Hardtail vs. Softtail, how much harder of a ride is it??

[RAW Blue Rider]

Rode My '04 Ridgeback from Pa to Witchita for the last Tornado Rally.
Rode both the chopper and RB before purchase.
Some bumps will wake you up on anything!
Oh yeah, Bikerdad61, I'm 58!
Go Rigid or Go Home! er... that's what my girlfreind says anyway

 

[BBChopper]

Hard tail is usually a firm younger ride and a softtail tends to be a softer and a little older ride… :2thumbs:

 

[barhopper]

Hard tail=work out fanatic.(may have little tits) Soft tail= couch potato. (possible huge tits)

 

[REMorris]

The 2009 Mastiff is basically a crack jumper. It's quite uncomfortable on some of the roads that you would not have a problem on a soft suspension bike.

However, it's still nothing like a rigid. This is a big decision, and you really need to ride a hard tail before you take the plunge.

If your BDM dealer will not let you ride one (the models you are interested in), you need to go to a different dealer.

Richard

 

[speedracer]

i had vtx c model and my 08 pitbull rides just as good but it does not like bridges i guss cause its like it 2 bounces at once and rider will not like cause she or he (HA HA) is above center of gravity i rode 350 miles 2 sundays ago and it didnt bother me

 

[Thumper169]

My sissy ass needs shocks,,,, I tried the ridgeback but these shitty roads in Ok suck.

 

[Coolbreezin]

i have a 2005 ridgeback. the main factor that pushed me away from the softtail was that fact that the rear fender sat so high off the tire. i understand suspension travel, but the look just turned me off. in 05, the hardtail is 6 inches longer than the softtail. and the rear tire was a 300 versus the softtails 250. but now you can get the best of both worlds with a K9 (softtail with a 300 rear tire). as for the ride quality of a hardtail...yea, it hurts sometimes, but i just read the road and the vehicles in front of me. personally, i wouldnt trade for a softtail. i love the look and especially the ride. i had stiff suspension on my Ninja and my low rider truck. i feel im more in tune with the rode and the bike from the feedback i get due to the lack of suspension.

 

[Straydog]

I have had both, a Ridgeback and now a Chopper. Long miles on the hardtail are brutal. The softail is a big improvement if you plan on much riding.

 

[No H2O]

I'm sure you've made your choice by now but for future readers, IMO it depends on two things:
1. The speed and
2. The roads.

Anything up to about 60mph is fine, fun, visceral (on a hard tail). Starting around 65/70mph is where the roads start to come into play.

DC, MD, VA have sucky roads. Specifically they aren't savvy at connecting asphalt with concrete slab which results in a "dip".
Bumps on a rigid aren't really that bad, you hit one, you go up, you come back down, you keep going.
Dips are the worst. You go downwards into the dip, then you slam into the other side of the dip going back up. My head has felt better after sparring sessions.
I'm familiar enough with where these dips are, I relax, pull back on the handlebars, and still feel the shock going up to my head. It's worse when you don't know and get caught by surprise.

That being said, the frame and rear fender look so much better on a rigid. You can't get a soft tail to look like that but if I had to do it over I'd get a soft tail.

 

[pknowles]

I'm sure you've made your choice by now but for future readers, IMO it depends on two things:
1. The speed and
2. The roads.

Anything up to about 60mph is fine, fun, visceral (on a hard tail). Starting around 65/70mph is where the roads start to come into play.

DC, MD, VA have sucky roads. Specifically they aren't savvy at connecting asphalt with concrete slab which results in a "dip".
Bumps on a rigid aren't really that bad, you hit one, you go up, you come back down, you keep going.
Dips are the worst. You go downwards into the dip, then you slam into the other side of the dip going back up. My head has felt better after sparring sessions.
I'm familiar enough with where these dips are, I relax, pull back on the handlebars, and still feel the shock going up to my head. It's worse when you don't know and get caught by surprise.

That being said, the frame and rear fender look so much better on a rigid. You can't get a soft tail to look like that but if I had to do it over I'd get a soft tail.

I will agree with the roads in Virginia and Maryland. interstate 295 around Richmond shouldn't be classified as a road. Washboard seems more suitable.

 

[Nukeranger]

You guys don't ride downtown New Orleans. You need a dirt bike or a lifted truck or jeep.

Outside of New Orleans, a Hard Tail is still a kick in the ass.

 

[titus722]

I really enjoyed my Ridgeback, but keep in mind most of my riding was in Florida with some in North Carolina, I could handle long and short rides 3 hours to Daytona and back was enjoyable

 

[No H2O]

I really enjoyed my Ridgeback, but keep in mind most of my riding was in Florida with some in North Carolina, I could handle long and short rides 3 hours to Daytona and back was enjoyable

on relatively smooth roads or within 60 mph, nothing beats it

 

[HMAN]

My Pitbull doubles as my chiropractor. Back starts to hurt, I go hit south Senaca in Wichita and blam, back in place lol.... gotta love the hardtails.

 

[chubs]

My Pitbull doubles as my chiropractor. Back starts to hurt, I go hit south Senaca in Wichita and blam, back in place lol.... gotta love the hardtails.

I have to agree with ya on that! I blew my back out at work once bad enough to be seen in the E R , and had to ride my Pitbull home. After about 11 miles my back felt great!

 

[Blackie]

Been on my 08' Ridge since new. I have hit a pothole at 70 mph and literally had wind knocked out of me. Bridge abutments on Interstate are another enemy. All said I love the look and the ride. Had older model custom hard tails thru years that rode a lot rougher. I can ride 150-200 miles a day still. 62 years old.

 

[Nukeranger]

I would do multiple days of 300 to 350 miles or a single day of 500 miles to have enjoyable rides and I'm 58 years old.

 

[what?]

on some rides i wish i had the kidney belt i used when i rode dirt bikes back in the day. approaching the half century mark and my back is not what it used to be. rode an indian roadmaster elite at a demo ride and it felt like riding on a cloud. but i like the stretched out feel of riding on the dog. not a big fan of that up right riding

 

[chubs]

Funny thing, A certain jerk off- know it all felt the need to quote my post (#35) on the dead ones site, and tried to ridicule me calling me a liar, only to have his new hero over at the dead one's forum agree that he has found relief from hardtail rides. Soft tails are great rides for sure, but I'll stick with the ridged ride.