white '07, Raask exh, Corbin seat, slipstreamer shie, Raptor, Routy's fwd controls, Baron tach, Frisco bars, Isogrips, Headlight and taillight modulators, Dial-a- jet, AME 9 deg chop kit, K&N air flt IP Logged

MMRanch Serious Thumper Offline Evil flourishes if Good Men do Nothing. Posts: 5837 LYNCHBURG TN Gender:	Re: Hard Tails Reply #4 - 01/04/16 at 08:46:34 I had a SX650 (Yamaha) in a Hard Tail Frame for a couple of years. I learned to run 15 lbs of air in the rear tire (400/18 tire). It handled just fine. The frame was 8" stretched with a (10" over/10 deg. rake) front end. Yes it was LONG . After I got my next bike (Yamaha RD-250) I didn't miss the hard tail at all !
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Kris01 Serious Thumper Offline Eat, sleep, RIDE! Posts: 3767 Tennessee Gender:	Re: Hard Tails Reply #5 - 01/04/16 at 19:11:32 15 psi! I run at least 35-40 in the rear or it feels real squirrelly!
Back to top	There's no problem that a full tank of gas and a sunny day can't fix! 2008 S40, Rotella T 15W-40 w/ZDDP added, Dyna, 140/90-15, Battery Tender Jr., Seat lift, #52.5/150/3 washers, Raptor IP Logged

MMRanch Serious Thumper Offline Evil flourishes if Good Men do Nothing. Posts: 5837 LYNCHBURG TN Gender:	Re: Hard Tails Reply #6 - 01/04/16 at 21:56:03 kris I'll be running 35 + in the dark-side tire this year . but that old 400/18 had stiff walls (it could have been a 6 ply ). Seem like all those old 18 inch tires had stiff walls ! I remember they lasted longer , probably because they were taller.
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Kris01 Serious Thumper Offline Eat, sleep, RIDE! Posts: 3767 Tennessee Gender:	Re: Hard Tails Reply #7 - 01/05/16 at 17:22:26 MMRanch wrote on 01/04/16 at 21:56:03: I remember they lasted longer... That applies to nearly everything these days!
Back to top	There's no problem that a full tank of gas and a sunny day can't fix! 2008 S40, Rotella T 15W-40 w/ZDDP added, Dyna, 140/90-15, Battery Tender Jr., Seat lift, #52.5/150/3 washers, Raptor IP Logged

justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Hard Tails Reply #8 - 01/06/16 at 06:22:36 Personality, riding style, the roads, They all matter. Would I Ride a hard tail? Yeah, but I don't want one. I like taking chances that I wouldn't take without a suspension. I watch guys drive low riders, it's cool, just not for me.
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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28660 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: Hard Tails Reply #9 - 01/06/16 at 07:05:38 It may come from my dirt background,.. but I like the look of big, beefy, exposed, shocks... Grrr! Arghhh!....
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