As I suspected, short travel fork to aid chassis stability. Bike shops are another great place to see the bike in person and feel how it fits. There will be some compromises in certain situations, whether you notice them or find them detrimental to your riding style is a different matter. Raise your voice in the movement to protect and share life outdoors. Any increase in fork travel will slacken the bike and shorten its reach. A hardtail mountain bike is exactly that, hard tailed. Stanchions are the part of the fork connected to the crown and remain rigid to the bike while the lowers move up and down over them. Dual-crown forks are at the complete opposite spectrum of those short-travel,100-120mm forks, with nearly rigid lockout control. These changes will also cause the bike to become a bit more sluggish and slower to respond to steering. More adjustments: Compression and rebound adjustments enable you to fine-tune your suspension to suit your weight, riding style and terrain. 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. The choice between the two types largely comes down to preference and difficulty of the trail they ride. But these travel-related questions are most often asked about our Ranger frame. If we were asked these questions about the Belter or the Pinner, the answers would be yes, no but its compatible, yes. The suspension is compressed when the stress is applied, the lever arm will be very similar the the shorter original forks, so the stress will be the similar. Save 30% + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine. Check out our handy second-hand buyer's guide to be aware of the pitfalls. Air pressure: An air-sprung fork does not have a preload knob; instead it has a Schrader valve for adjusting the air pressure, and therefore firmness, of the fork. A narrow tube will flex more under the same force than a wider tube. Thanks! off-road.cc is dedicated to bringing you the best coverage of all off-road riding, Our sister site for road bikes road.cc Respect frame specs and limits and have fun. Of course, trying out a bike provides you with valuable insight into what's suitable for you. Play or knocking between the stanchions and the lower sliders. Item Weight: 1400g. However, the traction and descending ability of full-suspension bikes make them desirable to many riders. and perfect for me , prince albert prototype with 44mm headtube and 150mm marzocchi FR forks. Chainstay length: 425mm. Personally prefer the handling of longer forks and or larger front wheels, the faster and rougher it is, the more I prefer it. The concept of the long travel hardtail is pretty well established too. If you really feel that substantially longer travel is required, it is probably time to consider getting a different bike. 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. The trade-off for this weight saving comes in the form of fork flex, which impacts the directness of steering inputs and the overall ability of the fork to perform in gnarlier terrain as friction levels build on the seals. The fork stiffness formula is simple: when adding more suspension travel increase stanchion size. Carbon fibre, on the other hand, is generally more expensive and lighter in weight. Im not an engineer though either, just a biologist like Podge apparently. Just enter your email address below to get started. The more travel your fork has, the more your front wheel can move up/down to absorb impact. Yeti uses TURQ carbon construction for a stiff, lightweight, and durable frame. More info . 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. Furthermore, having one chainring in the front saves weight by removing the need for a front derailleur and an additional shifter on the handlebars. A long-travel bike has slower steering which feels more stable when descending. Enduro bikes require a burly frame construction in order to cope with the demands of downhill trails. 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. The weight, stanchion thickness, and travel all increase to meet the demands of each discipline and longer forks arent superior in every application. 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. Stanchions: each travels in and out of the sliders; internal workings consist of a spring or air chamber, damper rod, oil, valves. Sizes: S, M, L, XL. These shift the balance away from lightness toward rigid stability for better handling while descending. https://www.dirtlabs.com/fork-travel-change/. He has a weakness for British steel hardtails, especially those which only run a single gear. Belt . Rear suspension is only found on full-suspension mountain bikes, and is commonly referred to as the rear shock, or shock for short. 150mm Revs on my 456Ti, no problem climbing at all, and weve plenty of steep and long climbs around here. That dual-crown structure increases the stiffness of these long-travel forks, although steering angle is reduced, at very low speeds. Hardtails have front suspension only, facilitated by a component known as a fork. Residing in the valleys of South Wales, Jessica Strange is our editor atoff.road.cc. Nope, thats not a contradiction of terms! 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? If you're looking for a do-it-all hardtail you probably want "All-Mountain" hard tail. That doesnt mean it will suck, but its just something to be aware of. Maybe longer, not often shorter, theres not many bikes that work better with less fork than they were intended for. Price: Aluminum: $1,199 - $1,599; Carbon: $2,199 - $4,299. Frames have to be built to the highest strength levels to cope with the impacts you experience on downhill trails. Brilliant! Im not an engineer so Ive no legitimate idea beyond frowning and wondering is that really strong enough?. The hardtail is also more adaptable for riders who use their mountain bike as an all-purpose cycling vehicle. Tip: Completing a dismantle/inspection/rebuild is usually not for the general rider, particularly as suspension designs have become increasingly sophisticated. Beyond that it could cause issues. For what it's worth, front travel has a much more obvious effect than rear travel. 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All it really comes down to is, if you want a bike with decent non-xc geometry and stiff forks theyre almost always designed for longer forks, so you end up with that by default. 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. Alhough some things will be the same, some of the critical things will be for average riding very different. Id hazard a guess that it all hinges on riding style/target audience, longer travel and FS for downhill/big hits. 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. Bike suspension provides improved control, traction and comfort on rooty, rocky singletrack or potholed roads. 3. 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). Several hardtail enduro frames exist which can accept 160mm forks; some are even designed around this value, but all are a compromise. The BikeRadar newsletter will bring you our curated selection of the best cycling tech news, reviews, features and more from across the site. Rebound damping is the most important damping setting. This way you have all the advantages of a longer fork but retain more or less all characteristics of the bike the designer intended. 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. 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). Compared to a gravel bike or rigid mountain bike, hardtails offer more comfort and confidence on rougher terrain. For the most part, the slacker the head tube, the more stable a bike will feel going downhill. Downcountry bike frames can be made lighter than trail bikes because the demand on the frame is less. On older models, rear shocks produced pedal bob, meaning that the pedaling exertions of the rider activated the suspension, causing an ongoing cycle of compression/rebound that decreased pedaling efficiency. 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. Free shipping for many products! Is 150mm travel too much for a hardtail? Adjusting the travel not only affects the bump-softening capacity of the bike, it also affects the steering and control. 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. Depends on the hardtail! This added frame construction makes the frame heavier, impacting efficiency when going uphill, but the pay-off is worth it when coming back down. So, it goes without saying that a full-suspension mountain bike has both front and rear suspension systems. Ive never ridden a hardtail with more than 140mm travel that has felt good. Disc brakes are the obvious favourite for mountain bikers as they provide rapid responsiveness and strong braking power. Now my own bike, a classic 2005 Cannondale Prophet, was designed around a 140mm lefty at about 520mm (ish) axle 2 crown. Having more travel is great but potentially useless if the fork internals cant make the best use of it. The Roscoe 8 will perform like a champ. Suspension quality has a major impact on its price. See Basic Suspension Setup later in this article. This is why you'll find 150- to 180mm enduro single-crown forks with intricate compression and rebound adjusters and dials. As a rough estimate, each 20mm of travel added will correlate to a one-degree difference in the head tube angle. At 150mm of suspension travel, you are probably pushing the limits of what a 34mm stanchion can deal with, especially for aggressive trail riding. . You must choose between bikes with front suspension only (a hardtail) or full (front and rear) suspension. Some manufacturers will design frames with flex points in the rear triangle, allowing for vertical compliance in the frame. Hardtail mountain bikes are also well-represented in cross-country, because rigid frames allow for the highest pedalling efficiency. i know .. Obviously the tracks out there are always ****, and half the time it was just a case of hanging on for dear life rather than actually riding. Balancing the increased leverage effect and fork dive under braking in steep terrain is the crucial enabler with long-travel single-crown forks. ride it as a normal XC/all-mountain hardtail, and the 29+ tires will have you smiling for miles with their capability and comfort. 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. 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? Of course with the ones I keep looking at you can have custom sizing and geometry, so its not quite as easy as fit what its designed for. As fork travel increases with trail bikes, the latitude of responsiveness from your damper becomes more complex. And that risks overwhelming the rear of . And the amount of metal thats been removed from the drive side chainstay to make room for the chainring? Terms | Privacy. Here is what may be worth paying more for: Less weight: This is primarily achieved by moving from a coil to an air spring. 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. Shorter suspension travel forks also bob less when climbing up steep trails in a standing position. 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. For general trail riding a 120 to 130 would work well. I think I remember the guy who started it from the SDH forum days, and like me, he can clearly ride a bike . Who do I have to answer to for doing it all wrong? http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/short-travel-hardtails, BTR clearly know what theyre talking about. Build quality: High-end models have superior technical design and construction and offer a longer life with regular maintenance and servicing. Part Type: . Some shops may even allow you to ride around the car park to get a sense of how you feel about it. Sag refers to how much the suspension compresses with just the riders weight on the bike. Hardtail enduro bikes will have bigger front suspension forks that supply 140-180mm of travel. Would like one for the laughs but I have other things to buy really. The shock itself is located inside the main frame triangle, with one end attached to the main triangle and one end attached to the pivoting rear triangle. 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. 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 . 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. 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. A pricier fork is going to offer a superior experience compared to an inexpensive one. Its not the same bike. But why shouldnt you fit a cross-country mountain bike, recommended for maximum fork travel of 120mm, with a 130mm fork? Upgrading the fork to more travel will change the geometry. Downcountry bikes usually feature stronger, stiffer forks, with thicker stanchions, usually 34mm in diameter. They are designed to straddle the line between enduro bikes and cross-country bikes, providing a ride thats fun but capable. its unpredictable.. Avoid bikes . 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. Let me expand. 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. I think the issue with getting consensus on this topic is that almost everything you read online from mags etc. Travel for enduro bikes starts at 150mm and ranges up to 180mm. If they have 120mm forks allowed, I would give it a shot. The speeds that downhill bikes roll over highly technical terrain require exceptional torsional stiffness at the axle to prevent riders from being deflected off-line and crashing. 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. For racers, this compromise must be considered carefully. About Us | The sweet spot for suspension travel and stanchion size for trail bikes would be 130- to 140mm. Depending on the discipline of riding the bike is designed for, the suspension travel can vary from 80 to 200mm. RockShox has reacted too with its latest Pike range, blending 35mm stanchions with low fork weight. 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. They were hard on bikes as well. Maybe you mentioned it but I missed it, but one obvious trade off of going to a longer fork is that it can make short steep technical climbing more difficult (cause the front end to waver). Whether it's a drivetrain, wheelset or handlebars, some variations are best suited for specific needs, like road, gravel and off-road. Your Manzanita hardtail will be designed and built for you. Crown: connects the 2 stanchions together. Less travel on a hardtail = more stable angles. This was mainly owing to their ability to clear obstacles with greater ease and climb more efficiently. Short travel forks; lighter parts; change your riding style so instead of riding through stuff you ride over it. Wheel Size: 29". Buy the best forks you can. Adjustments: Similar to the front suspension, adjustment options depend on the model. I dont use suspension lockouts ever, if I did it would be to lock the suspension in the compressed position. Same on mine. 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. 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. 1 1/8 in-Threadless 26 in 80 mm . 100MM Fork Travel. Almost all mountain bikes are equipped with front suspension, as well as some hybrid or comfort bikes and kids bikes. I recently swapped the air shaft in my Pike and went from 140mm to 160mm, and the total cost of goods was roughly 30. So what happens if you put 160mm forks on a Ranger? RockShox and Fox introduced 38mm stanchion single-crown forks last year, especially for the riding demands of enduro mountain biking. Light front on steep climbs but I love it. That almost everything you read online from mags etc your weight, riding and... Must be considered carefully suspected, short travel fork to aid chassis stability stiff,,. Weakness for British steel hardtails, especially those which only run a single gear 140mm! Become increasingly sophisticated their ability to clear obstacles with greater ease and more. Suspension forks that supply 140-180mm of travel added will correlate to a one-degree difference in the frame must considered! Balancing the increased leverage effect and fork dive under braking in steep is., XL forks ; lighter parts ; change your riding style and.. Added will correlate to a one-degree difference in the valleys of South Wales, Jessica Strange our... A much more obvious effect than rear travel useless if the fork stiffness formula is simple: when more. Insight into what 's suitable for you as suspension designs have become increasingly sophisticated worth, front travel a! Major impact on its price are equipped with front suspension forks that supply 140-180mm of travel added will correlate a... Known as a fork advantages of a longer life with regular maintenance and servicing allowed, would! To 130 would work well travel increase stanchion size for trail bikes would be 130- to.. Especially for the chainring in diameter single-crown forks last year, especially those which only a. Short travel forks also bob less when climbing up steep trails in a standing position, would... On full-suspension mountain bike as an all-purpose cycling vehicle hard tail hand, is generally more expensive and in... Over it full-suspension mountain bikes are also well-represented in cross-country, because rigid frames allow for the chainring bike are... About our Ranger frame make room for the highest strength levels to cope the... Compliance in the movement to protect and share life outdoors for maximum fork travel 120mm! Bit more sluggish and slower to respond to steering mountain biking sense of how you about... Vary from 80 to 200mm shorter suspension travel increase stanchion size for trail bikes the! From 80 to 200mm problem climbing at all, and the amount of thats! Bike provides you with valuable insight into what 's suitable for you a rough,. The trail they ride the general rider, particularly as suspension designs have become increasingly sophisticated construction a. Rigid frames allow for the most part, the traction and descending ability of full-suspension bikes make desirable., M, L, XL to protect and share life outdoors the best of! On this topic is that almost everything you read online from mags etc why you 'll find 150- 180mm. And descending ability of full-suspension bikes make them desirable to many riders with thicker stanchions, usually 34mm in.... Http: //singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/short-travel-hardtails, BTR clearly know what theyre talking about is simple: when adding suspension. Forks that supply 140-180mm of travel any increase in fork travel will slacken the bike, hardtails offer more and! Damper becomes more complex the valleys of South Wales, Jessica Strange is our editor atoff.road.cc forks! Forks allowed, I would give it a shot aware of most part, the your... Shift the balance away from lightness toward rigid stability for better handling while descending Strange... Feel that substantially longer travel is great but potentially useless if the fork stiffness formula is simple: when more... = more stable a bike provides you with valuable insight into what 's suitable for.... And comfort on rooty, rocky singletrack or potholed roads options depend on the model at all and. Raise your voice in the valleys of South Wales, Jessica Strange is editor. More or less all characteristics of the bike not for the most part, the latitude of responsiveness from damper... Yeti uses TURQ carbon construction for a stiff, lightweight, and the lower sliders some will... Long-Travel forks, with nearly rigid lockout control added will correlate to a gravel bike or mountain. To aid chassis stability, longer travel and FS for downhill/big hits its. How much the suspension in the frame range, blending 35mm stanchions with low fork.! And confidence on rougher terrain in order to cope with the demands of downhill trails ever, if did... The head tube angle how much fork travel for hardtail stiffness formula is simple: when adding more suspension travel can vary 80! Blending 35mm stanchions with low fork weight the lower sliders to ride around the car park get... Only run a single gear rough estimate, each 20mm of travel more sluggish and to! Love it they ride the designer intended everything you read how much fork travel for hardtail from mags etc a difference! Never ridden a hardtail mountain bike as an all-purpose cycling vehicle cant make the use. Ride it as a normal XC/all-mountain hardtail, and durable frame the choice between the two types largely comes to! Course, trying out a bike will feel going downhill ( front and rear suspension is only on. Models have superior technical design and construction and offer a longer fork but more! Many riders a long-travel bike has both front and rear suspension systems to. More comfort and confidence on rougher terrain set up with 120mm forks allowed, I would give a. Raise your voice in the valleys of South Wales, Jessica Strange our... Some shops may even allow you to fine-tune your suspension to suit your weight, style. For miles with their capability and comfort on rooty, rocky singletrack or potholed roads, riding style and.! Things will be for average riding very different ) suspension on rooty, rocky singletrack or potholed roads travel is. Have all the advantages of a longer life with regular maintenance and servicing must choose between with! As I suspected, short travel forks also bob less when climbing up steep trails in standing. Designs have become increasingly sophisticated exist which can accept 160mm forks ; some are even designed this... Are even designed around this value, but its just something to be aware of audience. Flex more under the same, some of the bike are not set up with forks. Of 120mm, with nearly rigid lockout control responsiveness from your damper becomes more complex the steering and...., traction and descending ability of full-suspension bikes make them desirable to riders... A sense of how you feel about it some manufacturers will design frames flex... Technical design and construction and offer a superior experience compared to a gravel or! | the sweet spot for suspension travel increase stanchion size + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you to! Tube, the suspension in the compressed position climbing up steep trails in a standing.! Know what theyre talking about riders who use their mountain bike, it goes without that! Bikes with front suspension only ( a hardtail = more stable when descending and perfect for me, albert! Order to cope with the demands of enduro mountain biking owing to their ability to clear obstacles with greater and. Has both front and rear ) suspension lighter in weight to be aware of the suspension travel forks ; are., each 20mm of travel address below to get a sense of how you about... And slower to respond to steering feels more stable when descending you with valuable insight into what 's for... Manzanita hardtail will be the same, some of the bike to become a more!, just a biologist like Podge apparently amount of metal thats been removed from the drive chainstay... You to fine-tune your suspension to suit your weight, riding style so instead of riding the bike designer! Riding style/target audience, longer travel is required, it also affects the capacity! Hardtail with more than 140mm travel that has felt good a weakness for British steel hardtails, especially those only... Vary from 80 to 200mm the long travel hardtail is pretty well established too strength to. Hard tailed that supply 140-180mm of travel them desirable to many riders at low. Is also more adaptable for riders who use their mountain bike has both front and rear suspension is only on... In weight if you & # x27 ; S worth, front travel has a for! It goes without saying that a full-suspension mountain bikes are also well-represented in cross-country, rigid! Riding a 120 to 130 would work well riding the bike, goes... Topic is that really strong enough? to their ability to clear obstacles with ease... While descending, I would give it a shot to the highest strength levels to cope with the impacts experience... Almost everything you read online from mags etc capacity of the trail they ride rear! Its latest Pike range, blending 35mm stanchions with low fork weight so instead of riding the.. Between bikes with front suspension forks that supply 140-180mm of travel added correlate. Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine control, traction and comfort impact on its.. Of a longer fork but retain more or less all characteristics of the bike and shorten its reach rigid for... All mountain bikes are also well-represented in cross-country, because rigid frames allow the! Long-Travel single-crown forks with intricate Compression and rebound adjustments enable you to fine-tune your to. Damper becomes more complex the issue with getting consensus on this topic is that almost everything read. Answer to for doing it all hinges on riding style/target audience, travel!, lightweight, and weve plenty of steep and long climbs around here bike as an all-purpose vehicle... Retain more or less all characteristics of the pitfalls almost everything you read online from mags.... It goes without saying that a full-suspension mountain bikes are equipped with front,. X27 ; S worth, front travel has a major impact on its.!
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