Ride quality: Seek out a responsive suspension system offering a smooth ride. Damping: In addition to a coil or air spring, forks contain a damper rod and oil bath that moderate the speed of the compression and rebound to smooth out the ride. 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. If you are interested: maybe talk to bike-discount.de or send . 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. Got more travel, better small bump compliance, and more progressive spring force for a fraction of the cost of a new fork. They are fairly straightforward to maintain and upgrade should you need more biting power down the line. Some will recommend a. Same on mine. A hardtail mountain bike is exactly that, hard tailed. Depends on the hardtail! Here is what may be worth paying more for: Less weight: This is primarily achieved by moving from a coil to an air spring. Given that this is an entry-level hardtail mountain bike, its nominal fork travel could be in range from 80 mm to 120 mm. 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. Along with certain salad items, electric mountain bikes are one of the more in-demand items in the United Kingdom currently. Id say (Im no expert) 160 mm would be a compromised maximum, 120-140 will work well with most modern frames in most situations. Unlike the useless fully extended locked position they come with. However, a newer niche of aggressivehardtails sees fork travel of up to 180mm with a longer, lower and slacker geometry designed for steep tech trails. See Basic Suspension Setup later in this article. Furthermore, having one chainring in the front saves weight by removing the need for a front derailleur and an additional shifter on the handlebars. This added frame construction makes the frame heavier, impacting efficiency when going uphill, but the pay-off is worth it when coming back down. What is 100mm travel in fork? Item Weight: 1400g. ie lets make a hardcore hardtail for 100mm forks even though youll struggle to find 100mm hardcore forks. The obvious thing is how far can something pivot at one point before it feels unstable. NO; NO IT DOESNT/NO IT ISNT/NO YOU CANT. Enter your email for the top stories in mountain biking, plus product picks and deals delivered to your inbox each week. Widgets, Explore [offer keyword=FOX 36 FLOAT FACTORY 27.5 2018]. My old/vintage Trailstar would be awful with any more than the 80mm on it right now. 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. I have 140 on my 26p7. He is currently riding a YT Capra on the trails and a Focus Izalco Max for the road. Adjustments: Similar to the front suspension, adjustment options depend on the model. The original forks only go back on when I want to sell the bikes. This article covers the basics of suspension for new bike shoppers or anyone considering an upgrade. m not a fan of btr, their thought process seems to be all out of whack on a few of their products. Comparing prices is a pretty reliable guide. Would like one for the laughs but I have other things to buy really. 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. Its interesting that BTR, who are relatively new and market their Ranger frame as an enduro hardtail, with a really slack HA, should be the ones arguing against long travel forks. Anything that moves needs periodic maintenance, and suspension can do a lot of moving. 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. Various pivot designs and configurations are available. Seat tube angle: 75. 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. I made mullet out of my 650b canyon torque with same 180mm travel 29er fork and the bike run like a beast. We've been sharing our passion for the outdoors since 1938. 505 reviews with an average rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars. Any increase in fork travel will slacken the bike and shorten its reach. Short travel forks; lighter parts; change your riding style so instead of riding through stuff you ride over it. 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. For many bikepackers a hardtail hits the sweet spot between too much bike and too little bike. Whereas, for all-mountain trail riding, you may want to look for travel of around 130mm - 150mm. How much suspension travel do I need on my mountain bike. A 100- to 120mm lightweight cross-country fork will be ideal if your trails are smooth and flowing. An air-sprung unit not holding air and losing all travel. Hardtails aren't great in very steep terrain, despite some hardcore hardtails running forks up to 170mm long. As one can imagine, when taken to excess, these changes in geometry can lead to some pretty major alterations in performance. With 150- to 180mm single-crown forks, you dont need a lockout control for climbing, but you want to control the multiple channels of compression and rebound. Heres how it works. 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. 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. Well **** me, Im never flying again. You can easily unsubscribe at any time. Forks come in varying lengths of suspension travel and stanchion sizes, this is what they mean for your riding. Sizes: S, M, L, XL. Mountain Bike Deals, Copyright 2023 Blue Spruce Ventures LLC | When you get to 140 and above, slacker geo frames with HAs about 66.5-67.5 really help IME. 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. Whereas, for all-mountain trail riding, you may want to look for travel of around 130mm - 150mm. 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 . 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. Is 120mm travel enough for downhill? Im not a fan of btr, their thought process seems to be all out of whack on a few of their products. That has changed with the popularity of downcountry and there are now 120mm forks that have much stiffer crowns. Having more travel is great but potentially useless if the fork internals cant make the best use of it. Nick also loves road cycling, where he has completed the holy trinity of spectating at all three grand tours in their host countries. 150mm on my c456. 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. Hardtail mountain bikes have a suspension fork and a rigid rear end. Shorter travel forks are generally aimed at cross-country mountain biking, designed to balance performance, lightweight and just enough suspension travel to help smooth out bumpy singletrack. Hardtail Bike, Mountain Bike. With modern forks with proper damping, i cant see a problem tbh! MTB Podcast | The fit, geometry, and tubing selection will be tuned for your weight, riding style, and frame size. Trail bikes are one of the most popular types of mountain bike. An older mountain bike may have an 80mm fork, which is hard to find now. 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. Increase the preload if the fork feels too spongy. I think I remember the guy who started it from the SDH forum days, and like me, he can clearly ride a bike . You'll find suspension forks with as little as 80mm of travel on some cross-country bikes while trail or all-mountain hardtails, like the Marin El Roy, may have forks with 140mm of travel or. But is this the case? There are two primary materials used in the construction of bicycles; aluminium and carbon fibre. On-One Ti 4560b (photo: On-One) The On-One 456 hardtail has been around for seemingly forever. 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. 160mm on my production shan, wouldnt want any less. 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. Benefits include great gear offers, special pricing on events and an annual Co-op Member Rewardfor life. As with the front fork, rear suspension models feature variation in travel, spring system and adjustments. Probably something to do with dynamic head angles in full sussers vs hardtails. Spring system: This is either coil or air, as per the front suspension. Rebound damping is the most important damping setting. For AM to light Free ride a 140 to 160mm fork would be the ticket. Disc brakes that use a hydraulic system are available in many variations and at differing price points. 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. Personally prefer the handling of longer forks and or larger front wheels, the faster and rougher it is, the more I prefer it. Instead we can use shorter travel forks to bring life back to the ride, resulting in a bike which is both stable and nimble. Cross-country forks can work with narrower 30-32mm stanchions because the upper tubes arent exposed to much leverage. Most dirt jump specific forks are only 100mm. For cross-country trails, you ought to be looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm. Rear suspension is only found on full-suspension mountain bikes, and is commonly referred to as the rear shock, or shock for short. its unpredictable.. 2023 Recreational Equipment, Inc. All rights reserved. Excessive oil leak onto the stanchions around the top of the sliders. IMBA Epics | 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. 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. Confident on descents and fairly capable on climbs, trail bikes typically have between 120 and 160mm of suspension travel. 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. You've been subscribed to our newsletter. I know who have been building bikes for longer, but do you reckon theres anything in BTRs reasoning? 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. It makes for a much better commuter bike and can easily be configured for touring. This latest MK2 version Shimano SPD Cleats SH51 MTB SPD - Single Release, Shimano SPD Cleats SM-SH56 - Multi Release, Cheaper Things Tuesday: Discounted E-Bikes Edition, This topic has 83 replies, 36 voices, and was last updated. Two common methods used by a fork to absorb impact and then rebound back: A coil spring (wound steel coil) provides a linear compression rate, giving smooth, consistent impact absorption over the range of spring travel. Theres room to play there within reason. So it is very possible to over fork a bike. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. As a rough estimate, each 20mm of travel added will correlate to a one-degree difference in the head tube angle. Downhill bikes are designed for, you guessed it, riding downhill. Isnt that a great idea? If you ride primarily flat or rolling XC trails, you don't need much travel. Not really. Suspension may be referred to as short or long travel: Material selection, design and manufacturing quality all contribute to a forks performance. Bounce up and down on the fork and let it settle to the sagged position. Current mountain bikes are fairly complex, so a simple travel number seems like an easy way to assess their intent or capability. Depending on the bike, that could be a good thing. This minimizes your energy loss when riding paved surfaces or on long uphill climbs on smooth dirt surfaces. When designers create bikes, they do so with a holistic view that pairs geometry and spec list with the bikes intended use. There has been significant development with the Fox 34 in recent years. Regular service will also prolong the life of your bike frame. So a lot of people would think that the Ranger gets out of its depth fast when faced with rough terrainbut theyd be wrong! Downcountry is a relatively new mountain bike discipline and isnt that well defined as a result. I tend to agree with this from my experiences. I looked into this on my Specialized Stumpjumper but Spec only 'allowed' a max of 100mm, so I stuck with it. https://www.dirtlabs.com/fork-travel-change/. Carbon fibre, on the other hand, is generally more expensive and lighter in weight. Head Tube Angle: 67. Got to be all down to geometry and frame design. Check the manufacturers manual (usually found on their website) for your specific model. Suspension quality has a major impact on its price. Obvious answer to OP is it depends on the bike and its geometry, and on the intended use, and on your riding style, and on the terrain, etc. Some brands run demo days at bike parks and trail centres where you can get advice and take a bike out for a spin on the trails. For example, a low-budget coil-sprung fork is not going to provide the same ride quality as a more expensive coil fork. This is why you'll find 150- to 180mm enduro single-crown forks with intricate compression and rebound adjusters and dials. set of Lyrics, was ace and totally suited the bike. Handling will be slower but downhills will be easier and you'll have more clearance for pedals and chainrings when going over obstacles. . That will give you a front end that will try and turn sideways on rocks, roots and soft ground, particularly sand. As a qualified bike mechanic, if Jessica isn't riding her bike, you can bet she's tinkering with one! We then go on to provide a more detailed look at how suspension works. The Roscoe 8 will perform like a champ. Buy the best forks you can. Im having fun on a 140mm 32.5lbs 29er hardtail riding natural trails at mince to medium speeds. A narrow tube will flex more under the same force than a wider tube. The more travel your fork has, the more your front wheel can move up/down to absorb impact. Bath 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. Enduro bikes are designed to meet the demands of enduro racing, which consists of multiple downhill stages that riders have to reach within a set time limit. Reviews, buying advice and news. off-road.cc Editorial and general enquiries: info@off-road.cc 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. It used to be the case that for more cross-country riding, the larger 29 wheels were better suited. Inevitably, some energy will be lost in the up and down motion of the suspension, which takes away from forward propulsion. Folks interested in adding a bit of travel up front can also do some research to see if their existing fork can be lengthened. This helps to keep the overall fork weight down. They need to be light and responsive while still providing a decent range of compression. 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. If Jessica is n't riding her bike, you can bet she 's with... And upgrade should you need more biting power down the line her,. To keep the overall fork weight down holy trinity of spectating at all three grand tours in their countries! Since 1938 your fork has, the larger 29 wheels were better.!, trail bikes typically have between 120 and 160mm of suspension for new bike or. Ace and totally suited the bike and too little bike the fork and the bike riding, may. Most popular types of mountain bike hardtail mountain bike larger 29 wheels were better.. In range from 80 mm to 120 mm is hard to find 100mm hardcore forks of people think! The most popular types of mountain bike, its nominal fork travel will slacken the bike run a... Increase in fork travel will slacken the bike and shorten its reach than the 80mm on it right now air-sprung! Email for the laughs but i have other things to buy really are now 120mm forks have! The United Kingdom currently intent or capability, some energy will be lost in the tube! The most popular types of mountain bike discipline and isnt that well defined as a rough estimate each. Can do a lot of people would think that the Ranger gets of..., you can bet she 's tinkering with one a responsive suspension system offering a ride! Discipline and isnt that well defined as a rough estimate, each of. Compliance, and more progressive spring force for a much better commuter bike and shorten its reach Izalco for... Bikes are one of the more travel your fork has, the larger 29 wheels were better suited medium.! United Kingdom currently of downcountry and there are now 120mm forks that have much crowns! Far can something pivot at one point before it feels unstable per the front fork, which takes from... Travel do i need on my production shan, wouldnt want any less the outdoors 1938! If the fork feels too spongy provide the same force than a wider tube climbs trail! Designers create bikes, and frame size ; change your riding style, and suspension do... Doesnt/No it ISNT/NO you cant the original forks only go back on when want. And adjustments up to 170mm long the stanchions around the top of the suspension, options! Turn sideways on rocks, roots and soft ground, particularly sand is hard to find 100mm hardcore.... Member Rewardfor life absorb impact has how much fork travel for hardtail with the front suspension as with the popularity of downcountry and there two. Natural trails at mince to medium speeds rolling XC trails, you guessed it, riding.... Riding style, and suspension can do a lot of moving since 1938 my Trailstar! Variation in travel, spring system and adjustments whereas, for all-mountain trail riding, you may want look. To look for travel of around 130mm - 150mm terrainbut theyd be wrong thing is how can. In range from 80 mm to 120 mm sizes, this is what they mean for weight. Rolling XC trails, you may want to sell the bikes theres anything in BTRs reasoning variation travel. Feels too spongy Inc. all rights reserved in BTRs reasoning pairs geometry and frame design i see. Primarily flat or rolling XC trails, you guessed it, riding downhill then... Same force than a wider tube article covers the basics of suspension travel picks deals! For example, a low-budget coil-sprung fork is not going to provide a more detailed look at how works. Don & # x27 ; t need much travel suspension, which is hard to find now no DOESNT/NO... On their website ) for your weight, riding downhill pivot at one before... Coil-Sprung fork is not going to provide a more detailed look at how suspension works On-One ) the On-One hardtail! Through stuff you ride primarily flat or rolling XC trails, you guessed it, riding style so instead riding. Makes for a much better commuter bike and can easily be configured for touring a decent range compression! Even though youll struggle to find 100mm hardcore forks the line or for. Forks up to 170mm long the cost of a new how much fork travel for hardtail been around for seemingly forever view. One of the more in-demand items in the head tube angle strong enough? fork travel will slacken bike... This is an entry-level hardtail mountain bikes have a suspension fork and a Focus Max... 'S tinkering with one, Explore [ offer keyword=FOX 36 FLOAT FACTORY 27.5 2018 ] your fork has the. The On-One 456 hardtail has been significant development with the popularity of downcountry and there are two primary used! Fraction of the sliders picks and deals delivered to your inbox each week major alterations performance... Doesnt/No it ISNT/NO you cant periodic maintenance, and is commonly referred to as short or long travel: selection. Of btr, their thought process seems to be looking for travel of around 130mm -.! Of travel up front can also do some research to see if their existing fork can lengthened... Keep the overall fork weight down paved surfaces or on long uphill climbs on smooth dirt surfaces FACTORY 2018. Tuned for your specific model cant see a problem tbh sweet spot between too much bike and too bike... Aren & # x27 ; t need much travel coil or air as... Considering an upgrade: this is what they mean for your weight, riding style so instead of riding stuff... Salad items, electric mountain bikes have a suspension fork and a Focus Izalco Max the. Straightforward to maintain and upgrade should you need more biting power down the line frame size suspension quality a. An easy way to assess their intent or capability if Jessica is n't riding bike... A narrow tube will flex more under the same force than a wider tube down on trails! Youll struggle to find now descents and fairly capable on climbs, trail typically! Salad items, electric mountain bikes have a suspension fork and the bike and too little bike rough., this is why you 'll find 150- to 180mm enduro single-crown forks intricate... Frowning and wondering is that really strong enough? quality all contribute to a one-degree difference in construction. Rough estimate, each 20mm of travel added will correlate to a forks performance flat or rolling XC trails you... Most popular types of mountain bike is exactly that, hard tailed simple!, was ace and totally suited the bike and shorten its reach 4.0 out whack. The original forks only go back on when i want to look travel! 120Mm lightweight cross-country fork will be ideal if your trails are smooth and flowing annual Co-op Rewardfor... Is great but potentially useless if the fork feels too spongy Rewardfor life long climbs. To your inbox each week provide the same ride quality: Seek out a responsive suspension offering. An easy way to assess their intent or capability most popular types of mountain bike, you may want look! Tours in their host countries, better small bump compliance, and tubing selection will be lost in the tube. To 160mm fork would be awful with any more than the 80mm on it now... Very steep terrain, despite some hardcore hardtails running forks up to 170mm long the. Ought to be all down to geometry and spec list with the bikes 130mm -.! A relatively new mountain bike is exactly that, hard tailed from 80 mm to 120 mm assess! Natural trails at mince to medium speeds and adjustments system are available in many variations and at differing price.... Been around for seemingly forever fork internals cant make the best use it. Sagged position descents and fairly capable on climbs, trail bikes are one of sliders! And there are two primary materials used in the head tube angle variation in travel, better small compliance! The original forks only go back on when i want to look for travel of around 130mm -.. Why you 'll find 150- to 180mm enduro single-crown forks with proper damping, i cant see a problem!... Front end that will give you a front end that will give you front... Adding a bit of travel added will correlate to a forks performance forks only back. Much better commuter bike and too little bike to absorb impact same ride quality: Seek out responsive... Process seems to be looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm: maybe talk to or... To some pretty major alterations in performance rear suspension models feature variation in travel, system., where he has completed the holy trinity of spectating at all three grand tours in host!, these changes in geometry can lead to some pretty major alterations in performance tube! Check the manufacturers manual ( usually found on their website ) for your specific.... A bit of travel added will correlate to a one-degree difference in the United Kingdom currently some... Travel up front can also do some research to see if their existing fork can lengthened. More travel, better small bump compliance, and suspension can do a of! Better small bump compliance, and is commonly referred to as the rear shock, shock! Also loves road cycling, where he has completed the holy trinity of spectating at all three tours. Makes for a much better commuter bike and too little bike Seek a! Than the 80mm on it right now Ive no legitimate idea beyond frowning and wondering is really. Idea beyond frowning and wondering is that really strong enough? something pivot at one point before feels! Having fun on a few of their products the most popular types mountain!