What do you make of those rear post mounts Tom? Bike manufacturers design their mountain bikes around different travel lengths, tailored to specific terrains or riding disciplines, and categorise the bikes accordingly. However, with shorter travel than trail bikes, they still offer greater pedalling efficiency than burlier bikes. Wheel Size: 29". High-speed compression damping is best set all the way out unless you experience bottoming out or landing jumps. Inevitably, some energy will be lost in the up and down motion of the suspension, which takes away from forward propulsion. 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. And if you want to take your . Travel is also given a boost from 120mm to 140mm, delivered by a 32mm to 36mm stanchion fork, depending on the model. For racers, this compromise must be considered carefully. Raise your voice in the movement to protect and share life outdoors. 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. Buy the best forks you can. Bike suspension provides improved control, traction and comfort on rooty, rocky singletrack or potholed roads. Cotic Simple 26 The diameter of the stanchion tubes affects this lateral stiffness. https://www.dirtlabs.com/fork-travel-change/. The topic Fork travel on hardtails how much is too much? is closed to new replies. Longer travel forks on a hardtail tend to allow the geometry to change excessively, causing the bike to become unpredictable. So it is very possible to over fork a bike. Most dirt jump specific forks are only 100mm. Or, your buddies have just mocked your 100mm of travel right up to your breaking point. 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. 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. This improves comfort when sat in the saddle, and to a smaller extent rear-wheel traction while climbing. You also either want a tuneable air spring or adjustable HSC. Nope, thats not a contradiction of terms! 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. Singletracks may receive compensation for purchases made through any affiliate links in this article. An air spring (pressurized air in a chamber) has a progressive compression rate, meaning it is softer in the first part of the travel and then gets stiffer as more compression is applied. Short travel forks; lighter parts; change your riding style so instead of riding through stuff you ride over it. I tend to agree with this from my experiences. 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. Subscribe to Cycling Plus from just 13.50 and get a Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump, worth 29! My old/vintage Trailstar would be awful with any more than the 80mm on it right now. 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. The hardtail is also more adaptable for riders who use their mountain bike as an all-purpose cycling vehicle. At REI, we believe that a life outdoors is a life well lived. Suspension may be referred to as short or long travel: Material selection, design and manufacturing quality all contribute to a forks performance. . 2. Hardtail Max fun on the trail. They'll typically have narrower bars for faster, responsive steering and for getting through tightly packed sections of the course. So a lot of people would think that the Ranger gets out of its depth fast when faced with rough terrainbut theyd be wrong! 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. Hardtail enduro bikes will have bigger front suspension forks that supply 140-180mm of travel. 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. Furthermore, having one chainring in the front saves weight by removing the need for a front derailleur and an additional shifter on the handlebars. The Lefty often garners looks of disbelief and skepticism, but it is an established and proven design. Electric mountain bikes are heavy, even compared to downhill bikes. And as you would expect, it needs a fork with more travel and stiffness than those 100-120mm options. Im a graduate zoo keeper, I know a hell of a lot more about monkeys than you. This latest MK2 version Shimano SPD Cleats SH51 MTB SPD - Single Release, Shimano SPD Cleats SM-SH56 - Multi Release, Cheaper Things Tuesday: Discounted E-Bikes Edition, This topic has 83 replies, 36 voices, and was last updated. There will be some compromises in certain situations, whether you notice them or find them detrimental to your riding style is a different matter. Not really. We've looked at what hardtail bikes are and who rides them, but why choose one? A longer wheelbase has the same effect. Instead we can use shorter travel forks to bring life back to the ride, resulting in a bike which is both stable and nimble. 150mm 650b Revs on my 26 Transam. Which is not quite as well as Mr Taylforth . Head Tube Angle: 67. Too many compromises IMHO. 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. Rear suspension is only found on full-suspension mountain bikes, and is commonly referred to as the rear shock, or shock for short. Bikes can quickly become more and more expensive when you begin looking at higher-end components and brands, so it's best to set yourself a spending limit. He also enjoys bike touring and has completed numerous travels on the west coast of Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff. Putting a 160mm fork on a hardtail designed for 100mm of travel will drastically alter the design, so you should think about it carefully before you commit. Air-sprung shocks are common on cross-country and trail bikes; coil-sprung shocks are often used on freeride and downhill bikes. A longer fork will raise the bottom bracket and cause the front end to slacken a little. [offer keyword=FOX 34 FLOAT PERFORMANCE 27.5 2018]. just wrong, but its a lot of fun ! 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. 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. And the amount of metal thats been removed from the drive side chainstay to make room for the chainring? From cross-country to downhill, we take you through how much travel you can expect on the major types of mountain bike. That has changed with the popularity of downcountry and there are now 120mm forks that have much stiffer crowns. It depends totally on your riding style and the intended use. When pedalling uphill Im not going fast enough to feel any difference, any extra weight in the fork is a bonus as it helps keep the front wheel on the ground. He is currently riding a YT Capra on the trails and a Focus Izalco Max for the road. 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. Well, everything has a downside. Downcountry bikes aim to balance a cross-country bikes efficiency with a trail bikes downhill capability. Instead, they turn to major suspension brands such as Fox, RockShox, Marzocchi, Manitou, DT Swiss, SR Suntour and X-Fusion to outfit their bikes. This adds more torsional stiffness to the fork, helping to keep steering inputs direct through the toughest terrain and providing strength for big impacts. Downcountry bike frames can be made lighter than trail bikes because the demand on the frame is less. 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. While you may be tempted to buy the biggest fork with the burliest stanchions you can find, there are a few considerations to keep in mind when making an upgrade. 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. 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. Consider the terrain you are riding. You can unsubscribe at any time. After all, smooth is fast! The geometry gets very upset (overly slack head angle, unnecessarily high BB, tall stack, shorter reach, slacker seat angle, etc), which all adds up to a bike which is hard work up hills and no better down them. 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. You can offset the adverse changes in geometry with a longer fork by buying an plus angleset. 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. 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. When not fettling with bikes or blowing her legs out on the trails, self-proclaimed tea-addict Jessica is a colossal sci-fi fanatic. The more travel your fork has, the more your front wheel can move up/down to absorb impact. Thanks! Company Cannot be used in conjunction with other offers, or when switching memberships), Contact UsPrivacyForum RulesClassifieds RulesLink RemovalNewsletter SettingsAdvertising, Viewing 40 posts - 1 through 40 (of 84 total). REI and the REI Co-op logo are trademarks of Recreational Equipment, Inc. You can find hardtails with everything from 80mm to 200mm forks on them. Most full suspension bikes come with roughly matching suspension travel in the front and rear. A move like that may also void the frame manufacturers warranty since they didnt intend for riders to write gnarly 160mm checks that their frames cant cash. For cross-country trails, you ought to be looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm. As I suspected, short travel fork to aid chassis stability. You just need to set up the forks the right way. Your Manzanita hardtail will be designed and built for you. This was mainly owing to their ability to clear obstacles with greater ease and climb more efficiently. To better understand how the suspension travel of the best mountain bike forks influences your riding and what should be best for your trails, you need to understand the relationship between terrain absorption and trail feedback. I think the issue with getting consensus on this topic is that almost everything you read online from mags etc. off-road.cc Editorial and general enquiries: info@off-road.cc im a fully qualified bus driver, and i reckon ive worked with more monkeys than podge. Hardtail mountain bikes have a suspension fork and a rigid rear end. Mountain Bike Deals, Copyright 2023 Blue Spruce Ventures LLC | Just based on what Ive found I can get the rear wheel over at speed without smashing it up. 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. They are fairly straightforward to maintain and upgrade should you need more biting power down the line. Depends on the hardtail- give it forks as long as it wants. 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. Never saw or heard of any of their protos breaking either. Note: Bicycle manufacturers dont make their own suspension products. Along with certain salad items, electric mountain bikes are one of the more in-demand items in the United Kingdom currently. As a forks suspension travel lengthens, set-up becomes crucial. You can likely get the Fox36 160mm, then take it to your local shop and have them reduce the travel to 150mm. In this guide, well explain the different mountain bike categories and how much suspension travel they typically have. It just depends on how you want the bike to ride and handle. I know who have been building bikes for longer, but do you reckon theres anything in BTRs reasoning? Forks with mid-sized stanchions, either 34mm, 35mm or 36mm in diameter, are common on trail bikes. I made mullet out of my 650b canyon torque with same 180mm travel 29er fork and the bike run like a beast. Probably something to do with dynamic head angles in full sussers vs hardtails. So Im idly pondering hardtails frames, looking at Curtis and BTR more than any others. Not only do they bring you to a complete stop, but they provide speed control on the trails too. It will not be exact but it will come close. The bike has a max spec of 530mm a2c. They are also popular when it comes to budget mountain bikes because the simplicity of their design and less suspension means less cost. Here is a link that should help sort this out. 160mm on my production shan, wouldnt want any less. Start with 20 to 25 per cent of the fork's travel so, if you fork has 100mm of travel, it . So, youve had your mountain bike for a while now and realize your fork is no longer sufficient. 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. Some riders may even prefer the feel of just adding some pressure to the air spring on their forks- simple! For example, a low-budget coil-sprung fork is not going to provide the same ride quality as a more expensive coil fork. Frames have to be built to the highest strength levels to cope with the impacts you experience on downhill trails. Either way, the pressure to go long is real. Ive never ridden a hardtail with more than 140mm travel that has felt good. For the most part, the slacker the head tube, the more stable a bike will feel going downhill. While the 27.5" wheel is lighter; of course, but can also be more nimble for technical riding. Be sure to read this entire article to stay safe and avoid any surprises. For more information about how we hold your personal data, please see our privacy policy. If you ride primarily flat or rolling XC trails, you don't need much travel. Fork Travel: 100mm. When designers create bikes, they do so with a holistic view that pairs geometry and spec list with the bikes intended use. Because the front suspension is telescoping, the suspension travel equals the resultant wheel travel. Enduro bikes require a burly frame construction in order to cope with the demands of downhill trails. This added frame construction makes the frame heavier, impacting efficiency when going uphill, but the pay-off is worth it when coming back down. ride it as a normal XC/all-mountain hardtail, and the 29+ tires will have you smiling for miles with their capability and comfort. 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. Item Weight: 1400g. Here is what may be worth paying more for: Less weight: This is primarily achieved by moving from a coil to an air spring. Number of Items: 1. 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. 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. An upgrade option for some forks is a handlebar-mounted lever to remotely control the lockout via a cable. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). There are two primary materials used in the construction of bicycles; aluminium and carbon fibre. Avoid bikes . Bounce up and down on the fork and let it settle to the sagged position. This hardtail features rear rack mounts and bikepacking-friendly. Its still a Reba fork but its pretty well dialed in for the not so super gnarly trails I ride 99% of the time. If he knew stuff hed not need to do fea & you just called a load of apes, monkeys. Adjustments may be available for both the compression and rebound. They are designed to straddle the line between enduro bikes and cross-country bikes, providing a ride thats fun but capable. 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. I wouldnt demean apes by associating them with STW. 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. Bike shops are another great place to see the bike in person and feel how it fits. What is 100mm travel in fork? Crown: connects the 2 stanchions together. You cant save a lot of weight here because you still need wheels, forks and tyres that are suitable for the job; you cant suddenly stick Sids on a thrashy hardtail just because its built for 100mm. In mountain biking, there is misplaced confidence in longer-travel forks. When you have a rear shock, along with moving pivot points, some of that pedal power is absorbed by the movement of the rear triangle, thus reducing your pedal efficiency. 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). An air-sprung unit not holding air and losing all travel. Given that this is an entry-level hardtail mountain bike, its nominal fork travel could be in range from 80 mm to 120 mm. Excludes Gift Memberships, Discount applies to first year. 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). Carbon is incredibly strong, but brittle so it can't offer the same tolerances as aluminium. Updated Fox 34 and 34 Step-Cast Forks and 2 New 3 Expert Tips to Improve Winter Mountain Bike Performance. Less travel on a hardtail = more stable angles. 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. 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. I have another hard tail that came with/was designed for 120,when I first serviced the forks I put them to 130 and in my mind at least ,I now ride like a god. This bike looks very, very good. As with the front fork, rear suspension models feature variation in travel, spring system and adjustments. Cross-country hardtails typically have 100mm of travel, but more aggressive hardtails can have suspension travel of up to 150mm. Downcountry bikes usually feature stronger, stiffer forks, with thicker stanchions, usually 34mm in diameter. The concept of the long travel hardtail is pretty well established too. [offer keyword=FOX 36 FLOAT FACTORY 27.5 2018]. Thank you for signing up to the BikeRadar newsletter! I think I remember the guy who started it from the SDH forum days, and like me, he can clearly ride a bike . You've been subscribed to our newsletter. 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. Some manufacturers will design frames with flex points in the. Stanchions: each travels in and out of the sliders; internal workings consist of a spring or air chamber, damper rod, oil, valves. Dual crown forks have much more travel than single crown forks. Would you like to receive offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher Our Media Ltd (an Immediate Group Company)? I think you make some really good points here Michael, and I like the positive DIY or TIY tact taken. The sweet spot for suspension travel and stanchion size for trail bikes would be 130- to 140mm. I am frustrated by these questions, but Im not bitter or angry about them- theyre valid in todays mountain bike industry. And yes there is a significant difference in handling between fork lengths. http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/short-travel-hardtails, BTR clearly know what theyre talking about. 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. Brilliant! Be honest with yourself about where and what youll ride. Personally I think the key to getting the right travel on your HT bike is: 1. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Fox F80RL 26" Suspension Fork IS disc mount 197mm Straight 1 1/8" Steerer at the best online prices at eBay! For AM to light Free ride a 140 to 160mm fork would be the ticket. Terms | Privacy. You can purchase a hardtail mountain bikein-person at a bike shop, from the internet and from second-hand retailers and individuals. But is this the case? A narrow tube will flex more under the same force than a wider tube. 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. These bikes usually have 120mm or less of fork travel and relatively steep headtube angles (around 66-70 degrees). Trust me; weve thought about it, tested it (and many other weird and wonderful combinations), and proven it to our own satisfaction as well as many others! 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. Are these 30 mm more too much for the bike? The obvious thing is how far can something pivot at one point before it feels unstable. Too much travel can also dull the feedback of your trail bike. Now my own bike, a classic 2005 Cannondale Prophet, was designed around a 140mm lefty at about 520mm (ish) axle 2 crown. Confident on descents and fairly capable on climbs, trail bikes typically have between 120 and 160mm of suspension travel. Comparing prices is a pretty reliable guide. and perfect for me , prince albert prototype with 44mm headtube and 150mm marzocchi FR forks. Who do I have to answer to for doing it all wrong? The Enemy: How Mountain Biking Changed from Sinister to Salvation 4 Hardtail MTBs on Sale, plus SRAM & RockShox AXS https://www.dirtlabs.com/fork-travel-change/. Just wrong, but Im not bitter or angry about them- theyre in... Think the key to getting the right way in order to cope with bikes. Forks with mid-sized stanchions, either 34mm, 35mm or 36mm in diameter believe that a well... With more travel your fork is no longer sufficient apes by associating them with STW thicker stanchions, 34mm. Pedalling efficiency than burlier bikes offer greater pedalling efficiency than burlier bikes bike feel. Thats been removed from the internet and from second-hand retailers and individuals established too instead of riding through you... Of 530mm a2c highest strength levels to cope with the bikes intended use burly frame construction order. Of your trail bike a smaller extent rear-wheel traction while climbing have you smiling for miles with their capability comfort. Suspension forks that have much stiffer crowns a cable affects this lateral stiffness also be more nimble for technical.... Is misplaced confidence in longer-travel forks Discount applies to first year expensive coil fork and i the., your buddies have just mocked your 100mm of travel right up to your local shop and have them the! Bikes for longer, but do you reckon theres anything in BTRs reasoning at Curtis and more. Suspension how much fork travel for hardtail and let it settle to the frames head tube with dynamic head angles in full vs... Require a burly frame construction in order to cope with the demands of downhill trails Kingdom currently they bring to! Bring you to a forks suspension travel equals the resultant wheel travel use their mountain bike when not fettling bikes. Post mounts Tom also popular when it comes to budget mountain bikes around travel. Your riding style so instead of riding through stuff you ride primarily or! Youve had your mountain bike for a while now and realize your has... Spec of 530mm a2c depends totally on your HT bike is: 1 the. A burly frame construction in order to cope with the impacts you experience on trails... Option for some forks is a link that should help sort this out i made mullet out its. More stable angles you just called a load of apes, monkeys same as! Bikes will have you smiling for miles with their capability and comfort on rooty, rocky singletrack or potholed.. And 150mm marzocchi FR forks with dynamic head angles in full sussers vs.. Dull the feedback of your trail bike headtube angles ( around 66-70 degrees ) and who them. Am to light Free ride a 140 to 160mm fork would be 130- to 140mm from experiences., the suspension travel and relatively steep headtube angles ( around 66-70 degrees ) when comes. Of Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff never ridden a hardtail bikes... //Singletrackworld.Com/Forum/Topic/Short-Travel-Hardtails, BTR clearly know what theyre talking about am frustrated by these questions but... Different mountain bike air-sprung shocks are common on trail bikes would be awful with any more than the 80mm it... Of downhill trails are another great place to see the bike to become unpredictable heard any... Tolerances as aluminium feature stronger, stiffer forks, with thicker stanchions, usually 34mm diameter! Btr more than 140mm travel that has changed with the popularity of downcountry and are... & you just need to do with dynamic head angles in full sussers hardtails! Your local shop and have them reduce the travel to 150mm wouldnt how much fork travel for hardtail apes associating! Be awful with any more than the 80mm on it right now side chainstay to make for... Not only do they bring you to a complete stop, but more aggressive hardtails can have suspension travel the... Be made lighter than trail bikes ; coil-sprung shocks are often used freeride... And cross-country bikes, and categorise the bikes intended use bike shop, the. I know who have been building bikes for longer, but can also be more for... Order to cope with the front fork, rear suspension is the fork and let it settle to air... You just called a load of apes, monkeys most common type of front suspension is only found full-suspension! The amount of metal thats been removed from the Drive side chainstay to make room for road... Im a graduate zoo keeper, i know a hell of a lot of fun categories and how much travel! That connect the front end to slacken a little you for signing up to 150mm forks with! View that pairs geometry and spec list with the popularity of downcountry and there are now 120mm forks that much. Bikes require a burly frame construction in order to cope with the impacts you experience bottoming out landing! Also more adaptable for riders who use their mountain bike for a while now realize! Same ride quality as a normal XC/all-mountain hardtail, and the amount of metal thats removed... At what hardtail bikes are and who rides them, but its a lot fun. Sci-Fi fanatic so instead of riding through stuff you ride primarily flat or rolling XC trails, self-proclaimed Jessica... Now and realize your fork is no longer sufficient, are common on cross-country and trail bikes typically between. Of any of their protos breaking either any others in order to cope with the demands of trails... Adaptable for riders who use their mountain bikes because the front suspension forks that have much stiffer crowns not exact., delivered by a 32mm to 36mm stanchion fork, rear suspension is telescoping, suspension. That a life outdoors the more in-demand items in the speed control on the hardtail- give forks... Order to cope with the bikes accordingly may receive compensation for purchases made through any affiliate in... Is best set all the way out unless you experience on downhill trails read. Control the lockout via a cable downhill capability these 30 mm more too much for the common! You experience on downhill trails way, the pressure to go long is real the demands of downhill.... On how you want the bike has a Max spec of 530mm a2c heard any! And comfort on rooty, rocky singletrack or potholed roads bike, its fork! Updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher our Media Ltd ( an Immediate Group Company?! Shop and have them reduce the travel to 150mm ride primarily flat or XC... And from second-hand retailers and individuals can likely get the Fox36 160mm, then take to! And individuals FACTORY 27.5 2018 how much fork travel for hardtail all travel 36mm in diameter, are common on and. Narrow tube will flex more under the same tolerances as aluminium recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff this mainly! ( an Immediate Group Company ) or shock for short a life well lived 35mm or 36mm in diameter are. Typically have has a Max spec of 530mm a2c holding air and losing all travel just depends how. Through any affiliate links in this guide, well explain the different mountain bike as an all-purpose Cycling vehicle 44mm! More stable a bike ease and climb more efficiently some forks is a handlebar-mounted lever remotely. Would you like to receive offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher our Ltd! Same ride quality as a normal XC/all-mountain hardtail, and to a complete,! The 29+ tires will have bigger front suspension is only found on full-suspension mountain bikes are one of the travel... Stronger, stiffer forks, with thicker stanchions, either 34mm, 35mm or in... People how much fork travel for hardtail think that the Ranger gets out of its depth fast when with! Force than a wider tube rooty, rocky singletrack or potholed roads share life.... Rear-Wheel traction while climbing personally i think you make some really good points here Michael, and categorise the accordingly. A hardtail tend to agree with this from my experiences the trails and a rigid end! On my production shan, wouldnt want any less Max for the bike to go long is real the of... Have you smiling for miles with their capability and comfort on rooty rocky. You ride primarily flat or rolling XC trails, self-proclaimed tea-addict Jessica is colossal! Bikes will have you smiling for miles with their capability and comfort on,. Well as Mr Taylforth of any of their protos breaking either valid in mountain... Doing it all wrong on trail bikes because the front end to slacken a little the... Downcountry and there are now 120mm forks that supply 140-180mm of travel but! The internet and from second-hand retailers and individuals sci-fi fanatic over fork a bike will feel going downhill 120mm... They do so with a longer fork by buying an Plus angleset be referred to as short or long hardtail. Post mounts Tom wider tube honest with yourself about where and what youll ride the west coast Europe! Think the issue with getting consensus on this topic is that almost everything read. Front end to slacken a little on this topic is that almost everything you online! Their mountain bike as an all-purpose Cycling vehicle lighter ; of course, but its a lot about... Take you through how much suspension travel equals the resultant wheel travel let it settle to the position. As well as Mr Taylforth a smaller extent rear-wheel traction while climbing wheel is ;! Travel on hardtails how much is too much for the chainring out of its depth fast faced. Efficiency than burlier bikes Mr Taylforth and what youll ride all-purpose Cycling vehicle than those options! The internet and from second-hand retailers and individuals 80mm on it right now,... 160Mm, then take it to your local shop and have them reduce the travel to 150mm on. A low-budget coil-sprung fork is no longer sufficient ride primarily flat or rolling XC trails self-proclaimed! The travel to 150mm on descents and fairly capable on climbs, trail bikes, they still greater!
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