And the amount of metal thats been removed from the drive side chainstay to make room for the chainring? Free shipping for many products! Some manufacturers will design frames with flex points in the. 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. Of course, there are other, less mainstream frame materials you may encounter in your hardtail research; steel and titanium. More info . 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. 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. Enter your email for the top stories in mountain biking, plus product picks and deals delivered to your inbox each week. 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. For pretty much XC or dirt jump, go with a 100mm XC or dirt jump fork. Tip: Completing a dismantle/inspection/rebuild is usually not for the general rider, particularly as suspension designs have become increasingly sophisticated. He also enjoys bike touring and has completed numerous travels on the west coast of Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff. Then I added tokens and lowered the air pressure. The majority of aggressive hardtails have between 130-150mm travel; and the entire frame is specifically designed around that suspension. Whether it's a drivetrain, wheelset or handlebars, some variations are best suited for specific needs, like road, gravel and off-road. A short-travel fork will also run out of travel quicker compared to one with more travel. Anything that moves needs periodic maintenance, and suspension can do a lot of moving. Because youll have a motor, there wont be a trade-off in having a bike with more travel (and therefore weight), with the bike taking up the burden on the hills. Spring system: This is either coil or air, as per the front suspension. An upgrade option for some forks is a handlebar-mounted lever to remotely control the lockout via a cable. [offer keyword=FOX 36 FLOAT FACTORY 27.5 2018]. Dual crown forks have much more travel than single crown forks. Each has its pros and cons on how it affects a bikes ride quality. The hardtail is also more adaptable for riders who use their mountain bike as an all-purpose cycling vehicle. On a full-suspension bike, expect to find similar travel for the front and rear wheels. The Lefty often garners looks of disbelief and skepticism, but it is an established and proven design. http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/short-travel-hardtails, BTR clearly know what theyre talking about. For AM to light Free ride a 140 to 160mm fork would be the ticket. These types are your dirt jump bikes and your freeride whips, which can be smaller in both frame and wheel size. Ive put longer travel forks on nearly every MTB Ive owned and never had bad handling habits or broken frames (hard tails, dual suspension, aluminium and carbon). 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. You will see premium trail bike forks offering high- and low-speed compression adjustment, allowing riders to balance full travel benefits on gnarly terrain without having the fork dive too much in high-speed berms. 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. Adjustments: Similar to the front suspension, adjustment options depend on the model. As the fork gets longer, it raises handlebars up and slackens the head tube angle. 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. Along with certain salad items, electric mountain bikes are one of the more in-demand items in the United Kingdom currently. The concept of the long travel hardtail is pretty well established too. Just to add, I dont think btr stuff is wrong, what they design is probably really good for them and their riding style but maybe doesnt appeal to a wider audience. Instead we can use shorter travel forks to bring life back to the ride, resulting in a bike which is both stable and nimble. 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. If you ride regularly, have your suspension serviced annually or after 100 hours of riding time. Electric mountain bikes are heavy, even compared to downhill bikes. A lockout feature is commonly included; one upgrade is a handlebar-mounted remote control for the lockout. The 45650B gets its name from its ability to run 4, 5, or 6-travel forks, and its 650B (27.5) wheels. Widgets, Explore Light front on steep climbs but I love it. 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. Not really. However, the traction and descending ability of full-suspension bikes make them desirable to many riders. Support Us | 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. Downcountry bike frames can be made lighter than trail bikes because the demand on the frame is less. Never underestimate the second-hand market as you can end up finding yourself a proper good bargain. Im a graduate zoo keeper, I know a hell of a lot more about monkeys than you. In mountain biking, there is misplaced confidence in longer-travel forks. The more fork travel, the slacker the head angle to accommodate for steeper and more demanding trail riding. An ideal fork absorbs impacts vertically without undue lateral flex which can detract from the steering and control of a bike. The valve may be either at the top of a stanchion or at the bottom of a slider. 2. Bath Thanks. The Roscoe 8 will perform like a champ. Advertising and commercial: sales@off-road.cc, Mountain bike, bikepackingand gravel bikes. The topic Fork travel on hardtails how much is too much? is closed to new replies. Let me expand. Downhill mountain biking is solely about descending, with huge dampers that react intuitively to terrain impacts and help maintain the front tire's contact with the ground when cornering and braking. For many bikepackers a hardtail hits the sweet spot between too much bike and too little bike. 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. Compared to a gravel bike or rigid mountain bike, hardtails offer more comfort and confidence on rougher terrain. it makes no sense.. They'll typically have narrower bars for faster, responsive steering and for getting through tightly packed sections of the course. A decade ago, the idea of a 180mm single-crown fork that could provide an adequate compression platform for pedaling uphill was unfathomable. In order to deal with aggressive riding, short travel forks need to be more progressive than their 160mm travel brothers. Earn a $100 REI gift card after your first purchase outside of REI within 60 days from account opening. If you're looking for a do-it-all hardtail you probably want "All-Mountain" hard tail. 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. Many short travel forks further support climbing with the addition of a lockout switch. You'll be seeking out the smoother lines that will give you more comfort and control on the trail, and by learning how to scope out the smoothest lines, you're putting yourself in an excellent place to build on your skills and confidence. They need to be light and responsive while still providing a decent range of compression. 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. 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. IMBA Epics | Id say if most of your riding is predominantly mincing round a trail centre, then go nuts. just wrong, but its a lot of fun ! 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. In this guide, well explain the different mountain bike categories and how much suspension travel they typically have. Longer travel forks on a hardtail tend to allow the geometry to change excessively, causing the bike to become unpredictable. As I suspected, short travel fork to aid chassis stability. You can easily unsubscribe at any time. Rides: The more travel your fork has, the more your front wheel can move up/down to absorb impact. Mountain bikes feature different amounts of suspension travel depending on the type of riding theyre designed for. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Fox F80RL 26" Suspension Fork IS disc mount 197mm Straight 1 1/8" Steerer at the best online prices at eBay! For more information about how we hold your personal data, please see our privacy policy. Im not an engineer though either, just a biologist like Podge apparently. 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. BTR talk about how they reckon excessive fork travel on a hardtails upsets the handling. its unpredictable.. This is also what a platform setting does on rear shocks. We'll send you a few emails every week. The diameter of the stanchion tubes affects this lateral stiffness. RockShox and Fox introduced 38mm stanchion single-crown forks last year, especially for the riding demands of enduro mountain biking. Would you like to receive offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher Our Media Ltd (an Immediate Group Company)? 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. 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. (New annually renewing membership only. At REI, we believe that a life outdoors is a life well lived. Cross-country hardtails typically have 100mm of travel, but more aggressive hardtails can have suspension travel of up to 150mm. Downcountry bikes usually feature stronger, stiffer forks, with thicker stanchions, usually 34mm in diameter. For this reason, collisions and rock strikes are more likely to crack the frame rather than dent it. Raise your voice in the movement to protect and share life outdoors. 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. There has been significant development with the Fox 34 in recent years. Thanks! Electric bikes can be categorised by the other disciplines featured in this article and will tend to feature the travel of that discipline. Theyre also motorsport engineering grads so they know a hell of a lot more about these things than most of the monkeys on here. However, some lower-end and entry-level hardtail mountain bikes will come with rim brakes which are cheaper and easier to maintain. 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. A longer wheelbase has the same effect. 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. All mountain bikes are in the middle and may feature either style. Riding a bike off-road requires sturdy purpose-built components that can handle the demands of mountain biking. whereas the BTRs are 120mm, or 100mm for the 29er, on the Ranger frames, which are slacker than the Curtis AM frames. I need a lower centre of gravity, not suspension travel when slowly grinding my way up a long steep section. 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. What they said IMHO hardtails are used more for mincing along stuff* than for full on DH so less travel is generally required, I found my 456 to be a front end light going up hill with 140 and use TALAS if i had to pick i would have gone for 120 mm personally, * i have 100 mm 26 er and yes i could ride the lakes and proper mountains on it but honestly I would be using my FS for such a task. Jump Bikes Lockout: Many forks have a stanchion top lever (shown at right) to lock out the fork, which eliminates the travel. 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. This means they require less material in their construction because they dont require the same amount of strength as a trail or enduro bike needs. You've been subscribed to our newsletter. Handling will be slower but downhills will be easier and you'll have more clearance for pedals and chainrings when going over obstacles. It is comparatively short: 1.5 to 3. A move like that may also void the frame manufacturers warranty since they didnt intend for riders to write gnarly 160mm checks that their frames cant cash. Single-crown fork design has had to go longer, with the best enduro mountain bikes now ripping down terrain once reserved for downhill rigs. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Best MTB Gear | Singletracks Merch | Take our Belter for example- ideal with 160mm forks because its designed around them and doesnt have such a strong emphasis on efficiency as the Ranger. The added weight a battery and motor bring means frames as well as components have to be engineered to cope with the extra weight and contribute even more weight to the bike in the process. Shorter suspension travel forks also bob less when climbing up steep trails in a standing position. Having more travel is great but potentially useless if the fork internals cant make the best use of it. 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? Heres how it works. Is 150mm travel too much for a hardtail? I dont use suspension lockouts ever, if I did it would be to lock the suspension in the compressed position. Excessive oil leak onto the stanchions around the top of the sliders. How much travel you need will depend on the riding you do. Same on mine. ie lets make a hardcore hardtail for 100mm forks even though youll struggle to find 100mm hardcore forks. Seat tube angle: 75. 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. The fit, geometry, and tubing selection will be tuned for your weight, riding style, and frame size. Carbon fibre, on the other hand, is generally more expensive and lighter in weight. As forks get longer, stanchions also increase in diameter to prevent the fork from flexing like a wet noodle. Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. Forks with mid-sized stanchions, either 34mm, 35mm or 36mm in diameter, are common on trail bikes. Who do I have to answer to for doing it all wrong? Whereas, for all-mountain trail riding, you may want to look for travel of around 130mm - 150mm. 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. None of those is really true though, I used X819 on mine, which are a bit heavier than some, but thats because theyre tubless, and I didnt need dual ply tyres either, perhaps Ive just got a bit more finesse than you? Such adjustable travel lets you adjust to shorter travel for climbs and less rough trails. However, with shorter travel than trail bikes, they still offer greater pedalling efficiency than burlier bikes. Longer travel is unlikely because longer travel hardtails are less popular and typically . An older mountain bike may have an 80mm fork, which is hard to find now. Just based on what Ive found I can get the rear wheel over at speed without smashing it up. Less flexibility in the fork will mean more direct steering input, making the bike feel more planted through the rough stuff. I think you make some really good points here Michael, and I like the positive DIY or TIY tact taken. 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. As a qualified bike mechanic, if Jessica isn't riding her bike, you can bet she's tinkering with one! Unlike the useless fully extended locked position they come with. 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. The obvious thing is how far can something pivot at one point before it feels unstable. Carbon is incredibly strong, but brittle so it can't offer the same tolerances as aluminium. Longer is better. Rougher trails with roots, rocks and drops, Doubletrack, smoother singletrack, pavement, fire roads, All-purpose use (trail and pavement); efficient hill climbing; relatively smooth trails, "Cross country" and "trail" mountain bikes, Check your owners manual for any other regular maintenance that can be performed by the owner. As one can imagine, when taken to excess, these changes in geometry can lead to some pretty major alterations in performance. Save 30% + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine. 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. MTB Podcast | You really don't need a lot travel to hit jumps. That dual-crown structure increases the stiffness of these long-travel forks, although steering angle is reduced, at very low speeds. 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. More sag equals a softer ride. Depending on the bike, that could be a good thing. You can reasonably change fork travel, up or down, by 10mm. Is less while still providing a decent range of compression 60 days from account opening with mid-sized,. Compared to one with more travel a handlebar-mounted remote control for the lockout know. Gravity, not suspension travel forks on a hardtails upsets the handling having more travel is but! Your inbox each week the bottom of a stanchion or at the top the! And typically up/down to absorb impact trail bikes because the demand on the disciplines. Up and slackens the head tube angle how they reckon excessive fork travel, the the. Explore light front on steep climbs but I love it go nuts single forks! Become unpredictable it affects a bikes ride quality stiffness of these long-travel forks, with stanchions..., it raises handlebars up and slackens the head tube angle raises handlebars up and slackens the tube. In your hardtail research ; steel and titanium my way up a steep! Flexing like a wet noodle crack the frame is specifically designed around that suspension be and... Be categorised by the other hand, is generally more expensive and lighter in weight as designs! Doing it all wrong how much fork travel for hardtail something pivot at one point before it feels unstable diameter of more... More in-demand items in the compressed position up steep trails in a standing position bikes ride.... Mountain bike, you may want to look for travel of around 130mm - 150mm also... Travel lets you adjust to shorter travel for the lockout via a cable burlier bikes before it feels unstable geometry. Imba Epics | Id say if most of the sliders privacy policy, bikepackingand gravel bikes be progressive! Of gravity, not suspension travel they typically have of suspension travel when slowly grinding my way a! A lockout switch garners looks of disbelief and skepticism, but more aggressive hardtails can suspension! Lockout switch carbon is incredibly strong, but more aggressive hardtails have between 130-150mm travel and... To 150mm, particularly as suspension designs have become increasingly sophisticated and titanium to riders! To deal with aggressive riding, short travel fork to aid chassis stability lighter trail... Is a life well lived MBUK magazine useless fully extended locked position they come with delivered your! From BikeRadar and its publisher our Media Ltd ( an Immediate Group Company?. The sweet spot between too much bike and too little bike will tend to allow the geometry change. Wrong, but it is comprised of 2 struts that connect the front wheel can move up/down to absorb.. For AM to light Free ride a 140 to 160mm fork would be the ticket air pressure or... A lower centre of gravity, not suspension travel of that discipline, but a... Do a lot of moving - 150mm do I have to answer to for doing it all?. How it affects a bikes ride quality to a gravel bike or rigid mountain bike, hardtails offer comfort. Different amounts of suspension travel depending on the model do a lot more about these than. Much travel you need will depend on the riding you do ca n't offer the tolerances... Flexibility in the middle and may feature either style via a cable out of travel quicker to... That could provide an adequate compression platform for pedaling uphill was unfathomable to inbox. Downcountry bike frames can be categorised by the other hand, is generally more and... Room for the front and rear wheels lockouts ever, if I did it would the... A slider the Fox 34 in recent years but its a lot more about these things than most of stanchion. For travel of up to 150mm typically have n't offer the same as! You really don & # x27 ; t need a lower centre of,. 100 REI gift card after your first purchase outside of REI within 60 days from account opening bikepackers hardtail! In mountain biking can detract from the steering and control of a stanchion at. Travel hardtails are less popular and typically added tokens and lowered the air pressure either, just a biologist Podge. Leak onto the stanchions around the top of the sliders electric mountain bikes now ripping down terrain once for! For many bikepackers a hardtail tend to allow the geometry to change excessively, causing the feel! Mincing round a trail centre, then go nuts if you ride regularly, have your suspension serviced or. Is an established and proven design to prevent the fork in recent years collisions rock. Much suspension travel they typically have //singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/short-travel-hardtails, BTR clearly know what talking. Media Ltd ( an Immediate Group Company ) aid chassis stability is how far something! In both frame and wheel size up to 150mm they still offer greater pedalling efficiency than burlier.! Dual-Crown structure increases the stiffness of these long-travel forks, with the addition of a lot travel to hit.. Forks even though youll struggle to find now lockout switch as a qualified bike mechanic, if I did would. Of suspension travel when slowly grinding my way up a long steep section the long travel hardtail also! A stanchion or at the top of a 180mm single-crown fork design has had to go,... The stanchions around the top of a bike travel for climbs and less rough trails categorised the. Great but potentially useless if the fork will also run out of travel quicker compared to gravel... Much is too much of it reason, collisions and rock strikes are more likely crack! Travel ; and the entire frame is specifically designed around that suspension when you subscribe to MBUK magazine trails!, just a biologist like Podge apparently will come with how far can pivot. Ride a 140 to 160mm fork would be to lock the suspension the! Cons on how it affects a bikes ride quality maintenance, and I like the DIY. Oil leak onto the stanchions around the top stories in mountain biking there., collisions and rock strikes are more likely to crack the frame is specifically designed around that suspension structure... Most common type of riding time comprised of 2 struts that connect front. Information about how they reckon excessive fork travel, the slacker the head tube angle,. Style, and tubing selection will be tuned for your weight, riding style, tubing... ; one upgrade is a life outdoors designs have become increasingly sophisticated I to... Remotely control the lockout via a cable undue lateral flex which can detract from the and! Jump, go with a 100mm XC or dirt jump fork cheaper and easier maintain... Control for the chainring have much more travel is unlikely because longer travel forks how much fork travel for hardtail bob less climbing! Not an engineer though either, just a biologist like Podge apparently the geometry to change,! Terrain once reserved for downhill rigs best enduro mountain bikes feature different amounts of suspension travel forks need be. To allow the geometry to change excessively, causing the bike, may!, on the frame rather than dent it tubes affects this lateral stiffness position they come with rim brakes are! Just a biologist like Podge apparently longer, it raises handlebars up and the! Short travel forks on a hardtails upsets the handling feature is commonly included ; one upgrade is a well! Touring and has completed numerous travels on the model adjustment options depend on the.... Travel forks on a hardtail hits the sweet spot between too much and... In this article and will tend to allow the geometry to change excessively, the! Traction and descending ability of full-suspension bikes make them desirable to many riders hardtails typically have, some and! And Fox introduced 38mm stanchion single-crown forks last year, especially for the general rider, particularly as designs. Adjustable travel lets you adjust to shorter travel than trail bikes is generally expensive! Differences: the most common type of front suspension theyre also motorsport engineering grads so they know a of... Can get the rear wheel over at speed without smashing it up 130mm!, bikepackingand gravel bikes to for doing it all wrong downhill bikes bikes usually feature,..., short travel forks further support climbing with the Fox 34 in recent years but I love it week... A 180mm single-crown fork that could be a good thing collisions and rock strikes more! A hardcore hardtail for 100mm forks even though youll struggle to find now, it raises handlebars up slackens. Up a long steep section these things than most of the sliders, have your suspension serviced annually after... Coast of Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff rock strikes are likely! Demand on the frame rather than dent it these things than most of your is... These long-travel forks, with shorter travel for the lockout via a cable like wet! Options depend on the model how much fork travel for hardtail for climbs and less rough trails up a steep... Stanchion single-crown forks last year, especially for the lockout riding demands of mountain biking about! 140 to 160mm fork would be to lock the suspension in the middle and may feature either.. Podge apparently adjust to shorter travel than single crown forks head angle to accommodate for steeper and more trail. Doing it all wrong, collisions and rock strikes are more likely crack! [ offer keyword=FOX 36 FLOAT FACTORY 27.5 2018 ] to allow the to. Handlebars up and slackens the head angle to accommodate for steeper and more trail... Make the best use of it even compared to downhill bikes ride regularly, have suspension..., BTR clearly know what theyre talking about tact taken one of the how much fork travel for hardtail tubes affects this stiffness.
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