A pogo seat is Ok, but a flat seat or taking air out of the tire isn't for me. I ride agressive enough and I make enough money that I can afford suspension.
I wonder what the percentage of hardtails that, 1 have less than 10k on them. 2 Were a cheap home built and never got completed. I'll bet that is 75% of them.

 

I agree that it would be cool if HD would build a stripped down hardtail, but I don't see that happening.

I have a buddy that rides a 2004 Big Dog Rigback (hard tail) it's his only bike and he goes everywhere on it. Last summer he rode from NE Ohio to DC and back-that is like 400 miles one way and he said it was fine. He rides it alot to work and that is over 20 miles one way. Here in NE Ohio 9 out of 10 rodes are beat to hell and even with my shocks I take a beating. I would have no issue with a hard tail and if I ever get a chopper it has to be a hard tail.

When me and the GF are 2 up the rear of my bike is riged as the shocks are bottomed out all the way and it's not too bad-she moans and groans about it sometimes, but we make it every time and recover LOL!

 

Rigid isn't for everyone...how true.

The roughest part of my ride is getting out of my neighborhood and onto the highway. My rigid will run 80 mph easy and run smoothe...aside from the giant Oklahoma pot holes unless you can avoid them.

HD wouldn't venture off that far of the deep end.

SPS and Brass ***** seem to make a good ride.

 

One thing you have to remember is that hardtails are way lighter in weight by design. Besides looking really really cool. They are way different than running solid rods in place of the shocks on suspended bikes. I have yet to ride a true hardtail since my old 45.

 

Sucker Punch Sallys IS mainstream and real successful at it...and I've been in at least one H-D dealer who was carrying SPS...

Brass ***** has been around for a good time now too, and every major bike rag I've seen has given their bikes excellent ratings and reviews...

 

I own one of Dar Holdsworth's Brass ***** bikes and I do not recommend anyone purchase one. Shotty craftmanship, poor quality, and many corners cut. I rebuilt 70% of the thing this past winter just to undo everything they fouled up. The tranny they installed wasnt shimmed properly, cheap chinese steel used for mounts/attachment points, seals installed backwards, spoked rims with TUBELESS tires (slipped a bead at 80mph), ground wires not grounded to bare metal (just powdercoat and paint) had to replace the coil, stator, and battery.

I am pretty sure they get good reviews in those rags because they also advertise in the same magazines. It is also based on a single ride around the fair grounds.

 

Sometimes you need to ride a hardtail to appreciate our modern bikes.

 

Yup... and percentage-wise I bet that same 75 equates to those with the newer TC riders as well.