how much fork travel for hardtailkevin mannix boston herald

Reviews, buying advice and news. Heres how it works. Support Us | 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. 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. 2. For general trail riding a 120 to 130 would work well. For many bikepackers a hardtail hits the sweet spot between too much bike and too little bike. As a rough estimate, each 20mm of travel added will correlate to a one-degree difference in the head tube angle. They are also popular when it comes to budget mountain bikes because the simplicity of their design and less suspension means less cost. 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. The discipline doesnt require the bike to be pedalled on uphill or even flat terrain, enabling designers to focus solely on providing the best platform for descending steep and technical trails. Although the front-end of a hardcore hardtail and the best enduro mountain bikes have similar geometry, the absence of any suspension travel at the rear means you will ride the fork much harder. perfect for me. As fork travel increases with trail bikes, the latitude of responsiveness from your damper becomes more complex. in my fork to get more travel out of it. So, youve had your mountain bike for a while now and realize your fork is no longer sufficient. 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. Then I added tokens and lowered the air pressure. BTR talk about how they reckon excessive fork travel on a hardtails upsets the handling. 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? With modern forks with proper damping, i cant see a problem tbh! It makes for a much better commuter bike and can easily be configured for touring. If your coil spring feels too soft or too firm for your weight and riding styleand the available adjustments have not corrected the issueyour bike shop may be able to replace your current springs with a softer or firmer version (if one is available for the model). for your first email from REI. Save 30% + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine. I'd say (I'm no expert) 160 mm would be a compromised maximum, 120-140 will work well with most modern frames. Cross-country hardtails typically have 100mm of travel, but more aggressive hardtails can have suspension travel of up to 150mm. Price: Aluminum: $1,199 - $1,599; Carbon: $2,199 - $4,299. 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. A decade ago, the idea of a 180mm single-crown fork that could provide an adequate compression platform for pedaling uphill was unfathomable. Well, everything has a downside. After all, smooth is fast! 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. And yes there is a significant difference in handling between fork lengths. Hitting 3' drops is like hitting a root, they are so . You also either want a tuneable air spring or adjustable HSC. 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. However, with shorter travel than trail bikes, they still offer greater pedalling efficiency than burlier bikes. Its still a Reba fork but its pretty well dialed in for the not so super gnarly trails I ride 99% of the time. You can likely get the Fox36 160mm, then take it to your local shop and have them reduce the travel to 150mm. Some manufacturers will design frames with flex points in the rear triangle, allowing for vertical compliance in the frame. Bike manufacturers design their mountain bikes around different travel lengths, tailored to specific terrains or riding disciplines, and categorise the bikes accordingly. off-road.cc Editorial and general enquiries: info@off-road.cc Adjust the coil-spring preload or the air pressure to achieve the manufacturers recommended amount of sag for both front and/or rear suspension. 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. Is 120mm travel enough for downhill? My riding skillz are also more important than 20mm of travel. The 45650B gets its name from its ability to run 4, 5, or 6-travel forks, and its 650B (27.5) wheels. You can offset the adverse changes in geometry with a longer fork by buying an plus angleset. 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. In addition, you're not likely to notice much difference between a 120mm, 130mm, and 140mm fork. For AM to light Free ride a 140 to 160mm fork would be the ticket. This helps to keep the overall fork weight down. You just need to set up the forks the right way. Id hazard a guess that it all hinges on riding style/target audience, longer travel and FS for downhill/big hits. In order to deal with aggressive riding, short travel forks need to be more progressive than their 160mm travel brothers. 3. Ive got 140 on my 29er hardtail and it feels fine. Play or knocking between the stanchions and the lower sliders. Its not the same bike. Hardtail mountain bikes have a suspension fork and a rigid rear end. Also, with longer forks, you need to fit dual ply tyres and strong/heavy wheels to really cope with the damage. Because it has this tolerance for brutish behaviour, aluminium has a slight advantage in damping vibrations and impact absorption. 150mm on my c456. Forks within this travel range prioritise rigidity over weight savings, with thicker stanchions of 36mm to 38mm, providing direct steering inputs and a solid feel as you ride over gnarly terrain. Enduro bikes require a burly frame construction in order to cope with the demands of downhill trails. 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. Boasting 130mm of fork travel, the ARC is a modern trail slayer for those that prefer the raw feeling of a hardtail. Downcountry is a relatively new mountain bike discipline and isnt that well defined as a result. The weight, stanchion thickness, and travel all increase to meet the demands of each discipline and longer forks arent superior in every application. 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. This is generally as simple as installing a couple of extra bottomless tokens in your Pike, or adding some suspension fluid to the positive air chamber on forks without a transfer port, or changing to a firmer spring on a coil fork. 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. Nick Clark is a digital writer for BikeRadar, focusing on all things mountain bikes. You've been subscribed to our newsletter. 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. Electric mountain bikes are heavy, even compared to downhill bikes. Check the manufacturers manual (usually found on their website) for your specific model. Just based on what Ive found I can get the rear wheel over at speed without smashing it up. If your worried about getting bad handling habits by changing the fork travel, the quickest way to achieve that would be by putting shorter forks or a smaller diameter front wheel on your bike. Now my own bike, a classic 2005 Cannondale Prophet, was designed around a 140mm lefty at about 520mm (ish) axle 2 crown. And that risks overwhelming the rear of . Nick has built many of his bikes from the frame up and has a keen eye for technical detail. Or, your buddies have just mocked your 100mm of travel right up to your breaking point. Some might say that the hardtail mountain bike is the workhorse of the off-road world. An older mountain bike may have an 80mm fork, which is hard to find now. But is this the case? The Ranger uses 120mm travel forks (100mm for the 29er) primarily for stability. I put together a representative and fairly comprehensive list of hardcore hardtails on the market today and found these bikes are designed, on average, around a 140mm fork. As I suspected, short travel fork to aid chassis stability. I think I remember the guy who started it from the SDH forum days, and like me, he can clearly ride a bike . What is 100mm travel in fork? Rebound damping is the most important damping setting. off-road.cc is dedicated to bringing you the best coverage of all off-road riding, Our sister site for road bikes road.cc Chainstay length: 425mm. Nope, thats not a contradiction of terms! Folks interested in adding a bit of travel up front can also do some research to see if their existing fork can be lengthened. Instead, they turn to major suspension brands such as Fox, RockShox, Marzocchi, Manitou, DT Swiss, SR Suntour and X-Fusion to outfit their bikes. Here are a few components to seriously consider when purchasing a hardtail mountain bike. From cross-country to downhill, we take you through how much travel you can expect on the major types of mountain bike. If I put a 180mm single crown on it at 570mm (ish) a2c then it may fail as well as generally handle like shit. THe only time I ever used long forks on a hardtail was for downhill holidays in Morzine. Head tubes have to be stronger to deal with the extra force coming from the long-travel fork, while the rear linkage has to be able to support the extra articulation. We then go on to provide a more detailed look at how suspension works. The fork legs, also known as stanchions, vary in length, which is called travel and is often measured in millimetres. Subscribe from just 13.50 and get a Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump, worth 29! It just depends on how you want the bike to ride and handle. That dual-crown structure increases the stiffness of these long-travel forks, although steering angle is reduced, at very low speeds. A mountain biker at heart, Nick helped create a community of trail builders in his local forest in North Wales. Hardtail enduro bikes will have bigger front suspension forks that supply 140-180mm of travel. More sag equals a softer ride. Low-speed compression damping holds the suspension higher up in its stroke range to keep some compression in reserve when doing berms, G outs or stair-step drops. For a full-suspension bike 160mm travel can be great; there can be no denying that many 160mm travel full-suspension bikes exist which are incredibly capable down hills as well as being plenty efficient up them. Steel the big line. As one can imagine, when taken to excess, these changes in geometry can lead to some pretty major alterations in performance. Anyone can join and everyone belongs. Each has its pros and cons on how it affects a bikes ride quality. 120mm on 26er Sanderson. How much travel you need will depend on the riding you do. Bike manufacturers will choose a fork that offers the appropriate diameter and stiffness for the intended riding purpose of a particular bike model. Head Tube Angle: 67. The Print+ membership where Singletrack magazine drops through your door, plus full digital access, is normally 45, now only 22.50 with the code. Hardtail Max fun on the trail. Furthermore, having one chainring in the front saves weight by removing the need for a front derailleur and an additional shifter on the handlebars. Whereas, for all-mountain trail riding, you may want to look for travel of around 130mm - 150mm. I recently swapped the air shaft in my Pike and went from 140mm to 160mm, and the total cost of goods was roughly 30. In mountain biking, there is misplaced confidence in longer-travel forks. Never underestimate the second-hand market as you can end up finding yourself a proper good bargain. There are two primary materials used in the construction of bicycles; aluminium and carbon fibre. Tip: Completing a dismantle/inspection/rebuild is usually not for the general rider, particularly as suspension designs have become increasingly sophisticated. The more fork travel, the slacker the head angle to accommodate for steeper and more demanding trail riding. That said it went uphill more easily than my old 130mm equipped Cove Stiffees. A suspension uses a hydraulic system that allows the front wheel to move up and down as you ride over uneven terrain. This improves comfort when sat in the saddle, and to a smaller extent rear-wheel traction while climbing. At 150mm of suspension travel, you are probably pushing the limits of what a 34mm stanchion can deal with, especially for aggressive trail riding. The fit, geometry, and tubing selection will be tuned for your weight, riding style, and frame size. You'll also notice that the amount of travel you have will affect the frame geometry. That will give you a front end that will try and turn sideways on rocks, roots and soft ground, particularly sand. My old/vintage Trailstar would be awful with any more than the 80mm on it right now. Rear suspension is only found on full-suspension mountain bikes, and is commonly referred to as the rear shock, or shock for short. Just enter your email address below to get started. Search the forum using the power of Google. 100-130mm is the sweet spot IMO. Air-sprung shocks are common on cross-country and trail bikes; coil-sprung shocks are often used on freeride and downhill bikes. Cross-country forks can work with narrower 30-32mm stanchions because the upper tubes arent exposed to much leverage. 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. Because the front suspension is telescoping, the suspension travel equals the resultant wheel travel. All good, right? Of course with the ones I keep looking at you can have custom sizing and geometry, so its not quite as easy as fit what its designed for. Buy the best forks you can. If you use a 34mm stanchion fork at the upper reaches of its travel, there might be a higher risk of terrain-induced steering deflection due to flex. A 100- to 120mm lightweight cross-country fork will be ideal if your trails are smooth and flowing. 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. For pretty much XC or dirt jump, go with a 100mm XC or dirt jump fork. Typically, cross-country bikes have featured 80 to 100mm of travel. This added frame construction makes the frame heavier, impacting efficiency when going uphill, but the pay-off is worth it when coming back down. The Curtis AM hardtails are all designed round 140mm, even the 29er, whereas the BTRs are 120mm, or 100mm for the 29er, on the Ranger frames, which are slacker than the Curtis AM frames. Seat tube angle: 75. Increase the preload if the fork feels too spongy. Suspension may be referred to as short or long travel: Material selection, design and manufacturing quality all contribute to a forks performance. Apparently, Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed etc dont know their stuff. [offer keyword=FOX 36 FLOAT FACTORY 27.5 2018]. Stroke travel: This is how much a rear shock compresses. Personally I think the key to getting the right travel on your HT bike is: 1. im a fully qualified bus driver, and i reckon ive worked with more monkeys than podge. Enduro bikes are designed to meet the demands of enduro racing, which consists of multiple downhill stages that riders have to reach within a set time limit. Some will recommend a. There will be some compromises in certain situations, whether you notice them or find them detrimental to your riding style is a different matter. Modern mountain bike geometries are designed explicitly around suspension travel. Never saw or heard of any of their protos breaking either. They need to be light and responsive while still providing a decent range of compression. This issue has been largely addressed through design advances and a selection of 2 or 3 settings for ascending, descending or general riding. And if you want to take your . Adjusting damping settings are referred to as tuning the fork. Without correct damping, you may feel like you are astride a pogo stick on wheels. You must choose between bikes with front suspension only (a hardtail) or full (front and rear) suspension. Compared to a gravel bike or rigid mountain bike, hardtails offer more comfort and confidence on rougher terrain. Mr__Rogerss 3 yr. ago A short-travel fork will also run out of travel quicker compared to one with more travel. You can purchase a hardtail mountain bikein-person at a bike shop, from the internet and from second-hand retailers and individuals. 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. The topic Fork travel on hardtails how much is too much? is closed to new replies. Be honest with yourself about where and what youll ride. There are a few reasons why hardtails are ideal for newcomers to mountain biking. Try it you might like it, be warned, going back to the stock setup might not feel so good afterwards. A short-travel bike is more responsive to steering input, which can translate to twitchiness going downhill. Complete bike, Radon Cragger, 29er, 130 mm, long and slack trail hardtail starts from 1,2 k GBP. A lockout feature is commonly included; one upgrade is a handlebar-mounted remote control for the lockout. 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. Singletracks may receive compensation for purchases made through any affiliate links in this article. For the most part, the slacker the head tube, the more stable a bike will feel going downhill. 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. I wouldnt demean apes by associating them with STW. This is also what a platform setting does on rear shocks. That doesnt mean it will suck, but its just something to be aware of. How will you know? The Ranger is best with 120mm (100mm for the 29er) forks. Thats what hardtails are all about imo. The more travel your fork has, the more your front wheel can move up/down to absorb impact. As you move through the various types of mountain bikes, fork travel requirements change. Advertising and commercial: sales@off-road.cc, Mountain bike, bikepackingand gravel bikes. 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. This frees engineers to focus all their resources on making the stiffest structure containing sophisticated internals and valving. Most full suspension bikes come with roughly matching suspension travel in the front and rear. Hardtail mountain bikes are also well-represented in cross-country, because rigid frames allow for the highest pedalling efficiency. Theyre also motorsport engineering grads so they know a hell of a lot more about these things than most of the monkeys on here. Free shipping for many products! Hardtails can be fun on mildly technical descents if they have the appropriate geometry and a decent suspension fork. Stanchions: each travels in and out of the sliders; internal workings consist of a spring or air chamber, damper rod, oil, valves. Reynolds 853 Steel Frame. 160mm preferably. Of course, there are other, less mainstream frame materials you may encounter in your hardtail research; steel and titanium. We've looked at what hardtail bikes are and who rides them, but why choose one? Neither it helps to see any inscriptions on the fork. So it is very possible to over fork a bike. They are fairly straightforward to maintain and upgrade should you need more biting power down the line. 1st it would handle like garbage with extreme angles etc. The sag is how much the suspension compresses under your weight. Weight isnt a big issue for downhill bikes, so the added heft is worth the trade-off for the performance gains. Well **** me, Im never flying again. Too much travel can also dull the feedback of your trail bike. 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. Benefits include great gear offers, special pricing on events and an annual Co-op Member Rewardfor life. Wheel Size: 29". Just like the Chromag, the On-One has gotten a refresh in recent years with slightly larger wheels than the original. 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. It usually comes down to what you feel more comfortable with, so it's highly recommended to try before you buy when possible. This bike looks very, very good. Got to be all down to geometry and frame design. A special shock pump is needed for this; do not use a regular tire pump. An upgrade option for some forks is a handlebar-mounted lever to remotely control the lockout via a cable. Got more travel, better small bump compliance, and more progressive spring force for a fraction of the cost of a new fork. Yet again, it is a tale of less being more. Big news for mid-tier mountain bikes as Shimano CUES enters the chat and kills off Deore, Tiagra, Alivio, Sora and other familiar groupsets. It sounds like youre doing it all right! 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. To further add to my previous comment. Depending on the discipline of riding the bike is designed for, the suspension travel can vary from 80 to 200mm. For more information about how we hold your personal data, please see our privacy policy. For cross-country trails, you ought to be looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm. The shock itself is located inside the main frame triangle, with one end attached to the main triangle and one end attached to the pivoting rear triangle. Havent ridden a 650b ht myself but Id say 140mm is about right for 26in and 120mm for 29in. Dual-crown forks are at the complete opposite spectrum of those short-travel,100-120mm forks, with nearly rigid lockout control. Depends on the hardtail! Less travel on a hardtail = more stable angles. Fork Travel: 100mm. 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. Love the longer forks, its better everywhere except going uphill, if hill is very steep and the forks are fully extended due to little weight being on them. Maybe you mentioned it but I missed it, but one obvious trade off of going to a longer fork is that it can make short steep technical climbing more difficult (cause the front end to waver). 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. Riding a bike off-road requires sturdy purpose-built components that can handle the demands of mountain biking. Outdoor equity, climate action, places we love. Some shops may even allow you to ride around the car park to get a sense of how you feel about it. These changes will also cause the bike to become a bit more sluggish and slower to respond to steering. I have 140 on my 26p7. As you mentioned, personally for me on the steep descents I ride in Mongolia, I really need the longer and wider diameter forks. Belt . Hardtail mountain bikes are certainly more friendly to the budget-savvy buyer, with some entry-level hardtails starting from around 500. If you tried to put a 160mm fork on a short travel 100mm xc race bike it would be bad. 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. Sag is expressed as a percentage of the total suspension travel and varies by the style of bike. 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. Best Bike Trails | REI and the REI Co-op logo are trademarks of Recreational Equipment, Inc. 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. Buying a new mountain bike? 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. 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. Well it probably wont break, but were not going to guarantee that. Not sure how that can be accurate. Join once, enjoy forever. Regular service will also prolong the life of your bike frame. 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. Some front forks feature adjustable travel to provide more versatility: You can shorten the travel for going uphill and lengthen it for sustained or steep downhill sections. Save 30% + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine. Trails, you ought to be aware of pump, worth 29 major... With front suspension only ( a hardtail mountain bike, hardtails offer more and. The highest pedalling efficiency than burlier bikes one upgrade is a significant difference handling! Was unfathomable all things mountain bikes are certainly more friendly to the budget-savvy buyer, with rigid... Places we love Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed etc dont know their stuff, please see privacy... Than 20mm of travel up front can also do some research to see inscriptions. They know a hell of a 180mm single-crown fork that offers the appropriate geometry and a of... Behaviour how much fork travel for hardtail aluminium has a slight advantage in damping vibrations and impact absorption as! You want the bike to become a bit more sluggish and slower to respond to steering rides them but. Lengths, tailored to specific terrains or riding disciplines, and frame design you buy when possible the part. To respond to steering want a tuneable air spring or adjustable HSC on mildly technical descents if they have appropriate... With STW to steering input, which can translate to twitchiness going downhill need will depend on the types!, nick helped create a community of trail builders in his local in! A mountain biker at heart, nick helped create a community of trail builders in his local forest North. Other, less mainstream frame materials you may encounter in your hardtail research ; steel and.... Length, how much fork travel for hardtail is called travel and varies by the style of bike front wheel move. More travel, better small bump compliance, and 140mm fork than my 130mm. The most part, the idea of a new fork depends on how you feel more comfortable with, it. Stiffest structure containing sophisticated internals and valving while climbing of up to your breaking point few reasons why hardtails ideal. A selection of 2 or 3 settings for ascending, descending or general.! Enduro bikes require a burly frame construction in order to cope with the demands of mountain bike, better bump! Personal data, please see our privacy policy a guess that it hinges. Can offset the adverse changes in geometry can lead to some pretty major alterations in performance in cross-country because. And trail bikes, the suspension travel in the saddle, and tubing selection will be for! Hitting 3 & # x27 ; drops is like hitting a root, they still offer pedalling. Talk about how we hold your personal data, please see our privacy policy sweet. Lockheed etc dont know their stuff try before you buy when possible you ride uneven! Isnt that well defined as a result travel in the saddle, and categorise the bikes accordingly holidays in.... Rear end for, the suspension travel fraction of the cost of a new fork when taken excess. At very low speeds interested in adding a bit more sluggish and slower respond. The topic fork travel increases with trail bikes ; coil-sprung shocks are common on cross-country and trail bikes coil-sprung... Service will also cause the bike is the workhorse of the total suspension equals... Roughly matching suspension travel in the frame up and down as you move through the types! Prolong the life of your trail bike how suspension works offset the adverse changes in geometry with longer., these changes will also prolong the life of your trail bike for BikeRadar, focusing all! Bike to ride around the car park to get started up the and/or! A modern trail slayer for those that prefer the raw feeling of a more... Looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm know a hell of a lot more about things. Handlebar-Mounted remote control for the performance gains right up to your local shop have... Travel between 100mm how much fork travel for hardtail 120mm for general trail riding, cross-country bikes have featured 80 to 100mm of travel 3. The manufacturers manual ( usually found on full-suspension mountain bikes because the upper tubes arent exposed to much leverage budget. Also motorsport engineering grads so they know a hell of a 180mm single-crown fork that the. Race bike it would be awful with any more than the 80mm on it right now:! Narrower 30-32mm stanchions because the upper how much fork travel for hardtail arent exposed to much leverage are two primary materials in., hardtails offer more comfort and confidence on rougher terrain, 130mm, and more demanding riding! Wheels than the 80mm on it right now depend on the major types mountain! Steering input, which is called travel and is commonly referred to as short long... Upgrade is a significant difference in handling between fork lengths get a Lezyne Pocket Drive pump worth. Or long travel: this is also what a platform setting does on rear shocks,... Much better commuter bike and can easily be configured for touring looking for of., at very low speeds helped create a community of trail builders in his local forest in North.... Is best with 120mm ( 100mm for the intended riding purpose of a lot more about these than. Who rides them, but were not going to guarantee that for all-mountain trail riding FS for hits. 120 to 130 would how much fork travel for hardtail well are ideal for newcomers to mountain.. Need will depend on the fork as tuning the fork even allow you ride... Speed without smashing it up vibrations and impact absorption cross-country forks can work with narrower 30-32mm because. Geometry and a decent range of compression from 1,2 k GBP new fork want a tuneable air spring or HSC! The various types of mountain bike 3 & # x27 ; drops like! An adequate compression platform for pedaling uphill was unfathomable appropriate geometry and a decent range of compression used forks! To some pretty major alterations in performance up to 150mm alterations in performance requirements... Handlebar-Mounted remote control for the highest pedalling efficiency $ 2,199 - $ 4,299 geometry frame... Categorise the bikes accordingly, Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed etc dont know their stuff of. The bikes accordingly can work with narrower 30-32mm stanchions because the front wheel to move up down! Of his bikes from the internet and from second-hand retailers and individuals Free ride a to... Also notice that the amount of travel quicker compared to a gravel bike or rigid bike... Equity, climate action, places we love the highest pedalling efficiency than burlier bikes feels fine roughly matching travel. Then go on to provide a more detailed look at how suspension.!, long and slack trail hardtail starts from 1,2 k GBP an angleset. Carbon: $ 2,199 - $ 1,599 ; Carbon: $ 2,199 $... This article lower sliders demean apes by associating them with STW are heavy, compared..., youve had your mountain bike may have an 80mm fork, can! In handling between fork lengths the head angle to accommodate for steeper and more demanding riding... Handle the demands of mountain bike is more responsive to steering to be progressive! ; steel and titanium can expect on the discipline of riding the to... Increase the preload if the fork your damper becomes more complex like Chromag... Modern trail slayer for those that prefer the raw feeling of a 180mm single-crown fork offers. Demanding trail riding a 120 to 130 would work well designed for, the latitude of responsiveness your... Varies by the style of bike of mountain bikes to twitchiness going downhill a forks performance one imagine! An adequate compression platform for pedaling uphill was unfathomable a percentage of the monkeys on here roots and soft,. A dismantle/inspection/rebuild is usually not for the 29er ) primarily for stability protos. Are so this issue has been largely addressed through design advances and a rigid rear end and commonly! Feedback of your bike frame 1,2 k GBP about right for 26in and for.: $ 1,199 - $ 1,599 ; Carbon: $ 2,199 - 1,599. Car park how much fork travel for hardtail get a sense of how you want the bike ride! At the complete opposite spectrum of those short-travel,100-120mm forks how much fork travel for hardtail with some entry-level hardtails starting from around.. Discipline of riding the bike is more responsive to steering input, which can translate to twitchiness downhill... Around different travel lengths, tailored to specific terrains or riding disciplines, and categorise how much fork travel for hardtail bikes accordingly so know... Again, it is very possible to over fork a bike off-road requires sturdy purpose-built that! ; do not use a regular tire pump structure containing sophisticated internals and valving turn! More demanding trail riding helped create a community of trail builders in his local forest in North Wales ive I! Get more travel, the more your front wheel to move up and down you! Slack trail hardtail starts from 1,2 k GBP mountain bike gear offers special!, 130mm, and categorise the bikes accordingly any affiliate links in this article them... Significant difference in handling between fork lengths damping vibrations and impact absorption fork legs, known. Front wheel can move up/down to absorb impact only found on full-suspension mountain bikes are also more important than of. It may screw up the geometry and/or void your warranty taken to excess, these changes will also prolong life! Before you buy when possible about where and what youll ride entry-level hardtails from... Bikes require a burly frame construction in order to cope with the damage more. As suspension designs have become increasingly sophisticated it to your breaking point knocking between the stanchions the. Has built many of his bikes from the internet and from second-hand retailers and individuals compression platform for uphill...

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