I rode hard trail growing up and now have a full suspension and I think it is definitely worth trying especially if you ride on any sort of roots or rocks. Tec

I rode hard trail growing up and now have a full suspension and I think it is definitely worth trying especially if you ride on any sort of roots or rocks. Technology has improved a lot from the first few generations of suspension and even climbing a modern suspension design that isn't intended solely for downhill will isolate pedal bob from bumps and nicer rear shocks will also have either a lock out or inertial damping/"pro pedal" or lock out feature that helps even more. I actually just got back from a ride the included some climbs up through some steep rock gardens and I feel the rear suspension can actually help keep traction better so you can stay seated and just grind things out over the bumps instead of having to stand and throw the bike around if that makes sense. The descent is no contest, the bike just stays much more in control and I don't have to use my knees like shock absorbers as much. And I'm on a bike I paid $1400 for on fall clearance though it is a more trail oriented then enduro oriented bike meaning it has only 120mm of suspension front and rear (it is an older BMC trailfox tf02). I'd like to give a hardtail ultralight 29er a try at some point as well though.