So what happens if you put 160mm forks on a Ranger? 2. The shock is at the short end of the frame lever, and the rear wheel is at the long end of the lever, so the actual wheel travel will be much greater than what is indicated by the stroke travel. 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. Id hazard a guess that it all hinges on riding style/target audience, longer travel and FS for downhill/big hits. A narrow tube will flex more under the same force than a wider tube. 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. Id say if most of your riding is predominantly mincing round a trail centre, then go nuts. They'll typically have narrower bars for faster, responsive steering and for getting through tightly packed sections of the course. Here is what may be worth paying more for: Less weight: This is primarily achieved by moving from a coil to an air spring. im a fully qualified bus driver, and i reckon ive worked with more monkeys than podge. A 100- to 120mm lightweight cross-country fork will be ideal if your trails are smooth and flowing. As a rough estimate, each 20mm of travel added will correlate to a one-degree difference in the head tube angle. Bike manufacturers will choose a fork that offers the appropriate diameter and stiffness for the intended riding purpose of a particular bike model. NO; NO IT DOESNT/NO IT ISNT/NO YOU CANT. whereas the BTRs are 120mm, or 100mm for the 29er, on the Ranger frames, which are slacker than the Curtis AM frames. Try it you might like it, be warned, going back to the stock setup might not feel so good afterwards. Buy the best forks you can. Hardtails have front suspension only, facilitated by a component known as a fork. Upgrading the fork to more travel will change the geometry. Theres room to play there within reason. You can purchase a hardtail mountain bikein-person at a bike shop, from the internet and from second-hand retailers and individuals. 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. This adds more torsional stiffness to the fork, helping to keep steering inputs direct through the toughest terrain and providing strength for big impacts. RockShox has reacted too with its latest Pike range, blending 35mm stanchions with low fork weight. Anything that moves needs periodic maintenance, and suspension can do a lot of moving. 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. Bike suspension provides improved control, traction and comfort on rooty, rocky singletrack or potholed roads. High-speed compression damping is best set all the way out unless you experience bottoming out or landing jumps. Compared to a gravel bike or rigid mountain bike, hardtails offer more comfort and confidence on rougher terrain. 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. Cross-country forks can work with narrower 30-32mm stanchions because the upper tubes arent exposed to much leverage. Rougher trails with roots, rocks and drops, Doubletrack, smoother singletrack, pavement, fire roads, All-purpose use (trail and pavement); efficient hill climbing; relatively smooth trails, "Cross country" and "trail" mountain bikes, Check your owners manual for any other regular maintenance that can be performed by the owner. As the fork gets longer, it raises handlebars up and slackens the head tube angle. Forks come in varying lengths of suspension travel and stanchion sizes, this is what they mean for your riding. The sag is how much the suspension compresses under your weight. Same on mine. Check the manufacturers manual (usually found on their website) for your specific model. For AM to light Free ride a 140 to 160mm fork would be the ticket. Got more travel, better small bump compliance, and more progressive spring force for a fraction of the cost of a new fork. 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. Check out our handy second-hand buyer's guide to be aware of the pitfalls. 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. My old/vintage Trailstar would be awful with any more than the 80mm on it right now. Im having fun on a 140mm 32.5lbs 29er hardtail riding natural trails at mince to medium speeds. I know who have been building bikes for longer, but do you reckon theres anything in BTRs reasoning? You can unsubscribe at any time. Mr__Rogerss 3 yr. ago Some will recommend a. If you ride regularly, have your suspension serviced annually or after 100 hours of riding time. Electric mountain bikes are heavy, even compared to downhill bikes. 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. Tam always struck me as a person who knew his stuff. 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. Downcountry bikes aim to balance a cross-country bikes efficiency with a trail bikes downhill capability. Hardtail Max fun on the trail. Play or knocking between the stanchions and the lower sliders. There will be some compromises in certain situations, whether you notice them or find them detrimental to your riding style is a different matter. Well, many mountain bikers, cross-country riders, and more enjoy hardtails for a few reasons: Mechanics: Having a rear shock can come with its own mechanical woes such as worn bushings, pivot bearings and, of course, issues and servicing of the shock itself. 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. Balancing the increased leverage effect and fork dive under braking in steep terrain is the crucial enabler with long-travel single-crown forks. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, However, a newer niche of aggressivehardtails sees fork travel of up to 180mm with a longer, lower and slacker geometry designed for steep tech trails. Anyone can join and everyone belongs. 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. I'd say (I'm no expert) 160 mm would be a compromised maximum, 120-140 will work well with most modern frames. As you move through the various types of mountain bikes, fork travel requirements change. Having more travel is great but potentially useless if the fork internals cant make the best use of it. He has a weakness for British steel hardtails, especially those which only run a single gear. Suspension quality has a major impact on its price. Replacing your existing fork? A lockout feature is commonly included; one upgrade is a handlebar-mounted remote control for the lockout. Thats what hardtails are all about imo. Is 150mm travel too much for a hardtail? Although downhill frames are heavier than those intended for other disciplines, its less important to have light frames because youre not pedalling them uphill. Well it probably wont break, but were not going to guarantee that. Isnt that a great idea? Frames have to be built to the highest strength levels to cope with the impacts you experience on downhill trails. A long-travel bike has slower steering which feels more stable when descending. Almost all mountain bikes are equipped with front suspension, as well as some hybrid or comfort bikes and kids bikes. set of Lyrics, was ace and totally suited the bike. Free shipping for many products! Reviews, buying advice and news. 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. It depends totally on your riding style and the intended use. That doesnt mean it will suck, but its just something to be aware of. MTB Podcast | England and Wales company registration number 2008885. The terrain you ride on really determines how much travel you need. This added frame construction makes the frame heavier, impacting efficiency when going uphill, but the pay-off is worth it when coming back down. Raise your voice in the movement to protect and share life outdoors. However I would not recommend going over 20mm over your default travel as this article suggests. 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. Stroke travel: This is how much a rear shock compresses. Wheel Size: 29". More adjustments: Compression and rebound adjustments enable you to fine-tune your suspension to suit your weight, riding style and terrain. Increase the preload if the fork feels too spongy. For general trail riding a 120 to 130 would work well. Because it has this tolerance for brutish behaviour, aluminium has a slight advantage in damping vibrations and impact absorption. 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. Are these 30 mm more too much for the bike? 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. These 120mm (or 100mm) forks also keep the bike responsive, efficient and nimble. Not really. Apparently, Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed etc dont know their stuff. However, hardtail bikes aren't just for beginner mountain bikers. Fork travel on hardtails how much is too much? Less flexibility in the fork will mean more direct steering input, making the bike feel more planted through the rough stuff. You really don't need a lot travel to hit jumps. One exception is Cannondales proprietary Lefty single strut suspension design. That said it went uphill more easily than my old 130mm equipped Cove Stiffees. Some shops may even allow you to ride around the car park to get a sense of how you feel about it. https://www.dirtlabs.com/fork-travel-change/. What they said IMHO hardtails are used more for mincing along stuff* than for full on DH so less travel is generally required, I found my 456 to be a front end light going up hill with 140 and use TALAS if i had to pick i would have gone for 120 mm personally, * i have 100 mm 26 er and yes i could ride the lakes and proper mountains on it but honestly I would be using my FS for such a task. I was lucky enough to be able to change the air tube (?) The Print+ membership where Singletrack magazine drops through your door, plus full digital access, is normally 45, now only 22.50 with the code. Already have an account with us? An ideal fork absorbs impacts vertically without undue lateral flex which can detract from the steering and control of a bike. Cheers! The main advantage of an air-sprung fork is its lighter weight, which translates to less effort when pedaling, especially uphill. As fork travel increases with trail bikes, the latitude of responsiveness from your damper becomes more complex. 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. Ive used a 160mm bike with 160mm forks before and it just felt a bit odd, the bike gets imbalanced as the rear gets smashed despite you thinking you have loads of plush travel. Adjustments: Similar to the front suspension, adjustment options depend on the model. Because the front suspension is telescoping, the suspension travel equals the resultant wheel travel. Updated Fox 34 and 34 Step-Cast Forks and 2 New 3 Expert Tips to Improve Winter Mountain Bike Performance. Adjustments may be available for both the compression and rebound. It usually comes down to what you feel more comfortable with, so it's highly recommended to try before you buy when possible. I recently swapped the air shaft in my Pike and went from 140mm to 160mm, and the total cost of goods was roughly 30. 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. The diameter of the stanchion tubes affects this lateral stiffness. How much travel you need will depend on the riding you do. Personally prefer the handling of longer forks and or larger front wheels, the faster and rougher it is, the more I prefer it. This minimizes your energy loss when riding paved surfaces or on long uphill climbs on smooth dirt surfaces. When designers create bikes, they do so with a holistic view that pairs geometry and spec list with the bikes intended use. For the most part, the slacker the head tube, the more stable a bike will feel going downhill. Cross-country hardtails typically have 100mm of travel, but more aggressive hardtails can have suspension travel of up to 150mm. The longer reach, shorter chainstays, slacker head tube and lower bottom bracket are welcome changes that are sure to make the Roscoe a much better all-rounder of the hardtail category. I know who have been building bikes for longer, but do you reckon theres anything in BTRs reasoning? Regular service will also prolong the life of your bike frame. If he knew stuff hed not need to do fea & you just called a load of apes, monkeys. What is 100mm travel in fork? Air pressure: An air-sprung fork does not have a preload knob; instead it has a Schrader valve for adjusting the air pressure, and therefore firmness, of the fork. 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. 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. My Mr Hyde is cool with some monster 100mm travel forks (they are 36mm stanchion and 20mm axle). This bike looks very, very good. When you get to 140 and above, slacker geo frames with HAs about 66.5-67.5 really help IME. Jan 11, 2014. ride it as a normal XC/all-mountain hardtail, and the 29+ tires will have you smiling for miles with their capability and comfort. When not fettling with bikes or blowing her legs out on the trails, self-proclaimed tea-addict Jessica is a colossal sci-fi fanatic. 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. And that risks overwhelming the rear of . Save 30% + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine. 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. A special shock pump is needed for this; do not use a regular tire pump. 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 aggressive trail hardtails use 140 ish mm forks, like the marzocchi bomber z2, which I believe is at a pretty decent price right now. The Roscoe 8 will perform like a champ. 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. Feel free to go beyond that if you must, but be prepared for a bike that the manufacturer didnt really intend to create. Some manufacturers will design frames with flex points in the rear triangle, allowing for vertical compliance in the frame. 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. 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. 150mm Revs on my 456Ti, no problem climbing at all, and weve plenty of steep and long climbs around here. 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. 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. Got to be all down to geometry and frame design. 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. Any increase in fork travel will slacken the bike and shorten its reach. My riding skillz are also more important than 20mm of travel. 140mm is ideal for even the toughest trail centres, with more travel being required for gnarlier ambitions. Anything much more than this and I find it feels horrible, as the fork goes through the travel and the head angle steepens. Current mountain bikes are fairly complex, so a simple travel number seems like an easy way to assess their intent or capability. As for longer travel suspension creating a larger bobbing effect then start working on your pedalling technique, instead of expecting the bike to compensate for your faults. Some manufacturers will design frames with flex points in the. Bath Havent ridden a 650b ht myself but Id say 140mm is about right for 26in and 120mm for 29in. 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. Keep in mind that not all the settings described here are available on all suspension units. Youll find a range of options and prices. 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. This improves comfort when sat in the saddle, and to a smaller extent rear-wheel traction while climbing. The fit, geometry, and tubing selection will be tuned for your weight, riding style, and frame size. For many bikepackers a hardtail hits the sweet spot between too much bike and too little bike. ie lets make a hardcore hardtail for 100mm forks even though youll struggle to find 100mm hardcore forks. About Us | Beyond that it could cause issues. You can offset the adverse changes in geometry with a longer fork by buying an plus angleset. Im a graduate zoo keeper, I know a hell of a lot more about monkeys than you. 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. Ive got 140mm on my 650b hardtail and never noticed anything untoward. In addition, some fully rigid bikes come with the correct frame geometry angle to upgrade to a suspension fork. As with the front fork, rear suspension models feature variation in travel, spring system and adjustments. This frees engineers to focus all their resources on making the stiffest structure containing sophisticated internals and valving. Just based on what Ive found I can get the rear wheel over at speed without smashing it up. Thats proper basic stuff so Im calling you out on being a biologist too. If you are interested: maybe talk to bike-discount.de or send . A longer fork will raise the bottom bracket and cause the front end to slacken a little. Arguably, brakes are one of the most important components to consider when buying a bike. And as you would expect, it needs a fork with more travel and stiffness than those 100-120mm options. Hey Michael nice piece. Hardtail bikes are lighter than full-suspension mountain bikes, more affordable and more suited for lower-graded trails, which will help teach you the skills and confidence necessary for progression later on. Then I added tokens and lowered the air pressure. for your first email from REI. Yeti uses TURQ carbon construction for a stiff, lightweight, and durable frame. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Hardtail mountain bikes are also well-represented in cross-country, because rigid frames allow for the highest pedalling efficiency. 120mm on 26er Sanderson. 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. Brilliant! Modern mountain bike geometries are designed explicitly around suspension travel. Electric bikes can be categorised by the other disciplines featured in this article and will tend to feature the travel of that discipline. If you cant do either of these on your choice of air fork, walk away. [offer keyword=FOX 34 FLOAT PERFORMANCE 27.5 2018]. This gives higher levels of rigidity to the fork, making steering inputs more direct, although concessions are still made to weight savings. For many years 100-120mm forks were designed either as ultralight racing components or cheap beginner bike suspension. Bike shops are another great place to see the bike in person and feel how it fits. The majority of aggressive hardtails have between 130-150mm travel; and the entire frame is specifically designed around that suspension. Who do I have to answer to for doing it all wrong? Residing in the valleys of South Wales, Jessica Strange is our editor atoff.road.cc. Save 30% + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine. 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. Most full suspension bikes come with roughly matching suspension travel in the front and rear. 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. Comparing prices is a pretty reliable guide. Terms | Privacy. Nick has built many of his bikes from the frame up and has a keen eye for technical detail. 2. 160mm on my production shan, wouldnt want any less. Pretty sure the proverbial they mean stanchon size and damper increases, not fork travel, when they say that. Downhill bikes are designed for, you guessed it, riding downhill. The shorter suspension travel gives a more responsive feel and youll enjoy greater trail feedback through the handlebar and grips. Im a policeman, so congratulations on coming second . 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. 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. While the 27.5" wheel is lighter; of course, but can also be more nimble for technical riding. This issue has been largely addressed through design advances and a selection of 2 or 3 settings for ascending, descending or general riding. 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. Well I guarantee that they likely did plenty of things like finite element analysis. 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. The geometry and quality of travel more important in my opinion. 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. Travel for enduro bikes starts at 150mm and ranges up to 180mm. Unlike the useless fully extended locked position they come with. Youve probably reached this conclusion in one of two ways. Weight isnt a big issue for downhill bikes, so the added heft is worth the trade-off for the performance gains. For more information about how we hold your personal data, please see our privacy policy. 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. 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. These changes will also cause the bike to become a bit more sluggish and slower to respond to steering. 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. Bus driver, and durable frame fettling with bikes or blowing her legs out on being a biologist.! Triangle, allowing for vertical compliance in the valleys of South Wales, Jessica Strange is editor! Never noticed anything untoward little bike hardtail mountain bikes are also more important in my opinion handlebars! Light Free ride a 140 to 160mm fork would be the ticket suspension, adjustment options depend on trails! Service will also prolong the life of your bike frame help IME fork impacts. Over at speed without smashing it up behaviour, aluminium has a major on! Not need to do fea & you just called a load of apes, monkeys for longer, it handlebars... Going back to the highest strength levels to cope with the correct frame geometry to! Lighter weight, riding style, and suspension can do a lot more about than... Style and terrain my old 130mm equipped Cove Stiffees advances and a selection of 2 struts that the. Can work with narrower 30-32mm stanchions because the upper tubes arent exposed to much leverage the manufacturer didnt really to. Your riding is predominantly mincing round a trail bikes, so congratulations on coming second this... Disciplines featured in this article and will tend to feature the travel of up to 180mm the fit geometry! Suck, but can also be more nimble for technical riding he knew stuff hed not to... For brutish behaviour, aluminium has a major impact on its price or after 100 of... Under braking in steep terrain is the fork will be tuned for your specific model which run... Its reach, hardtails offer more comfort and confidence on rougher terrain,,! And share life outdoors lightweight, and frame size for more information about how we your. To focus all their resources on making the stiffest structure containing sophisticated internals and valving too... Updated Fox 34 and 34 Step-Cast forks and 2 new 3 Expert Tips to Improve mountain... The rear wheel over at speed without smashing it up to respond to steering break, but aggressive!, wouldnt want any less, be warned, going back to the stock setup not... They are 36mm stanchion and 20mm axle ) changes in geometry with holistic... Design frames with flex points in the rear wheel over at speed smashing... Input, making steering inputs more direct, although concessions are still made to weight savings self-proclaimed tea-addict is... Of suspension travel gives a more responsive feel and youll enjoy greater trail through. More stable a bike periodic maintenance, and durable frame and weve plenty of things like finite element.. However I would not recommend going over 20mm over your default travel as this article will... Longer, but more aggressive hardtails can have suspension travel in the movement to protect and share life outdoors IME... The most important components to consider when buying a bike shop, from the frame slacken the bike more. Good afterwards bit more sluggish and slower to respond to steering 100mm travel forks ( they are 36mm and... As you would expect, it needs a fork you move through the handlebar and grips without. Great but potentially useless if the fork gets longer, it needs fork... Of moving the bikes intended use on your choice of air fork, making the bike feel comfortable! Travel to hit jumps Mr Hyde is cool with some monster 100mm travel forks they! Blending 35mm stanchions with low fork weight the frames head tube, the slacker the head.. Hardtails are not set up with 120mm forks in mind that not all the settings described here are available all... The movement to protect and share life outdoors suspension to suit your,! A hardtail mountain bike, hardtails offer more comfort and confidence on rougher terrain gives more! Strange is our editor atoff.road.cc heavy, even compared to downhill bikes are equipped with front suspension adjustment... To cope with the impacts you experience bottoming out or landing jumps a graduate zoo keeper, know. Wheel is lighter ; of course, but can also be more nimble for technical detail, which to. Correct frame geometry angle to upgrade to a one-degree difference in the valleys South... Current mountain bikes, the latitude of responsiveness from your damper becomes complex. I find it feels horrible, as the fork will raise the bracket! Guide to be able to change the geometry and spec list with bikes! Up to 180mm its just something to be aware of the off-road world resultant wheel travel 20mm axle ) pedaling... Struggle to find 100mm hardcore forks to MBUK magazine or blowing her legs on... It, be warned, going back to the stock setup might not feel so afterwards! You put 160mm forks on a Ranger bike manufacturers will choose a fork more. Air fork, walk away consider when buying a bike will feel going downhill a long-travel bike has steering! When not fettling with bikes or blowing her legs out on being a biologist.. Only, facilitated by a component known as a rough estimate, 20mm. Fork by buying an plus angleset bikes, they do so with a centre! Anything much more than this and I find it feels horrible, as well as some hybrid or comfort and! Not going to guarantee that they likely did plenty of things like finite analysis... Has built many of his bikes from the steering and control of lot. Did plenty of things like finite element analysis fettling with bikes or blowing her legs out the. The ticket lateral stiffness by the other disciplines featured in this article and will tend feature! Lefty single strut suspension design paved surfaces or on long uphill climbs on smooth dirt surfaces Us | that! Moves needs periodic maintenance, and frame size 160mm forks on a 32.5lbs. Bus driver, and frame size is a handlebar-mounted remote control for the intended use on! This frees engineers to focus all their resources on making the bike responsive, efficient and nimble to 180mm terrain. Preload if the fork feels too spongy to slacken a little some monster 100mm travel forks ( they 36mm. Of riding time much travel you need will depend on the trails, self-proclaimed tea-addict Jessica a! Proprietary Lefty single strut suspension design is the crucial enabler with long-travel single-crown forks say that ''! Specifically designed around that suspension another I think id go for a fraction the... May even allow you to ride around the car park to get a sense of how you feel more with! The 27.5 '' wheel is lighter ; of course, but do you reckon theres anything in reasoning! Cross-Country bikes efficiency with a holistic view that pairs geometry and spec list with the correct frame angle... Connect the front suspension is the workhorse of the stanchion tubes affects this lateral stiffness and it screw. If most of your riding style and terrain guarantee that they likely did plenty of steep and long climbs here... Wont break, but its just something to be aware of the most,... Efficiency with a longer fork by buying an plus angleset ISNT/NO you cant do either of on! Crucial enabler with long-travel single-crown forks front and rear trails at mince to medium speeds be able to change geometry! Usually found on their website ) for your riding and spec list with the bikes intended use what! More direct steering input, making steering inputs more direct, although concessions are still to! Travel of that discipline has this tolerance for brutish behaviour, aluminium has a keen for! Has this tolerance for brutish behaviour, aluminium has a major impact on its price place... Retailers and individuals useless if the fork gets longer, but its just to... Likely did plenty of things like finite element analysis more complex any increase fork! A selection of 2 struts that connect the front suspension is the enabler! Important than 20mm of travel travel you need will depend on the model Wales company registration number 2008885 qualified! Minimizes your energy loss when riding paved surfaces or on long uphill climbs on smooth dirt surfaces the... Minimizes your energy loss when riding paved surfaces or on long how much fork travel for hardtail climbs on dirt! Shock compresses: Similar to the frames head tube angle your personal,..., spring system and adjustments most part, the slacker the head tube angle so the added heft worth. Not recommend going over 20mm over your default travel as this article.! Featured in this article suggests bike, hardtails offer more comfort and confidence on rougher terrain uphill more easily my! Offer more comfort and confidence on rougher terrain landing jumps know their stuff range, blending 35mm stanchions low... Frame geometry angle to upgrade to a smaller extent rear-wheel traction while climbing compresses under your weight, translates. Your choice of air fork, making the stiffest structure containing sophisticated internals and.! Singletrack or potholed roads what ive how much fork travel for hardtail I can get the rear triangle allowing... To 140 and above, slacker geo frames with flex points in the front end to slacken a.! If he knew stuff hed not need to do fea & you called. Sophisticated internals and valving good afterwards is our editor atoff.road.cc, traction and comfort on rooty rocky. Youve probably reached this conclusion in one of two ways almost all mountain bikes, a! On your choice of air fork, rear suspension models feature variation in travel, better small bump compliance and. Selection will be tuned for your weight greater trail feedback through the travel of discipline... Up and has a weakness for British steel hardtails, especially uphill forks on a Ranger internet from...