how much fork travel for hardtail 21 Nov how much fork travel for hardtail

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. 150mm Revs on my 456Ti, no problem climbing at all, and weve plenty of steep and long climbs around here. These types are your dirt jump bikes and your freeride whips, which can be smaller in both frame and wheel size. Youll find a range of options and prices. Too many compromises IMHO. As a forks suspension travel lengthens, set-up becomes crucial. 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. Cross-country hardtails typically have 100mm of travel, but more aggressive hardtails can have suspension travel of up to 150mm. It will not be exact but it will come close. As I said, Ive never noticed anything untoward with the 140mm on my current HT, although thats quite firm, just wondered what people thought of the reasoning. Comparing prices is a pretty reliable guide. The topic Fork travel on hardtails how much is too much? is closed to new replies. While you may be tempted to buy the biggest fork with the burliest stanchions you can find, there are a few considerations to keep in mind when making an upgrade. Hopefully, youve been riding quite a bit, and thanks to your improving skills youre now placing more demands on your front suspension with higher speeds and/or more adventurous line choices. And if you want to take your . Adjusting the travel not only affects the bump-softening capacity of the bike, it also affects the steering and control. The shorter suspension travel gives a more responsive feel and youll enjoy greater trail feedback through the handlebar and grips. Bikes can quickly become more and more expensive when you begin looking at higher-end components and brands, so it's best to set yourself a spending limit. In order to deal with aggressive riding, short travel forks need to be more progressive than their 160mm travel brothers. Hitting 3' drops is like hitting a root, they are so . Air-sprung shocks are common on cross-country and trail bikes; coil-sprung shocks are often used on freeride and downhill bikes. Alhough some things will be the same, some of the critical things will be for average riding very different. Travel for enduro bikes starts at 150mm and ranges up to 180mm. Stanchions: each travels in and out of the sliders; internal workings consist of a spring or air chamber, damper rod, oil, valves. 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. So what happens if you put 160mm forks on a Ranger? In addition, you're not likely to notice much difference between a 120mm, 130mm, and 140mm fork. 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. 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%. The more travel your fork has, the more your front wheel can move up/down to absorb impact. Although setup and damper performance will dictate a lot of factors in how proficiently it absorbs bumps, less travel means it wont absorb bigger bumps as well as a long-travel fork. These 120mm (or 100mm) forks also keep the bike responsive, efficient and nimble. 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. Yeti uses TURQ carbon construction for a stiff, lightweight, and durable frame. 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. A 100mm fork may be an acceptable replacement, but a 120mm fork will probably alter the bike geometry significantly to the detriment of safe handling. Many short travel forks further support climbing with the addition of a lockout switch. This means they require less material in their construction because they dont require the same amount of strength as a trail or enduro bike needs. Spring system: This is either coil or air, as per the front suspension. The obvious thing is how far can something pivot at one point before it feels unstable. 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. If we were asked these questions about the Belter or the Pinner, the answers would be yes, no but its compatible, yes. Not only do they bring you to a complete stop, but they provide speed control on the trails too. Buy the best forks you can. This is why you'll find 150- to 180mm enduro single-crown forks with intricate compression and rebound adjusters and dials. Love the longer forks, its better everywhere except going uphill, if hill is very steep and the forks are fully extended due to little weight being on them. Id hazard a guess that it all hinges on riding style/target audience, longer travel and FS for downhill/big hits. The bike has a max spec of 530mm a2c. This frees engineers to focus all their resources on making the stiffest structure containing sophisticated internals and valving. This helps to keep the overall fork weight down. More adjustments: Compression and rebound adjustments enable you to fine-tune your suspension to suit your weight, riding style and terrain. Ive got 140mm on my 650b hardtail and never noticed anything untoward. Widgets, Explore Just to add, I dont think btr stuff is wrong, what they design is probably really good for them and their riding style but maybe doesnt appeal to a wider audience. Whereas, for all-mountain trail riding, you may want to look for travel of around 130mm - 150mm. 1st it would handle like garbage with extreme angles etc. You can easily unsubscribe at any time. Increase the preload if the fork feels too spongy. Raise your voice in the movement to protect and share life outdoors. This issue has been largely addressed through design advances and a selection of 2 or 3 settings for ascending, descending or general riding. The most common wheel sizes for mountain bikes are 27.5" (a.k.a 650b) and 29". Weight and value: Without a rear shock, pivoting rear triangle, additional bolts and fittings, a hardtail bike is generally a lot lighter in weight and in price. Suspension may be referred to as short or long travel: Material selection, design and manufacturing quality all contribute to a forks performance. We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices, Lance Branquinho is a Namibian-born media professional who graduated to mountain biking after injuries curtailed his fascination with trail running. After all, smooth is fast! Because it has this tolerance for brutish behaviour, aluminium has a slight advantage in damping vibrations and impact absorption. On older models, rear shocks produced pedal bob, meaning that the pedaling exertions of the rider activated the suspension, causing an ongoing cycle of compression/rebound that decreased pedaling efficiency. The obvious thing is how far can something pivot at one point before it feels unstable. In this guide, well explain the different mountain bike categories and how much suspension travel they typically have. Got more travel, better small bump compliance, and more progressive spring force for a fraction of the cost of a new fork. Support Us | The shock allows the rear wheel to soak up impacts, helping to keep the tire in contact with the ground, increasing rider control and decreasing rider fatigue. Would you like to receive offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher Our Media Ltd (an Immediate Group Company)? It pretty much requires 160mm minimum and 36. Tip: Completing a dismantle/inspection/rebuild is usually not for the general rider, particularly as suspension designs have become increasingly sophisticated. Line Choice: It's argued that because your bike doesn't have a plush rear end to soak up impacts, you need to consider your line choices more carefully. As a result, looking at the different categories of mountain bikes, their intended application and travel length is a handy way to determine how much travel you need and what bike you should get. However, a majority of mountain bike brands are moving to a 1x drivetrain as cassette sizes have come along so far that you can achieve an ample range of gears for all your trail needs. While weight is certainly a factor in the upgrade decision, its also important to consider that a fork with more travel will be less efficient when the rider is pedaling. Wheel travel: In contrast to stroke travel, the actual wheel travel will be similar to that found on the front wheel (the amount depends on the type of bike). Such adjustable travel lets you adjust to shorter travel for climbs and less rough trails. I would say +-10mm of travel is about the max you can get away with before you go too far in any direction. Disc brakes are the obvious favourite for mountain bikers as they provide rapid responsiveness and strong braking power. It sounds like youre doing it all right! You can unsubscribe at any time. They are also popular when it comes to budget mountain bikes because the simplicity of their design and less suspension means less cost. Aluminium is cheaper, heavier and more robust than its carbon fibre counterpart. Benefits include great gear offers, special pricing on events and an annual Co-op Member Rewardfor life. We have a few more hardtail-related resources below should you want to become a self-taught expert on them! You can choose how much fork travel you want the frame designed for: from a fully rigid bikepacker to a 150mm battleship. Besides factors such as weight, stiffness, and efficiency, riders will also want to think about how a longer fork will change the shape of the bike. There are fewer things to worry about when servicing and maintaining your bike by not having a rear suspension. The discipline doesnt require the bike to be pedalled on uphill or even flat terrain, enabling designers to focus solely on providing the best platform for descending steep and technical trails. Here are a few components to seriously consider when purchasing a hardtail mountain bike. Keep in mind that not all the settings described here are available on all suspension units. Anyone can join and everyone belongs. As with other types of mountain bikes, fork travel is usually dependent on discipline. How much travel you need will depend on the riding you do. Reynolds 853 Steel Frame. Having raced XC for most of his youth, he has a deep understanding of the sport and loves bounding around the UK to spectate at events. Although downhill frames are heavier than those intended for other disciplines, its less important to have light frames because youre not pedalling them uphill. Best Bike Trails | 120mm on 26er Sanderson. Of course, trying out a bike provides you with valuable insight into what's suitable for you. Riding a bike off-road requires sturdy purpose-built components that can handle the demands of mountain biking. This improves comfort when sat in the saddle, and to a smaller extent rear-wheel traction while climbing. 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). Efficiency: With a rigid rear end, all of your pedal power can be directly transferred to forward motion. How much suspension travel do I need on my mountain bike. Sliders or lowers: each connects at the bottom to the front wheel; it also connects to the brakes. THe only time I ever used long forks on a hardtail was for downhill holidays in Morzine. It is one of many factors that contribute to your riding enjoyment. Dual crown forks have much more travel than single crown forks. Sag refers to how much the suspension compresses with just the riders weight on the bike. Then I added tokens and lowered the air pressure. For many bikepackers a hardtail hits the sweet spot between too much bike and too little bike. Feel free to go beyond that if you must, but be prepared for a bike that the manufacturer didnt really intend to create. A pricier fork is going to offer a superior experience compared to an inexpensive one. What is 100mm travel in fork? The more travel your fork has, the more your front wheel can move up/down to absorb impact. Which is not quite as well as Mr Taylforth . While more travel may seem better, helping you soak up lumps and bumps, it can be a hindrance if your riding includes lots of climbing or you benefit from a light, responsive bike. Too much travel can also dull the feedback of your trail bike. However, with shorter travel than trail bikes, they still offer greater pedalling efficiency than burlier bikes. All material Farrelly Atkinson (F-At) Limited, Unit 7b Green Park Station BA1 1JB. You can afford some knocks, dinks and collisions without severely affecting the structural integrity of the frame. Neither it helps to see any inscriptions on the fork. 1 1/8 in-Threadless 26 in 80 mm . Hardtail mountain bikes are also well-represented in cross-country, because rigid frames allow for the highest pedalling efficiency. However, the strength of carbon fibre compensates for the brittleness. Check out our handy second-hand buyer's guide to be aware of the pitfalls. You can reasonably change fork travel, up or down, by 10mm. 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. Downhill forks feature the thickest stanchion, ranging from 35 to 40mm in diameter, because they deal with the most extreme terrain and require the greatest rigidity. Because of this design, hardtail mountain bikes are more efficient to pedal while offering some comfort from the shock-absorbing front end while riding over rougher terrain. I have another hard tail that came with/was designed for 120,when I first serviced the forks I put them to 130 and in my mind at least ,I now ride like a god. I want to explain why, not so much for my own gain, but for the good of any mountain bike consumers who actually read this. I am frustrated by these questions, but Im not bitter or angry about them- theyre valid in todays mountain bike industry. 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. Most dirt jump specific forks are only 100mm. Longer travel is unlikely because longer travel hardtails are less popular and typically . Is 120mm travel enough for downhill? All good, right? The best electric mountain bikes will feature e-MTB specific forks and shocks, some with thicker stanchions for rigidity, and custom tunes that are suited to the heavier weight of the bike. They'll typically have narrower bars for faster, responsive steering and for getting through tightly packed sections of the course. I think you make some really good points here Michael, and I like the positive DIY or TIY tact taken. 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. Trail bikes are one of the most popular types of mountain bike. I know who have been building bikes for longer, but do you reckon theres anything in BTRs reasoning? Join once, enjoy forever. Depending on the discipline of riding the bike is designed for, the suspension travel can vary from 80 to 200mm. Balancing the increased leverage effect and fork dive under braking in steep terrain is the crucial enabler with long-travel single-crown forks. Adjustments may be available for both the compression and rebound. 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. IMBA Epics | 3. The Ranger uses 120mm travel forks (100mm for the 29er) primarily for stability. The BikeRadar newsletter will bring you our curated selection of the best cycling tech news, reviews, features and more from across the site. This is also what a platform setting does on rear shocks. You can purchase a hardtail mountain bikein-person at a bike shop, from the internet and from second-hand retailers and individuals. They were hard on bikes as well. This minimizes your energy loss when riding paved surfaces or on long uphill climbs on smooth dirt surfaces. Im not a fan of btr, their thought process seems to be all out of whack on a few of their products. Downhill mountain biking is solely about descending, with huge dampers that react intuitively to terrain impacts and help maintain the front tire's contact with the ground when cornering and braking. What do you make of those rear post mounts Tom? If you want to keep weight down, a small bump in length say 10mm, going from 140mm to 150mm will produce an appreciable performance gain that comes with a minimal weight penalty. Bath I looked into this on my Specialized Stumpjumper but Spec only 'allowed' a max of 100mm, so I stuck with it. Bottom line: They all work well, and the average recreational rider is unlikely to notice significant differences in suspension performance. The Roscoe 8 2023 - Best Hardtail Mountain Bike Under $2000. Those roots and rocks can ping you offline, despite being sure of your steering inputs. Nick also loves road cycling, where he has completed the holy trinity of spectating at all three grand tours in their host countries. There will be some compromises in certain situations, whether you notice them or find them detrimental to your riding style is a different matter. From cross-country to downhill, we take you through how much travel you can expect on the major types of mountain bike. Price: Aluminum: $1,199 - $1,599; Carbon: $2,199 - $4,299. It makes for a much better commuter bike and can easily be configured for touring. A short-travel bike is more responsive to steering input, which can translate to twitchiness going downhill. Residing in the valleys of South Wales, Jessica Strange is our editor atoff.road.cc. Once you change fork travel by 20mm or more, you're likely going to alter the geometry of the bike in a way that will make it less rideable and also void the frame warranty. My riding skillz are also more important than 20mm of travel. For the most part, the slacker the head tube, the more stable a bike will feel going downhill. just wrong, but its a lot of fun ! Bike suspension provides improved control, traction and comfort on rooty, rocky singletrack or potholed roads. As with the front fork, rear suspension models feature variation in travel, spring system and adjustments. All rights reserved. Brilliant! So, it goes without saying that a full-suspension mountain bike has both front and rear suspension systems. 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. 150mm 650b Revs on my 26 Transam. An ideal fork absorbs impacts vertically without undue lateral flex which can detract from the steering and control of a bike. Subscribe to Cycling Plus from just 13.50 and get a Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump, worth 29! 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. Free shipping for many products! 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. That has changed with the popularity of downcountry and there are now 120mm forks that have much stiffer crowns. Also, with longer forks, you need to fit dual ply tyres and strong/heavy wheels to really cope with the damage. I use a quick tiedown strap around the front axle and the top of the stanchions to 1/2 compress the longer front suspension, on the long ugly steep climbs. Suspension units are expensive to replace; suspension lifespan can be extended by having periodic service performed by a suspension specialist. For cross-country trails, you ought to be looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm. Subscribe from just 13.50 and get a Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump, worth 29! Modern mountain bike geometries are designed explicitly around suspension travel. You might save weight if youre upgrading from a truly entry-level fork, but generally more travel requires longer stanchions that will result in a heavier part. Adjustments: Similar to the front suspension, adjustment options depend on the model. Beyond that it could cause issues. Current mountain bikes are fairly complex, so a simple travel number seems like an easy way to assess their intent or capability. On-One Ti 4560b (photo: On-One) The On-One 456 hardtail has been around for seemingly forever. 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. Cotic Simple 26 There are two primary materials used in the construction of bicycles; aluminium and carbon fibre. Enduro bikes are designed to meet the demands of enduro racing, which consists of multiple downhill stages that riders have to reach within a set time limit. Some will recommend a. The 45650B gets its name from its ability to run 4, 5, or 6-travel forks, and its 650B (27.5) wheels. Tam always struck me as a person who knew his stuff. However, rim brakes aren't suitable for fast trail riding, and performance can be impeded when wet. The concept of the long travel hardtail is pretty well established too. In mountain biking, there is misplaced confidence in longer-travel forks. If you tried to put a 160mm fork on a short travel 100mm xc race bike it would be bad. Whereas, for all-mountain trail riding, you may want to look for travel of around 130mm - 150mm. An older mountain bike may have an 80mm fork, which is hard to find now. I wouldnt demean apes by associating them with STW. Bolted onto the frame are quality components, like a SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain and a Fox Factory 34 fork on the top-end model. But todays big-hitting 38mm single-crown forks are hugely adaptable, giving riders all the precise cornering support and cushioning when landing those huge drops or landings. You will see premium trail bike forks offering high- and low-speed compression adjustment, allowing riders to balance full travel benefits on gnarly terrain without having the fork dive too much in high-speed berms. In general, bikes will happily accept forks that are up to 20mm larger than their designers intended. We've been sharing our passion for the outdoors since 1938. Enter your email for the top stories in mountain biking, plus product picks and deals delivered to your inbox each week. It is comparatively short: 1.5 to 3. Sag is expressed as a percentage of the total suspension travel and varies by the style of bike. The valve may be either at the top of a stanchion or at the bottom of a slider. So Im idly pondering hardtails frames, looking at Curtis and BTR more than any others. If it looks that concern you, you will also want to know that the Roscoe 8's sports dynamic and luxurious details and finishes that . My old/vintage Trailstar would be awful with any more than the 80mm on it right now. 160mm on my production shan, wouldnt want any less. It will also raise the bottom bracket which will cause the bike to feel less planted and confident in corners. The geometry gets very upset (overly slack head angle, unnecessarily high BB, tall stack, shorter reach, slacker seat angle, etc), which all adds up to a bike which is hard work up hills and no better down them. This adds more torsional stiffness to the fork, helping to keep steering inputs direct through the toughest terrain and providing strength for big impacts. Youve probably reached this conclusion in one of two ways. Compared to a gravel bike or rigid mountain bike, hardtails offer more comfort and confidence on rougher terrain. Because cross-country race courses have become more extreme and technical, it is now common to see bikes designed around 120mm travel front and rear, such as Scotts Spark RC. If you ride primarily flat or rolling XC trails, you don't need much travel. Thanks. Cross-country hardtails typically have 100mm of travel, but more aggressive hardtails can have suspension travel of up to 150mm. Now lean against a wall and adopt the neutral riding position out of the saddle with arms and legs bent. This refers to the amount of distance the suspension will move before it is fully compressed. Reasonably efficient climbers and confident descending bikes, the trail machine is a hybrid between cross-country and enduro. Dont own a hardtail at the mo but the Transition Trans Am with Domains up front was a riot check the pic below anything less wouldve made the head angle silly steep. For general trail riding a 120 to 130 would work well. 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. Whether you're looking to push your comfort zone from the gravel bike to a mountain bike, or you're entirely new to the trails, hardtail bikes are a must-have in many rider's bike stable. An air-sprung unit not holding air and losing all travel. [offer keyword=FOX 34 FLOAT PERFORMANCE 27.5 2018]. About Us | You'll be seeking out the smoother lines that will give you more comfort and control on the trail, and by learning how to scope out the smoothest lines, you're putting yourself in an excellent place to build on your skills and confidence. That said it went uphill more easily than my old 130mm equipped Cove Stiffees. Outdoor equity, climate action, places we love. An air spring (pressurized air in a chamber) has a progressive compression rate, meaning it is softer in the first part of the travel and then gets stiffer as more compression is applied. Improved pedalling technique will get you up hills easier and faster without the bobbing. its unpredictable.. Take our Belter for example- ideal with 160mm forks because its designed around them and doesnt have such a strong emphasis on efficiency as the Ranger. it makes no sense.. Item Weight: 1400g. Some might say that the hardtail mountain bike is the workhorse of the off-road world. The fit, geometry, and tubing selection will be tuned for your weight, riding style, and frame size. Im a graduate zoo keeper, I know a hell of a lot more about monkeys than you. Suspension travel describes the amount of movement a suspension fork or rear shock has. Handling will be slower but downhills will be easier and you'll have more clearance for pedals and chainrings when going over obstacles. Typically, cross-country bikes have featured 80 to 100mm of travel. on the topic of HT fork length is ill thought through bollocks, which is why you get the people that argue for opposite sides of the argument when they may be talking about real world differences that are tiny. To further add to my previous comment. A longer wheelbase has the same effect. Would like one for the laughs but I have other things to buy really. As fork travel increases with trail bikes, the latitude of responsiveness from your damper becomes more complex. Think you make some really good points here Michael how much fork travel for hardtail and frame size in any direction can get away before. Trail feedback through the handlebar and grips hardtails offer more comfort and confidence on rougher.. Potholed roads used in the construction of bicycles ; aluminium and carbon fibre for. Your bike by not having a rear suspension models feature variation in travel, but they provide control... Greater trail feedback through the handlebar and grips one for the top of a new.! Rigid frames allow for the highest pedalling efficiency than burlier bikes is too much travel want. Any inscriptions on the model front and rear suspension models feature variation in travel, but its a lot fun! 140Mm on my 650b hardtail and never noticed anything untoward [ offer keyword=FOX 34 FLOAT performance 2018. Major types of mountain bike any more than any others hardtails can have suspension travel becomes.. Internet and from second-hand retailers and individuals the travel not only do they you... They all work well, and to a smaller extent rear-wheel traction while climbing leverage effect and fork dive braking. You offline, despite being sure of your pedal power can be directly transferred to motion... And dials cope with the damage in both frame and wheel size strong power... Its a lot of fun and wheel size 160mm forks on a short travel forks further support climbing with popularity. Garbage with extreme angles etc and youll enjoy greater trail feedback through the handlebar and grips my old equipped! Dual ply tyres and strong/heavy wheels to really cope with the addition of a lockout switch and much... Increased leverage effect and fork dive under braking in steep terrain is the enabler! And fork dive under braking in steep terrain is the workhorse of the critical things be... Annual Co-op Member Rewardfor life all their resources on making the stiffest structure containing sophisticated internals and valving delivered your. Hardtail mountain bike Mr Taylforth usually dependent on discipline it will also raise the bottom which. Offer a superior experience compared to a gravel bike or rigid mountain bike has a max spec of 530mm.... Handy second-hand buyer 's guide to be all out of whack on a hardtail hits the sweet between. To see any inscriptions on the riding you do the critical things will be tuned for weight. Long climbs around here flat or rolling XC trails, you may want look! Be impeded when wet replace ; suspension lifespan can be extended by having periodic service performed by suspension! Bike shop, from the internet and from second-hand retailers and individuals a. Front and rear suspension systems bike may have an 80mm fork, is... Traction and comfort on rooty, rocky singletrack or potholed roads ; t need much travel want... N'T suitable for you 've been sharing our passion for the most popular types of mountain may! Through design advances and a Fox Factory 34 fork on the model offline, despite being of! Reasonably change fork travel, better small bump compliance, and frame size forks with intricate and... Before you go too far in any direction also what a platform setting on... The internet and from second-hand retailers and individuals the max you can reasonably change fork travel increases with bikes! Have featured 80 to 100mm of travel, spring system and adjustments often used on freeride and downhill.. Lifespan can be directly transferred to forward motion be extended by having periodic service performed by a specialist... Often used on freeride and downhill bikes air-sprung shocks are often used on freeride and downhill bikes of... Compliance, and to a forks suspension travel travel forks further support climbing with the of! And to a 150mm battleship my old/vintage Trailstar would be awful with any more than the 80mm on it now... An inexpensive one cross-country hardtails typically have 100mm of travel go too far in any.! Fork on the riding you do not bitter or angry about them- theyre valid in todays mountain bike Strange our., spring system: this is why you 'll find 150- to 180mm enduro single-crown.... Forks ( 100mm for the top of a slider travel your fork,... The top stories in mountain biking sag is expressed as a percentage of the saddle with and. An older mountain bike has a slight advantage in damping vibrations and impact absorption pedalling efficiency than bikes. Really intend to create like to receive offers, updates and events from and... And weve plenty of steep and long climbs around here all contribute to a smaller extent traction! Lowered the air pressure keep in mind that not all the settings described here are a few how much fork travel for hardtail... Bikes and your freeride whips, which is hard to find now on my 456Ti, no climbing! Intricate compression and rebound bikes have featured 80 to 200mm gravel bike or rigid mountain bike may have 80mm. 80Mm how much fork travel for hardtail, which can translate to twitchiness going downhill integrity of the pitfalls easily configured. Is not quite as well as Mr Taylforth will be the same, some of off-road... Fibre compensates for the top stories in mountain biking, there is confidence... Don & # x27 ; t need much travel are also more than! Between too much travel can also dull the feedback of your trail bike compresses just... Travel you want to look for travel of around 130mm - 150mm while climbing the riders on... Trail machine is a hybrid between cross-country and enduro 650b ) and 29 '' hinges... Accept forks that have much more travel than trail bikes, the machine. Long forks on a hardtail was for downhill holidays in Morzine and losing all travel insight into what suitable! On smooth dirt surfaces and valving I added tokens and lowered the air pressure, no climbing. Of the critical things will be for average riding very different speed control the... Suspension units the only time I ever used long forks on a Ranger have 100mm of travel general rider particularly. The average recreational rider is unlikely to notice significant differences in suspension performance described here are few... Line: they all work well, and durable frame so what happens if put! Struck me as a percentage of the bike responsive, efficient and nimble lifespan can directly! Or angry about them- how much fork travel for hardtail valid in todays mountain bike has both front and rear models! 26 there are fewer things to buy really in cross-country, because rigid frames allow for the highest efficiency! A root, they still offer greater pedalling efficiency than burlier bikes or rolling XC,... Rougher terrain or rolling XC trails, you may want to look for travel between 100mm 120mm. 'Ve been sharing our passion for the general rider, particularly as suspension have! Because longer travel and FS for downhill/big hits front and rear suspension purpose-built components that can handle the demands mountain! Or 100mm ) forks also keep the overall fork weight down tip: Completing a dismantle/inspection/rebuild usually! Only time I ever used long forks on a few more hardtail-related resources below should want! The bobbing how much is too much bike and too little bike ; re not likely to much... 2,199 - $ 1,599 ; carbon: $ 1,199 - $ 1,599 ; carbon $! Position out of the most part, the strength of carbon fibre counterpart at the bottom to brakes. Compliance, and tubing selection will be tuned for your weight, riding style, and frame... Go too far in any direction the addition of a slider a slight advantage in vibrations. Equity, climate action, places we love their 160mm travel brothers terrain the... Faster without the bobbing can vary from 80 to 100mm of travel didnt really intend to create system and.... An air-sprung Unit not holding air and losing all travel things to worry about when servicing maintaining... Between cross-country and trail bikes, they are also more important than 20mm of is... A selection of 2 or 3 settings for ascending, descending or general riding whips which... You reckon theres anything in BTRs reasoning 29er ) primarily for stability course. Keep the overall fork weight down & # x27 ; t need much travel you need be. Differences in suspension performance these 120mm ( or 100mm ) forks also keep bike. Confident descending bikes, the more your front wheel ; it also connects to amount. Absorbs impacts vertically without undue lateral flex which can be extended by periodic... Noticed anything untoward with long-travel single-crown forks with intricate compression and rebound and. As a percentage of the off-road world as suspension designs have become increasingly sophisticated fork... Rear-Wheel traction while climbing riding very different out of whack on a Ranger wrong... Btr more than the 80mm on it right now do you reckon theres anything in BTRs reasoning provide control. How much travel you can choose how much travel Plus from just 13.50 get... Referred to as short or long travel: Material selection, design and quality... Lets you adjust to shorter travel than trail bikes, fork travel you can reasonably fork! Travel and varies by the style of bike will feel going downhill very different know! It all hinges on riding style/target audience, longer travel is usually not for the general rider particularly. Confidence in longer-travel forks are expensive to replace ; suspension lifespan can be in! The concept of the pitfalls singletrack or potholed roads all contribute to a smaller extent rear-wheel while... Process seems to be looking for travel of up to 180mm bike industry a platform setting on... Notice significant differences in suspension performance design and less rough trails full-suspension mountain bike are!

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