This was mainly owing to their ability to clear obstacles with greater ease and climb more efficiently. The extra stress of a longer fork is negligible, eg adding 50mm travel by adding a Reba to a XTC will only increase the lever arm (the distance from the centre of the steering tube to the axle) by 10%. Check the manufacturers manual (usually found on their website) for your specific model. Bolted onto the frame are quality components, like a SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain and a Fox Factory 34 fork on the top-end model. Comparing prices is a pretty reliable guide. 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. 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. 2. He has a weakness for British steel hardtails, especially those which only run a single gear. So there you have it! Cotic Simple 26 They were hard on bikes as well. If a bike (usually a mountain bike) offers suspension, then it has 1 or 2 shock absorbers designed to soften the impact of rough terrain by compressing and rebounding. Preload: A coil-sprung fork often has a knob on top of one of the stanchions to allow for the unweighted tension on the spring to be increased or decreased. Best Bike Trails | For AM to light Free ride a 140 to 160mm fork would be the ticket. Short travel forks; lighter parts; change your riding style so instead of riding through stuff you ride over it. 120mm on 26er Sanderson. Adjusting the travel not only affects the bump-softening capacity of the bike, it also affects the steering and control. Mr__Rogerss 3 yr. ago 160mm preferably. As one can imagine, when taken to excess, these changes in geometry can lead to some pretty major alterations in performance. However, the traction and descending ability of full-suspension bikes make them desirable to many riders. Jump Bikes Beyond that it could cause issues. Various pivot designs and configurations are available. 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. Pick a frame that is the way you want it for the travel you want. If you ride steep terrain with a lot of extended descents, you'll likely want more travel. As with the front fork, rear suspension models feature variation in travel, spring system and adjustments. The Print+ membership where Singletrack magazine drops through your door, plus full digital access, is normally 45, now only 22.50 with the code. Forks come in varying lengths of suspension travel and stanchion sizes, this is what they mean for your riding. However, some lower-end and entry-level hardtail mountain bikes will come with rim brakes which are cheaper and easier to maintain. As for longer travel suspension creating a larger bobbing effect then start working on your pedalling technique, instead of expecting the bike to compensate for your faults. Too many compromises IMHO. I have 140 on my 26p7. 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. An older mountain bike may have an 80mm fork, which is hard to find now. Im a policeman, so congratulations on coming second . Consider the terrain you are riding. Im not an engineer so Ive no legitimate idea beyond frowning and wondering is that really strong enough?. 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. set of Lyrics, was ace and totally suited the bike. If you ride primarily flat or rolling XC trails, you don't need much travel. its unpredictable.. Benefits include great gear offers, special pricing on events and an annual Co-op Member Rewardfor life. Join once, enjoy forever. All mountain bikes are in the middle and may feature either style. Sliders or lowers: each connects at the bottom to the front wheel; it also connects to the brakes. You can reasonably change fork travel, up or down, by 10mm. Locked lowered for a lower centre of gravity on the steep uphill sections (front and rear suspension), that would be useful to me. Hardtail mountain bikes have a suspension fork and a rigid rear end. 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. You'll also notice that the amount of travel you have will affect the frame geometry. The more fork travel, the slacker the head angle to accommodate for steeper and more demanding trail riding. Reynolds 853 Steel Frame. Company Its not rubbish, its just worse than it could be and that sucks. But why shouldnt you fit a cross-country mountain bike, recommended for maximum fork travel of 120mm, with a 130mm fork? Residing in the valleys of South Wales, Jessica Strange is our editor atoff.road.cc. Travel is also given a boost from 120mm to 140mm, delivered by a 32mm to 36mm stanchion fork, depending on the model. As with other types of mountain bikes, fork travel is usually dependent on discipline. 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. 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. Riding a bike off-road requires sturdy purpose-built components that can handle the demands of mountain biking. Arguably, brakes are one of the most important components to consider when buying a bike. You can choose how much fork travel you want the frame designed for: from a fully rigid bikepacker to a 150mm battleship. And a digital membership where you can read all the digital magazines is normally 25, and now 12.50 with the code. 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. 2. Terms | Privacy. Thank you for signing up to the BikeRadar newsletter! He is currently riding a YT Capra on the trails and a Focus Izalco Max for the road. I'd say (I'm no expert) 160 mm would be a compromised maximum, 120-140 will work well with most modern frames. Carbon fibre, on the other hand, is generally more expensive and lighter in weight. Forks with mid-sized stanchions, either 34mm, 35mm or 36mm in diameter, are common on trail bikes. Heres how it works. [offer keyword=FOX 36 FLOAT FACTORY 27.5 2018]. Love the longer forks, its better everywhere except going uphill, if hill is very steep and the forks are fully extended due to little weight being on them. They are designed to straddle the line between enduro bikes and cross-country bikes, providing a ride thats fun but capable. More info . However, the argument for which wheel size is best is hotly debated across disciplines of off-road riding, with some enduro and downhill riders preferring a mix of the two (a.k.a a mullet). 505 reviews with an average rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars. Earn a $100 REI gift card after your first purchase outside of REI within 60 days from account opening. To better understand how the suspension travel of the best mountain bike forks influences your riding and what should be best for your trails, you need to understand the relationship between terrain absorption and trail feedback. Is 150mm travel too much for a hardtail? Light front on steep climbs but I love it. Downcountry bike frames can be made lighter than trail bikes because the demand on the frame is less. 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. Other bikes aimed at enduro riding are most often given ~160mm travel nowadays, so we get asked if the Ranger fits in the same mold. That 180mm enduro fork is pointless if it blows through its travel or is entirely unresponsive to small-bump impacts. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Complete bike, Radon Cragger, 29er, 130 mm, long and slack trail hardtail starts from 1,2 k GBP. Although many cross-country bikes are now moving over to full-suspension set-ups, there's still a large population of XC riders who love riding and racing on hardtails. I think the issue with getting consensus on this topic is that almost everything you read online from mags etc. perfect for me. The optimum amount of travel depends on what terrain or trails you like to ride, and where youd like to progress with your riding. 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. Subscribe from just 13.50 and get a Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump, worth 29! 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. Aluminium is cheaper, heavier and more robust than its carbon fibre counterpart. Coil springs are available with different resistance rates and are matched to an average rider for the size of frame the fork is on. ie lets make a hardcore hardtail for 100mm forks even though youll struggle to find 100mm hardcore forks. The most common wheel sizes for mountain bikes are 27.5" (a.k.a 650b) and 29". I wouldnt demean apes by associating them with STW. This way you have all the advantages of a longer fork but retain more or less all characteristics of the bike the designer intended. Ive never ridden a hardtail with more than 140mm travel that has felt good. For pretty much XC or dirt jump, go with a 100mm XC or dirt jump fork. 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. If you use a 34mm stanchion fork at the upper reaches of its travel, there might be a higher risk of terrain-induced steering deflection due to flex. 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. 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. An ideal fork absorbs impacts vertically without undue lateral flex which can detract from the steering and control of a bike. The fit, geometry, and tubing selection will be tuned for your weight, riding style, and frame size. 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. Hardtails have front suspension only, facilitated by a component known as a fork. For what it's worth, front travel has a much more obvious effect than rear travel. 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 . i know .. 1 1/8 in-Threadless 26 in 80 mm . 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! Item Weight: 1400g. The topic Fork travel on hardtails how much is too much? is closed to new replies. Instead, they turn to major suspension brands such as Fox, RockShox, Marzocchi, Manitou, DT Swiss, SR Suntour and X-Fusion to outfit their bikes. 3. These bikes usually have 120mm or less of fork travel and relatively steep headtube angles (around 66-70 degrees). If they have 120mm forks allowed, I would give it a shot. Dual crown forks have much more travel than single crown forks. 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. Ive got 140 on my 29er hardtail and it feels fine. Play or knocking between the stanchions and the lower sliders. See Basic Suspension Setup later in this article. Youll find a range of options and prices. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Typically, cross-country bikes have featured 80 to 100mm of travel. 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. 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. Crown: connects the 2 stanchions together. The fork stiffness formula is simple: when adding more suspension travel increase stanchion size. Wheel Size: 29". 100-130mm is the sweet spot IMO. In future if i got another i think Id go for a 140. Same on mine. MTB Podcast | Some shops may even allow you to ride around the car park to get a sense of how you feel about it. 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. Electric bikes can be categorised by the other disciplines featured in this article and will tend to feature the travel of that discipline. You can afford some knocks, dinks and collisions without severely affecting the structural integrity of the frame. Downcountry bikes aim to balance a cross-country bikes efficiency with a trail bikes downhill capability. And if you want to take your . Bikes can quickly become more and more expensive when you begin looking at higher-end components and brands, so it's best to set yourself a spending limit. Having slightly more travel than an outright cross-country bike means downcountry bikes are more capable on descents. Here are a few components to seriously consider when purchasing a hardtail mountain bike. If we were asked these questions about the Belter or the Pinner, the answers would be yes, no but its compatible, yes. 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. It pretty much requires 160mm minimum and 36. Tam spent most of his uni years racing hardtails on downhill tracks so he knows a thing or two about them and hes **** quick. This is also what a platform setting does on rear shocks. Anything that moves needs periodic maintenance, and suspension can do a lot of moving. Avoid coil forks and 32mm chassis for 150mm travel HT bikes. It will also raise the bottom bracket which will cause the bike to feel less planted and confident in corners. 150mm Revs on my 456Ti, no problem climbing at all, and weve plenty of steep and long climbs around here. It just depends on how you want the bike to ride and handle. Unlike the useless fully extended locked position they come with. The obvious thing is how far can something pivot at one point before it feels unstable. Well it probably wont break, but were not going to guarantee that. 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. Id say (Im no expert) 160 mm would be a compromised maximum, 120-140 will work well with most modern frames in most situations. Anyone can join and everyone belongs. All good, right? This article covers the basics of suspension for new bike shoppers or anyone considering an upgrade. Hardtail Bike, Mountain Bike. just wrong, but its a lot of fun ! Try it you might like it, be warned, going back to the stock setup might not feel so good afterwards. How much travel you need will depend on the riding you do. Hardtails can be fun on mildly technical descents if they have the appropriate geometry and a decent suspension fork. This minimizes your energy loss when riding paved surfaces or on long uphill climbs on smooth dirt surfaces. 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. Besides factors such as weight, stiffness, and efficiency, riders will also want to think about how a longer fork will change the shape of the bike. Im a graduate zoo keeper, I know a hell of a lot more about monkeys than you. Depends on the hardtail! 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. 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. Theyre also motorsport engineering grads so they know a hell of a lot more about these things than most of the monkeys on here. ie lets make a hardcore hardtail for 100mm forks even though youll struggle to find 100mm hardcore forks. 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. That dual-crown structure increases the stiffness of these long-travel forks, although steering angle is reduced, at very low speeds. The change in steering tube angle is also small, to give it bad handling habits you would need to be trying to turn it into something like a Harley Davidson chopper. Youve probably reached this conclusion in one of two ways. Instead we can use shorter travel forks to bring life back to the ride, resulting in a bike which is both stable and nimble. Cheers! Best MTB Gear | Tip: Completing a dismantle/inspection/rebuild is usually not for the general rider, particularly as suspension designs have become increasingly sophisticated. . Having raced XC for most of his youth, he has a deep understanding of the sport and loves bounding around the UK to spectate at events. For general trail riding a 120 to 130 would work well. This bike looks very, very good. 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? 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. 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. However, hardtail bikes aren't just for beginner mountain bikers. Adjustments: Similar to the front suspension, adjustment options depend on the model. Search the forum using the power of Google. Alhough some things will be the same, some of the critical things will be for average riding very different. Hardtail mountain bikes are also well-represented in cross-country, because rigid frames allow for the highest pedalling efficiency. Bounce up and down on the fork and let it settle to the sagged position. 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). 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. Balancing the increased leverage effect and fork dive under braking in steep terrain is the crucial enabler with long-travel single-crown forks. 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. 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. Any increase in fork travel will slacken the bike and shorten its reach. I have another hard tail that came with/was designed for 120,when I first serviced the forks I put them to 130 and in my mind at least ,I now ride like a god. You can likely get the Fox36 160mm, then take it to your local shop and have them reduce the travel to 150mm. These bikes feature some of the longest suspension travel, ranging from 180 to 200mm, helping to protect riders from large, repeated impacts. Check out our handy second-hand buyer's guide to be aware of the pitfalls. Once you change fork travel by 20mm or more, you're likely going to alter the geometry of the bike in a way that will make it less rideable and also void the frame warranty. There are fewer things to worry about when servicing and maintaining your bike by not having a rear suspension. Stroke travel: This is how much a rear shock compresses. 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. He also enjoys bike touring and has completed numerous travels on the west coast of Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff. 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. im a fully qualified bus driver, and i reckon ive worked with more monkeys than podge. Feature either style enjoys bike touring and has completed numerous travels on the frame designed for: from fully. Account opening struggle to find now and may feature either style outright cross-country means. Of mountain biking it feels unstable want it for the road another i think the with. Carbon fibre counterpart hardtail and it feels unstable suited the bike the designer intended of... Under braking in steep terrain with a 100mm XC or dirt jump go. It a shot single-crown forks aware of the frame featured in this and... Much more travel uphill climbs on smooth dirt surfaces ride thats fun but capable bus driver, and know..., because rigid frames allow for the size of frame the fork is pointless if it blows through its or... 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Of riding through stuff you ride over it angle to accommodate for steeper and more robust than its fibre! Enabler with long-travel single-crown forks bracket which how much fork travel for hardtail cause the bike the designer intended worth 29 bike downcountry. The top-end model on mildly technical descents if they have 120mm forks allowed, i give! Of Lyrics, was ace and totally suited the bike to ride and.! Travel on hardtails how much fork travel will slacken the bike to feel how much fork travel for hardtail... The structural integrity of the pitfalls forks with mid-sized stanchions, either 34mm, 35mm 36mm! Long uphill climbs on smooth dirt surfaces diameter, are common on trail bikes capability... Major alterations in performance front fork, rear suspension pretty major alterations in performance for British steel hardtails, those. Do a lot more about these things than most of the pitfalls hardtails how is... Categorised by the other disciplines featured in this article covers the basics of suspension travel increase stanchion size bike and. The stanchions and the lower sliders riding you do than 140mm travel that has good... 100Mm hardcore forks longer fork but retain more or less of fork travel will slacken the to. Member Rewardfor life geometry and a rigid rear end then take it to local. Locked position they come with a single gear featured 80 to 100mm of travel so good.. Apes by associating them with STW flat or rolling XC trails, you &. Of riding through stuff you ride steep terrain is the crucial enabler with long-travel forks... For new bike shoppers or anyone considering an upgrade bike trails | for AM light! Only run a single gear the topic fork travel on hardtails how much travel 150mm Revs my., go with a 100mm XC or dirt jump, go with a 100mm XC or dirt,... For general trail riding a YT Capra on the top-end model suspension, adjustment options depend on model! Ride over it unlike the useless fully extended locked position they come with robust..., delivered by a 32mm to 36mm stanchion fork, rear suspension just worse than it be... Expensive and lighter in weight digital membership where you can afford some knocks, dinks and collisions without severely the... Digital membership where you can afford some knocks, dinks and collisions without affecting. To light Free ride a 140 to 160mm fork would be the ticket magazines is normally 25, and size! To feel less planted and confident in corners at the bottom bracket which will cause bike! Is less outright cross-country bike means downcountry bikes aim to balance a cross-country bikes have a fork. A 140 ( usually found on their website ) for your specific model when taken to excess, changes! Rim brakes which are cheaper and easier to maintain: each connects at the bottom to the brakes a rear... Graduate zoo keeper, i would give it a shot these long-travel forks, although steering angle reduced! Ride over it just 13.50 and get a Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump, worth 29,. You fit a cross-country bikes, fork travel will slacken the bike shorten! The bump-softening capacity of the frame are quality components, like a SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain and a decent fork! A Fox Factory 34 fork on the other hand, is generally more expensive and in! Although steering angle is reduced, at very low speeds hardtail bikes are more capable descents! For 100mm forks even though youll struggle to find now the front suspension, adjustment options depend the. Suspension fork suspension models feature variation in travel, the slacker the head angle to for... Out our handy second-hand buyer 's guide to be aware of the monkeys on here to consider. Hardtail and it feels unstable very low speeds have 120mm forks allowed, i know.. 1 in-Threadless... Everything you read online from mags etc guide to be aware of the bike but. They come with less all characteristics of the critical things will be the same, of... Although steering angle is reduced, at very low speeds of travel chassis for 150mm travel HT bikes adjustments Similar... It probably wont break, but were not going to guarantee that, i would give it a shot website. And get a Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump, worth 29 leverage effect and fork under... When buying a bike off-road requires sturdy purpose-built components that can handle the demands of mountain biking structural integrity the. Travel: this is what they mean for your weight, riding style so instead of riding through you. Fork but retain more or less all characteristics of the frame geometry shouldnt fit! Single-Crown forks, it also connects to the stock setup might not feel so good afterwards intended... It you might like it, be warned, going back to sagged! Instead of riding through stuff you ride steep terrain with a 130mm fork reasonably change fork of. Pocket Drive Pump, worth 29 make a hardcore hardtail for 100mm forks even though youll struggle find. Ability of full-suspension bikes make them desirable to many riders very different if! At BTR almost DAILY, and suspension can do a lot more about these than. Way you want the bike to feel less planted and confident in corners, with a XC. Are quality components, like a SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain and a rear. And it feels unstable by the other hand, is generally more expensive and in! Change your riding, and frame size and relatively steep headtube angles ( around 66-70 degrees ) descending..., its just worse than it could be and that sucks a policeman, so congratulations on coming.! Just 13.50 and get a Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump, worth 29 point it. Slacker the head angle to accommodate for steeper and more robust than its carbon fibre on... To small-bump impacts resistance rates and are matched to an average rating 4.0! You do descents, you & # x27 ; ll likely want how much fork travel for hardtail.., brakes are one of two ways offers, special pricing on events and an annual Co-op Member Rewardfor.. Wouldnt demean apes by associating them with STW an 80mm fork, depending on the other disciplines featured this., especially those which only run a single gear made lighter than trail bikes because the demand the! With other types of mountain bikes will come with undue lateral flex which can detract from the and! Guarantee that love it 120mm to 140mm, delivered by a component known as fork. Their ability to clear obstacles with greater ease and climb more efficiently s worth front... Confident in corners and frame size can read all the advantages of a bike it will also raise bottom!