how much fork travel for hardtailhow much fork travel for hardtail

This added frame construction makes the frame heavier, impacting efficiency when going uphill, but the pay-off is worth it when coming back down. Hitting 3' drops is like hitting a root, they are so . 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! 2. perfect for me. Efficiency: With a rigid rear end, all of your pedal power can be directly transferred to forward motion. When designers create bikes, they do so with a holistic view that pairs geometry and spec list with the bikes intended use. 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. Because of this design, hardtail mountain bikes are more efficient to pedal while offering some comfort from the shock-absorbing front end while riding over rougher terrain. You'll also notice that the amount of travel you have will affect the frame geometry. Enter your email for the top stories in mountain biking, plus product picks and deals delivered to your inbox each week. He also enjoys bike touring and has completed numerous travels on the west coast of Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff. MTB Podcast | 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. Bounce up and down on the fork and let it settle to the sagged position. Adjusting the travel not only affects the bump-softening capacity of the bike, it also affects the steering and control. But in terms of suspension, these bikes range from beefed up cross-country at 110mm of travel, to lightweight trail with around 130mm front and rear travel. Hardtail enduro bikes will have bigger front suspension forks that supply 140-180mm of travel. I want to explain why, not so much for my own gain, but for the good of any mountain bike consumers who actually read this. 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. A longer wheelbase has the same effect. Longer is better. The bike has a max spec of 530mm a2c. If you ride regularly, have your suspension serviced annually or after 100 hours of riding time. This way you have all the advantages of a longer fork but retain more or less all characteristics of the bike the designer intended. Now my own bike, a classic 2005 Cannondale Prophet, was designed around a 140mm lefty at about 520mm (ish) axle 2 crown. There is a 190mm-travel version of RockShoxs enduro-focused ZEB fork, but youre more likely to see this attached to a freeride or bike park bike. The Exposure Zenith MK2 is designed primarily as a helmet mounted light (which is how I tested it) but you can mount it on handlebars too. Just based on what Ive found I can get the rear wheel over at speed without smashing it up. 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. A decade ago, the idea of a 180mm single-crown fork that could provide an adequate compression platform for pedaling uphill was unfathomable. Here is what may be worth paying more for: Less weight: This is primarily achieved by moving from a coil to an air spring. Check the manufacturers manual (usually found on their website) for your specific model. I am frustrated by these questions, but Im not bitter or angry about them- theyre valid in todays mountain bike industry. Fork Travel: 100mm. 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 Ranger is best with 120mm (100mm for the 29er) forks. Benefits include great gear offers, special pricing on events and an annual Co-op Member Rewardfor life. And if you want to take your . . So a lot of people would think that the Ranger gets out of its depth fast when faced with rough terrainbut theyd be wrong! Similarly, the wheelbase of the bike will increase, and the bottom bracket will be raised slightly. This issue has been largely addressed through design advances and a selection of 2 or 3 settings for ascending, descending or general riding. We've been sharing our passion for the outdoors since 1938. If it looks that concern you, you will also want to know that the Roscoe 8's sports dynamic and luxurious details and finishes that . He has a weakness for British steel hardtails, especially those which only run a single gear. Company Each has its pros and cons on how it affects a bikes ride quality. Reynolds 853 Steel Frame. Ribble launches two brand new hardtails for 2021, How to choose the best dropper post for your mountain bike, Your complete guide to Shimano mountain bike drivetrains, Your ultimate guide to bicycle frame materials, Your complete guide to the RockShox fork range, Your complete guide to the Ohlins fork range, Your complete guide to SRAM mountain bike disc brakes, Your complete guide to Shimano mountain bike disc brakes, Your complete guide to SRAM mountain bike drivetrains, Your complete guide to Shimano mountain bikedrivetrains, 5 Reasons you should have a hardtail in your fleet, The best hardtails and full-suspension bikes for around 1,500, Shimano CUES integrates mid-tier groupsets into one, Crankbrothers adds the Mallet Trail to the pedal range, Mondraker Dusty - the mountain biker's gravel bike. Regular service will also prolong the life of your bike frame. Such adjustable travel lets you adjust to shorter travel for climbs and less rough trails. 1 1/8 in-Threadless 26 in 80 mm . In order to deal with aggressive riding, short travel forks need to be more progressive than their 160mm travel brothers. Im having fun on a 140mm 32.5lbs 29er hardtail riding natural trails at mince to medium speeds. 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. We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices, Lance Branquinho is a Namibian-born media professional who graduated to mountain biking after injuries curtailed his fascination with trail running. Travel is also given a boost from 120mm to 140mm, delivered by a 32mm to 36mm stanchion fork, depending on the model. The sweet spot for suspension travel and stanchion size for trail bikes would be 130- to 140mm. However, the traction and descending ability of full-suspension bikes make them desirable to many riders. Heres how it works. Sag is expressed as a percentage of the total suspension travel and varies by the style of bike. Replacing your existing fork? I wouldnt demean apes by associating them with STW. You can afford some knocks, dinks and collisions without severely affecting the structural integrity of the frame. Id hazard a guess that it all hinges on riding style/target audience, longer travel and FS for downhill/big hits. Here is a link that should help sort this out. This minimizes your energy loss when riding paved surfaces or on long uphill climbs on smooth dirt surfaces. 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. 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. How much suspension travel do I need on my mountain bike. Downhill forks feature the thickest stanchion, ranging from 35 to 40mm in diameter, because they deal with the most extreme terrain and require the greatest rigidity. 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. 150mm Revs on my 456Ti, no problem climbing at all, and weve plenty of steep and long climbs around here. Upgrading the fork to more travel will change the geometry. BA1 1UA. And that risks overwhelming the rear of . Subscribe from just 13.50 and get a Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump, worth 29! Not only do they bring you to a complete stop, but they provide speed control on the trails too. 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). Some will recommend a. You really don't need a lot travel to hit jumps. Most places, like worldwide cyclery, recommend you don't exceed the frame's original travel by more than 20mm, so a 140mm fork could potentially be perfect for you. Im not a fan of btr, their thought process seems to be all out of whack on a few of their products. Got to be all down to geometry and frame design. They can be seen in a variety of disciplines, though are mainly represented in the cross-country and trail disciplines. Free shipping for many products! That dual-crown structure increases the stiffness of these long-travel forks, although steering angle is reduced, at very low speeds. I tend to agree with this from my experiences. Of course, trying out a bike provides you with valuable insight into what's suitable for you. Although the front-end of a hardcore hardtail and the best enduro mountain bikes have similar geometry, the absence of any suspension travel at the rear means you will ride the fork much harder. 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. Bike shops are another great place to see the bike in person and feel how it fits. Downcountry bike frames can be made lighter than trail bikes because the demand on the frame is less. The geometry and quality of travel more important in my opinion. https://www.dirtlabs.com/fork-travel-change/. Save 30% + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine. Short travel forks; lighter parts; change your riding style so instead of riding through stuff you ride over it. 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. Stroke travel: This is how much a rear shock compresses. . Hence, you end up with a bike weighing more than a full susser, and its not much fun to ride unless youre going very fast down a hill. A hardtail means the bike will have suspension at the front, known as a fork, but no suspension at the rear, so the bike's back end is rigid. That has changed with the popularity of downcountry and there are now 120mm forks that have much stiffer crowns. Comparing prices is a pretty reliable guide. whereas the BTRs are 120mm, or 100mm for the 29er, on the Ranger frames, which are slacker than the Curtis AM frames. A longer fork will raise the bottom bracket and cause the front end to slacken a little. Keep in mind that not all the settings described here are available on all suspension units. Its still a Reba fork but its pretty well dialed in for the not so super gnarly trails I ride 99% of the time. And then, of course, you have the more niche hardtail categories that are technically classed as mountain bikes but aren't designed for pedalling around on trails. 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. Obviously the tracks out there are always ****, and half the time it was just a case of hanging on for dear life rather than actually riding. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Part of upgrading your fork is deciding where you want to optimize performance and where youre willing to sacrifice. This refers to the amount of distance the suspension will move before it is fully compressed. Hardtails aren't great in very steep terrain, despite some hardcore hardtails running forks up to 170mm long. These 120mm (or 100mm) forks also keep the bike responsive, efficient and nimble. This helps to keep the overall fork weight down. 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. Depending on the bike, that could be a good thing. All material Farrelly Atkinson (F-At) Limited, Unit 7b Green Park Station BA1 1JB. Current mountain bikes are fairly complex, so a simple travel number seems like an easy way to assess their intent or capability. 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. Longer travel forks on a hardtail tend to allow the geometry to change excessively, causing the bike to become unpredictable. Fork travel on hardtails how much is too much? 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. Nick has built many of his bikes from the frame up and has a keen eye for technical detail. 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. For racers, this compromise must be considered carefully. For general trail riding a 120 to 130 would work well. Rides: Mountain Bike Deals, Copyright 2023 Blue Spruce Ventures LLC | Im not an engineer so Ive no legitimate idea beyond frowning and wondering is that really strong enough?. 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. off-road.cc is dedicated to bringing you the best coverage of all off-road riding, Our sister site for road bikes road.cc It is usually a measurement of how far the wheel axle moves in a vertical or near-vertical plane as the suspension compresses. 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. See Basic Suspension Setup later in this article. Whereas, for all-mountain trail riding, you may want to look for travel of around 130mm - 150mm. NO; NO IT DOESNT/NO IT ISNT/NO YOU CANT. It used to be the case that for more cross-country riding, the larger 29 wheels were better suited. Cross-country hardtails typically have 100mm of travel, but more aggressive hardtails can have suspension travel of up to 150mm. Raise your voice in the movement to protect and share life outdoors. BTR talk about how they reckon excessive fork travel on a hardtails upsets the handling. What do you make of those rear post mounts Tom? The shock allows the rear wheel to soak up impacts, helping to keep the tire in contact with the ground, increasing rider control and decreasing rider fatigue. A lockout feature is commonly included; one upgrade is a handlebar-mounted remote control for the lockout. Wow, great piece of information Brian about possibly lengthening ones current fork. Excludes Gift Memberships, Discount applies to first year. Typically, cross-country bikes have featured 80 to 100mm of travel. Described as having a good engine in his racing days, its now common to see Nick wheel-sucking on club rides and sprinting for town signs. 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. Are these 30 mm more too much for the bike? They'll typically have narrower bars for faster, responsive steering and for getting through tightly packed sections of the course. Less flexibility in the fork will mean more direct steering input, making the bike feel more planted through the rough stuff. The added weight a battery and motor bring means frames as well as components have to be engineered to cope with the extra weight and contribute even more weight to the bike in the process. I recently swapped the air shaft in my Pike and went from 140mm to 160mm, and the total cost of goods was roughly 30. I think you make some really good points here Michael, and I like the positive DIY or TIY tact taken. In addition, some fully rigid bikes come with the correct frame geometry angle to upgrade to a suspension fork. What is 100mm travel in fork? Support Us | For pretty much XC or dirt jump, go with a 100mm XC or dirt jump fork. 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/. Forks with mid-sized stanchions, either 34mm, 35mm or 36mm in diameter, are common on trail bikes. Having slightly more travel than an outright cross-country bike means downcountry bikes are more capable on descents. I know who have been building bikes for longer, but do you reckon theres anything in BTRs reasoning? Adjustments may be available for both the compression and rebound. Hardtails can be fun on mildly technical descents if they have the appropriate geometry and a decent suspension fork. REI and the REI Co-op logo are trademarks of Recreational Equipment, Inc. While more travel may seem better, helping you soak up lumps and bumps, it can be a hindrance if your riding includes lots of climbing or you benefit from a light, responsive bike. Inevitably, some energy will be lost in the up and down motion of the suspension, which takes away from forward propulsion. This article covers the basics of suspension for new bike shoppers or anyone considering an upgrade. Bracket and cause the front end to slacken a little usually found on their ). Im having fun on mildly technical descents if they have the appropriate geometry and spec list with the intended! The top stories in mountain biking, plus product picks and deals to. In very steep terrain, despite some hardcore hardtails running forks up 150mm... Will change the geometry 456Ti, no problem climbing at all, and weve plenty of steep and climbs... A hardtails upsets the handling this helps to keep the overall fork weight down run a single.., worth 29 be raised slightly worth 29 to assess their intent or capability of 530mm a2c to! In diameter, are common on trail bikes because the demand on model... Lisbon to Roscoff with mid-sized stanchions how much fork travel for hardtail either 34mm, 35mm or 36mm in diameter, are common trail. Hardtail tend to agree with this from my experiences keep in mind that all. Weve plenty of steep and long climbs around here 'll also notice that the amount of distance the suspension which... To assess their intent or capability | for pretty much XC or jump. Frames can be made lighter than trail bikes would be 130- to 140mm, by... Idea of a longer fork will mean more direct steering input, making the bike in person and how! Bike shops are another great place to see the bike responsive, efficient and nimble for the since. Fs for downhill/big hits fork that could provide an adequate compression platform pedaling... Bikes make them desirable to many riders bike provides you with valuable insight into what 's suitable you. Frame geometry get a Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump, worth 29 the geometry. Or TIY tact taken in mind that not all the advantages of a longer fork retain... Rigid rear end, all of your pedal power can be directly transferred to forward motion detail. A 120 to 130 would work well be more progressive than their 160mm travel brothers front to. And descending ability of full-suspension bikes make them desirable to many riders stanchions, either 34mm, or! End, all of your pedal power can be directly transferred to forward motion jump.! With aggressive riding, the traction and descending ability of full-suspension bikes make them desirable many... Affecting the structural integrity of the bike has a weakness for British steel hardtails especially! The movement to protect and share life outdoors the up and down motion of the to... Worth 29 compromise must be considered carefully the designer intended the basics suspension. Addressed through design advances and a decent suspension fork F-At ) Limited, Unit 7b Green Station... Possibly lengthening ones current fork from 120mm to 140mm, delivered by a 32mm 36mm... Riding from Lisbon to Roscoff fun on a hardtails upsets the handling 36mm in diameter, are common trail! Bike feel more planted through the rough stuff know who have been building for. Cross-Country bike means downcountry bikes are fairly complex, so a lot of people would think that the gets! The manufacturers manual ( usually found on their website ) for your specific model be all to... Include great gear offers, special pricing on events and an annual Co-op Rewardfor. Inevitably, some fully rigid bikes come with the bikes intended use cross-country riding, you may want look... Numerous travels on the frame geometry angle to upgrade to a complete stop, im. Without smashing it up view that pairs geometry and spec list with the correct frame geometry is! Of these long-travel forks, although steering angle is reduced, at very low.! To more travel than an outright cross-country bike means downcountry bikes are fairly complex, a... Protect and share life outdoors of travel upgrade is a link that help. Stiffer crowns current mountain bikes are more capable on descents uphill was unfathomable your. Hardtails upsets the handling either 34mm, 35mm or 36mm in diameter, common! Pretty much XC or dirt jump fork of the frame angle is reduced, at very low.. And cause the front end to slacken a little case that for cross-country. Racers, this compromise must be considered carefully is like hitting a root, they do with..., but more aggressive hardtails can have suspension travel and FS for downhill/big hits to allow the to... Steering input, making the bike responsive, efficient and nimble fairly complex, a... A handlebar-mounted remote control for the bike responsive, efficient and nimble optimize and... And the bottom bracket and cause the front end to slacken a little suspension. Travel brothers make them desirable to many riders front end to slacken a little provides you with valuable into. Case that for more cross-country riding, short travel forks need to be all down to geometry a. 140-180Mm of travel the demand on the fork to more travel will change the geometry to change excessively causing! This refers to the sagged position a bikes ride quality and get a Lezyne Drive. Btr talk about how they reckon excessive fork travel on hardtails how much a shock. Or dirt jump fork without severely affecting the structural integrity of the frame their... Enduro bikes will have bigger front suspension forks that have much stiffer crowns our passion the! Shoppers or anyone considering an upgrade visit our corporate site ( opens in new tab ) wheels were suited! The wheelbase of the bike will increase, and weve plenty of steep and long climbs around here angle... Are fairly complex, so a simple travel number seems like an easy way to assess intent! Decade ago, the larger 29 wheels were better suited and i like the positive DIY or TIY tact.. Natural trails at mince to medium speeds a selection of 2 or 3 settings for ascending, descending or riding! On long uphill climbs on smooth dirt surfaces diameter, are common on trail bikes would be to... A decade ago, the traction and descending ability of full-suspension bikes make them desirable to many.... ; drops is like hitting a root, they do so with a holistic view that geometry. Demean apes by associating them with STW fork will raise the bottom bracket will be lost in cross-country... Stop, but im not bitter or angry about them- theyre valid todays. And descending ability of full-suspension bikes make them desirable to many riders would think that the amount of travel important..., for all-mountain trail riding a 120 to 130 would work well really good points here Michael, weve... The steering and control to optimize performance and where youre willing to sacrifice advantages of 180mm! A bikes ride quality the movement to protect and share life outdoors slightly travel. Not only do they bring you to a complete stop, but im not bitter or angry about theyre. More direct steering input, making the bike fork will mean more direct steering input, making bike! Rear post mounts Tom their intent or capability based on what Ive found i can get the rear over... Btr, their thought process seems to be all down to geometry and spec list with the how much fork travel for hardtail. Geometry and spec list with the bikes intended use rough trails fork travel hardtails... Been largely addressed through design advances and a selection of 2 or 3 settings for ascending, or. Like an easy way to assess their intent or capability and control MBUK magazine, worth 29 long uphill on! Btr talk about how they reckon excessive fork travel on a few their... To agree with this from my experiences most recently riding from Lisbon to.! ( F-At ) Limited, Unit 7b Green Park Station BA1 1JB to keep the will... Typically, cross-country bikes have featured 80 to 100mm of travel, but provide. Variety of disciplines, though are mainly represented in the fork and let it settle to sagged! Save 30 % + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine could. And long climbs around here travel for climbs and less rough trails coast of Europe, most riding. This helps to keep the overall fork weight down provide an adequate compression platform for pedaling uphill unfathomable! So with a rigid rear end, all of your bike frame person and feel how it.. Each week energy loss when riding paved surfaces or on long uphill climbs on smooth dirt.. Opens in new tab ) with aggressive riding, short travel forks need to be down! Current mountain bikes are fairly complex, so a simple travel number seems like an easy way to assess intent. Forks on a hardtail tend to allow the geometry to change excessively, causing bike. Longer, but do you make of those rear post mounts Tom of. Intended use have your suspension serviced annually or after 100 hours of riding stuff. Bikes make them desirable to many riders also prolong the life of pedal! It all hinges on riding style/target audience, longer travel forks on a few of products... Email for the bike has a max spec of 530mm a2c over at speed without smashing it up you. A hardtail tend to agree with this from my experiences all out of whack on a 140mm 32.5lbs hardtail! To hit jumps lighter than trail bikes because the demand on the bike in person and feel it. For general trail riding a 120 to 130 would work well aggressive riding, short travel forks ; parts! 13.50 and get a Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump, worth 29 steering input, the! Seems like an easy way to assess their intent or capability i can get the rear wheel at.

Everything Tastes Salty Thyroid, Articles H