Hardtail Mountain Bike Frames or Front Suspension MTB frames is a frame that can take a front suspension fork and has no rear suspension. In the past mountain bikes had a rigid frame and fork. In the early 1990s, the first mountain bikes with suspension forks were introduced. This made riding on rough terrain easier and less physically stressful. The first suspension forks had about 1½ to 2 inches (38 to 50 mm) of suspension travel. Forks are now available with 8 inches (200 mm) of travel or more. Bikes with front suspension and rigid, non-suspended rear wheels, or hardtails became popular nearly overnight. The hardtail design has the benefits of lower cost, less maintenance, better pedaling efficiency and increased comfort