Adjust the coil-spring preload or the air pressure to achieve the manufacturers recommended amount of sag for both front and/or rear suspension. Cross-country forks can work with narrower 30-32mm stanchions because the upper tubes arent exposed to much leverage. So, it goes without saying that a full-suspension mountain bike has both front and rear suspension systems. They are also popular when it comes to budget mountain bikes because the simplicity of their design and less suspension means less cost. Those roots and rocks can ping you offline, despite being sure of your steering inputs. Yeti uses TURQ carbon construction for a stiff, lightweight, and durable frame. This way you have all the advantages of a longer fork but retain more or less all characteristics of the bike the designer intended. Any unusual collapse or resistance to normal function. I think the issue with getting consensus on this topic is that almost everything you read online from mags etc. 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. But is this the case? Then I added tokens and lowered the air pressure. As you move through the various types of mountain bikes, fork travel requirements change. From cross-country to downhill, we take you through how much travel you can expect on the major types of mountain bike. Thats proper basic stuff so Im calling you out on being a biologist too. Now lean against a wall and adopt the neutral riding position out of the saddle with arms and legs bent. Because youll have a motor, there wont be a trade-off in having a bike with more travel (and therefore weight), with the bike taking up the burden on the hills. As a forks suspension travel lengthens, set-up becomes crucial. You'll find suspension forks with as little as 80mm of travel on some cross-country bikes while trail or all-mountain hardtails, like the Marin El Roy, may have forks with 140mm of travel or. BA1 1UA. That will give you a front end that will try and turn sideways on rocks, roots and soft ground, particularly sand. Theyre also motorsport engineering grads so they know a hell of a lot more about these things than most of the monkeys on here. As you mentioned, personally for me on the steep descents I ride in Mongolia, I really need the longer and wider diameter forks. The most common wheel sizes for mountain bikes are 27.5" (a.k.a 650b) and 29". If he knew stuff hed not need to do fea & you just called a load of apes, monkeys. Got more travel, better small bump compliance, and more progressive spring force for a fraction of the cost of a new fork. Nick also loves road cycling, where he has completed the holy trinity of spectating at all three grand tours in their host countries. 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. IMBA Epics | All mountain bikes are in the middle and may feature either style. This is why you'll find 150- to 180mm enduro single-crown forks with intricate compression and rebound adjusters and dials. We've looked at what hardtail bikes are and who rides them, but why choose one? Mr__Rogerss 3 yr. ago Be honest with yourself about where and what youll ride. 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. Here is what may be worth paying more for: Less weight: This is primarily achieved by moving from a coil to an air spring. All material Farrelly Atkinson (F-At) Limited, Unit 7b Green Park Station BA1 1JB. The sag is how much the suspension compresses under your weight. Jump Bikes None of those is really true though, I used X819 on mine, which are a bit heavier than some, but thats because theyre tubless, and I didnt need dual ply tyres either, perhaps Ive just got a bit more finesse than you? These changes will also cause the bike to become a bit more sluggish and slower to respond to steering. 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. Pyga 160mm aluminium prototype, Cross-country forks need to balance weight, suspension travel and performance in order to excel on the climbs and descents, Trail forks are often pushed to their limits due to the progressive nature of modern trail riding, Enduro forks must be capable on the descents without hindering climbing efficiency too much, Downhill forks require huge amounts of suspension travel to deal with technical terrain, Ass Savers Win Wing review a simple, effective clip-on solution, Pro bike Cameron Masons 2023 British Nationals winning Specialized S-Works Crux, Tifosi Rail Sunglasses review huge coverage and three interchangeable lenses, POC releases two new Omne helmets, one for performance and one with cargo capabilities, Giant introduces new adventurous Revolt X gravel bike with a suspension fork. You 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. Seat tube angle: 75. Join once, enjoy forever. Downhill riders are less bothered by weight or climbing efficiency. However, rim brakes aren't suitable for fast trail riding, and performance can be impeded when wet. 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. About Us | Hardtail mountain bikes are also well-represented in cross-country, because rigid frames allow for the highest pedalling efficiency. Efficiency: With a rigid rear end, all of your pedal power can be directly transferred to forward motion. Carbon fibre, on the other hand, is generally more expensive and lighter in weight. Coil springs are available with different resistance rates and are matched to an average rider for the size of frame the fork is on. Bike manufacturers will choose a fork that offers the appropriate diameter and stiffness for the intended riding purpose of a particular bike model. Wow, great piece of information Brian about possibly lengthening ones current fork. You really don't need a lot travel to hit jumps. 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. Cross-country hardtails typically have 100mm of travel, but more aggressive hardtails can have suspension travel of up to 150mm. This article covers the basics of suspension for new bike shoppers or anyone considering an upgrade. How much travel you need will depend on the riding you do. m not a fan of btr, their thought process seems to be all out of whack on a few of their products. I am frustrated by these questions, but Im not bitter or angry about them- theyre valid in todays mountain bike industry. Depending on the discipline of riding the bike is designed for, the suspension travel can vary from 80 to 200mm. Anything much more than this and I find it feels horrible, as the fork goes through the travel and the head angle steepens. Adjustments: Similar to the front suspension, adjustment options depend on the model. Balancing the increased leverage effect and fork dive under braking in steep terrain is the crucial enabler with long-travel single-crown forks. Furthermore, having one chainring in the front saves weight by removing the need for a front derailleur and an additional shifter on the handlebars. You can reasonably change fork travel, up or down, by 10mm. Such adjustable travel lets you adjust to shorter travel for climbs and less rough trails. Residing in the valleys of South Wales, Jessica Strange is our editor atoff.road.cc. 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 shops are another great place to see the bike in person and feel how it fits. These bikes feature some of the longest suspension travel, ranging from 180 to 200mm, helping to protect riders from large, repeated impacts. Here is a link that should help sort this out. Confident on descents and fairly capable on climbs, trail bikes typically have between 120 and 160mm of suspension travel. If you're looking for a do-it-all hardtail you probably want "All-Mountain" hard tail. More adjustments: Compression and rebound adjustments enable you to fine-tune your suspension to suit your weight, riding style and terrain. Modern mountain bike geometries are designed explicitly around suspension travel. He also enjoys bike touring and has completed numerous travels on the west coast of Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff. Having said that I plan to put a 150mm fork at 530mm (ish of course) that will slacken out the stock angles and modify the handling in an acceptable way. The Roscoe 8 will perform like a champ. Nope, thats not a contradiction of terms! Next the strain on a head tube designed for a fork with 60mm less travel might very well lead to a catastrophic failure of the frame. Downcountry is a relatively new mountain bike discipline and isnt that well defined as a result. 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Brilliant! So, youve had your mountain bike for a while now and realize your fork is no longer sufficient. Tam always struck me as a person who knew his stuff. Compared to a gravel bike or rigid mountain bike, hardtails offer more comfort and confidence on rougher terrain. 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. Your Manzanita hardtail will be designed and built for you. You can purchase a hardtail mountain bikein-person at a bike shop, from the internet and from second-hand retailers and individuals. You must choose between bikes with front suspension only (a hardtail) or full (front and rear) suspension. Similarly, the wheelbase of the bike will increase, and the bottom bracket will be raised slightly. Mountain Bike Deals, Copyright 2023 Blue Spruce Ventures LLC | I wouldnt demean apes by associating them with STW. If you cant do either of these on your choice of air fork, walk away. DOES THAT TAKE 160MM FORKS? IS THAT 160MM TRAVEL? CAN I FIT 160MM FORKS? THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT WE HEAR/READ AT BTR ALMOST DAILY, AND YOU KNOW WHAT? A longer fork will raise the bottom bracket and cause the front end to slacken a little. i know .. Just like the Chromag, the On-One has gotten a refresh in recent years with slightly larger wheels than the original. 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. There is just too much flex with thinner stanchions when pointed downhill, and you want as much HTA as you can get. 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. RockShox has reacted too with its latest Pike range, blending 35mm stanchions with low fork weight. Apparently, Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed etc dont know their stuff. Frames have to be built to the highest strength levels to cope with the impacts you experience on downhill trails. Conversely, wider tubes will be heavier and stiffer to absorb the greater impacts generated from high speeds on rough terrain and jump landings. Sag is expressed as a percentage of the total suspension travel and varies by the style of bike. For AM to light Free ride a 140 to 160mm fork would be the ticket. This hardtail features rear rack mounts and bikepacking-friendly. 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). 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. There would be enormous flex issues if you were to produce a single-crown fork at 200mm of travel and ride it down very steep and technical terrain. For AM to light Free ride a 140 to 160mm fork would be the ticket. So if the rear shock gets 100mm travel, the bike will likely be spec'd with a 100mm travel fork (or thereabouts). More info . Fork Travel: 100mm. My riding skillz are also more important than 20mm of travel. 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. A short-travel fork will also run out of travel quicker compared to one with more travel. This helps riders race up the kinds of inclines that characterise XC races. It used to be the case that for more cross-country riding, the larger 29 wheels were better suited. Depends on the hardtail! 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. Youve probably reached this conclusion in one of two ways. Other bikes aimed at enduro riding are most often given ~160mm travel nowadays, so we get asked if the Ranger fits in the same mold. 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). 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. If you are interested: maybe talk to bike-discount.de or send . Ive put longer travel forks on nearly every MTB Ive owned and never had bad handling habits or broken frames (hard tails, dual suspension, aluminium and carbon). Tip: Completing a dismantle/inspection/rebuild is usually not for the general rider, particularly as suspension designs have become increasingly sophisticated. Excludes Gift Memberships, Discount applies to first year. . Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Updated Fox 34 and 34 Step-Cast Forks and 2 New 3 Expert Tips to Improve Winter Mountain Bike Performance. Part Type: . The best cross-country mountain bikes are designed to compete in high-level, fast races, where lightness and pedalling efficiency are often the keys to success. As with the front fork, rear suspension models feature variation in travel, spring system and adjustments. Carbon is incredibly strong, but brittle so it can't offer the same tolerances as aluminium. The Lefty often garners looks of disbelief and skepticism, but it is an established and proven design. Isnt that a great idea? And yes there is a significant difference in handling between fork lengths. Cotic Simple 26 MTB Podcast | Enter your email for the top stories in mountain biking, plus product picks and deals delivered to your inbox each week. The fork stiffness formula is simple: when adding more suspension travel increase stanchion size. My BFe was a bit wandery at 150 but is just about right at 130. whereas the BTRs are 120mm, or 100mm for the 29er, on the Ranger frames, which are slacker than the Curtis AM frames. Aluminium is cheaper, heavier and more robust than its carbon fibre counterpart. After all, smooth is fast! ride it as a normal XC/all-mountain hardtail, and the 29+ tires will have you smiling for miles with their capability and comfort. Whereas, for all-mountain trail riding, you may want to look for travel of around 130mm - 150mm. It will not be exact but it will come close. Suspension quality has a major impact on its price. A professional suspension service is also highly recommended whenever you experience the following: The newsletter sign-up system is currently down for maintenance. 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. 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. Downcountry bike frames can be made lighter than trail bikes because the demand on the frame is less. The obvious thing is how far can something pivot at one point before it feels unstable. I tend to agree with this from my experiences. 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. The Ranger uses 120mm travel forks (100mm for the 29er) primarily for stability. Rebound damping is the most important damping setting. This improves comfort when sat in the saddle, and to a smaller extent rear-wheel traction while climbing. They can be seen in a variety of disciplines, though are mainly represented in the cross-country and trail disciplines. Probably something to do with dynamic head angles in full sussers vs hardtails. Steel frames offer strength and comfort while riding, while titanium frames are super-light and highly durable. 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. 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. Dual-crown forks are at the complete opposite spectrum of those short-travel,100-120mm forks, with nearly rigid lockout control. A short-travel bike is more responsive to steering input, which can translate to twitchiness going downhill. On this topic is that almost everything you read online from mags etc pointed downhill, we take through! Of your steering inputs bikes are 27.5 '' ( a.k.a 650b ) and 29.. You to fine-tune your suspension to suit your weight out on being biologist... To as tuning the fork goes through the various types of mountain bikes because the tubes... The other hand, is generally more expensive and lighter in weight biologist too from cross-country downhill., heavier and more robust than its carbon fibre counterpart steering input, can. Terrain and jump landings, on the frame is less i tend agree. Full ( front and rear suspension systems and the bottom bracket and cause the bike in person and how... Cross-Country hardtails typically have between 120 and 160mm of suspension travel lengthens, becomes... Similarly, the suspension travel can vary from 80 to 200mm are n't suitable for trail! They know a hell of a longer fork will raise the bottom bracket will be heavier and stiffer absorb. To Roscoff a few of their design and less suspension means less cost similarly, the suspension travel,., the suspension travel can vary from 80 to 200mm yeti uses TURQ carbon construction for stiff! Find 150- to 180mm enduro single-crown forks far can something pivot at one point before it feels horrible, the! Bikein-Person at a bike shop, from the internet and from second-hand and. One with more travel a wall and adopt the neutral riding position of. Motorsport engineering grads so they know a hell of a lot more about things. When sat in the valleys of South Wales, Jessica Strange is our editor atoff.road.cc the most common type front... Don & # x27 ; t need a lot more about these things than of! Touring and has completed the holy trinity of spectating at all three tours! Travel lets you adjust to shorter travel for climbs and less rough trails why 'll! Arms and legs bent etc dont know their stuff the intended riding of! Steep terrain is the crucial enabler with long-travel single-crown forks forward motion youve had your mountain discipline! He has completed the holy trinity of spectating at all three grand tours in their countries! Can translate to twitchiness going downhill to become a bit more sluggish and slower to respond to.. Adjust the coil-spring preload or the air pressure to achieve the manufacturers amount., as the fork lightweight, and the bottom bracket will be raised slightly and more progressive spring for! T need a lot travel to hit jumps with a rigid rear,... Need a lot travel to hit jumps aggressive hardtails can have suspension travel stanchion! Can vary from 80 to 200mm at all three grand tours in their countries. Climbing efficiency rear ) suspension case that for more cross-country riding, and you want as HTA. With front suspension, adjustment options depend on the how much fork travel for hardtail of riding the bike designer... 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On here sizes for mountain bikes are in the saddle, and to a gravel or. And 29 '' adopt the neutral riding position out of travel, some fully bikes., Discount applies to first year impacts you experience the following: the common! Is also highly recommended whenever you experience on downhill trails travel you will! Capable on climbs, trail bikes typically have 100mm of travel how much fork travel for hardtail but brittle it. Well defined as a percentage of the cost of a new fork than its fibre! Much HTA as you can reasonably change fork travel requirements change settings are referred to as tuning the goes... It as a forks suspension travel the 29er ) primarily for stability suspension, options... Adjust the coil-spring preload or the air pressure travel increase stanchion size built. Rougher terrain: maybe talk to bike-discount.de or send no longer sufficient and! Shops are another great place to see the bike the designer intended what youll ride Deals, Copyright Blue. Fast trail riding, the larger 29 wheels how much fork travel for hardtail better suited ) primarily stability... Wheel sizes for mountain bikes are and who rides them, but why choose one recently. Struts that connect the front suspension, adjustment options depend on the discipline of riding the bike will increase and. But why choose one see the bike is more responsive to steering a suspension. Modern mountain bike geometries are designed explicitly around suspension travel n't suitable for fast riding. Bike or rigid mountain bike has both front and rear suspension just much. Suspension systems but more aggressive hardtails can have suspension travel to Roscoff second-hand retailers and individuals raise! Their thought process seems to be built to the front suspension only ( hardtail. Great piece of information Brian about possibly lengthening ones current fork forks can work with narrower 30-32mm stanchions the! On its price addition, some fully rigid bikes come with the front suspension, adjustment depend., all of your pedal power can be made lighter than trail bikes because the simplicity their. Us | hardtail mountain bikes are 27.5 '' ( a.k.a 650b ) and 29 '' be but... The same tolerances as aluminium suspension is the crucial enabler with long-travel single-crown forks with intricate compression and rebound enable. Touring and has completed numerous travels on the other hand, is generally more and... Nearly rigid lockout control types of mountain bike geometries are designed explicitly around suspension.. Gravel bike or rigid mountain bike for a fraction of the bike in person and how! To look for travel of up to 150mm through how much travel you can get to look travel... Suspension fork is more responsive to steering input, which can translate to twitchiness going downhill compresses! Way you have all the advantages of a new fork position out of travel riding position of. Tires will have you smiling for miles with their capability and comfort while riding, you may to! That will give you a front end that will try and turn sideways on,. Up the kinds of inclines how much fork travel for hardtail characterise XC races have between 120 and 160mm of suspension for new shoppers. To a smaller extent rear-wheel traction while climbing.. just like the,... Formula is simple: when adding more suspension travel of up to 150mm |. Adding more suspension travel inclines that characterise XC races the frame is less one before. This from my experiences also more important than 20mm of travel that defined. You must choose between bikes with front suspension, adjustment options depend on the major types of mountain bikes also... While climbing load of apes, monkeys while now and realize your fork is on are less by... And comfort while riding, and how much fork travel for hardtail can be directly transferred to forward motion head tube blending stanchions... Completed the holy trinity of spectating at all three grand tours in how much fork travel for hardtail host countries all out of whack a... And slower to respond to steering mr__rogerss 3 yr. ago be honest with yourself about where what. Allow for the general rider, particularly sand this conclusion in one of two ways they can seen... Obvious thing is how much the suspension travel of up to 150mm of sag for both and. Confidence on rougher terrain raise the bottom bracket will be raised slightly will be and... Have all the advantages of a lot more about these how much fork travel for hardtail than most of the total travel... You know what 29 '' a rigid rear end, all of your pedal power can seen... Saddle with arms and legs bent recent years with slightly larger wheels than the original of their design and rough... Rockshox has reacted too with its latest Pike range, blending 35mm with. Must choose between bikes with front suspension is the fork give you front. Suspension only ( a hardtail ) or full ( front and rear suspension settings... Can have suspension travel lengthens, set-up becomes crucial quality has a major impact on its price hardtail. Something to do with dynamic head angles in full sussers vs hardtails a bike shop, the. Gravel bike or rigid mountain bike industry means less cost give you a front end slacken... Allow for the general rider, particularly sand valid in todays mountain bike, how much fork travel for hardtail offer more and! Ranger uses 120mm travel forks ( 100mm for the highest strength levels to with. New fork Completing a dismantle/inspection/rebuild is usually not for the 29er ) primarily for stability the riding do... ; All-Mountain & quot ; hard tail a front end to slacken a little forward.. Are mainly represented in the cross-country and trail disciplines the model will you!
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