So a lot of people would think that the Ranger gets out of its depth fast when faced with rough terrainbut theyd be wrong! 2023 Recreational Equipment, Inc. All rights reserved. You'll probably find her on either a mountain or gravel bike in the Afan Valley Forest, either riding or guiding visitors around the trails. A longer fork will raise the bottom bracket and cause the front end to slacken a little. The sag is how much the suspension compresses under your weight. 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. With 150- to 180mm single-crown forks, you dont need a lockout control for climbing, but you want to control the multiple channels of compression and rebound. In addition, some fully rigid bikes come with the correct frame geometry angle to upgrade to a suspension fork. Support Us | Obviously the tracks out there are always ****, and half the time it was just a case of hanging on for dear life rather than actually riding. But why shouldnt you fit a cross-country mountain bike, recommended for maximum fork travel of 120mm, with a 130mm fork? Some shops may even allow you to ride around the car park to get a sense of how you feel about it. The fork stiffness formula is simple: when adding more suspension travel increase stanchion size. Frames have to be built to the highest strength levels to cope with the impacts you experience on downhill trails. Hardtail mountain bikes are certainly more friendly to the budget-savvy buyer, with some entry-level hardtails starting from around 500. Various pivot designs and configurations are available. Also, with longer forks, you need to fit dual ply tyres and strong/heavy wheels to really cope with the damage. The trade-off for this weight saving comes in the form of fork flex, which impacts the directness of steering inputs and the overall ability of the fork to perform in gnarlier terrain as friction levels build on the seals. Thats proper basic stuff so Im calling you out on being a biologist too. It used to be the case that for more cross-country riding, the larger 29 wheels were better suited. Suspension quality has a major impact on its price. They need to be light and responsive while still providing a decent range of compression. Hence, you end up with a bike weighing more than a full susser, and its not much fun to ride unless youre going very fast down a hill. off-road.cc is dedicated to bringing you the best coverage of all off-road riding, Our sister site for road bikes road.cc Beyond that it could cause issues. Which is not quite as well as Mr Taylforth . An air-sprung unit not holding air and losing all travel. Too much is a bad thing, but 20mm or so should be OK. Be careful about trying to make a silk purse from a sours ear though - an entry level XC hard tail will never be a great down hill machine. 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. This frees engineers to focus all their resources on making the stiffest structure containing sophisticated internals and valving. What is 100mm travel in fork? Trail bikes are one of the most popular types of mountain bike. Next the strain on a head tube designed for a fork with 60mm less travel might very well lead to a catastrophic failure of the frame. And then, of course, you have the more niche hardtail categories that are technically classed as mountain bikes but aren't designed for pedalling around on trails. However, hardtail bikes aren't just for beginner mountain bikers. In addition, you're not likely to notice much difference between a 120mm, 130mm, and 140mm fork. Typically, cross-country bikes have featured 80 to 100mm of travel. Already have an account with us? It pretty much requires 160mm minimum and 36. We then go on to provide a more detailed look at how suspension works. Got more travel, better small bump compliance, and more progressive spring force for a fraction of the cost of a new fork. Some might say that the hardtail mountain bike is the workhorse of the off-road world. 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. Adjustments may be available for both the compression and rebound. We've been sharing our passion for the outdoors since 1938. Heres how it works. Check out our handy second-hand buyer's guide to be aware of the pitfalls. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Fox F80RL 26" Suspension Fork IS disc mount 197mm Straight 1 1/8" Steerer at the best online prices at eBay! They were hard on bikes as well. 2. The best trail mountain bike market is probably the most competitive category in mountain biking and these bikes are often ridden right up to their design capabilities. 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. However, the traction and descending ability of full-suspension bikes make them desirable to many riders. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Depending on the bike, that could be a good thing. 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. 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. Carbon is incredibly strong, but brittle so it can't offer the same tolerances as aluminium. That 180mm enduro fork is pointless if it blows through its travel or is entirely unresponsive to small-bump impacts. Earn a $100 REI gift card after your first purchase outside of REI within 60 days from account opening. Head Tube Angle: 67. Item Weight: 1400g. Disc brakes that use a hydraulic system are available in many variations and at differing price points. 150mm Revs on my 456Ti, no problem climbing at all, and weve plenty of steep and long climbs around here. More sag equals a softer ride. in my fork to get more travel out of it. Conversely, wider tubes will be heavier and stiffer to absorb the greater impacts generated from high speeds on rough terrain and jump landings. . The more fork travel, the slacker the head angle to accommodate for steeper and more demanding trail riding. Forks come in varying lengths of suspension travel and stanchion sizes, this is what they mean for your riding. The valve may be either at the top of a stanchion or at the bottom of a slider. Personally I think the key to getting the right travel on your HT bike is: 1. All material Farrelly Atkinson (F-At) Limited, Unit 7b Green Park Station BA1 1JB. For this reason, collisions and rock strikes are more likely to crack the frame rather than dent it. Downcountry is a relatively new mountain bike discipline and isnt that well defined as a result. A lockout feature is commonly included; one upgrade is a handlebar-mounted remote control for the lockout. Of course, trying out a bike provides you with valuable insight into what's suitable for you. Dont know about other wheel sizes. BA1 1UA. The original forks only go back on when I want to sell the bikes. You'll find suspension forks with as little as 80mm of travel on some cross-country bikes while trail or all-mountain hardtails, like the Marin El Roy, may have forks with 140mm of travel or. 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. Company On-One Ti 4560b (photo: On-One) The On-One 456 hardtail has been around for seemingly forever. 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. It depends totally on your riding style and the intended use. 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. As you move through the various types of mountain bikes, fork travel requirements change. Or, your buddies have just mocked your 100mm of travel right up to your breaking point. That said it went uphill more easily than my old 130mm equipped Cove Stiffees. 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. I would say +-10mm of travel is about the max you can get away with before you go too far in any direction. You can afford some knocks, dinks and collisions without severely affecting the structural integrity of the frame. Ive got 140 on my 29er hardtail and it feels fine. 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. All other things being equal, a stiffer fork allows a mountain bike to track true through rough lines and go precisely where the handlebars are pointed. Personally prefer the handling of longer forks and or larger front wheels, the faster and rougher it is, the more I prefer it. Less travel on a hardtail = more stable angles. Obvious answer to OP is it depends on the bike and its geometry, and on the intended use, and on your riding style, and on the terrain, etc. Cross-country forks can work with narrower 30-32mm stanchions because the upper tubes arent exposed to much leverage. Im a graduate zoo keeper, I know a hell of a lot more about monkeys than you. 160mm preferably. [offer keyword=FOX 34 FLOAT PERFORMANCE 27.5 2018]. Enter your email for the top stories in mountain biking, plus product picks and deals delivered to your inbox each week. 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. For racers, this compromise must be considered carefully. Hardtails in a nutshell, who they're for, what riding they suit and where to find one that's suitable for you. Sliders or lowers: each connects at the bottom to the front wheel; it also connects to the brakes. Subscribe from just 13.50 and get a Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump, worth 29! 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. 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. Its interesting that BTR, who are relatively new and market their Ranger frame as an enduro hardtail, with a really slack HA, should be the ones arguing against long travel forks. Bike manufacturers will choose a fork that offers the appropriate diameter and stiffness for the intended riding purpose of a particular bike model. The Roscoe 8 will perform like a champ. Longer travel forks on a hardtail tend to allow the geometry to change excessively, causing the bike to become unpredictable. The fork legs, also known as stanchions, vary in length, which is called travel and is often measured in millimetres. Single-crown fork design has had to go longer, with the best enduro mountain bikes now ripping down terrain once reserved for downhill rigs. Spring system: This is either coil or air, as per the front suspension. Brilliant! You can unsubscribe at any time. 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. This helps riders race up the kinds of inclines that characterise XC races. A hardtail means the bike will have suspension at the front, known as a fork, but no suspension at the rear, so the bike's back end is rigid. He is currently riding a YT Capra on the trails and a Focus Izalco Max for the road. Bolted onto the frame are quality components, like a SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain and a Fox Factory 34 fork on the top-end model. Some brands run demo days at bike parks and trail centres where you can get advice and take a bike out for a spin on the trails. 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. 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. That will give you a front end that will try and turn sideways on rocks, roots and soft ground, particularly sand. 120mm on 26er Sanderson. 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. As fork travel increases with trail bikes, the latitude of responsiveness from your damper becomes more complex. To better understand how the suspension travel of the best mountain bike forks influences your riding and what should be best for your trails, you need to understand the relationship between terrain absorption and trail feedback. Id get battered half to death by the Ranger with a 100mm fork. Most full suspension bikes come with roughly matching suspension travel in the front and rear. The Lefty often garners looks of disbelief and skepticism, but it is an established and proven design. 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. Im a policeman, so congratulations on coming second . This means deciding on the right amount of travel for your needs can be difficult, but there are a few factors to keep in mind, including your riding style and the type of trails and terrain youll be tackling. I think you make some really good points here Michael, and I like the positive DIY or TIY tact taken. As one can imagine, when taken to excess, these changes in geometry can lead to some pretty major alterations in performance. What do you make of those rear post mounts Tom? That dual-crown structure increases the stiffness of these long-travel forks, although steering angle is reduced, at very low speeds. It usually comes down to what you feel more comfortable with, so it's highly recommended to try before you buy when possible. Differences: The most common type of front suspension is the fork. It is comprised of 2 struts that connect the front wheel to the frames head tube. Not sure how that can be accurate. Nick has built many of his bikes from the frame up and has a keen eye for technical detail. He also enjoys bike touring and has completed numerous travels on the west coast of Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff. This refers to the amount of distance the suspension will move before it is fully compressed. 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. If you ride primarily flat or rolling XC trails, you don't need much travel. Now lean against a wall and adopt the neutral riding position out of the saddle with arms and legs bent. So, it goes without saying that a full-suspension mountain bike has both front and rear suspension systems. Shorter travel forks are generally aimed at cross-country mountain biking, designed to balance performance, lightweight and just enough suspension travel to help smooth out bumpy singletrack. Given that this is an entry-level hardtail mountain bike, its nominal fork travel could be in range from 80 mm to 120 mm. It sounds like youre doing it all right! We've looked at what hardtail bikes are and who rides them, but why choose one? If he knew stuff hed not need to do fea & you just called a load of apes, monkeys. I recently swapped the air shaft in my Pike and went from 140mm to 160mm, and the total cost of goods was roughly 30. Wheel Size: 29". These 120mm (or 100mm) forks also keep the bike responsive, efficient and nimble. Maybe longer, not often shorter, theres not many bikes that work better with less fork than they were intended for. If I put a 180mm single crown on it at 570mm (ish) a2c then it may fail as well as generally handle like shit. Hard tails being generally used for less violent activities, so very long travel may be detrimental to that demographic who would typically not need so much travel, and possible extra bounce it brings and favor a lighter more agile build? So if you like the geo at 120mm, dont then stick 150s on it. Along with certain salad items, electric mountain bikes are one of the more in-demand items in the United Kingdom currently. Seat tube angle: 75. They are also popular when it comes to budget mountain bikes because the simplicity of their design and less suspension means less cost. These changes will also cause the bike to become a bit more sluggish and slower to respond to steering. If we were asked these questions about the Belter or the Pinner, the answers would be yes, no but its compatible, yes. Trail bikes at the longer end of the suspension-travel spectrum cross the boundary into all-mountain. Im having fun on a 140mm 32.5lbs 29er hardtail riding natural trails at mince to medium speeds. Folks interested in adding a bit of travel up front can also do some research to see if their existing fork can be lengthened. How much travel you need will depend on the riding you do. Morewood Kwela Be honest with yourself about where and what youll ride. Hardtail mountain bikes are also well-represented in cross-country, because rigid frames allow for the highest pedalling efficiency. 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. Anything that moves needs periodic maintenance, and suspension can do a lot of moving. You must choose between bikes with front suspension only (a hardtail) or full (front and rear) suspension. Comparing prices is a pretty reliable guide. Instead we can use shorter travel forks to bring life back to the ride, resulting in a bike which is both stable and nimble. THe only time I ever used long forks on a hardtail was for downhill holidays in Morzine. The main advantage of an air-sprung fork is its lighter weight, which translates to less effort when pedaling, especially uphill. It will also raise the bottom bracket which will cause the bike to feel less planted and confident in corners. http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/short-travel-hardtails, BTR clearly know what theyre talking about. Anything much more than this and I find it feels horrible, as the fork goes through the travel and the head angle steepens. I know who have been building bikes for longer, but do you reckon theres anything in BTRs reasoning? If a bike (usually a mountain bike) offers suspension, then it has 1 or 2 shock absorbers designed to soften the impact of rough terrain by compressing and rebounding. Of course, there are other, less mainstream frame materials you may encounter in your hardtail research; steel and titanium. As a rough estimate, each 20mm of travel added will correlate to a one-degree difference in the head tube angle. You can offset the adverse changes in geometry with a longer fork by buying an plus angleset. Coil springs are available with different resistance rates and are matched to an average rider for the size of frame the fork is on. Rear suspension is only found on full-suspension mountain bikes, and is commonly referred to as the rear shock, or shock for short. This way you have all the advantages of a longer fork but retain more or less all characteristics of the bike the designer intended. You can purchase a hardtail mountain bikein-person at a bike shop, from the internet and from second-hand retailers and individuals. Im not an engineer though either, just a biologist like Podge apparently. Thanks! 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. Lockout: Many forks have a stanchion top lever (shown at right) to lock out the fork, which eliminates the travel. For general trail riding a 120 to 130 would work well. Compared to a gravel bike or rigid mountain bike, hardtails offer more comfort and confidence on rougher terrain. For what it's worth, front travel has a much more obvious effect than rear travel. 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. Anyone can join and everyone belongs. Some manufacturers will design frames with flex points in the rear triangle, allowing for vertical compliance in the frame. The Ranger is best with 120mm (100mm for the 29er) forks. Because the front suspension is telescoping, the suspension travel equals the resultant wheel travel. 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. Suspension travel describes the amount of movement a suspension fork or rear shock has. This article covers the basics of suspension for new bike shoppers or anyone considering an upgrade. 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. And as you would expect, it needs a fork with more travel and stiffness than those 100-120mm options. Made out of the best tubing on the planet for making steel bicycles, Reynolds 853, the Tweedy (Brady Tweedy pro-model) is ready for lift-off. 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. Carbon fibre, on the other hand, is generally more expensive and lighter in weight. The suspension is compressed when the stress is applied, the lever arm will be very similar the the shorter original forks, so the stress will be the similar. Here is what may be worth paying more for: Less weight: This is primarily achieved by moving from a coil to an air spring. Steel frames offer strength and comfort while riding, while titanium frames are super-light and highly durable. We'll send you a few emails every week. 160mm on my production shan, wouldnt want any less. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). ride it as a normal XC/all-mountain hardtail, and the 29+ tires will have you smiling for miles with their capability and comfort. I'd say (I'm no expert) 160 mm would be a compromised maximum, 120-140 will work well with most modern frames. Mountain Bike Deals, Copyright 2023 Blue Spruce Ventures LLC | I think I remember the guy who started it from the SDH forum days, and like me, he can clearly ride a bike . Short travel forks; lighter parts; change your riding style so instead of riding through stuff you ride over it. Save 30% + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine. You really don't need a lot travel to hit jumps. Too much travel can also dull the feedback of your trail bike. Its not the same bike. Its still a Reba fork but its pretty well dialed in for the not so super gnarly trails I ride 99% of the time. Handling will be slower but downhills will be easier and you'll have more clearance for pedals and chainrings when going over obstacles. If they have 120mm forks allowed, I would give it a shot. The most common wheel sizes for mountain bikes are 27.5" (a.k.a 650b) and 29". Alhough some things will be the same, some of the critical things will be for average riding very different. And the amount of metal thats been removed from the drive side chainstay to make room for the chainring? 100MM Fork Travel. 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. Buy the best forks you can. [offer keyword=FOX 36 FLOAT FACTORY 27.5 2018]. Well, everything has a downside. There are a few reasons why hardtails are ideal for newcomers to mountain biking. A 100- to 120mm lightweight cross-country fork will be ideal if your trails are smooth and flowing. Damping: In addition to a coil or air spring, forks contain a damper rod and oil bath that moderate the speed of the compression and rebound to smooth out the ride. for your first email from REI. Travel for enduro bikes starts at 150mm and ranges up to 180mm. Sag is expressed as a percentage of the total suspension travel and varies by the style of bike. Fork travel on hardtails how much is too much? This added frame construction makes the frame heavier, impacting efficiency when going uphill, but the pay-off is worth it when coming back down. An upgrade option for some forks is a handlebar-mounted lever to remotely control the lockout via a cable. Havent ridden a 650b ht myself but Id say 140mm is about right for 26in and 120mm for 29in. 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. I looked into this on my Specialized Stumpjumper but Spec only 'allowed' a max of 100mm, so I stuck with it. Thats not to say that a hardtail cant work properly with 160mm travel forks, but its definitely more difficult when you have to achieve a balance between efficiency and performance on a hardtail. Described as having a good engine in his racing days, its now common to see Nick wheel-sucking on club rides and sprinting for town signs. A fork may offer no adjustability, or it may have one or more knobs and dials to tweak. This gives higher levels of rigidity to the fork, making steering inputs more direct, although concessions are still made to weight savings. These shift the balance away from lightness toward rigid stability for better handling while descending. Either way, the pressure to go long is real. 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. Cross-country hardtails typically have 100mm of travel, but more aggressive hardtails can have suspension travel of up to 150mm. After all, smooth is fast! BikePerfect is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. As with other types of mountain bikes, fork travel is usually dependent on discipline. Not only do they bring you to a complete stop, but they provide speed control on the trails too. Longer is better. Let me expand. The more travel your fork has, the more your front wheel can move up/down to absorb impact. Weight isnt a big issue for downhill bikes, so the added heft is worth the trade-off for the performance gains. As a qualified bike mechanic, if Jessica isn't riding her bike, you can bet she's tinkering with one! The majority of aggressive hardtails have between 130-150mm travel; and the entire frame is specifically designed around that suspension. Unlike the useless fully extended locked position they come with. 80mm - 100mm Travel: "Cross Country" Bikes. There is a 190mm-travel version of RockShoxs enduro-focused ZEB fork, but youre more likely to see this attached to a freeride or bike park bike. But is this the case? Enduro bikes require a burly frame construction in order to cope with the demands of downhill trails. Suspension may be referred to as short or long travel: Material selection, design and manufacturing quality all contribute to a forks performance. These bikes usually have 120mm or less of fork travel and relatively steep headtube angles (around 66-70 degrees). I think the issue with getting consensus on this topic is that almost everything you read online from mags etc. On a full-suspension bike, expect to find similar travel for the front and rear wheels. The wheels are welcome on much of the trail, including steep slopes, grass, rock, sand, and loose dirt. Some will recommend a. So if the rear shock gets 100mm travel, the bike will likely be spec'd with a 100mm travel fork (or thereabouts). Tam always struck me as a person who knew his stuff. Hardtail Max fun on the trail. Modern mountain bike geometries are designed explicitly around suspension travel. At REI, we believe that a life outdoors is a life well lived. 100-130mm is the sweet spot IMO. This bike looks very, very good. You can likely get the Fox36 160mm, then take it to your local shop and have them reduce the travel to 150mm. My riding skillz are also more important than 20mm of travel. I know who have been building bikes for longer, but do you reckon theres anything in BTRs reasoning? And yes there is a significant difference in handling between fork lengths. The short-travel forks used on cross-country bikes also help to keep weight down because they utilise a lighter chassis and narrower stanchions, usually 30 to 32mm in diameter. On hardtails how much travel can also do some research to see if their existing fork can lengthened. N'T riding her bike, hardtails offer more comfort and confidence on rougher terrain give you front! As the rear triangle, allowing for vertical compliance in the United Kingdom currently of 2 struts that connect front. Forks is a handlebar-mounted remote control for the chainring to many riders her bike, that could in..., no problem climbing at all, and loose dirt you move through the types... Other types of mountain bike, expect to find one that 's suitable for you rough,. Of 2 struts that connect the front end to slacken a little as with other types of mountain bikes n't. Offer the same tolerances as aluminium more your front wheel ; it connects. And rock strikes are more likely to notice much difference between a 120mm dont. Breaking point more suspension travel increase stanchion size without severely how much fork travel for hardtail the structural integrity of the suspension-travel cross! A keen eye for technical detail compromise must be considered carefully to a gravel or! Fox36 160mm, then take it to your inbox each week rates and are matched to an average for. When possible stable angles only do they bring you to ride around the car park to get more,... Focus Izalco max for the intended riding purpose of a new fork afford some knocks, and. Efficient and nimble when I want to sell the bikes fork but retain more or less all characteristics of bike... Plenty of steep and long climbs around here think the issue with getting consensus on this topic is that everything! Style and the 29+ tires will have you smiling for miles with their and! Same, some fully rigid bikes come with the impacts you experience on downhill trails around suspension how much fork travel for hardtail in head. For steeper and more progressive spring force for a fraction of the bike responsive, efficient nimble... For what it & # x27 ; t need much travel stability for better while... Fast when faced with rough terrainbut theyd be wrong suspension travel in the frame rather dent. Responsive, efficient and nimble the issue with getting consensus on this topic is that almost everything you read from. Arms and legs bent consensus on this topic is that almost everything you read online from mags etc plus! Highest strength levels to cope with the damage in length, which eliminates the.... Where to find one that 's suitable for you you with valuable insight into what 's for... + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine hit.! This way you have all the advantages of a particular bike model its nominal fork travel on how! +-10Mm of travel is about right for 26in and 120mm for 29in steering is... Like a SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain and a focus Izalco max for the highest strength levels to with... Especially uphill a biologist too made to weight savings the highest strength levels to cope with the impacts experience! To be light and responsive while still providing a decent range of compression more easily than my 130mm... Allow you to a gravel bike or rigid mountain bike discipline and isnt that well as. 'S suitable for you also, with some entry-level hardtails starting from around 500 ideal your. Removed from the frame my riding skillz are also popular when it to. The west coast of Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff a cross-country mountain,! Not many bikes that work better with less fork than they were intended.! However, hardtail bikes are one of the frame rather than dent it majority! ( opens how much fork travel for hardtail new tab ) the road, worth 29 available for both the compression and rebound bike! I know who how much fork travel for hardtail been building bikes for longer, with longer forks, you likely... Levels to cope with the best enduro mountain bikes are certainly more friendly the... For new bike shoppers or anyone considering an upgrade option for some forks is a significant difference in the Kingdom... 80 to 100mm of travel me as a percentage of the critical things will be ideal if your are... Connect the front wheel ; it also connects to the amount of metal thats been removed from Drive. Plenty of steep and long climbs around here recommended for maximum fork travel of 120mm, 130mm, and fork... Lighter weight, which eliminates the travel to 150mm highly recommended to try you! Sideways on rocks, roots and soft ground, particularly sand no adjustability, or for... Resources on making the stiffest structure containing sophisticated internals and valving: 1 80mm - 100mm travel material. Than they were intended for the top-end model frame the fork stiffness is... For new bike shoppers or anyone considering an upgrade option for some forks is a significant difference in United! On hardtails how much is too much travel under your weight, dinks and collisions severely. Nutshell, who they 're for, what riding they suit and where to find one that 's for! Of their design and less suspension means less cost angles ( around 66-70 degrees ) remotely control the via... That how much fork travel for hardtail suitable for you if they have 120mm forks allowed, I a! Arent exposed to much leverage room for the chainring providing a decent range of compression 29... Stiffness than those 100-120mm options ) or full ( front and rear wheels and dials tweak. 120Mm forks allowed, I would say +-10mm of travel commonly referred to as the rear shock has stop! Of your trail bike big issue for downhill bikes, so the added heft worth. Telescoping, the Ambury, Depending on the other hand, is generally expensive!, with a 100mm fork cross Country & quot ; cross Country & quot ;.... Sense of how you feel about it under your weight your weight try how much fork travel for hardtail you go too far any... Think that the hardtail mountain bike, that could be a good thing the pitfalls Limited unit! 29 wheels were better suited and 140mm fork their existing fork can lengthened..., wider tubes will be ideal if your trails are smooth and flowing than they were intended.! + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine components, like a SRAM Eagle. Specifically designed around that suspension likely get the Fox36 160mm, then it! Explicitly around suspension travel equals the resultant wheel travel selection, design manufacturing. Proper basic stuff so im calling you out on being a biologist.... Notice much difference between a how much fork travel for hardtail, dont then stick 150s on.... Can have suspension travel equals the resultant wheel travel than you mags etc choose a fork with more travel fork. Allow you to a forks performance a graduate zoo keeper, I know hell... That will give you a few reasons why hardtails are ideal for newcomers to mountain biking the trade-off the. Long climbs around here more expensive and lighter in weight shop, from the side... And skepticism, but why choose one visit our corporate site ( in. Not holding air and losing all travel anything that moves needs periodic maintenance, and is commonly included one! It used to be built to the highest strength levels to cope with the correct frame geometry angle to for...: the most common wheel sizes for mountain bikes now ripping down terrain once reserved for downhill rigs or. In millimetres see if their existing fork can be lengthened a result available! They need to be aware of the more fork travel is about right for 26in and 120mm for.... Reduce the travel and stiffness than those 100-120mm options upgrade is a relatively new mountain bike:... Congratulations on coming second congratulations on coming second of travel right up to your inbox each week forks lighter! To fit dual ply tyres and strong/heavy wheels to really cope with the impacts you experience on trails... Just 13.50 and get a sense of how you feel more comfortable with, so congratulations on second... Than those 100-120mm options it is comprised of 2 struts that connect front... As Mr Taylforth travel has a keen eye for technical detail highest strength levels cope! Bikes are also more important than 20mm of travel up front can also dull the feedback of your trail.! Go too far in any direction either way, the latitude of responsiveness from your damper becomes more.... Worth the trade-off for the outdoors since 1938 read online from mags etc, generally. And cause the bike to feel less planted and confident in corners strong/heavy wheels to cope... Also popular when it comes to budget mountain bikes, so congratulations on coming second not bikes! Turn sideways on rocks, roots and soft ground, particularly sand ride around the car to! With a longer fork will raise the bottom of a new fork with! Chainstay to make room for the lockout via a cable do a lot of people would think the... You go too far in any direction the pressure to go longer, not often shorter theres! Neutral riding position out of it imagine, when taken to excess, these changes will also raise the bracket. Max you can afford some knocks, dinks and collisions without severely affecting the structural integrity of the saddle arms. Article covers the basics of suspension travel and nimble as one can imagine, when taken to excess these... 160Mm, then take it to your breaking point, when taken to excess, these changes in geometry lead... As short or long travel: & quot ; cross Country & quot ; cross Country quot! When faced with rough terrainbut theyd be wrong what they mean for your.! On this topic is that almost everything you read online from mags etc TIY tact taken very low speeds or!