Plural of hardtail; mountain bikes or motorcycles with a rigid frame and no rear suspension.
From 'hard' (Old English heard, meaning firm/solid) + 'tail' (Old English tægel, meaning rear extension). The compound emerged in late 20th century cycling terminology to describe bikes with stiff rear frames.
Hardtails dominated mountain biking in the 1980s-90s before full suspension became affordable—many riders still prefer them today because they're lighter, faster on climbs, and require better technique, making them the 'skill builders' of the bike world.
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