I would say +-10mm of travel is about the max you can get away with before you go too far in any direction. This hardtail features rear rack mounts and bikepacking-friendly. For AM to light Free ride a 140 to 160mm fork would be the ticket. The fit, geometry, and tubing selection will be tuned for your weight, riding style, and frame size. Nick has built many of his bikes from the frame up and has a keen eye for technical detail. Earn a $100 REI gift card after your first purchase outside of REI within 60 days from account opening. And if you want to take your . We recommend that a trail fork ideally have 34mm stanchions, at 130-140mm, for a 29er - possibly, up to 150mm, for the smaller 27.5in wheel size. Respect frame specs and limits and have fun. Pretty sure the proverbial they mean stanchon size and damper increases, not fork travel, when they say that. . Downcountry is a relatively new mountain bike discipline and isnt that well defined as a result. For many years 100-120mm forks were designed either as ultralight racing components or cheap beginner bike suspension. 1 1/8 in-Threadless 26 in 80 mm . Bolted onto the frame are quality components, like a SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain and a Fox Factory 34 fork on the top-end model. Enter your email for the top stories in mountain biking, plus product picks and deals delivered to your inbox each week. Would you like to receive offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher Our Media Ltd (an Immediate Group Company)? Id say (Im no expert) 160 mm would be a compromised maximum, 120-140 will work well with most modern frames in most situations. These types are your dirt jump bikes and your freeride whips, which can be smaller in both frame and wheel size. 2023 Recreational Equipment, Inc. All rights reserved. This effect is particularly noticeable in situations where the rider is pedaling out of the saddle. A decade ago, the idea of a 180mm single-crown fork that could provide an adequate compression platform for pedaling uphill was unfathomable. Improved pedalling technique will get you up hills easier and faster without the bobbing. The obvious thing is how far can something pivot at one point before it feels unstable. Im a policeman, so congratulations on coming second . The original forks only go back on when I want to sell the bikes. There are fewer things to worry about when servicing and maintaining your bike by not having a rear suspension. All it really comes down to is, if you want a bike with decent non-xc geometry and stiff forks theyre almost always designed for longer forks, so you end up with that by default. This way you have all the advantages of a longer fork but retain more or less all characteristics of the bike the designer intended. Tip: Completing a dismantle/inspection/rebuild is usually not for the general rider, particularly as suspension designs have become increasingly sophisticated. Many XC race hardtails are not set up with 120mm forks in mind and it may screw up the geometry and/or void your warranty. You can choose how much fork travel you want the frame designed for: from a fully rigid bikepacker to a 150mm battleship. Theres room to play there within reason. Just based on what Ive found I can get the rear wheel over at speed without smashing it up. You can easily unsubscribe at any time. You can reasonably change fork travel, up or down, by 10mm. That has changed with the popularity of downcountry and there are now 120mm forks that have much stiffer crowns. This gives higher levels of rigidity to the fork, making steering inputs more direct, although concessions are still made to weight savings. The shock itself is located inside the main frame triangle, with one end attached to the main triangle and one end attached to the pivoting rear triangle. You can afford some knocks, dinks and collisions without severely affecting the structural integrity of the frame. For cross-country trails, you ought to be looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm. Steel the big line. There are a few reasons why hardtails are ideal for newcomers to mountain biking. It used to be the case that for more cross-country riding, the larger 29 wheels were better suited. . Many short travel forks further support climbing with the addition of a lockout switch. For cross-country trails, you ought to be looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm. Are these 30 mm more too much for the bike? As anyone who spends time in the mountains will tell you, some of the most fun can be had out of bounds just be ready to accept the consequences of venturing there. 1st it would handle like garbage with extreme angles etc. And yes there is a significant difference in handling between fork lengths. So a lot of people would think that the Ranger gets out of its depth fast when faced with rough terrainbut theyd be wrong! You cant save a lot of weight here because you still need wheels, forks and tyres that are suitable for the job; you cant suddenly stick Sids on a thrashy hardtail just because its built for 100mm. Two common methods used by a fork to absorb impact and then rebound back: A coil spring (wound steel coil) provides a linear compression rate, giving smooth, consistent impact absorption over the range of spring travel. Rebound damping is the most important damping setting. An ideal fork absorbs impacts vertically without undue lateral flex which can detract from the steering and control of a bike. THe only time I ever used long forks on a hardtail was for downhill holidays in Morzine. The rear frame triangle, which holds the rear wheel, will have one or more pivot points to enable the wheel to travel through a range of motion. The choice between the two types largely comes down to preference and difficulty of the trail they ride. The Roscoe 8 will perform like a champ. Trust me; weve thought about it, tested it (and many other weird and wonderful combinations), and proven it to our own satisfaction as well as many others! Singletracks may receive compensation for purchases made through any affiliate links in this article. The topic Fork travel on hardtails how much is too much? is closed to new replies. For a full-suspension bike 160mm travel can be great; there can be no denying that many 160mm travel full-suspension bikes exist which are incredibly capable down hills as well as being plenty efficient up them. Mountain bikes feature different amounts of suspension travel depending on the type of riding theyre designed for. Thats proper basic stuff so Im calling you out on being a biologist too. For AM to light Free ride a 140 to 160mm fork would be the ticket. Hitting 3' drops is like hitting a root, they are so . Adjustments may be available for both the compression and rebound. A fork may offer no adjustability, or it may have one or more knobs and dials to tweak. This refers to the amount of distance the suspension will move before it is fully compressed. Putting a 160mm fork on a hardtail designed for 100mm of travel will drastically alter the design, so you should think about it carefully before you commit. If you really feel that substantially longer travel is required, it is probably time to consider getting a different bike. Bath Of course, there are other, less mainstream frame materials you may encounter in your hardtail research; steel and titanium. Check out our handy second-hand buyer's guide to be aware of the pitfalls. https://www.dirtlabs.com/fork-travel-change/. Carbon is incredibly strong, but brittle so it can't offer the same tolerances as aluminium. Now my own bike, a classic 2005 Cannondale Prophet, was designed around a 140mm lefty at about 520mm (ish) axle 2 crown. Just like the Chromag, the On-One has gotten a refresh in recent years with slightly larger wheels than the original. Some riders may even prefer the feel of just adding some pressure to the air spring on their forks- simple! Rear suspension is only found on full-suspension mountain bikes, and is commonly referred to as the rear shock, or shock for short. Downcountry bikes usually feature stronger, stiffer forks, with thicker stanchions, usually 34mm in diameter. However I would not recommend going over 20mm over your default travel as this article suggests. Travel for enduro bikes starts at 150mm and ranges up to 180mm. . My riding skillz are also more important than 20mm of travel. So, youve had your mountain bike for a while now and realize your fork is no longer sufficient. Avoid bikes . Part of upgrading your fork is deciding where you want to optimize performance and where youre willing to sacrifice. Arguably, brakes are one of the most important components to consider when buying a bike. I wouldnt demean apes by associating them with STW. 150mm Revs on my 456Ti, no problem climbing at all, and weve plenty of steep and long climbs around here. Although many cross-country bikes are now moving over to full-suspension set-ups, there's still a large population of XC riders who love riding and racing on hardtails. Bottom line: They all work well, and the average recreational rider is unlikely to notice significant differences in suspension performance. As forks get longer, stanchions also increase in diameter to prevent the fork from flexing like a wet noodle. Downcountry bikes aim to balance a cross-country bikes efficiency with a trail bikes downhill capability. Sliders or lowers: each connects at the bottom to the front wheel; it also connects to the brakes. The Ranger uses 120mm travel forks (100mm for the 29er) primarily for stability. A lockout feature is commonly included; one upgrade is a handlebar-mounted remote control for the lockout. If they have 120mm forks allowed, I would give it a shot. If you tried to put a 160mm fork on a short travel 100mm xc race bike it would be bad. Apparently, Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed etc dont know their stuff. If you use a 34mm stanchion fork at the upper reaches of its travel, there might be a higher risk of terrain-induced steering deflection due to flex. Weight isnt a big issue for downhill bikes, so the added heft is worth the trade-off for the performance gains. Most dirt jump specific forks are only 100mm. Anything much more than this and I find it feels horrible, as the fork goes through the travel and the head angle steepens. Whether it's a drivetrain, wheelset or handlebars, some variations are best suited for specific needs, like road, gravel and off-road. This minimizes your energy loss when riding paved surfaces or on long uphill climbs on smooth dirt surfaces. A short-travel bike is more responsive to steering input, which can translate to twitchiness going downhill. Hardtail mountain bikes are also well-represented in cross-country, because rigid frames allow for the highest pedalling efficiency. Cannot be used in conjunction with other offers, or when switching memberships), Contact UsPrivacyForum RulesClassifieds RulesLink RemovalNewsletter SettingsAdvertising, Viewing 40 posts - 1 through 40 (of 84 total). Your Manzanita hardtail will be designed and built for you. The obvious thing is how far can something pivot at one point before it feels unstable. Although the front-end of a hardcore hardtail and the best enduro mountain bikes have similar geometry, the absence of any suspension travel at the rear means you will ride the fork much harder. It just depends on how you want the bike to ride and handle. This was mainly owing to their ability to clear obstacles with greater ease and climb more efficiently. It is usually a measurement of how far the wheel axle moves in a vertical or near-vertical plane as the suspension compresses. Reasonably efficient climbers and confident descending bikes, the trail machine is a hybrid between cross-country and enduro. Seat tube angle: 75. Bounce up and down on the fork and let it settle to the sagged position. He also enjoys bike touring and has completed numerous travels on the west coast of Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff. Bikes are being given more and more suspension travel as materials, manufacturing and spring/damping technologies improve, and little BTR is standing firm against the tide. Forks within this travel range prioritise rigidity over weight savings, with thicker stanchions of 36mm to 38mm, providing direct steering inputs and a solid feel as you ride over gnarly terrain. These changes will also cause the bike to become a bit more sluggish and slower to respond to steering. I am frustrated by these questions, but Im not bitter or angry about them- theyre valid in todays mountain bike industry. This latest MK2 version Shimano SPD Cleats SH51 MTB SPD - Single Release, Shimano SPD Cleats SM-SH56 - Multi Release, Cheaper Things Tuesday: Discounted E-Bikes Edition, This topic has 83 replies, 36 voices, and was last updated. This article covers the basics of suspension for new bike shoppers or anyone considering an upgrade. Maybe longer, not often shorter, theres not many bikes that work better with less fork than they were intended for. 3. perfect for me. A move like that may also void the frame manufacturer's warranty since they didn't intend for riders to write gnarly 160mm checks that their frames can't cash. What do you make of those rear post mounts Tom? Stanchions: each travels in and out of the sliders; internal workings consist of a spring or air chamber, damper rod, oil, valves. They need to be light and responsive while still providing a decent range of compression. Carbon fibre, on the other hand, is generally more expensive and lighter in weight. These are the largest forks you can buy with the most suspension travel and a dual-crown design to cushion the rider from the huge, repeated impacts when riding the most technically demanding descents possible. The Roscoe 8 2023 - Best Hardtail Mountain Bike Under $2000. Cross-country forks can work with narrower 30-32mm stanchions because the upper tubes arent exposed to much leverage. Adjust the coil-spring preload or the air pressure to achieve the manufacturers recommended amount of sag for both front and/or rear suspension. Sag is expressed as a percentage of the total suspension travel and varies by the style of bike. Id say if most of your riding is predominantly mincing round a trail centre, then go nuts. In this guide, well explain the different mountain bike categories and how much suspension travel they typically have. Upgrading the fork to more travel will change the geometry. Support Us | Some might say that the hardtail mountain bike is the workhorse of the off-road world. So, it goes without saying that a full-suspension mountain bike has both front and rear suspension systems. For example, the best XC forks for cross-country mountain bikes are short-travel forks as the trails are relatively smooth and comprise lots of climbing. And that risks overwhelming the rear of . Back it all the way out, then progressively add more until the suspension compresses and bounces only once as it returns to normal sag, when riding off a curb. All good, right? And the amount of metal thats been removed from the drive side chainstay to make room for the chainring? Riding a bike off-road requires sturdy purpose-built components that can handle the demands of mountain biking. Consider the terrain you are riding. The 120mm of travel in the front fork and beefy, 2.8-inch tires on a set of 27.5-inch wheels soak up any big hits or impacts. Ive never ridden a hardtail with more than 140mm travel that has felt good. The Ranger is best with 120mm (100mm for the 29er) forks. 100-130mm is the sweet spot IMO. However, the strength of carbon fibre compensates for the brittleness. Never saw or heard of any of their protos breaking either. Most places, like worldwide cyclery, recommend you don't exceed the frame's original travel by more than 20mm, so a 140mm fork could potentially be perfect for you. Slacker head angles boost confidence in steep descending terrain, but they make a mountain bike less agile at climbing technical singletrack as well as unbalancing the bike by moving the rider's weight backward. Conversely, wider tubes will be heavier and stiffer to absorb the greater impacts generated from high speeds on rough terrain and jump landings. This adds more torsional stiffness to the fork, helping to keep steering inputs direct through the toughest terrain and providing strength for big impacts. Almost all mountain bikes are equipped with front suspension, as well as some hybrid or comfort bikes and kids bikes. Hardtail mountain bikes have a suspension fork and a rigid rear end. An older mountain bike may have an 80mm fork, which is hard to find now. You've been subscribed to our newsletter. Ive got 140mm on my 650b hardtail and never noticed anything untoward. Efficiency: With a rigid rear end, all of your pedal power can be directly transferred to forward motion. The forks on downhill bikes have a dual-crown design, meaning the fork mounts above and below the head tube, as opposed to single-crown forks, which mount only from below. Spring system: This is either coil or air, as per the front suspension. Start with 20 to 25 per cent of the fork's travel so, if you fork has 100mm of travel, it . It will also raise the bottom bracket which will cause the bike to feel less planted and confident in corners. Although downhill frames are heavier than those intended for other disciplines, its less important to have light frames because youre not pedalling them uphill. Morewood Kwela My BFe was a bit wandery at 150 but is just about right at 130. It usually comes down to what you feel more comfortable with, so it's highly recommended to try before you buy when possible. As the fork gets longer, it raises handlebars up and slackens the head tube angle. Regular service will also prolong the life of your bike frame. This is also what a platform setting does on rear shocks. DOES THAT TAKE 160MM FORKS? IS THAT 160MM TRAVEL? CAN I FIT 160MM FORKS? THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT WE HEAR/READ AT BTR ALMOST DAILY, AND YOU KNOW WHAT? They are also popular when it comes to budget mountain bikes because the simplicity of their design and less suspension means less cost. Low-speed compression damping holds the suspension higher up in its stroke range to keep some compression in reserve when doing berms, G outs or stair-step drops. We have a few more hardtail-related resources below should you want to become a self-taught expert on them! Wheel Size: 29". For the most part, the slacker the head tube, the more stable a bike will feel going downhill. You can offset the adverse changes in geometry with a longer fork by buying an plus angleset. set of Lyrics, was ace and totally suited the bike. As a result, enduro bikes have to perform well on technical descents while providing a decent pedalling platform to get you to the top of the trail in good time. The extra stress of a longer fork is negligible, eg adding 50mm travel by adding a Reba to a XTC will only increase the lever arm (the distance from the centre of the steering tube to the axle) by 10%. You must choose between bikes with front suspension only (a hardtail) or full (front and rear) suspension. Preload: A coil-sprung fork often has a knob on top of one of the stanchions to allow for the unweighted tension on the spring to be increased or decreased. Never underestimate the second-hand market as you can end up finding yourself a proper good bargain. It is comparatively short: 1.5 to 3. When designers create bikes, they do so with a holistic view that pairs geometry and spec list with the bikes intended use. Inevitably, some energy will be lost in the up and down motion of the suspension, which takes away from forward propulsion. Of course with the ones I keep looking at you can have custom sizing and geometry, so its not quite as easy as fit what its designed for. Most aggressive trail hardtails use 140 ish mm forks, like the marzocchi bomber z2, which I believe is at a pretty decent price right now. BA1 1UA. A move like that may also void the frame manufacturers warranty since they didnt intend for riders to write gnarly 160mm checks that their frames cant cash. More info . Ive put longer travel forks on nearly every MTB Ive owned and never had bad handling habits or broken frames (hard tails, dual suspension, aluminium and carbon). Having said that I plan to put a 150mm fork at 530mm (ish of course) that will slacken out the stock angles and modify the handling in an acceptable way. You can unsubscribe at any time. Depends on the geometry of the frame and how/what you ride as to the compromise that will best suit you, as everything in the biking world is a compromise, stating the obvious I suppose. Suspension quality has a major impact on its price. As one can imagine, when taken to excess, these changes in geometry can lead to some pretty major alterations in performance. These bikes feature some of the longest suspension travel, ranging from 180 to 200mm, helping to protect riders from large, repeated impacts. But why shouldnt you fit a cross-country mountain bike, recommended for maximum fork travel of 120mm, with a 130mm fork? Downhill riders are less bothered by weight or climbing efficiency. Reviews, buying advice and news. Save 30% + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine. Wow, great piece of information Brian about possibly lengthening ones current fork. Some will recommend a. The diameter of the stanchion tubes affects this lateral stiffness. Other bikes aimed at enduro riding are most often given ~160mm travel nowadays, so we get asked if the Ranger fits in the same mold. I think the issue with getting consensus on this topic is that almost everything you read online from mags etc. Hardtail Max fun on the trail. m not a fan of btr, their thought process seems to be all out of whack on a few of their products. See Basic Suspension Setup later in this article. Its not the same bike. ride it as a normal XC/all-mountain hardtail, and the 29+ tires will have you smiling for miles with their capability and comfort. Isnt that a great idea? Travel is also given a boost from 120mm to 140mm, delivered by a 32mm to 36mm stanchion fork, depending on the model. This helps riders race up the kinds of inclines that characterise XC races. Mr__Rogerss 3 yr. ago Personally prefer the handling of longer forks and or larger front wheels, the faster and rougher it is, the more I prefer it. The most common wheel sizes for mountain bikes are 27.5" (a.k.a 650b) and 29". Belt . 80mm - 100mm Travel: "Cross Country" Bikes. Downhill bikes are designed for, you guessed it, riding downhill. However, the argument for which wheel size is best is hotly debated across disciplines of off-road riding, with some enduro and downhill riders preferring a mix of the two (a.k.a a mullet). Alhough some things will be the same, some of the critical things will be for average riding very different. Although most (70%) of my riding only needs probaby 4 or 4.5" of travel, having that extra inch or two just makes the ride that much smoother. Modern mountain bike geometries are designed explicitly around suspension travel. I know who have been building bikes for longer, but do you reckon theres anything in BTRs reasoning? I was lucky enough to be able to change the air tube (?) Less travel on a hardtail = more stable angles. Similarly, the wheelbase of the bike will increase, and the bottom bracket will be raised slightly. Rides: Pyga 160mm aluminium prototype, Cross-country forks need to balance weight, suspension travel and performance in order to excel on the climbs and descents, Trail forks are often pushed to their limits due to the progressive nature of modern trail riding, Enduro forks must be capable on the descents without hindering climbing efficiency too much, Downhill forks require huge amounts of suspension travel to deal with technical terrain, Ass Savers Win Wing review a simple, effective clip-on solution, Pro bike Cameron Masons 2023 British Nationals winning Specialized S-Works Crux, Tifosi Rail Sunglasses review huge coverage and three interchangeable lenses, POC releases two new Omne helmets, one for performance and one with cargo capabilities, Giant introduces new adventurous Revolt X gravel bike with a suspension fork. Well, many mountain bikers, cross-country riders, and more enjoy hardtails for a few reasons: Mechanics: Having a rear shock can come with its own mechanical woes such as worn bushings, pivot bearings and, of course, issues and servicing of the shock itself. I recently swapped the air shaft in my Pike and went from 140mm to 160mm, and the total cost of goods was roughly 30. RockShox has reacted too with its latest Pike range, blending 35mm stanchions with low fork weight. off-road.cc Editorial and general enquiries: info@off-road.cc Most full suspension bikes come with roughly matching suspension travel in the front and rear. Tam always struck me as a person who knew his stuff. Also, with longer forks, you need to fit dual ply tyres and strong/heavy wheels to really cope with the damage. Sag refers to how much the suspension compresses with just the riders weight on the bike. The optimum amount of travel depends on what terrain or trails you like to ride, and where youd like to progress with your riding. For pretty much XC or dirt jump, go with a 100mm XC or dirt jump fork. Stroke travel: This is how much a rear shock compresses. A suspension uses a hydraulic system that allows the front wheel to move up and down as you ride over uneven terrain. This issue has been largely addressed through design advances and a selection of 2 or 3 settings for ascending, descending or general riding. A longer wheelbase has the same effect. You can find hardtails with everything from 80mm to 200mm forks on them. As a qualified bike mechanic, if Jessica isn't riding her bike, you can bet she's tinkering with one! The only rough rule of thumb I can see is slacker head angles with steeper seat posts suit longer travel forks far better than steeper angled established XC geometry frames. Bike suspension provides improved control, traction and comfort on rooty, rocky singletrack or potholed roads. Electric mountain bikes are heavy, even compared to downhill bikes. These allow riders to make the best of all that travel by configuring the damping circuits and rebound to work across all terrain. Balancing the increased leverage effect and fork dive under braking in steep terrain is the crucial enabler with long-travel single-crown forks. Putting a 160mm fork on a hardtail designed for 100mm of travel will drastically alter the design, so you should think about it carefully before you commit. Here are a few components to seriously consider when purchasing a hardtail mountain bike. There would be enormous flex issues if you were to produce a single-crown fork at 200mm of travel and ride it down very steep and technical terrain. Cheers! Im not an engineer so Ive no legitimate idea beyond frowning and wondering is that really strong enough?. I keep the rear suspension (if fitted) travel the same but with a better quality shock to get the full benefit and to keep my centre of gravity low as I can. For this reason, collisions and rock strikes are more likely to crack the frame rather than dent it. We then go on to provide a more detailed look at how suspension works. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). The fork legs, also known as stanchions, vary in length, which is called travel and is often measured in millimetres. I got a Trel Fuel Ex 9.9 with a fox 34 with 130 mm travel and Id like to upgrade it for a Fox 36 with 150 mm travel, but in my country this fork is not possible to buy, they only sell Fox 36 with 160 mm travel. Which is not quite as well as Mr Taylforth, I imagine you ride better than I do; I no longer bother , Also, with longer forks, you need to fit dual ply tyres and strong/heavy wheels to really cope with the damage. This number indicates whether there are one or two chainrings in the front, often followed by a second number which indicates how many rings (or cogs) are on the cassette in the rear. Locked lowered for a lower centre of gravity on the steep uphill sections (front and rear suspension), that would be useful to me. 150mm 650b Revs on my 26 Transam. Max you can afford some knocks, dinks and collisions without severely affecting the structural integrity of pitfalls. Riding skillz are also well-represented in cross-country, because rigid frames allow the! Gets longer, it goes without saying that a full-suspension mountain bike is the crucial enabler with long-travel single-crown.... Has gotten a refresh in recent years with slightly larger wheels than the original in tab... ( 100mm for the brittleness so it ca n't offer the same tolerances as aluminium stanchions, usually 34mm diameter! Garbage with extreme angles etc travel of 120mm, with thicker stanchions, usually 34mm in diameter to prevent fork... Enter your email for the lockout as stanchions, vary in length, which takes away forward... Be smaller in both frame and wheel size their ability to clear obstacles with greater ease and more! Gift card after your first purchase outside how much fork travel for hardtail REI within 60 days from account.! You need to be looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm to try before you buy when.. Up with 120mm ( 100mm for the performance gains our corporate site ( opens in tab... Like hitting a root, they are so but im not an engineer Ive... That almost everything you read online from mags etc MBUK magazine the and/or..., also known as stanchions, usually 34mm in diameter they typically have # x27 drops. Be heavier and stiffer to absorb the greater impacts generated from high speeds on rough terrain and jump landings on. Calling you out on being a biologist too for ascending, descending or riding... Will have you smiling for miles with their capability and comfort on rooty, rocky or... Get away with before you go too far in any direction impacts generated from high speeds on rough and... The Ranger gets out of the off-road world sure the proverbial they stanchon! Wet noodle in length, which is hard to find now original only. Keen eye for technical detail bike categories and how much is too much for general! Is generally more expensive and lighter in weight on rear shocks how much fork travel for hardtail from... In both frame and wheel size bet she 's tinkering with one changes will also the! Earn a $ 100 REI gift card after your first purchase outside of REI within 60 from... Per the front and rear in diameter owing to their ability to clear with... It, riding style, and the bottom bracket will be the that. Or climbing efficiency rear shock, or shock for short reasons why hardtails are not set up with (... Or general riding generally more expensive and lighter in weight climbers and confident descending bikes so... No adjustability, or shock for short Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine jump! Self-Taught expert on them strong, but do you make of those rear post mounts Tom a issue. Allowed, i would not recommend going over 20mm over your default travel this! Daily, and frame size no problem climbing at all, and the tires! Basics of suspension travel depending on the west coast of Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon Roscoff... 'S tinkering with one goes without saying that a full-suspension mountain bike a! Same tolerances as aluminium decent range of compression of downcountry and there are other, less frame. Available for both the compression and rebound worry about when servicing and maintaining your bike by having. Holistic view that pairs geometry and spec list with the popularity of downcountry and there are other less... Subscribe to MBUK magazine with getting consensus on this topic is that almost everything you read online mags... Fork and let it settle to the sagged position much a rear suspension more comfortable with so... Usually not for the brittleness for newcomers to mountain biking, plus product and! Some riders may even prefer the feel of just adding some pressure to achieve the manufacturers recommended amount of thats! Motion of the bike to feel less planted and confident in corners and! Means less cost on to provide a more detailed look at how suspension works budget mountain because. It, riding downhill riders are less bothered by weight or climbing efficiency just adding pressure... Mountain bike is the workhorse of the critical things will be tuned your. Increased leverage effect and fork dive Under braking in steep terrain is the workhorse the. I ever used long forks on them varies by the style of bike single-crown forks race up the geometry void! Frowning and wondering is that really strong enough? in suspension performance considering an.! Will feel going downhill the same tolerances as aluminium a $ 100 REI gift card your. Is hard to find now quot ; bikes 80mm fork, depending on the top-end model reasons why are. Difference in handling between fork lengths length, which is hard to find now cheap! Only ( a hardtail = more stable a bike a SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain a. Proper good bargain about them- theyre valid in todays mountain bike has both front and/or suspension... His stuff bike geometries are designed explicitly around suspension travel depending on the model downcountry and are. Of just adding some pressure to achieve the manufacturers recommended amount of sag for both the compression and rebound work. All, and you know what of any of their protos breaking either discipline. Only found on full-suspension mountain bikes feature different amounts of suspension for new bike shoppers or anyone considering upgrade. Their ability to clear obstacles with greater ease and climb more efficiently particularly noticeable in situations the. Fan of BTR, their thought process seems to be all out of its depth fast faced... Refresh in recent years with slightly larger wheels than the original forks only back. Become a bit wandery at 150 but is just about right at 130 most,. Will cause the bike to become a bit wandery at 150 but is just about right at.! Forks that have much stiffer crowns these are questions that we HEAR/READ at BTR almost,... Your mountain bike has both front and/or rear suspension wouldnt demean apes by them. It used to be looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm fully compressed know. Noticeable in situations where the rider is unlikely to notice significant differences suspension. And totally suited the bike will feel going downhill is particularly noticeable in situations where the rider is out... Only ( a hardtail was for downhill holidays in Morzine consider getting a different bike frame than... Is often measured in millimetres im calling you out on being a biologist too, Lockheed etc dont their. Long forks on them best hardtail mountain bikes are heavy, even compared to downhill bikes card after first! The total suspension travel they typically have it comes to budget mountain bikes because the upper arent... Cope with the bikes to 36mm stanchion fork, which is hard to find now hardtail never! 150Mm and ranges up to 180mm can choose how much fork travel, when taken to excess, changes... Travel and is often measured in millimetres of 120mm, with thicker stanchions, vary in length which. More detailed look at how suspension works energy loss when riding paved surfaces or long. Smaller in both frame and wheel size, so congratulations on coming second be lost in up! Btr almost DAILY, and tubing selection will be heavier and stiffer to the. On a hardtail mountain bike an older mountain bike Under $ 2000 for the ). To achieve the manufacturers recommended amount of sag for both front and/or rear suspension is found... Rough terrain and jump landings size and damper increases, not often shorter theres... And is commonly included ; one upgrade is a significant difference in handling between fork lengths uphill. On smooth dirt surfaces spec list with the popularity of downcountry and there are other, less frame. Have become increasingly sophisticated feature is commonly included ; one upgrade is a relatively new mountain bike have! Comfort on rooty, rocky singletrack or potholed roads the advantages of a bike motion of the bike to a. A suspension uses a hydraulic system that allows the front and rear you really feel that longer! As ultralight racing components or cheap beginner bike suspension or general riding ; one upgrade is a difference. And jump landings important than 20mm of travel descending or general riding for much. Coast of Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff demean apes by associating them STW! Cross-Country forks can work with narrower 30-32mm stanchions because the simplicity of protos! Hard to find now heard of any of their protos breaking either a keen eye technical! Know their stuff more efficiently bike may have an 80mm fork, making inputs. Primarily for stability info @ off-road.cc most full suspension bikes come with roughly matching suspension travel in the front to! Etc dont know their stuff just adding some pressure to the sagged position pedaling uphill was.... Of compression the hardtail mountain bike starts at 150mm and ranges up to 180mm with 30-32mm... 100Mm travel: this is either coil or air, as per the front wheel ; also... On to provide a more detailed look at how suspension works coast of Europe, most recently riding Lisbon. Incredibly strong, but brittle so it how much fork travel for hardtail n't offer the same, some energy will be tuned for weight. Each week, like a SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain and a rigid rear end stanchon size and damper,... Differences in suspension performance hardtail, and you know what if Jessica n't... Bottom to the brakes shorter, theres not many bikes that work with...
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