The e-biking world has come a long way and produced exceptional electric vehicles. If you are rummaging the web for the best e-bike for yourself, then we are sure you must have come across two types: the hardtail and softail ebikes.
Many purchase e-bikes to go on off-road adventures or take them on long rides or adventures with them. If you plan to buy an e-bike for the same purpose but need to know whether you should get a hardtail ebike or a softail one, you have landed in the right place.
Below we have concluded everything you should know about a hardtail and softail electric bike and which one would be a perfect choice for longer routes. Hop on below to find out.
What Is Hardtail Electric Bike?
The hardtail electric bike is a popular choice in the e-bike industry. These bikes come with a front suspension fork with a rigid framework. However, they lack the presence of a rear suspension.
The presence of only the front suspension fork makes this electric bike a popular choice for passing through smoother trails among all the different terrain types.
The hardtail electric bike has a lighter weight but still are more affordable in terms of price point and maintenance, making it a popular choice among the e-bike beginner crowd.
The Pros That Come With Purchasing A Hardtail Electric Bike
The hardtail electric bike, other than being a popular choice among beginners and falling on the lower price point scale, comes with many other benefits. If you are appeased by this particular type of e-bike or want to know more about it, the benefits below will help you.
Perfect For Smoother Trails
Not everyone heads out in the mountainous areas or like the thrill of uneven surfaces under their wheels, right? If you are in the same boat and prefer smoother trails over rough terrains, then a hardtail ebike is perfect.
This hardtail ebike offers its riders a fantastic experience on smoother terrains. You can speed up and have fun gliding smoothly over a long, stretched, plain surface. Even if, by chance, a bump arises on your smooth terrain, the fork suspension on the front would be sufficient to absorb it, making your ride even more perfect.
Low Maintenance Cost
No one likes constantly spending money on maintenance, especially when they aren’t aware of the mechanical aspects of vehicles. Hence, if you want to buy an e-bike to enjoy your rides without having to worry about maintenance or the cost that comes with it, the hardtail ebike should be your go-to.
With lesser moving parts and a sturdy frame, there is hardly any maintenance that your bike would need for a long time.
Speed
The hardtail electric bike show a visibly immaculate speed given that they hold a lighter frame and fixed riding position. Hence, on smoother trails or slightly less uneven one a hardtail electric bike is a great option to pedal through while having more direct contact with the ground and without losing much energy.
For uneven trails, softail electric bikes would be a better option when speed is considered.
The Cons That Come With Purchasing A Hardtail Electric Bike
While the hardtail electric bike might have a vintage touch to it and is friendly in terms of its cost, it does have its fair share of drawbacks. Want to know some? Read the points below.
More Turbulence
The hardtail ebike is older than the newer softail ones and only has a front suspension. This makes the bike relatively more prone to turbulence and doesn’t absorb shocks from bumps as excellent as its other counterparts. Hence, when traveling for long periods, these bikes might become uncomfortable.
Comfort And Traction
Given the massive turbulence factor on the hardtail ebike, the comfort level on this ride automatically decreases. Riders could feel shocks from all the bumps they hit along the way.
So, if you are a fan of comfortable and smooth rides, this option might not be for you.
The hardtails hold few benefits in the traction factor as well. While the rides do offer a good grip when operating on smoother terrain, on an uneven one, it is the complete opposite story.
Less Stable
Considering the turbulence factor and a not-so-comfortable ride, we can easily assume that hardtail ebikes are relatively less stable. While on smoother terrains, they manage to hold their ground; it is the uneven land where the tires cannot directly contact the ground. Hence, the chances of the bike toppling over uneven surfaces at high speed are numerous.
What Is Softail Electric Bike?
The softail electric bike – also called full suspension ebike – is among the best advancements in the e-bike industry. Given the term full suspension, it is easy to deduce that these bikes have both front and rear suspension systems.
Hence, with a newer advancement, two excellent suspensions, and comfort, it is easy to figure out why the e-bike has the popularity that it rightly deserves.
The Pros That Come With Purchasing A Softail Electric Bike
Here are some pros that come with a softail electric bike.
Reduced Turbulence
With two exceptionally operating suspension systems, the softail ebikes would come with reduced turbulence. This means the bike would be far more efficient in absorbing the shocks, bumps, and vibrations along the way, making longer rides a comfortable journey for all rides.
No Vibration Fatigue
We all know that passing through uneven terrains and rocky roads and constantly feeling each shock and bump leaves an unpleasant feeling in our stomachs. This can make any rider feel sick.
With the reduced turbulence that comes with a softail ebike, it is easy to understand that you will not feel any vibration fatigue.
The Cons That Come With Purchasing A Softail Electric Bike
The Cons that come with a softail electric bike are:
Expensive
The only drawback of a softail electric bike is that it is a bit expensive compared to hardtail electric bikes. However, the price factor might be worth comparing with a better suspension system and lesser turbulence.
Require More Maintenace
The Softail electric bike have more components attached compared to a hardtail bike. The bike hence would require a lot more maintenace and riders would need to keep all of their parts in check to prevent any major mishaps.
The maintenace of any bike however would depend on how much a rider uses it.
Where Can You Find The Best E-Bike For Your Longer Adventures?
Now that you know both the pros and cons of hardtail and softail ebikes, we assume you would have decided which would be a perfect pick for a long ride.
However, the first order of business after deciding this would be to find a place with your required electric bike for sale. If you are searching for such a place, we will make it easier for you.
This is because we suggest you check out Magicycle for some spectacular e-bikes. This e-bike manufacturer has been operating in business for a few years and has produced high-quality and efficient operating e-bikes.
The company has a wide range of electric bikes, and we are sure you would love at least one of its varieties. Moreover, the company is known for its best customer service, so if there is a place you should pick to get your hands on the pick for an ebike to cover longer routes, it is this one.
Conclusion
Both hardtail and softail electric bikes have their fair share of benefits and drawbacks when taking them out for longer routes. We hope this article helped you with the two aspects of these bikes and choose the best pick for yourself.