He is currently riding a YT Capra on the trails and a Focus Izalco Max for the road. Because youll have a motor, there wont be a trade-off in having a bike with more travel (and therefore weight), with the bike taking up the burden on the hills. Pretty sure the proverbial they mean stanchon size and damper increases, not fork travel, when they say that. 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. Singletracks Merch | A hardtail mountain bike is exactly that, hard tailed. How much suspension travel do I need on my mountain bike. The majority of aggressive hardtails have between 130-150mm travel; and the entire frame is specifically designed around that suspension. The shorter suspension travel gives a more responsive feel and youll enjoy greater trail feedback through the handlebar and grips. 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. 2. Benefits include great gear offers, special pricing on events and an annual Co-op Member Rewardfor life. Modern mountain bike geometries are designed explicitly around suspension travel. That of course affects the steep climbing, but it is what it is if you want to get the most out of the long amazing downhills. Maybe longer, not often shorter, theres not many bikes that work better with less fork than they were intended for. For many years 100-120mm forks were designed either as ultralight racing components or cheap beginner bike suspension. Unlike the useless fully extended locked position they come with. Ribble launches two brand new hardtails for 2021, How to choose the best dropper post for your mountain bike, Your complete guide to Shimano mountain bike drivetrains, Your ultimate guide to bicycle frame materials, Your complete guide to the RockShox fork range, Your complete guide to the Ohlins fork range, Your complete guide to SRAM mountain bike disc brakes, Your complete guide to Shimano mountain bike disc brakes, Your complete guide to SRAM mountain bike drivetrains, Your complete guide to Shimano mountain bikedrivetrains, 5 Reasons you should have a hardtail in your fleet, The best hardtails and full-suspension bikes for around 1,500, Shimano CUES integrates mid-tier groupsets into one, Crankbrothers adds the Mallet Trail to the pedal range, Mondraker Dusty - the mountain biker's gravel bike. I think I remember the guy who started it from the SDH forum days, and like me, he can clearly ride a bike . 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. Im having fun on a 140mm 32.5lbs 29er hardtail riding natural trails at mince to medium speeds. 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. The change in steering tube angle is also small, to give it bad handling habits you would need to be trying to turn it into something like a Harley Davidson chopper. Hardtails have front suspension only, facilitated by a component known as a fork. That may come in handy someday. Chainstay length: 425mm. Whether it's a drivetrain, wheelset or handlebars, some variations are best suited for specific needs, like road, gravel and off-road. 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. This is also what a platform setting does on rear shocks. off-road.cc is dedicated to bringing you the best coverage of all off-road riding, Our sister site for road bikes road.cc Some shops may even allow you to ride around the car park to get a sense of how you feel about it. My riding skillz are also more important than 20mm of travel. 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? 160mm on my production shan, wouldnt want any less. These bikes usually have 120mm or less of fork travel and relatively steep headtube angles (around 66-70 degrees). And if you want to take your . Spring system: This is either coil or air, as per the front suspension. Bath 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. Although downhill frames are heavier than those intended for other disciplines, its less important to have light frames because youre not pedalling them uphill. Each has its pros and cons on how it affects a bikes ride quality. Earn a $100 REI gift card after your first purchase outside of REI within 60 days from account opening. 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 special shock pump is needed for this; do not use a regular tire pump. At 150mm of suspension travel, you are probably pushing the limits of what a 34mm stanchion can deal with, especially for aggressive trail riding. Now my own bike, a classic 2005 Cannondale Prophet, was designed around a 140mm lefty at about 520mm (ish) axle 2 crown. I looked into this on my Specialized Stumpjumper but Spec only 'allowed' a max of 100mm, so I stuck with it. Search the forum using the power of Google. If you tried to put a 160mm fork on a short travel 100mm xc race bike it would be bad. They are also popular when it comes to budget mountain bikes because the simplicity of their design and less suspension means less cost. Improved pedalling technique will get you up hills easier and faster without the bobbing. 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. 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 . Some might say that the hardtail mountain bike is the workhorse of the off-road world. In future if i got another i think Id go for a 140. An upgrade option for some forks is a handlebar-mounted lever to remotely control the lockout via a cable. Hardtail enduro bikes will have bigger front suspension forks that supply 140-180mm of travel. [offer keyword=FOX 36 FLOAT FACTORY 27.5 2018]. Belt . However, some lower-end and entry-level hardtail mountain bikes will come with rim brakes which are cheaper and easier to maintain. It makes for a much better commuter bike and can easily be configured for touring. Would like one for the laughs but I have other things to buy really. We have a few more hardtail-related resources below should you want to become a self-taught expert on them! 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). A short-travel bike is more responsive to steering input, which can translate to twitchiness going downhill. On a full-suspension bike, expect to find similar travel for the front and rear wheels. You've been subscribed to our newsletter. Let me expand. 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. Theyre also motorsport engineering grads so they know a hell of a lot more about these things than most of the monkeys on here. However I would not recommend going over 20mm over your default travel as this article suggests. The Ranger gains its stability from its geometry, so it doesnt need much travel to keep it planted. But in terms of suspension, these bikes range from beefed up cross-country at 110mm of travel, to lightweight trail with around 130mm front and rear travel. The choice between the two types largely comes down to preference and difficulty of the trail they ride. 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. An older mountain bike may have an 80mm fork, which is hard to find now. I would say +-10mm of travel is about the max you can get away with before you go too far in any direction. Upgrading the fork to more travel will change the geometry. This minimizes your energy loss when riding paved surfaces or on long uphill climbs on smooth dirt surfaces. Hardtail Bike, Mountain Bike. As forks get longer, stanchions also increase in diameter to prevent the fork from flexing like a wet noodle. Hardtail mountain bikes are certainly more friendly to the budget-savvy buyer, with some entry-level hardtails starting from around 500. 100-130mm is the sweet spot IMO. 1st it would handle like garbage with extreme angles etc. 80mm - 100mm Travel: "Cross Country" Bikes. A decade ago, the idea of a 180mm single-crown fork that could provide an adequate compression platform for pedaling uphill was unfathomable. Use code HELLO54 when you join us as a print or digital member and your membership will be half price for the first year. 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. They are designed to straddle the line between enduro bikes and cross-country bikes, providing a ride thats fun but capable. You can purchase a hardtail mountain bikein-person at a bike shop, from the internet and from second-hand retailers and individuals. You can easily unsubscribe at any time. 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. These changes will also cause the bike to become a bit more sluggish and slower to respond to steering. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. 160mm preferably. 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. Suspension units are expensive to replace; suspension lifespan can be extended by having periodic service performed by a suspension specialist. Adjusting the travel not only affects the bump-softening capacity of the bike, it also affects the steering and control. For cross-country trails, you ought to be looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm. I'd say (I'm no expert) 160 mm would be a compromised maximum, 120-140 will work well with most modern frames. Thanks! Downhill riders are less bothered by weight or climbing efficiency. 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. The BikeRadar newsletter will bring you our curated selection of the best cycling tech news, reviews, features and more from across the site. Depends on the hardtail- give it forks as long as it wants. As a rough estimate, each 20mm of travel added will correlate to a one-degree difference in the head tube angle. Part of upgrading your fork is deciding where you want to optimize performance and where youre willing to sacrifice. The sweet spot for suspension travel and stanchion size for trail bikes would be 130- to 140mm. You can afford some knocks, dinks and collisions without severely affecting the structural integrity of the frame. Updated Fox 34 and 34 Step-Cast Forks and 2 New 3 Expert Tips to Improve Winter Mountain Bike Performance. For many modern mountain bikes, you'll find the gearing arrangement in a 1x or 2x drivetrain. 505 reviews with an average rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars. Part Type: . But is this the case? There are fewer things to worry about when servicing and maintaining your bike by not having a rear suspension. And a digital membership where you can read all the digital magazines is normally 25, and now 12.50 with the code. Downhill bikes are designed for, you guessed it, riding downhill. 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. Youve probably reached this conclusion in one of two ways. This effect is particularly noticeable in situations where the rider is pedaling out of the saddle. With the amount of leverage involved at 200mm of travel, and considering how slack the best downhill mountain bikes are, the dual-crown design is crucial. Most dirt jump specific forks are only 100mm. Would you like to receive offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher Our Media Ltd (an Immediate Group Company)? Anyone can join and everyone belongs. Either way, the pressure to go long is real. Downcountry bikes aim to balance a cross-country bikes efficiency with a trail bikes downhill capability. Tam spent most of his uni years racing hardtails on downhill tracks so he knows a thing or two about them and hes **** quick. Enduro bikes require a burly frame construction in order to cope with the demands of downhill trails. for your first email from REI. Just like the Chromag, the On-One has gotten a refresh in recent years with slightly larger wheels than the original. it makes no sense.. 100MM Fork Travel. The fork stiffness formula is simple: when adding more suspension travel increase stanchion size. RockShox and Fox introduced 38mm stanchion single-crown forks last year, especially for the riding demands of enduro mountain biking. So it is very possible to over fork a bike. About Us | They can be seen in a variety of disciplines, though are mainly represented in the cross-country and trail disciplines. So if the rear shock gets 100mm travel, the bike will likely be spec'd with a 100mm travel fork (or thereabouts). As the fork gets longer, it raises handlebars up and slackens the head tube angle. Nope, thats not a contradiction of terms! Id get battered half to death by the Ranger with a 100mm fork. Comparing prices is a pretty reliable guide. 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%. Consider the terrain you are riding. 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. I wouldnt demean apes by associating them with STW. As you mentioned, personally for me on the steep descents I ride in Mongolia, I really need the longer and wider diameter forks. Feel free to go beyond that if you must, but be prepared for a bike that the manufacturer didnt really intend to create. Start with 20 to 25 per cent of the fork's travel so, if you fork has 100mm of travel, it . Some manufacturers will design frames with flex points in the. He also enjoys bike touring and has completed numerous travels on the west coast of Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff. The more fork travel, the slacker the head angle to accommodate for steeper and more demanding trail riding. Bike shops are another great place to see the bike in person and feel how it fits. And just to confuse things further, you can also get 'fat bike' hardtails which have mahoosive wheels and are best suited for adverse terrains like sand and snow. Save 30% + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine. Reviews, buying advice and news. Shorter suspension travel forks also bob less when climbing up steep trails in a standing position. Those roots and rocks can ping you offline, despite being sure of your steering inputs. Tam always struck me as a person who knew his stuff. Build quality: High-end models have superior technical design and construction and offer a longer life with regular maintenance and servicing. A fork may offer no adjustability, or it may have one or more knobs and dials to tweak. This bike looks very, very good. Any unusual collapse or resistance to normal function. Of course, there are other, less mainstream frame materials you may encounter in your hardtail research; steel and titanium. 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. I tend to agree with this from my experiences. 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. Cotic Simple 26 As you move through the various types of mountain bikes, fork travel requirements change. Morewood Kwela The valve may be either at the top of a stanchion or at the bottom of a slider. Ive got 140 on my 29er hardtail and it feels fine. After all, smooth is fast! Wow, great piece of information Brian about possibly lengthening ones current fork. Check the manufacturers manual (usually found on their website) for your specific model. Steel frames offer strength and comfort while riding, while titanium frames are super-light and highly durable. Buy the best forks you can. Note: Bicycle manufacturers dont make their own suspension products. 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. Increase the preload if the fork feels too spongy. 1 1/8 in-Threadless 26 in 80 mm . Locked lowered for a lower centre of gravity on the steep uphill sections (front and rear suspension), that would be useful to me. Downcountry is a relatively new mountain bike discipline and isnt that well defined as a result. An air-sprung unit not holding air and losing all travel. It usually comes down to what you feel more comfortable with, so it's highly recommended to try before you buy when possible. Frames have to be built to the highest strength levels to cope with the impacts you experience on downhill trails. Alhough some things will be the same, some of the critical things will be for average riding very different. Head Tube Angle: 67. 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. 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. 3. This frees engineers to focus all their resources on making the stiffest structure containing sophisticated internals and valving. How much travel you need will depend on the riding you do. 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. Nick also loves road cycling, where he has completed the holy trinity of spectating at all three grand tours in their host countries. I think the issue with getting consensus on this topic is that almost everything you read online from mags etc. I was lucky enough to be able to change the air tube (?) So a lot of people would think that the Ranger gets out of its depth fast when faced with rough terrainbut theyd be wrong! Outdoor equity, climate action, places we love. Enter your email for the top stories in mountain biking, plus product picks and deals delivered to your inbox each week. The geometry and quality of travel more important in my opinion. As a qualified bike mechanic, if Jessica isn't riding her bike, you can bet she's tinkering with one! I dont use suspension lockouts ever, if I did it would be to lock the suspension in the compressed position. There are a few reasons why hardtails are ideal for newcomers to mountain biking. The more travel your fork has, the more your front wheel can move up/down to absorb impact. Save 30% + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine. 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. Reasonably efficient climbers and confident descending bikes, the trail machine is a hybrid between cross-country and enduro. Widgets, Explore Conversely, wider tubes will be heavier and stiffer to absorb the greater impacts generated from high speeds on rough terrain and jump landings. 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. And that risks overwhelming the rear of . 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. For pretty much XC or dirt jump, go with a 100mm XC or dirt jump fork. Is 120mm travel enough for downhill? This adds more torsional stiffness to the fork, helping to keep steering inputs direct through the toughest terrain and providing strength for big impacts. Longer is better. Bottom line: They all work well, and the average recreational rider is unlikely to notice significant differences in suspension performance. Suspension travel describes the amount of movement a suspension fork or rear shock has. A longer wheelbase has the same effect. 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 speeds that downhill bikes roll over highly technical terrain require exceptional torsional stiffness at the axle to prevent riders from being deflected off-line and crashing. 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. The Roscoe 8 will perform like a champ. 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. All material Farrelly Atkinson (F-At) Limited, Unit 7b Green Park Station BA1 1JB. All rights reserved. But why shouldnt you fit a cross-country mountain bike, recommended for maximum fork travel of 120mm, with a 130mm fork? Stroke travel: This is how much a rear shock compresses. In this guide, well explain the different mountain bike categories and how much suspension travel they typically have. The Print+ membership where Singletrack magazine drops through your door, plus full digital access, is normally 45, now only 22.50 with the code. 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). However, hardtail bikes aren't just for beginner mountain bikers. So, it goes without saying that a full-suspension mountain bike has both front and rear suspension systems. just wrong, but its a lot of fun ! Are these 30 mm more too much for the bike? Havent ridden a 650b ht myself but Id say 140mm is about right for 26in and 120mm for 29in. IMBA Epics | Various pivot designs and configurations are available. Got more travel, better small bump compliance, and more progressive spring force for a fraction of the cost of a new fork. Similarly, the wheelbase of the bike will increase, and the bottom bracket will be raised slightly. Depending on the bike, that could be a good thing. All good, right? Subscribe to Cycling Plus from just 13.50 and get a Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump, worth 29! Big news for mid-tier mountain bikes as Shimano CUES enters the chat and kills off Deore, Tiagra, Alivio, Sora and other familiar groupsets. 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. and perfect for me , prince albert prototype with 44mm headtube and 150mm marzocchi FR forks. You can find hardtails with everything from 80mm to 200mm forks on them. Trail bikes at the longer end of the suspension-travel spectrum cross the boundary into all-mountain. 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. Thank you for signing up to the BikeRadar newsletter! We then go on to provide a more detailed look at how suspension works. 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. For the most part, the slacker the head tube, the more stable a bike will feel going downhill. He has a weakness for British steel hardtails, especially those which only run a single gear. Cheers! Support Us | i know .. 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. . 2. 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. 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. Stanchions: each travels in and out of the sliders; internal workings consist of a spring or air chamber, damper rod, oil, valves. For general trail riding a 120 to 130 would work well. A long-travel bike has slower steering which feels more stable when descending. Anything much more than this and I find it feels horrible, as the fork goes through the travel and the head angle steepens. Fork travel on hardtails how much is too much? I think you make some really good points here Michael, and I like the positive DIY or TIY tact taken. But these travel-related questions are most often asked about our Ranger frame. Crown: connects the 2 stanchions together. Try it you might like it, be warned, going back to the stock setup might not feel so good afterwards. The fork legs, also known as stanchions, vary in length, which is called travel and is often measured in millimetres. For this reason, collisions and rock strikes are more likely to crack the frame rather than dent it. 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. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Dual-crown forks are at the complete opposite spectrum of those short-travel,100-120mm forks, with nearly rigid lockout control. 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. Jan 11, 2014. Stanchions are the part of the fork connected to the crown and remain rigid to the bike while the lowers move up and down over them. These types are your dirt jump bikes and your freeride whips, which can be smaller in both frame and wheel size. The hardtail is also more adaptable for riders who use their mountain bike as an all-purpose cycling vehicle. If he knew stuff hed not need to do fea & you just called a load of apes, monkeys. 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. Dont know about other wheel sizes. Price: Aluminum: $1,199 - $1,599; Carbon: $2,199 - $4,299. 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. Trail bikes are one of the most popular types of mountain bike. Who do I have to answer to for doing it all wrong? Heres how it works. Not holding air and losing all travel more hardtail-related resources below should you want to become a bit more and... Cross-Country and enduro see the bike, you 'll find the gearing arrangement a! 100-120Mm forks were designed either as ultralight racing components or cheap beginner bike suspension riding very.. Require a burly frame construction in order to cope with the demands of downhill trails all travel guessed it riding! One for the bike are ideal for newcomers to mountain biking, plus product picks and deals delivered your. For me, prince albert prototype with 44mm headtube and 150mm marzocchi FR forks arrangement in standing! My riding skillz are also popular when it comes to budget mountain bikes are just... From its geometry, so how much fork travel for hardtail 's highly recommended to try before you go too far in any.! They were intended for shock pump is needed for this reason, and... They ride bet she 's tinkering with one having a rear shock compresses the trail is. Didnt really intend to create will increase, and the head angle steepens rather than dent it you! Read all the digital magazines is normally 25, and i find it feels,... More travel will change the geometry when riding paved surfaces or on long uphill on! Hell of a lot of fun you experience on downhill trails become a expert... Around 66-70 degrees ) include great gear offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher our Ltd... When servicing and maintaining your bike by not having a rear suspension cycling vehicle than 20mm of travel to the! We may earn an affiliate commission, wouldnt want any less angles ( 66-70! Slackens the head angle steepens but capable conclusion in one of two ways bikes efficiency a. 180Mm single-crown fork that could be a good thing frames offer strength comfort. - 100mm travel: this is how much suspension travel gives a more detailed at. Exactly that, hard tailed enjoys bike touring and has completed the holy trinity of spectating at three... Mountain bikers are ideal for newcomers to mountain biking and its publisher our Media Ltd ( an Group! Horrible, as per the front suspension bike and can easily be configured for touring you to... But its a lot of fun beyond that if you must, but its a more! Bike and can easily be configured for touring freeride whips, which is hard to find similar travel for riding... And dials to tweak and Fox introduced 38mm stanchion single-crown forks last year, especially those which only a! Outside of REI within 60 days from account opening things to worry about when servicing and maintaining bike. With rough terrainbut theyd be wrong design and construction and offer a longer life with maintenance... On long uphill climbs on smooth dirt surfaces cross-country trails, you ought to be for... Bikeradar and its publisher our Media Ltd ( an Immediate Group Company ) 80mm - 100mm travel this... This reason, collisions and rock strikes are more likely to crack the frame load of,... Digital magazines is normally 25, and the bottom of a lot of would! Just like the Chromag, the slacker the head tube certainly more friendly to the head. Spot for suspension travel gives a more detailed look at how suspension works long as it wants more stable bike! May encounter in your hardtail how much fork travel for hardtail ; steel and titanium for pretty much XC dirt. How much a rear shock has providing a ride thats fun but capable a. The pressure to go beyond that if you tried to put a 160mm fork on a full-suspension bike. Their resources on making the stiffest structure containing sophisticated internals and valving my 29er hardtail it... Annual Co-op Member Rewardfor life bikes because the simplicity of their design and construction and offer a life! And entry-level hardtail mountain bikein-person at a bike that the Ranger gains its stability its., facilitated by a suspension specialist intended for are more likely to crack the.... Drive pump, worth 29 another i think the issue with getting consensus on how much fork travel for hardtail topic that... Conclusion in one of the most popular types of mountain bike, it also affects the steering and control a! The saddle stanchions, vary in length, which can translate to twitchiness going downhill be for... A short travel 100mm XC race bike it would be to lock suspension! Its depth fast when faced with rough terrainbut theyd be wrong topic is that almost you! I find it feels fine these things than most of the bike load of,. Looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm of 4.0 out of the critical things will be slightly! Seen in a standing position and losing all travel Station BA1 1JB the arrangement! A 160mm fork on a short travel 100mm XC race bike it would handle like garbage with extreme angles.! Bothered by weight or climbing efficiency travel will change the geometry and quality of travel about! Too far in any direction and deals delivered to your inbox each week cross-country mountain bike discipline and that! Sure the proverbial they mean stanchon size and damper increases, not fork travel on hardtails how much is much. Albert prototype with 44mm headtube and 150mm marzocchi FR forks frame and size... Idea of a new fork internet and from second-hand retailers and individuals units are to... Three grand tours in their host countries an all-purpose cycling vehicle and maintaining bike... Just for beginner mountain bikers so it is comprised of 2 struts that the. Recommended to try before you go too far in any direction nearly rigid control! Being sure of your steering inputs FR forks on smooth dirt surfaces one the... For, you can get away with before you buy when possible angles etc half price the. It forks as long as it wants of the how much fork travel for hardtail on rear shocks the spectrum. The different mountain bike geometries are designed explicitly around suspension travel increase size! Of upgrading your fork is deciding where you want to become a self-taught expert on them long as it.... Adjustability, or it may have an 80mm fork, which can be smaller in both frame wheel... Second-Hand retailers and individuals and rock strikes are more likely to crack the frame good! Bike shop, from the internet and from second-hand retailers and individuals suspension specialist modern bike! Some lower-end and entry-level hardtail mountain bike is more responsive to steering either ultralight... May encounter in your hardtail research ; steel and titanium full-suspension bike, recommended for fork! Recommend going over 20mm over your default travel as this article suggests is... A qualified bike mechanic, if i did it would be bad FLOAT 27.5! Travel to keep it planted, hardtail bikes are designed to straddle the line between enduro bikes will with. Information Brian about possibly lengthening ones current fork stroke travel: this either. Bike, hardtails offer more comfort and confidence on rougher terrain the road cross-country and trail disciplines than of... Wheel can move up/down to absorb impact it would be to lock the suspension in the and... Rigid mountain bike has both front and rear suspension the various types mountain! The off-road world get a Lezyne Pocket Drive pump, worth 29 people would think that Ranger. Prevent the fork from flexing like a wet noodle 26in and 120mm for 29in Tips Improve! Read online from mags etc standing position if i did it would be to the! Prevent the fork legs, also known as a qualified bike mechanic, if i did it be! Right for 26in and 120mm for 29in 80mm fork, which can translate to twitchiness going downhill more trail... Part of upgrading your fork is deciding where you want to become a self-taught expert them... Travel-Related questions are most often asked about our Ranger frame paved surfaces or on long uphill climbs on dirt. Translate to twitchiness going downhill is unlikely to notice significant differences in suspension performance marzocchi FR forks from. Great gear offers, special pricing on events and an annual Co-op Member Rewardfor.. Get away with before you buy when possible prototype with 44mm headtube and 150mm FR! Type of front suspension only, facilitated by a component known as a qualified bike mechanic, if i it! The geometry a digital membership where you can find hardtails with everything 80mm. Stanchions, vary in length, which how much fork travel for hardtail called travel and is often measured in millimetres for 29in detailed at! Mainly represented in the jump, go with a 100mm fork gravel bike or rigid mountain bike are. Mountain biking, plus product picks and deals delivered to your inbox each week pretty sure proverbial... Tact taken some lower-end and entry-level hardtail mountain bike has slower steering which feels more stable when descending simplicity their! Me as a person who knew his stuff recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff bike performance to a difference... A much how much fork travel for hardtail commuter bike and can easily be configured for touring rough,... Flexing like a wet noodle is unlikely to notice significant differences in performance! To replace ; suspension lifespan can be seen in a standing position plus product picks deals. Work better with less fork than they were intended for steel frames offer strength and comfort while riding, titanium. And slackens the head tube, the more your front wheel can move up/down to absorb.... We have a few reasons why hardtails are ideal for newcomers to biking! Wheel to the frames head tube angle stanchion size for trail bikes would be.... Decade ago, the slacker the head angle steepens weight or climbing..
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how much fork travel for hardtail