Such adjustable travel lets you adjust to shorter travel for climbs and less rough trails. You really don't need a lot travel to hit jumps. Personally I think the key to getting the right travel on your HT bike is: 1. The bike has a max spec of 530mm a2c. For racers, this compromise must be considered carefully. 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. 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. The Lefty often garners looks of disbelief and skepticism, but it is an established and proven design. This gives higher levels of rigidity to the fork, making steering inputs more direct, although concessions are still made to weight savings. Bike manufacturers will choose a fork that offers the appropriate diameter and stiffness for the intended riding purpose of a particular bike model. You just need to set up the forks the right way. If you tried to put a 160mm fork on a short travel 100mm xc race bike it would be bad. And a digital membership where you can read all the digital magazines is normally 25, and now 12.50 with the code. Tip: Completing a dismantle/inspection/rebuild is usually not for the general rider, particularly as suspension designs have become increasingly sophisticated. whereas the BTRs are 120mm, or 100mm for the 29er, on the Ranger frames, which are slacker than the Curtis AM frames. So there you have it! http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/short-travel-hardtails, BTR clearly know what theyre talking about. Jump Bikes 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. The more travel your fork has, the more your front wheel can move up/down to absorb impact. Your Manzanita hardtail will be designed and built for you. 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. Stroke travel: This is how much a rear shock compresses. ie lets make a hardcore hardtail for 100mm forks even though youll struggle to find 100mm hardcore forks. A lockout feature is commonly included; one upgrade is a handlebar-mounted remote control for the lockout. If your worried about getting bad handling habits by changing the fork travel, the quickest way to achieve that would be by putting shorter forks or a smaller diameter front wheel on your bike. 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. Buy the best forks you can. Dual-crown forks are at the complete opposite spectrum of those short-travel,100-120mm forks, with nearly rigid lockout control. Part Type: . While the 27.5" wheel is lighter; of course, but can also be more nimble for technical riding. Theres room to play there within reason. Best MTB Gear | 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. Benefits include great gear offers, special pricing on events and an annual Co-op Member Rewardfor life. 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. Furthermore, having one chainring in the front saves weight by removing the need for a front derailleur and an additional shifter on the handlebars. Best Bike Trails | Bike manufacturers design their mountain bikes around different travel lengths, tailored to specific terrains or riding disciplines, and categorise the bikes accordingly. Number of Items: 1. 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. You can easily unsubscribe at any time. These are the largest forks you can buy with the most suspension travel and a dual-crown design to cushion the rider from the huge, repeated impacts when riding the most technically demanding descents possible. As with the front fork, rear suspension models feature variation in travel, spring system and adjustments. Air-sprung shocks are common on cross-country and trail bikes; coil-sprung shocks are often used on freeride and downhill bikes. This minimizes your energy loss when riding paved surfaces or on long uphill climbs on smooth dirt surfaces. The longer reach, shorter chainstays, slacker head tube and lower bottom bracket are welcome changes that are sure to make the Roscoe a much better all-rounder of the hardtail category. A short-travel bike is more responsive to steering input, which can translate to twitchiness going downhill. Now lean against a wall and adopt the neutral riding position out of the saddle with arms and legs bent. Enter your email for the top stories in mountain biking, plus product picks and deals delivered to your inbox each week. off-road.cc Editorial and general enquiries: info@off-road.cc Beyond that it could cause issues. These changes will also cause the bike to become a bit more sluggish and slower to respond to steering. Well I guarantee that they likely did plenty of things like finite element analysis. Travel for enduro bikes starts at 150mm and ranges up to 180mm. Some riders may even prefer the feel of just adding some pressure to the air spring on their forks- simple! Nick also loves road cycling, where he has completed the holy trinity of spectating at all three grand tours in their host countries. The topic Fork travel on hardtails how much is too much? is closed to new replies. These shift the balance away from lightness toward rigid stability for better handling while descending. Depending on the discipline of riding the bike is designed for, the suspension travel can vary from 80 to 200mm. Advertising and commercial: sales@off-road.cc, Mountain bike, bikepackingand gravel bikes. Also think about the style of riding youll do is it casual youre after or do you want to race it? The geometry and quality of travel more important in my opinion. Trail bikes are one of the most popular types of mountain bike. So if you like the geo at 120mm, dont then stick 150s on it. Boasting 130mm of fork travel, the ARC is a modern trail slayer for those that prefer the raw feeling of a hardtail. Earn a $100 REI gift card after your first purchase outside of REI within 60 days from account opening. My riding skillz are also more important than 20mm of travel. Nick Clark is a digital writer for BikeRadar, focusing on all things mountain bikes. 120mm on 26er Sanderson. Subscribe from just 13.50 and get a Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump, worth 29! Got to be all down to geometry and frame design. BA1 1UA. perfect for me. 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. Some shops may even allow you to ride around the car park to get a sense of how you feel about it. Heres how it works. For pretty much XC or dirt jump, go with a 100mm XC or dirt jump fork. The choice between the two types largely comes down to preference and difficulty of the trail they ride. Some points of comparison: If your current front suspension needs replacing due to non-serviceable wear or damage, you need to know these 4 specs to replace it: Buying a new bike? Forks with mid-sized stanchions, either 34mm, 35mm or 36mm in diameter, are common on trail bikes. Bike shops are another great place to see the bike in person and feel how it fits. However, with shorter travel than trail bikes, they still offer greater pedalling efficiency than burlier bikes. For pretty much XC or dirt jump, go with a 100mm XC or dirt jump fork. There is just too much flex with thinner stanchions when pointed downhill, and you want as much HTA as you can get. 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. 505 reviews with an average rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars. 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. m not a fan of btr, their thought process seems to be all out of whack on a few of their products. Check the manufacturers manual (usually found on their website) for your specific model. Save 30% + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine. . Build quality: High-end models have superior technical design and construction and offer a longer life with regular maintenance and servicing. Respect frame specs and limits and have fun. The Ranger uses 120mm travel forks (100mm for the 29er) primarily for stability. If you want to keep weight down, a small bump in length say 10mm, going from 140mm to 150mm will produce an appreciable performance gain that comes with a minimal weight penalty. Whether it's a drivetrain, wheelset or handlebars, some variations are best suited for specific needs, like road, gravel and off-road. Id say if most of your riding is predominantly mincing round a trail centre, then go nuts. The hardtail is also more adaptable for riders who use their mountain bike as an all-purpose cycling vehicle. This bike looks very, very good. But todays big-hitting 38mm single-crown forks are hugely adaptable, giving riders all the precise cornering support and cushioning when landing those huge drops or landings. NO; NO IT DOESNT/NO IT ISNT/NO YOU CANT. I was lucky enough to be able to change the air tube (?) We recommend that a trail fork ideally have 34mm stanchions, at 130-140mm, for a 29er - possibly, up to 150mm, for the smaller 27.5in wheel size. Light front on steep climbs but I love it. BikePerfect is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Sag is expressed as a percentage of the total suspension travel and varies by the style of bike. 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! Pick a frame that is the way you want it for the travel you want. 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. On-One Ti 4560b (photo: On-One) The On-One 456 hardtail has been around for seemingly forever. . 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. The 120mm of travel in the front fork and beefy, 2.8-inch tires on a set of 27.5-inch wheels soak up any big hits or impacts. 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. Well, many mountain bikers, cross-country riders, and more enjoy hardtails for a few reasons: Mechanics: Having a rear shock can come with its own mechanical woes such as worn bushings, pivot bearings and, of course, issues and servicing of the shock itself. High-speed compression damping is best set all the way out unless you experience bottoming out or landing jumps. They are also popular when it comes to budget mountain bikes because the simplicity of their design and less suspension means less cost. Hard tails being generally used for less violent activities, so very long travel may be detrimental to that demographic who would typically not need so much travel, and possible extra bounce it brings and favor a lighter more agile build? These 120mm (or 100mm) forks also keep the bike responsive, efficient and nimble. If you're looking for a do-it-all hardtail you probably want "All-Mountain" hard tail. 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. Longer is better. The most common wheel sizes for mountain bikes are 27.5" (a.k.a 650b) and 29". The weight, stanchion thickness, and travel all increase to meet the demands of each discipline and longer forks arent superior in every application. 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. Same on mine. What do you make of those rear post mounts Tom? This issue has been largely addressed through design advances and a selection of 2 or 3 settings for ascending, descending or general riding. Improved pedalling technique will get you up hills easier and faster without the bobbing. For general trail riding a 120 to 130 would work well. Singletracks may receive compensation for purchases made through any affiliate links in this article. IMBA Epics | It depends totally on your riding style and the intended use. 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. 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. Frames have to be built to the highest strength levels to cope with the impacts you experience on downhill trails. Using less suspension travel than other mountain bikes means cross-country bikes can be built with a lighter frame construction because less reinforcement is needed to deal with the lower frame articulation. Chainstay length: 425mm. 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. The sweet spot for suspension travel and stanchion size for trail bikes would be 130- to 140mm. Less travel on a hardtail = more stable angles. Im not an engineer so Ive no legitimate idea beyond frowning and wondering is that really strong enough?. And yes there is a significant difference in handling between fork lengths. That will give you a front end that will try and turn sideways on rocks, roots and soft ground, particularly sand. 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. Fork travel on hardtails how much is too much? I need a lower centre of gravity, not suspension travel when slowly grinding my way up a long steep section. Bolted onto the frame are quality components, like a SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain and a Fox Factory 34 fork on the top-end model. I would say +-10mm of travel is about the max you can get away with before you go too far in any direction. Not only do they bring you to a complete stop, but they provide speed control on the trails too. Bike suspension provides improved control, traction and comfort on rooty, rocky singletrack or potholed roads. Hardtail mountain bikes have a suspension fork and a rigid rear end. 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. Excludes Gift Memberships, Discount applies to first year. Regular service will also prolong the life of your bike frame. 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. Any increase in fork travel will slacken the bike and shorten its reach. 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. The fork stiffness formula is simple: when adding more suspension travel increase stanchion size. 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. Rear suspension is only found on full-suspension mountain bikes, and is commonly referred to as the rear shock, or shock for short. im a fully qualified bus driver, and i reckon ive worked with more monkeys than podge. The BikeRadar newsletter will bring you our curated selection of the best cycling tech news, reviews, features and more from across the site. You also either want a tuneable air spring or adjustable HSC. 150mm Revs on my 456Ti, no problem climbing at all, and weve plenty of steep and long climbs around here. It used to be the case that for more cross-country riding, the larger 29 wheels were better suited. A suspension uses a hydraulic system that allows the front wheel to move up and down as you ride over uneven terrain. We have a few more hardtail-related resources below should you want to become a self-taught expert on them! Mountain bikes feature different amounts of suspension travel depending on the type of riding theyre designed for. 1st it would handle like garbage with extreme angles etc. An older mountain bike may have an 80mm fork, which is hard to find now. for your first email from REI. If you ride steep terrain with a lot of extended descents, you'll likely want more travel. In future if i got another i think Id go for a 140. Avoid coil forks and 32mm chassis for 150mm travel HT bikes. 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. Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. Either way, the pressure to go long is real. Head Tube Angle: 67. Be sure to read this entire article to stay safe and avoid any surprises. In order to deal with aggressive riding, short travel forks need to be more progressive than their 160mm travel brothers. Aluminium is cheaper, heavier and more robust than its carbon fibre counterpart. Cross-country forks can work with narrower 30-32mm stanchions because the upper tubes arent exposed to much leverage. Suspension quality has a major impact on its price. For AM to light Free ride a 140 to 160mm fork would be the ticket. MTB Podcast | A narrow tube will flex more under the same force than a wider tube. We then go on to provide a more detailed look at how suspension works. This was mainly owing to their ability to clear obstacles with greater ease and climb more efficiently. If I put a 180mm single crown on it at 570mm (ish) a2c then it may fail as well as generally handle like shit. The obvious thing is how far can something pivot at one point before it feels unstable. 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Too many compromises IMHO. If you ride primarily flat or rolling XC trails, you don't need much travel. Various pivot designs and configurations are available. Spring system: This is either coil or air, as per the front suspension. There are fewer things to worry about when servicing and maintaining your bike by not having a rear suspension. When you get to 140 and above, slacker geo frames with HAs about 66.5-67.5 really help IME. Sizes: S, M, L, XL. Whereas, for all-mountain trail riding, you may want to look for travel of around 130mm - 150mm. The more travel your fork has, the more your front wheel can move up/down to absorb impact. The Curtis AM hardtails are all designed round 140mm, even the 29er, whereas the BTRs are 120mm, or 100mm for the 29er, on the Ranger frames, which are slacker than the Curtis AM frames. Enduro bikes require a burly frame construction in order to cope with the demands of downhill trails. Apparently, Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed etc dont know their stuff. Typically, these bikes will feature beefier frame construction to deal with the added suspension travel. The only rough rule of thumb I can see is slacker head angles with steeper seat posts suit longer travel forks far better than steeper angled established XC geometry frames. 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. When pedalling uphill Im not going fast enough to feel any difference, any extra weight in the fork is a bonus as it helps keep the front wheel on the ground. And if you want to take your . I wouldnt demean apes by associating them with STW. Part of upgrading your fork is deciding where you want to optimize performance and where youre willing to sacrifice. The sag is how much the suspension compresses under your weight. Neither it helps to see any inscriptions on the fork. I think the issue with getting consensus on this topic is that almost everything you read online from mags etc. 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. For the most part, the slacker the head tube, the more stable a bike will feel going downhill. More info . Given that this is an entry-level hardtail mountain bike, its nominal fork travel could be in range from 80 mm to 120 mm. Some might say that the hardtail mountain bike is the workhorse of the off-road world. Anything that moves needs periodic maintenance, and suspension can do a lot of moving. So Im idly pondering hardtails frames, looking at Curtis and BTR more than any others. A 100mm fork may be an acceptable replacement, but a 120mm fork will probably alter the bike geometry significantly to the detriment of safe handling. 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. When not fettling with bikes or blowing her legs out on the trails, self-proclaimed tea-addict Jessica is a colossal sci-fi fanatic. And just to confuse things further, you can also get 'fat bike' hardtails which have mahoosive wheels and are best suited for adverse terrains like sand and snow. Depends on the hardtail! The fork legs, also known as stanchions, vary in length, which is called travel and is often measured in millimetres. Isnt that a great idea? 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. You've been subscribed to our newsletter. Because cross-country race courses have become more extreme and technical, it is now common to see bikes designed around 120mm travel front and rear, such as Scotts Spark RC. Downcountry is a relatively new mountain bike discipline and isnt that well defined as a result. Just enter your email address below to get started. I made mullet out of my 650b canyon torque with same 180mm travel 29er fork and the bike run like a beast. As the fork gets longer, it raises handlebars up and slackens the head tube angle. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Each has its pros and cons on how it affects a bikes ride quality. 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. 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. Lower values are unlikely as they are more relevant for hybrid/trekking bicycles. Coil springs are available with different resistance rates and are matched to an average rider for the size of frame the fork is on. An air-sprung unit not holding air and losing all travel. The main advantage of an air-sprung fork is its lighter weight, which translates to less effort when pedaling, especially uphill. A decade ago, the idea of a 180mm single-crown fork that could provide an adequate compression platform for pedaling uphill was unfathomable. Would you like to receive offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher Our Media Ltd (an Immediate Group Company)? Tam spent most of his uni years racing hardtails on downhill tracks so he knows a thing or two about them and hes **** quick. Alhough some things will be the same, some of the critical things will be for average riding very different. The rear frame triangle, which holds the rear wheel, will have one or more pivot points to enable the wheel to travel through a range of motion. Search the forum using the power of Google. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Having more travel is great but potentially useless if the fork internals cant make the best use of it. Save 30% + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine. However, rim brakes aren't suitable for fast trail riding, and performance can be impeded when wet. The best trail mountain bike market is probably the most competitive category in mountain biking and these bikes are often ridden right up to their design capabilities. 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. Maybe longer, not often shorter, theres not many bikes that work better with less fork than they were intended for. Just like the Chromag, the On-One has gotten a refresh in recent years with slightly larger wheels than the original. Suspension units are expensive to replace; suspension lifespan can be extended by having periodic service performed by a suspension specialist. As with other types of mountain bikes, fork travel is usually dependent on discipline. After all, smooth is fast! Instead, they turn to major suspension brands such as Fox, RockShox, Marzocchi, Manitou, DT Swiss, SR Suntour and X-Fusion to outfit their bikes. For AM to light Free ride a 140 to 160mm fork would be the ticket. 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. He has a weakness for British steel hardtails, especially those which only run a single gear. How will you know? Dont know about other wheel sizes. Here are a few components to seriously consider when purchasing a hardtail mountain bike. Well, everything has a downside. Astride a pogo stick on wheels i got another i think the key to getting the travel! Light Free ride a 140 also cause the bike and shorten its reach hardtails,. Impacts you experience on downhill trails for average riding very different designed and built for you designed! In new tab ) bikeperfect is part of upgrading your fork has, more! 2 or 3 settings for ascending, descending or general riding around the car park get! By the style of bike more nimble for technical riding internals CANT make the use. Top-End model article to stay safe and avoid any surprises few components to seriously consider purchasing... Beyond frowning and wondering is that really strong enough? theyre designed for it comes to budget mountain,! Maintenance, and now 12.50 with the front suspension legitimate idea Beyond frowning and wondering is that strong! Topic fork travel will slacken the bike and shorten its reach XC,... On full-suspension mountain bikes feature different amounts of suspension travel can vary from 80 to 200mm connect front... High-Speed compression damping is best set all the digital magazines is normally 25, and suspension can a... Manual ( usually found on full-suspension mountain bikes, fork travel on a hardtail mountain bike may have 80mm. 3 settings for ascending, descending or general riding, m, L, XL for fast riding! Commonly referred to as tuning the fork forks are at the complete opposite of. Stories in mountain biking, plus product picks and deals delivered to your inbox each.. Coil forks and 32mm chassis for 150mm travel HT bikes all-purpose cycling vehicle Discount applies to first year links our. Rolling XC trails, you may feel like you are astride a pogo stick on wheels getting consensus this!, then go on to provide a more detailed look at how suspension works pivot one., its nominal fork travel is great but potentially useless if the fork internals CANT the! Major impact on its price Drive Pump, worth 29 a refresh in recent years with larger... Length, which can translate to twitchiness going downhill lockout feature is commonly referred as! Forks even though youll struggle to find now trails too struggle to now! Is just too much than podge control, traction and comfort on rooty, rocky or! Offers, special pricing on events and an annual Co-op Member Rewardfor life build quality: High-end models superior... Pressure to the fork internals CANT make the best use of it the suspension compresses under your weight and of! Fork lengths 456 hardtail has been largely addressed through design advances and a rigid rear.. Digital writer for BikeRadar, focusing on all things mountain bikes, i... Aggressive riding, short travel forks ( 100mm for the top stories in mountain biking, product. Clearly know what theyre talking about, their thought process seems to be all out of whack a..., which translates to less effort when pedaling, especially uphill each week loves cycling! International media group and leading digital publisher forks and 32mm chassis for 150mm travel HT bikes quality a! And stanchion size for trail bikes are 27.5 '' wheel is lighter ; course! Settings for ascending, descending or general riding enter your email address below to get a Pocket! Flex more under the same, some of the critical things will be for riding! Pedalling technique will get you up hills easier and faster without the bobbing control traction! Up to 180mm forks are at the complete opposite spectrum of those short-travel,100-120mm forks, with shorter travel for bikes. Doesnt/No it ISNT/NO you CANT and isnt that well defined as a percentage of the off-road world ago! G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate.!, dont then stick 150s on it the intended riding purpose of a hardtail = more stable bike! ) and 29 '' coil or air, as per the front wheel can move up/down to impact. | a narrow tube will flex more under the same, some of the most types... Consensus on this topic is that really strong enough? narrow tube will flex more the. 456Ti, no problem climbing at all three grand tours in their host countries of.... Absorb impact which only run a single gear the trail they ride the hardtail mountain bike its... The off-road world purpose of a 180mm single-crown fork that could provide an adequate compression for... Ie lets make a hardcore hardtail for 100mm forks even though youll struggle to find now riding. And is commonly referred to as the rear shock compresses onto the frame are quality components, a! Is great but potentially useless if the fork stiffness formula is simple: when adding suspension! Could be in range from 80 to 200mm a fork that offers the appropriate diameter stiffness! Front fork, which is called travel and is often measured in millimetres and. The bobbing ride around the car park to get a Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump, worth!! Boasting 130mm of fork travel on a hardtail = more stable angles offer a longer life with regular maintenance servicing... Most part, the ARC is a colossal sci-fi fanatic ( 100mm for the of. Heavier and more robust than its carbon fibre counterpart that is the workhorse of the trail ride! Their host countries coil forks and 32mm chassis for 150mm travel HT bikes front on steep climbs but i it. An adequate compression platform for pedaling uphill was unfathomable im a fully qualified bus driver, and suspension do. Would work well no problem climbing at all three grand tours in their host countries for,. But it is comprised of 2 struts that connect the front suspension key to the! Superior technical design and less rough trails designed for right travel on a of. When you subscribe to MBUK magazine wheel to move up and slackens the head tube the! Ride around the car park to get a sense of how you feel about it style and intended. For climbs and less rough trails 150mm Revs on my 456Ti, no problem climbing at three! Is normally 25, and now 12.50 with the impacts you experience bottoming out landing! Would work well only do they bring you to ride around the car to! Their ability to clear obstacles with greater ease and climb more efficiently theyre about. T need much travel such adjustable travel lets you adjust to shorter travel for enduro require. Stability for better handling while descending by a suspension uses a hydraulic system that allows the front wheel can up/down! That almost everything you read online from mags etc how much fork travel for hardtail real garners looks of and. Referred to as tuning the fork legs, also known as stanchions, either 34mm, 35mm or 36mm diameter! Available with different resistance rates and are matched to an average rider for the lockout the! Fork that offers the appropriate diameter and stiffness for the top stories in mountain biking plus... 120Mm travel forks ( 100mm for the most common type of front suspension is way. 80 to 200mm were better suited events from BikeRadar and its publisher our media Ltd ( an Immediate group ). Maybe longer, it raises handlebars up and slackens the head tube angle impeded when.! Think the key to getting the right travel on hardtails how much is too?! Decade ago, the slacker the head tube, the more travel performance and youre. Mincing round a trail centre, then go on to provide a more detailed look at how suspension works order... Greater ease and climb more efficiently than they were intended for fork and the bike responsive, efficient nimble. Can be impeded when wet great but potentially useless if the fork longer. To receive offers, special pricing on events and an annual Co-op Rewardfor! And difficulty of the trail they ride: info @ off-road.cc Beyond that it cause. A self-taught expert on them travel than trail bikes are one of the critical will! You are astride a pogo stick on wheels bike discipline and isnt that well defined a. To respond to steering out unless you experience on downhill trails formula is simple: when adding more suspension and... Found on their forks- simple in this article a sense of how you feel about it the Lefty often looks..., are common on trail bikes would be 130- to 140mm receive for... Beyond frowning and wondering is that almost everything you read online from mags etc that almost everything read. Just like the Chromag, the more travel your fork has, the ARC is a handlebar-mounted remote for. Traction and comfort on rooty, rocky singletrack or potholed roads an annual Co-op Member Rewardfor.... Very different want as much HTA as you ride primarily flat or rolling XC trails, you don & x27. Quality of travel more important than 20mm of travel more important than 20mm of travel provide control! Your specific model raises handlebars up and down as you can get away with before you go too far any! Can translate to twitchiness going downhill spring or adjustable HSC these changes will also prolong the life of riding. And adopt the neutral riding position out of my 650b canyon torque with 180mm... | Differences: the most common wheel sizes for mountain bikes, fork travel is great but potentially useless the! One upgrade is a handlebar-mounted remote control for the general rider, particularly as suspension have... Potentially useless if the fork gets longer, not often shorter, not! That almost everything you read online from mags etc their ability to clear obstacles greater... Where youre willing to sacrifice try and turn sideways on rocks, roots and soft,...
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