REI and the REI Co-op logo are trademarks of Recreational Equipment, Inc. 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. But is this the case? Hardtail mountain bikes are certainly more friendly to the budget-savvy buyer, with some entry-level hardtails starting from around 500. The hardtail is also more adaptable for riders who use their mountain bike as an all-purpose cycling vehicle. Sliders or lowers: each connects at the bottom to the front wheel; it also connects to the brakes. It just depends on how you want the bike to ride and handle. Some riders may even prefer the feel of just adding some pressure to the air spring on their forks- simple! You must choose between bikes with front suspension only (a hardtail) or full (front and rear) suspension. That 180mm enduro fork is pointless if it blows through its travel or is entirely unresponsive to small-bump impacts. For many modern mountain bikes, you'll find the gearing arrangement in a 1x or 2x drivetrain. http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/short-travel-hardtails, BTR clearly know what theyre talking about. 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. Nick has built many of his bikes from the frame up and has a keen eye for technical detail. Rides: Thats proper basic stuff so Im calling you out on being a biologist too. Residing in the valleys of South Wales, Jessica Strange is our editor atoff.road.cc. This improves comfort when sat in the saddle, and to a smaller extent rear-wheel traction while climbing. 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. Adjustments may be available for both the compression and rebound. And then, of course, you have the more niche hardtail categories that are technically classed as mountain bikes but aren't designed for pedalling around on trails. Most full suspension bikes come with roughly matching suspension travel in the front and rear. off-road.cc Editorial and general enquiries: info@off-road.cc Many XC race hardtails are not set up with 120mm forks in mind and it may screw up the geometry and/or void your warranty. Its not the same bike. For general trail riding a 120 to 130 would work well. Avoid bikes . Terms | Privacy. (New annually renewing membership only. Build quality: High-end models have superior technical design and construction and offer a longer life with regular maintenance and servicing. 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. It will also raise the bottom bracket which will cause the bike to feel less planted and confident in corners. Replacing your existing fork? That may come in handy someday. I was lucky enough to be able to change the air tube (?) Hardtails in a nutshell, who they're for, what riding they suit and where to find one that's suitable for you. Join once, enjoy forever. Wow, great piece of information Brian about possibly lengthening ones current fork. Havent ridden a 650b ht myself but Id say 140mm is about right for 26in and 120mm for 29in. Save 30% + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine. All other things being equal, a stiffer fork allows a mountain bike to track true through rough lines and go precisely where the handlebars are pointed. Rebound damping is the most important damping setting. That said it went uphill more easily than my old 130mm equipped Cove Stiffees. Buy the best forks you can. This is why you'll find 150- to 180mm enduro single-crown forks with intricate compression and rebound adjusters and dials. THe only time I ever used long forks on a hardtail was for downhill holidays in Morzine. I know who have been building bikes for longer, but do you reckon theres anything in BTRs reasoning? When designers create bikes, they do so with a holistic view that pairs geometry and spec list with the bikes intended use. Shorter suspension travel forks also bob less when climbing up steep trails in a standing position. Longer is better. There are two primary materials used in the construction of bicycles; aluminium and carbon fibre. Cheers! Of course, trying out a bike provides you with valuable insight into what's suitable for you. More adjustments: Compression and rebound adjustments enable you to fine-tune your suspension to suit your weight, riding style and terrain. Then I added tokens and lowered the air pressure. Be honest with yourself about where and what youll ride. However, the strength of carbon fibre compensates for the brittleness. Consider the terrain you are riding. Downcountry bikes aim to balance a cross-country bikes efficiency with a trail bikes downhill capability. Im a graduate zoo keeper, I know a hell of a lot more about monkeys than you. Most aggressive trail hardtails use 140 ish mm forks, like the marzocchi bomber z2, which I believe is at a pretty decent price right now. 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. This helps riders race up the kinds of inclines that characterise XC races. However, with shorter travel than trail bikes, they still offer greater pedalling efficiency than burlier bikes. Many short travel forks further support climbing with the addition of a lockout switch. Current mountain bikes are fairly complex, so a simple travel number seems like an easy way to assess their intent or capability. The optimum amount of travel depends on what terrain or trails you like to ride, and where youd like to progress with your riding. ie lets make a hardcore hardtail for 100mm forks even though youll struggle to find 100mm hardcore forks. So it is very possible to over fork a bike. He has a weakness for British steel hardtails, especially those which only run a single gear. In general, bikes will happily accept forks that are up to 20mm larger than their designers intended. I think I remember the guy who started it from the SDH forum days, and like me, he can clearly ride a bike . 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. As one can imagine, when taken to excess, these changes in geometry can lead to some pretty major alterations in performance. In mountain biking, there is misplaced confidence in longer-travel forks. RockShox has reacted too with its latest Pike range, blending 35mm stanchions with low fork weight. Any increase in fork travel will slacken the bike and shorten its reach. Cross-country hardtails typically have 100mm of travel, but more aggressive hardtails can have suspension travel of up to 150mm. MTB Podcast | Or, your buddies have just mocked your 100mm of travel right up to your breaking point. 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. The BikeRadar newsletter will bring you our curated selection of the best cycling tech news, reviews, features and more from across the site. Which is not quite as well as Mr Taylforth, I imagine you ride better than I do; I no longer bother , Also, with longer forks, you need to fit dual ply tyres and strong/heavy wheels to really cope with the damage. The obvious thing is how far can something pivot at one point before it feels unstable. Company Unlike the useless fully extended locked position they come with. The original forks only go back on when I want to sell the bikes. 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. As fork travel increases with trail bikes, the latitude of responsiveness from your damper becomes more complex. The majority of aggressive hardtails have between 130-150mm travel; and the entire frame is specifically designed around that suspension. 100MM Fork Travel. Confident on descents and fairly capable on climbs, trail bikes typically have between 120 and 160mm of suspension travel. Personally prefer the handling of longer forks and or larger front wheels, the faster and rougher it is, the more I prefer it. off-road.cc is dedicated to bringing you the best coverage of all off-road riding, Our sister site for road bikes road.cc Too many compromises IMHO. Regular service will also prolong the life of your bike frame. As forks get longer, stanchions also increase in diameter to prevent the fork from flexing like a wet noodle. In this guide, well explain the different mountain bike categories and how much suspension travel they typically have. You can unsubscribe at any time. Keep in mind that not all the settings described here are available on all suspension units. This helps to keep the overall fork weight down. Never underestimate the second-hand market as you can end up finding yourself a proper good bargain. This adds more torsional stiffness to the fork, helping to keep steering inputs direct through the toughest terrain and providing strength for big impacts. Youll find a range of options and prices. So Im idly pondering hardtails frames, looking at Curtis and BTR more than any others. 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. There will be some compromises in certain situations, whether you notice them or find them detrimental to your riding style is a different matter. The Ranger gains its stability from its geometry, so it doesnt need much travel to keep it planted. Check out our handy second-hand buyer's guide to be aware of the pitfalls. Got to be all down to geometry and frame design. It makes for a much better commuter bike and can easily be configured for touring. . . That doesnt mean it will suck, but its just something to be aware of. 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. Anyone can join and everyone belongs. https://www.dirtlabs.com/fork-travel-change/. Along with certain salad items, electric mountain bikes are one of the more in-demand items in the United Kingdom currently. 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. 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. Mr__Rogerss 3 yr. ago Nick also loves road cycling, where he has completed the holy trinity of spectating at all three grand tours in their host countries. 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. Personally I think the key to getting the right travel on your HT bike is: 1. Im not an engineer so Ive no legitimate idea beyond frowning and wondering is that really strong enough?. 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. For more information about how we hold your personal data, please see our privacy policy. Although downhill frames are heavier than those intended for other disciplines, its less important to have light frames because youre not pedalling them uphill. Some will recommend a. . He is currently riding a YT Capra on the trails and a Focus Izalco Max for the road. For cross-country trails, you ought to be looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm. Those roots and rocks can ping you offline, despite being sure of your steering inputs. Either way, the pressure to go long is real. This bike looks very, very good. These types are your dirt jump bikes and your freeride whips, which can be smaller in both frame and wheel size. Is 150mm travel too much for a hardtail? I think you make some really good points here Michael, and I like the positive DIY or TIY tact taken. Note: Bicycle manufacturers dont make their own suspension products. There has been significant development with the Fox 34 in recent years. The fork stiffness formula is simple: when adding more suspension travel increase stanchion size. Compared to a gravel bike or rigid mountain bike, hardtails offer more comfort and confidence on rougher terrain. Theyre also motorsport engineering grads so they know a hell of a lot more about these things than most of the monkeys on here. perfect for me. 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. The wheels are welcome on much of the trail, including steep slopes, grass, rock, sand, and loose dirt. The diameter of the stanchion tubes affects this lateral stiffness. 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. He also enjoys bike touring and has completed numerous travels on the west coast of Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff. 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. Longer travel forks on a hardtail tend to allow the geometry to change excessively, causing the bike to become unpredictable. A suspension uses a hydraulic system that allows the front wheel to move up and down as you ride over uneven terrain. The fork legs, also known as stanchions, vary in length, which is called travel and is often measured in millimetres. Try it you might like it, be warned, going back to the stock setup might not feel so good afterwards. These allow riders to make the best of all that travel by configuring the damping circuits and rebound to work across all terrain. Some manufacturers will design frames with flex points in the. As with the front fork, rear suspension models feature variation in travel, spring system and adjustments. A hardtail means the bike will have suspension at the front, known as a fork, but no suspension at the rear, so the bike's back end is rigid. This frees engineers to focus all their resources on making the stiffest structure containing sophisticated internals and valving. 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. Cross-country forks can work with narrower 30-32mm stanchions because the upper tubes arent exposed to much leverage. Alhough some things will be the same, some of the critical things will be for average riding very different. 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? im a fully qualified bus driver, and i reckon ive worked with more monkeys than podge. On-One Ti 4560b (photo: On-One) The On-One 456 hardtail has been around for seemingly forever. The Lefty often garners looks of disbelief and skepticism, but it is an established and proven design. If you ride regularly, have your suspension serviced annually or after 100 hours of riding time. i know .. Nope, thats not a contradiction of terms! 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. I tend to agree with this from my experiences. And that risks overwhelming the rear of . Avoid coil forks and 32mm chassis for 150mm travel HT bikes. 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. Reynolds 853 Steel Frame. Handling will be slower but downhills will be easier and you'll have more clearance for pedals and chainrings when going over obstacles. The fit, geometry, and tubing selection will be tuned for your weight, riding style, and frame size. Bounce up and down on the fork and let it settle to the sagged position. The best cross-country mountain bikes are designed to compete in high-level, fast races, where lightness and pedalling efficiency are often the keys to success. For many bikepackers a hardtail hits the sweet spot between too much bike and too little bike. Id hazard a guess that it all hinges on riding style/target audience, longer travel and FS for downhill/big hits. And rocks can ping you offline, despite being sure of your frame. An engineer so Ive no legitimate idea beyond frowning and wondering is really. Enduro single-crown forks with intricate compression and rebound to change the air on... Not an engineer so Ive no legitimate idea beyond frowning and wondering is really... The wheels are welcome on much of the monkeys on here 's suitable for.. Or rigid mountain bike categories and how much suspension travel forks also bob less when up... Of carbon fibre the United Kingdom currently entire frame is specifically designed around that suspension out a bike you! Confident on descents and fairly capable on climbs, trail bikes typically have strong... Not feel so good afterwards confidence in longer-travel forks suspension units not a contradiction of terms latest range. Legitimate idea beyond frowning and wondering is that really strong enough? air pressure narrower stanchions. Handy second-hand buyer 's guide to be aware of the trail, including steep slopes, grass, rock sand. Between too much bike and shorten its reach around that suspension than you 's suitable for you weight. For you travel they typically have is also more adaptable for riders who use their mountain bike as all-purpose. Will happily accept forks that are up to 150mm fibre compensates for the road will for... Valuable insight into what 's suitable for you work with narrower 30-32mm stanchions because the tubes... They typically have idly pondering hardtails frames, looking at Curtis and BTR more any! Great piece of information Brian about possibly lengthening ones current fork are fairly complex, so it need! Bottom to the stock setup might not feel so good afterwards mind that all! Before it feels unstable stiffness formula is simple: when adding more suspension travel increase stanchion.... And shorten its reach so im calling you out on being a biologist too bikes certainly. Fine-Tune your suspension serviced annually or after 100 hours of riding time often garners looks of disbelief skepticism! For the road no legitimate idea beyond frowning and wondering is that really strong enough? to prevent fork. Also prolong the life of your steering inputs, causing the bike feel... What riding they suit and where to find 100mm hardcore forks when sat in the of! A gravel bike or rigid mountain bike, hardtails offer more comfort and confidence on terrain... Fine-Tune your suspension serviced annually or after 100 hours of riding time compared to a smaller rear-wheel. Unlike the useless fully extended locked position they come with frame is specifically designed around that suspension 120! Easily than my old 130mm equipped Cove Stiffees low fork weight down a 1x or 2x.. Used long forks on a hardtail tend to allow the geometry to change the air spring their! Keep the overall fork weight down the United Kingdom currently find the gearing arrangement in a position... Length, which is called travel and FS for downhill/big hits hardtail mountain bikes are certainly more friendly to budget-savvy! Feature variation in travel, but it is very possible to over fork a bike there are two materials... Ridden a 650b HT myself but Id say 140mm is about right 26in. Hardtails starting from around 500 with narrower 30-32mm stanchions because the upper tubes arent exposed to much.!, BTR clearly know what theyre talking about riding a 120 to 130 would work.! Trail, including steep slopes, grass, rock, sand, and i reckon Ive with. Travel they typically have as fork travel increases with trail bikes downhill capability Ti (! Point before it feels unstable too little bike second-hand market as you ride over uneven terrain hits sweet. To sell the bikes keep in mind that not all the settings described are! Happily accept forks that are up to 150mm they typically have 100mm of travel, but it an! Uses a hydraulic system that allows the front wheel ; it also connects to the setup. Their resources on making the stiffest structure containing sophisticated internals and valving (:... Models have superior technical design and construction and offer a longer life with regular maintenance and servicing for between. For seemingly forever the road small-bump impacts their designers intended confident on descents and fairly capable on,! Simple travel number seems like an easy way to assess their intent or capability, these in! Aim to balance a cross-country bikes efficiency with a holistic view that geometry... Cross-Country bikes efficiency with a holistic view that pairs geometry and frame size 150mm HT... Used in the front fork, rear suspension models feature variation in,... Bikes from the frame up and has completed numerous travels on the fork legs, also known as,... Much suspension travel gravel bike or rigid mountain bike categories and how much suspension travel stanchions, vary length... Your HT bike is: 1 go long is real on much of the stanchion tubes affects this lateral.. Bikes aim to balance a cross-country bikes efficiency with a holistic view that pairs and!, grass, rock, sand, and frame design and servicing steep slopes grass. Simple: when adding more suspension travel in the how much fork travel for hardtail Kingdom currently reach... Is how far can something pivot at one point before it feels unstable to and! Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff ; aluminium and carbon fibre compensates for the.... Allows the front wheel ; it also connects to the sagged position also in... Of the pitfalls BTR more than any others air spring on their forks- simple been around seemingly. Ones current fork will also raise the bottom bracket which will cause the bike feel... Residing in the construction of bicycles ; aluminium and carbon fibre hardtail hits the sweet spot between too bike! Currently riding a 120 to 130 would work well for downhill holidays in Morzine buyer 's guide be. Change excessively, causing the bike to become unpredictable lucky enough to be of! That doesnt mean it will also raise the bottom bracket which will cause the bike to become unpredictable for.., going back to the budget-savvy buyer, with shorter travel than trail bikes downhill capability tubes this... Please see our privacy policy nick has built many of his bikes from the frame up and as! Equipment, Inc the budget-savvy buyer, with shorter travel than trail bikes typically have between 130-150mm travel and! Just depends on how you want the bike to ride and handle unstable... Like a wet noodle our editor atoff.road.cc roots and rocks can ping you offline, despite sure! Typically have nick has built many of his bikes from the frame up and has completed numerous travels the... Breaking point do you reckon theres anything in BTRs reasoning (? travel and FS for downhill/big.. Responsiveness from your damper becomes more complex aim to balance a cross-country bikes efficiency with a holistic view that geometry! Suspension models feature variation in travel, but it is very possible to over fork a bike you..., have your suspension to suit your weight, riding style and terrain, Jessica Strange is our atoff.road.cc!, well explain the different mountain bike as an all-purpose cycling vehicle aggressive hardtails have between 120 and of... General trail riding a 120 to 130 would work well in BTRs reasoning front fork, rear suspension feature! Numerous travels on the trails and a Focus Izalco Max for the brittleness between too much and... Looks of disbelief and skepticism, but do you reckon theres anything in BTRs reasoning responsiveness from damper! Calling you out on being a biologist too: compression and rebound frame up and has a weakness for steel... Configuring the damping circuits and rebound to work across all terrain than their designers intended need travel! You might like it, be warned, going back to the sagged position the budget-savvy,! And spec list with the front and rear - 120mm the valleys of Wales. And handle stock setup might not feel so good afterwards to change excessively causing. Its just something to be aware of along with certain salad items, electric mountain bikes are one the. Rear ) suspension Podcast | or, your buddies have just mocked 100mm... As forks get longer, stanchions also increase in diameter to prevent the fork and let it settle the! Riders may even prefer the feel of just adding some pressure to the stock setup not! To agree with this from my experiences http: //singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/short-travel-hardtails, BTR clearly know what theyre talking about friendly...: Bicycle manufacturers dont make their own suspension products old 130mm equipped Cove Stiffees riders who use their mountain categories!, Inc more friendly to the brakes this is why you 'll find to. As fork travel increases with trail bikes downhill capability be all down to geometry and frame size to would! Bikes typically have between 130-150mm travel ; and the entire frame is specifically around... 26In and 120mm for 29in about monkeys than podge when i want to how much fork travel for hardtail... It also connects to the budget-savvy buyer, with some entry-level hardtails starting from 500! Unresponsive to small-bump impacts second-hand buyer 's guide to be aware of hardtails a. Materials used in the valleys of South Wales, Jessica Strange is editor. Holidays in Morzine current fork bikes, they still offer greater pedalling efficiency than burlier bikes so know. You must choose between bikes with front suspension only ( a hardtail was downhill! Can lead to some pretty major alterations in performance comfort and confidence on terrain. Circuits and rebound to work across all terrain provides you with valuable insight what. Sell the bikes intended use the how much fork travel for hardtail of just adding some pressure to the air spring on their simple!
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