A longer fork will raise the bottom bracket and cause the front end to slacken a little. Seat tube angle: 75. Travel is also given a boost from 120mm to 140mm, delivered by a 32mm to 36mm stanchion fork, depending on the model. Adjusting the travel not only affects the bump-softening capacity of the bike, it also affects the steering and control. 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An ideal fork absorbs impacts vertically without undue lateral flex which can detract from the steering and control of a bike. He also enjoys bike touring and has completed numerous travels on the west coast of Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff. This refers to the amount of distance the suspension will move before it is fully compressed. Electric bikes can be categorised by the other disciplines featured in this article and will tend to feature the travel of that discipline. A suspension uses a hydraulic system that allows the front wheel to move up and down as you ride over uneven terrain. In mountain biking, there is misplaced confidence in longer-travel forks. Disc brakes that use a hydraulic system are available in many variations and at differing price points. If you ride steep terrain with a lot of extended descents, you'll likely want more travel. 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. Depends on the hardtail! BikePerfect is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. The original forks only go back on when I want to sell the bikes. Got more travel, better small bump compliance, and more progressive spring force for a fraction of the cost of a new fork. You can reasonably change fork travel, up or down, by 10mm. When shopping around for a hardtail mountain bike, there are a few key things to consider, the first of which is setting yourself a budget. As forks get longer, stanchions also increase in diameter to prevent the fork from flexing like a wet noodle. As anyone who spends time in the mountains will tell you, some of the most fun can be had out of bounds just be ready to accept the consequences of venturing there. Hardtail mountain bikes are also well-represented in cross-country, because rigid frames allow for the highest pedalling efficiency. 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. 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. IMBA Epics | Tam spent most of his uni years racing hardtails on downhill tracks so he knows a thing or two about them and hes **** quick. Whether you're looking to push your comfort zone from the gravel bike to a mountain bike, or you're entirely new to the trails, hardtail bikes are a must-have in many rider's bike stable. For pretty much XC or dirt jump, go with a 100mm XC or dirt jump fork. A longer wheelbase has the same effect. Brilliant! Its still a Reba fork but its pretty well dialed in for the not so super gnarly trails I ride 99% of the time. Price: Aluminum: $1,199 - $1,599; Carbon: $2,199 - $4,299. Downcountry is a relatively new mountain bike discipline and isnt that well defined as a result. Bolted onto the frame are quality components, like a SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain and a Fox Factory 34 fork on the top-end model. Steel the big line. These bikes feature some of the longest suspension travel, ranging from 180 to 200mm, helping to protect riders from large, repeated impacts. 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. So it is very possible to over fork a bike. 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? Almost all mountain bikes are equipped with front suspension, as well as some hybrid or comfort bikes and kids bikes. Thanks. Typically, cross-country bikes have featured 80 to 100mm of travel. How will you know? For cross-country trails, you ought to be looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm. Replacing your existing fork? Comparing prices is a pretty reliable guide. Any unusual collapse or resistance to normal function. Apparently, Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed etc dont know their stuff. Such adjustable travel lets you adjust to shorter travel for climbs and less rough trails. General guidelines: Sag enables the wheel to follow undulations in the ground more effectively, allowing the suspension to extend so that the wheel can drop into depressions in the trail. 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. Would you like to receive offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher Our Media Ltd (an Immediate Group Company)? My Mr Hyde is cool with some monster 100mm travel forks (they are 36mm stanchion and 20mm axle). On older models, rear shocks produced pedal bob, meaning that the pedaling exertions of the rider activated the suspension, causing an ongoing cycle of compression/rebound that decreased pedaling efficiency. Number of Items: 1. The shorter suspension travel gives a more responsive feel and youll enjoy greater trail feedback through the handlebar and grips. As one can imagine, when taken to excess, these changes in geometry can lead to some pretty major alterations in performance. So a lot of people would think that the Ranger gets out of its depth fast when faced with rough terrainbut theyd be wrong! A hardtail mountain bike is exactly that, hard tailed. Balancing the increased leverage effect and fork dive under braking in steep terrain is the crucial enabler with long-travel single-crown forks. Is 150mm travel too much for a hardtail? set of Lyrics, was ace and totally suited the bike. Also think about the style of riding youll do is it casual youre after or do you want to race it? With your front wheel having to steer and balance traction on those big trail features and steep descents, the logic is often that more suspension travel is better. Not sure how that can be accurate. In addition, some fully rigid bikes come with the correct frame geometry angle to upgrade to a suspension fork. Im a policeman, so congratulations on coming second . Hardtails in a nutshell, who they're for, what riding they suit and where to find one that's suitable for you. To further add to my previous comment. The Roscoe 8 2023 - Best Hardtail Mountain Bike Under $2000. Spring system: This is either coil or air, as per the front suspension. [offer keyword=FOX 34 FLOAT PERFORMANCE 27.5 2018]. Bike manufacturers will choose a fork that offers the appropriate diameter and stiffness for the intended riding purpose of a particular bike model. Dont own a hardtail at the mo but the Transition Trans Am with Domains up front was a riot check the pic below anything less wouldve made the head angle silly steep. However, rim brakes aren't suitable for fast trail riding, and performance can be impeded when wet. Because it has this tolerance for brutish behaviour, aluminium has a slight advantage in damping vibrations and impact absorption. 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. 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. Just based on what Ive found I can get the rear wheel over at speed without smashing it up. The speeds that downhill bikes roll over highly technical terrain require exceptional torsional stiffness at the axle to prevent riders from being deflected off-line and crashing. Personally prefer the handling of longer forks and or larger front wheels, the faster and rougher it is, the more I prefer it. Jump Bikes https://www.dirtlabs.com/fork-travel-change/. Current mountain bikes are fairly complex, so a simple travel number seems like an easy way to assess their intent or capability. Cross-country forks can work with narrower 30-32mm stanchions because the upper tubes arent exposed to much leverage. The BikeRadar newsletter will bring you our curated selection of the best cycling tech news, reviews, features and more from across the site. 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. Best Bike Trails | Wheel Size: 29". Yeti uses TURQ carbon construction for a stiff, lightweight, and durable frame. Typically, these bikes will feature beefier frame construction to deal with the added suspension travel. The sag is how much the suspension compresses under your weight. The topic Fork travel on hardtails how much is too much? is closed to new replies. We've been sharing our passion for the outdoors since 1938. 100MM Fork Travel. Electric mountain bikes are heavy, even compared to downhill bikes. The geometry and quality of travel more important in my opinion. Bike manufacturers design their mountain bikes around different travel lengths, tailored to specific terrains or riding disciplines, and categorise the bikes accordingly. A decade ago, the idea of a 180mm single-crown fork that could provide an adequate compression platform for pedaling uphill was unfathomable. As fork travel increases with trail bikes, the latitude of responsiveness from your damper becomes more complex. In general, bikes will happily accept forks that are up to 20mm larger than their designers intended. If you really feel that substantially longer travel is required, it is probably time to consider getting a different bike. I recently swapped the air shaft in my Pike and went from 140mm to 160mm, and the total cost of goods was roughly 30. Downcountry bikes aim to balance a cross-country bikes efficiency with a trail bikes downhill capability. The wheels are welcome on much of the trail, including steep slopes, grass, rock, sand, and loose dirt. On-One Ti 4560b (photo: On-One) The On-One 456 hardtail has been around for seemingly forever. 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. Save 30% + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine. I keep the rear suspension (if fitted) travel the same but with a better quality shock to get the full benefit and to keep my centre of gravity low as I can. For cross-country trails, you ought to be looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm. If you are interested: maybe talk to bike-discount.de or send . Ive used a 160mm bike with 160mm forks before and it just felt a bit odd, the bike gets imbalanced as the rear gets smashed despite you thinking you have loads of plush travel. Handling will be slower but downhills will be easier and you'll have more clearance for pedals and chainrings when going over obstacles. ride it as a normal XC/all-mountain hardtail, and the 29+ tires will have you smiling for miles with their capability and comfort. You really don't need a lot travel to hit jumps. 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? Just enter your email address below to get started. As I said, Ive never noticed anything untoward with the 140mm on my current HT, although thats quite firm, just wondered what people thought of the reasoning. m not a fan of btr, their thought process seems to be all out of whack on a few of their products. The 45650B gets its name from its ability to run 4, 5, or 6-travel forks, and its 650B (27.5) wheels. So Im idly pondering hardtails frames, looking at Curtis and BTR more than any others. I think the issue with getting consensus on this topic is that almost everything you read online from mags etc. For AM to light Free ride a 140 to 160mm fork would be the ticket. Having more travel is great but potentially useless if the fork internals cant make the best use of it. Mountain bikes feature different amounts of suspension travel depending on the type of riding theyre designed for. Thank you for signing up to the BikeRadar newsletter! Complete bike, Radon Cragger, 29er, 130 mm, long and slack trail hardtail starts from 1,2 k GBP. This is why you'll find 150- to 180mm enduro single-crown forks with intricate compression and rebound adjusters and dials. 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. We have a few more hardtail-related resources below should you want to become a self-taught expert on them! For more information about how we hold your personal data, please see our privacy policy. Rebound damping is the most important damping setting. Youll find a range of options and prices. I think you make some really good points here Michael, and I like the positive DIY or TIY tact taken. Rides: Never saw or heard of any of their protos breaking either. Although most (70%) of my riding only needs probaby 4 or 4.5" of travel, having that extra inch or two just makes the ride that much smoother. 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. He has a weakness for British steel hardtails, especially those which only run a single gear. As a forks suspension travel lengthens, set-up becomes crucial. 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. Company 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/. My BFe was a bit wandery at 150 but is just about right at 130. You'll be seeking out the smoother lines that will give you more comfort and control on the trail, and by learning how to scope out the smoothest lines, you're putting yourself in an excellent place to build on your skills and confidence. A fork may offer no adjustability, or it may have one or more knobs and dials to tweak. 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. 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. However, with shorter travel than trail bikes, they still offer greater pedalling efficiency than burlier bikes. Suspension may be referred to as short or long travel: Material selection, design and manufacturing quality all contribute to a forks performance. Respect frame specs and limits and have fun. The choice between the two types largely comes down to preference and difficulty of the trail they ride. The concept of the long travel hardtail is pretty well established too. Cross-country hardtails typically have 100mm of travel, but more aggressive hardtails can have suspension travel of up to 150mm. whereas the BTRs are 120mm, or 100mm for the 29er, on the Ranger frames, which are slacker than the Curtis AM frames. I dont use suspension lockouts ever, if I did it would be to lock the suspension in the compressed position. A special shock pump is needed for this; do not use a regular tire pump. If he knew stuff hed not need to do fea & you just called a load of apes, monkeys. Rear suspension is only found on full-suspension mountain bikes, and is commonly referred to as the rear shock, or shock for short. If we were asked these questions about the Belter or the Pinner, the answers would be yes, no but its compatible, yes. As a rough estimate, each 20mm of travel added will correlate to a one-degree difference in the head tube angle. I'd say (I'm no expert) 160 mm would be a compromised maximum, 120-140 will work well with most modern frames. Confident on descents and fairly capable on climbs, trail bikes typically have between 120 and 160mm of suspension travel. Excludes Gift Memberships, Discount applies to first year. Forks come in varying lengths of suspension travel and stanchion sizes, this is what they mean for your riding. 150mm 650b Revs on my 26 Transam. Well it probably wont break, but were not going to guarantee that. Updated Fox 34 and 34 Step-Cast Forks and 2 New 3 Expert Tips to Improve Winter Mountain Bike Performance. 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. ie lets make a hardcore hardtail for 100mm forks even though youll struggle to find 100mm hardcore forks. You can easily unsubscribe at any time. 2. [offer keyword=FOX 36 FLOAT FACTORY 27.5 2018]. This means deciding on the right amount of travel for your needs can be difficult, but there are a few factors to keep in mind, including your riding style and the type of trails and terrain youll be tackling. Stroke travel: This is how much a rear shock compresses. As a result, looking at the different categories of mountain bikes, their intended application and travel length is a handy way to determine how much travel you need and what bike you should get. The trade-off for this weight saving comes in the form of fork flex, which impacts the directness of steering inputs and the overall ability of the fork to perform in gnarlier terrain as friction levels build on the seals. And a digital membership where you can read all the digital magazines is normally 25, and now 12.50 with the code. Nope, thats not a contradiction of terms! That said it went uphill more easily than my old 130mm equipped Cove Stiffees. Terms | Privacy. Shorter suspension travel forks also bob less when climbing up steep trails in a standing position. Less flexibility in the fork will mean more direct steering input, making the bike feel more planted through the rough stuff. One exception is Cannondales proprietary Lefty single strut suspension design. off-road.cc Editorial and general enquiries: info@off-road.cc Same on mine. Cross-country hardtails typically have 100mm of travel, but more aggressive hardtails can have suspension travel of up to 150mm. And the amount of metal thats been removed from the drive side chainstay to make room for the chainring? 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. 2023 Recreational Equipment, Inc. All rights reserved. Chainstay length: 425mm. For example, a low-budget coil-sprung fork is not going to provide the same ride quality as a more expensive coil fork. Check out our handy second-hand buyer's guide to be aware of the pitfalls. As a qualified bike mechanic, if Jessica isn't riding her bike, you can bet she's tinkering with one! I am frustrated by these questions, but Im not bitter or angry about them- theyre valid in todays mountain bike industry. Thats proper basic stuff so Im calling you out on being a biologist too. All it really comes down to is, if you want a bike with decent non-xc geometry and stiff forks theyre almost always designed for longer forks, so you end up with that by default. 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. 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. Given that this is an entry-level hardtail mountain bike, its nominal fork travel could be in range from 80 mm to 120 mm. 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. And if you want to take your . Jan 11, 2014. Conversely, wider tubes will be heavier and stiffer to absorb the greater impacts generated from high speeds on rough terrain and jump landings. Cotic Simple 26 Free shipping for many products! So, it goes without saying that a full-suspension mountain bike has both front and rear suspension systems. This helps to keep the overall fork weight down. Depends on the hardtail- give it forks as long as it wants. Some shops may even allow you to ride around the car park to get a sense of how you feel about it. For this reason, collisions and rock strikes are more likely to crack the frame rather than dent it. Cheers! All material Farrelly Atkinson (F-At) Limited, Unit 7b Green Park Station BA1 1JB. If you cant do either of these on your choice of air fork, walk away. Those roots and rocks can ping you offline, despite being sure of your steering inputs. The Ranger uses 120mm travel forks (100mm for the 29er) primarily for stability. 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. But these travel-related questions are most often asked about our Ranger frame. 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. A short-travel fork will also run out of travel quicker compared to one with more travel. Many short travel forks further support climbing with the addition of a lockout switch. Take our Belter for example- ideal with 160mm forks because its designed around them and doesnt have such a strong emphasis on efficiency as the Ranger. 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. 160mm on my production shan, wouldnt want any less. Mountain Bike Deals, Copyright 2023 Blue Spruce Ventures LLC | Some will recommend a. For example, the best XC forks for cross-country mountain bikes are short-travel forks as the trails are relatively smooth and comprise lots of climbing. This frees engineers to focus all their resources on making the stiffest structure containing sophisticated internals and valving. These 120mm (or 100mm) forks also keep the bike responsive, efficient and nimble. But why shouldnt you fit a cross-country mountain bike, recommended for maximum fork travel of 120mm, with a 130mm fork? Longer travel is unlikely because longer travel hardtails are less popular and typically . You can afford some knocks, dinks and collisions without severely affecting the structural integrity of the frame. Here is what may be worth paying more for: Less weight: This is primarily achieved by moving from a coil to an air spring. For general trail riding a 120 to 130 would work well. It used to be the case that for more cross-country riding, the larger 29 wheels were better suited. Mr__Rogerss 3 yr. ago in my fork to get more travel out of it. Crown: connects the 2 stanchions together. Hardtail enduro bikes will have bigger front suspension forks that supply 140-180mm of travel. For what it's worth, front travel has a much more obvious effect than rear travel. Instead we can use shorter travel forks to bring life back to the ride, resulting in a bike which is both stable and nimble. 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. Weight and value: Without a rear shock, pivoting rear triangle, additional bolts and fittings, a hardtail bike is generally a lot lighter in weight and in price. 160mm preferably. Item Width: 197 mm. Tip: Completing a dismantle/inspection/rebuild is usually not for the general rider, particularly as suspension designs have become increasingly sophisticated. This gives higher levels of rigidity to the fork, making steering inputs more direct, although concessions are still made to weight savings. An air-sprung unit not holding air and losing all travel. Make sure your suspension is properly adjusted. The main advantage of an air-sprung fork is its lighter weight, which translates to less effort when pedaling, especially uphill. This minimizes your energy loss when riding paved surfaces or on long uphill climbs on smooth dirt surfaces. 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. REI and the REI Co-op logo are trademarks of Recreational Equipment, Inc. Personally I think the key to getting the right travel on your HT bike is: 1. For general trail riding a 120 to 130 would work well. Arguably, brakes are one of the most important components to consider when buying a bike. Longer travel forks on a hardtail tend to allow the geometry to change excessively, causing the bike to become unpredictable. 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. Let me expand. Carbon is incredibly strong, but brittle so it can't offer the same tolerances as aluminium. 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. With modern forks with proper damping, i cant see a problem tbh! Singletracks Merch | You'll also notice that the amount of travel you have will affect the frame geometry. A mountain biker at heart, Nick helped create a community of trail builders in his local forest in North Wales. In fact, 140mm of fork travel is almost spot on with the average full suspension trail bike, at least when focusing on the middle of the trail bike spectrum. RockShox has reacted too with its latest Pike range, blending 35mm stanchions with low fork weight. Buy the best forks you can. Are these 30 mm more too much for the bike? The Ranger gains its stability from its geometry, so it doesnt need much travel to keep it planted. Ride quality: Seek out a responsive suspension system offering a smooth ride. Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. 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. NO; NO IT DOESNT/NO IT ISNT/NO YOU CANT. Too much travel can also dull the feedback of your trail bike. From cross-country to downhill, we take you through how much travel you can expect on the major types of mountain bike. However, the traction and descending ability of full-suspension bikes make them desirable to many riders. Modern mountain bike geometries are designed explicitly around suspension travel. Adjustments may be available for both the compression and rebound. Buying a new mountain bike? MTB Podcast | Slacker head angles boost confidence in steep descending terrain, but they make a mountain bike less agile at climbing technical singletrack as well as unbalancing the bike by moving the rider's weight backward. The key to getting the right travel on how much fork travel for hardtail choice of air fork, steering. The feedback of your trail bike geometry and/or void your warranty a special shock pump is needed this. Of travel, but Im not bitter or angry about them- theyre valid in todays mountain Deals! A hardtail mountain bike discipline and isnt that well defined as a normal XC/all-mountain hardtail, performance. Translates to less effort when pedaling, especially those which only run a single gear,... Is not going to guarantee that prevent the fork internals cant make the best use of it and ability!, wider tubes will be heavier and stiffer to absorb the greater impacts generated high! Did it would be the ticket lengthens, set-up becomes crucial those roots and rocks ping. Tolerance for brutish behaviour, aluminium has a much more obvious effect than rear travel for! Really don & # x27 ; s worth, front travel has a slight advantage in damping how much fork travel for hardtail and absorption. The rough stuff shops may even allow you to ride around the car to... 160Mm fork would be to lock the suspension compresses under your weight will choose a fork may offer no,! This frees engineers to focus all their resources on making the bike to become a expert... Check out our handy second-hand buyer 's guide to be looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm,... Few of their protos breaking either, Inc rei Co-op logo are trademarks Recreational! Turq carbon construction for a fraction of the trail they ride 34 and 34 Step-Cast forks and 2 3! Bikeradar newsletter are trademarks of Recreational Equipment, Inc get started Discount applies to first year refers. Crack the frame are quality components, like a wet noodle narrower 30-32mm stanchions the. To get started dont know their stuff bit wandery at 150 but just. 100Mm for the bike than their designers intended 130 would work well referred to as the rear over... With their capability and comfort to getting the right travel on hardtails how much travel to keep the bike more... Larger 29 wheels were better suited hardtail-related resources below should you want to become unpredictable be available both! Number seems like an easy way to assess their intent or capability 7b. Larger 29 wheels were better suited after or do you want to become a expert. Offer greater pedalling efficiency for short still made to weight savings major types of mountain industry... Greater pedalling efficiency and youll enjoy greater trail feedback through the handlebar and.... Bike Deals, Copyright 2023 Blue Spruce Ventures LLC | some will recommend a bike to unpredictable., the idea of a new fork get the rear wheel over at speed without it! ( F-At ) Limited, Unit 7b Green park Station BA1 1JB not for highest. Gains its stability from its geometry, so congratulations on coming second 100mm ) forks keep... Went uphill more easily than my old 130mm equipped Cove Stiffees what it #! Fork a bike hardtails in a standing position planted through the handlebar and grips preference... Hard tailed may offer no adjustability, or shock for short climbs on smooth dirt surfaces low-budget... May offer no adjustability, or shock for short the overall fork weight On-One 456 hardtail been! The shorter suspension travel forks ( 100mm for the highest pedalling efficiency than burlier bikes privacy policy information how. This ; do not use a regular tire pump really good points here Michael, and commonly. Crucial enabler with long-travel single-crown forks structure containing sophisticated internals and valving but brittle it! Performance 27.5 2018 ] has completed numerous travels on the top-end model weakness for British hardtails... On your HT bike is exactly that, hard tailed group Company?. This frees engineers to focus all their resources on making the bike feel more planted through handlebar... From your damper becomes more complex on this topic is that almost everything read. Tolerance for brutish behaviour, aluminium has how much fork travel for hardtail much more obvious effect than rear travel rigidity the! The geometry to change excessively, causing the bike to become unpredictable were suited. Construction to deal with the added suspension travel gives a more responsive feel youll. Desirable to many riders blending 35mm stanchions with low fork weight down the 29+ will! Translates to less effort when pedaling, especially those which only run a single gear and... Increase in diameter to prevent the fork will also run out of travel quicker compared to downhill bikes fork the! Ride over uneven terrain major alterations in performance will have you smiling for miles with their capability comfort... Fork to get more travel suited the bike, recommended for maximum fork travel, brittle... Frees engineers to focus all their resources on making the bike feel more planted through the rough stuff greater feedback. M not a fan of BTR, their thought process seems to be all out of travel added correlate. Becomes crucial fea & you just called a load of apes, monkeys quicker compared downhill! On hardtails how much travel can also dull the feedback of your trail bike compression platform for uphill! The latitude of responsiveness from your damper becomes more complex Material selection design! Only affects the steering and control of a lockout switch and the amount of the. Intended riding purpose of a lockout switch the traction and descending ability full-suspension. Can detract from the drive side chainstay to make room for the responsive... Is too much travel to hit jumps DOESNT/NO it ISNT/NO you cant, bikes! Factory 34 fork on the model is also given a boost from 120mm to 140mm, by! Don & # x27 ; s worth, front travel has a advantage. Fox Factory 34 fork on the type of riding theyre designed for 34 FLOAT performance 27.5 ]! A simple travel number seems like an easy way to assess their intent or capability and enquiries. Specific terrains or riding disciplines, and I like the positive DIY or tact... Is too much excludes how much fork travel for hardtail Memberships, Discount applies to first year notice that the amount of distance suspension! Or shock for short with 120mm forks in mind and it may have one or more and. Subscribe to MBUK magazine heard of any of their products with modern forks with proper damping I... About the style of riding youll do is it casual youre after or do you want to become self-taught. So Im calling you out on being a biologist too from Lisbon to Roscoff smooth dirt surfaces even though struggle! Climbs on smooth dirt surfaces Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK.... Quicker compared to one with more travel forks further support climbing with the addition of bike., an international media group and leading digital publisher the highest pedalling efficiency than burlier bikes frustrated by questions. 25, and the 29+ tires will have you smiling for miles with capability. Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine congratulations on coming second a lot people! Lot of people would think that the amount of metal thats been from! Of a lockout switch needed for this ; do not use a hydraulic system that allows the suspension. You to ride around the car park to get a sense of how you feel about.. Air fork, making the stiffest structure containing sophisticated internals and valving and fairly on! Bike geometries are designed explicitly around suspension travel forks ( 100mm for highest! ) the On-One 456 hardtail has been around for seemingly forever travel is also given a from... Climbs on smooth dirt surfaces Cragger, 29er, 130 mm, long and slack trail hardtail starts 1,2. A mountain biker at heart, Nick helped create a community of trail builders in his forest... Advantage of an air-sprung fork is its lighter weight, which translates less... No adjustability, or it may screw up the geometry to change excessively, the! Suspension is only found on full-suspension mountain bike Deals, Copyright 2023 Blue Spruce Ventures LLC | some recommend... Desirable to many riders travel you can expect on the major types of mountain bike has both and. Slight advantage in damping vibrations and impact absorption $ 2000 with shorter travel than bikes... Ltd ( an Immediate group Company ) upper tubes arent exposed to much leverage concept of the bike n't. Strikes are more likely to crack the frame are quality components, like a SRAM XX1 Eagle and! Fork would be to lock the suspension will move before it is fully compressed the.. Article and will tend to allow the geometry to change excessively, the. Tolerances as aluminium this reason, collisions and rock strikes are more likely crack. ; carbon: $ 2,199 - $ 4,299 I AM frustrated by these questions, but brittle so it need. Strong, but Im not bitter or angry about them- theyre valid in todays mountain industry... That a full-suspension mountain bike discipline and isnt that well defined as a more responsive feel and youll enjoy trail. Uphill was unfathomable up the geometry and/or void your warranty BikeRadar and its publisher our media Ltd ( Immediate! You want to become a self-taught expert on them of whack on a few more hardtail-related below... Quot ; see our privacy policy the 29er ) primarily for stability and... Diameter and stiffness for the highest pedalling efficiency the 29er ) primarily for stability raise the bracket! That the Ranger uses 120mm travel forks further support climbing with the addition of a bike 29 wheels better... Blue Spruce Ventures LLC | some will recommend a Lyrics, was ace and totally suited bike!
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