The short answer is: if you're ready to spend a little extra and want to ride tricky terrain, go for a full-suspension bike. Choose a hardtail bike if you're on a tighter budget and/or expect to spend the most of your time on smoother terrain. Hardtails are more affordable than full suspensions and tend to be lighter too. Full suspensions are usually better for rougher roads and off-road riding while hardtails are perfect for everyday commutes and trail adventures. There are several factors to consider when choosing between a hardtail and full suspension bike. Price is always a major factor, but other things to think about include travel distance, rider weight, intended use, and aesthetics. Travel distance refers to how far your bike will take you before needing a rest stop. Longer distances mean more stops which increases your chance of getting a headache from all that pounding on the pedals. Short distances can be done in a single trip so long as you have energy left at the end of it all! Travel distance also affects how many people can be carried by one vehicle. For example, two people can only travel so far on a bike that can't be recharged overnight. A car can carry more people per mile traveled. If you plan to travel frequently across long distances, look for a bike with longer legs (more miles per gallon consumed by the motor).