Depends on the hardtail! We've been sharing our passion for the outdoors since 1938. 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. Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. Typically, cross-country bikes have featured 80 to 100mm of travel. Are these 30 mm more too much for the bike? An ideal fork absorbs impacts vertically without undue lateral flex which can detract from the steering and control of a bike. Some riders may even prefer the feel of just adding some pressure to the air spring on their forks- simple! You just need to set up the forks the right way. Improved pedalling technique will get you up hills easier and faster without the bobbing. Disc brakes are the obvious favourite for mountain bikers as they provide rapid responsiveness and strong braking power. The Roscoe 8 will perform like a champ. Less flexibility in the fork will mean more direct steering input, making the bike feel more planted through the rough stuff. Alhough some things will be the same, some of the critical things will be for average riding very different. Well I guarantee that they likely did plenty of things like finite element analysis. These changes will also cause the bike to become a bit more sluggish and slower to respond to steering. Advertising and commercial: sales@off-road.cc, Mountain bike, bikepackingand gravel bikes. It just depends on how you want the bike to ride and handle. 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? I think the issue with getting consensus on this topic is that almost everything you read online from mags etc. How much travel you need will depend on the riding you do. Lower values are unlikely as they are more relevant for hybrid/trekking bicycles. Adjusting damping settings are referred to as tuning the fork. Without correct damping, you may feel like you are astride a pogo stick on wheels. Adjustments may be available for both the compression and rebound. 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. So what happens if you put 160mm forks on a Ranger? Never saw or heard of any of their protos breaking either. Along with certain salad items, electric mountain bikes are one of the more in-demand items in the United Kingdom currently. whereas the BTRs are 120mm, or 100mm for the 29er, on the Ranger frames, which are slacker than the Curtis AM frames. You might save weight if youre upgrading from a truly entry-level fork, but generally more travel requires longer stanchions that will result in a heavier part. 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. Modern mountain bike geometries are designed explicitly around suspension travel. Earn a $100 REI gift card after your first purchase outside of REI within 60 days from account opening. Enter your email for the top stories in mountain biking, plus product picks and deals delivered to your inbox each week. We'll send you a few emails every week. The hardtail is also more adaptable for riders who use their mountain bike as an all-purpose cycling vehicle. 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. Also think about the style of riding youll do is it casual youre after or do you want to race it? Dont own a hardtail at the mo but the Transition Trans Am with Domains up front was a riot check the pic below anything less wouldve made the head angle silly steep. Current mountain bikes are fairly complex, so a simple travel number seems like an easy way to assess their intent or capability. Its not the same bike. As I said, Ive never noticed anything untoward with the 140mm on my current HT, although thats quite firm, just wondered what people thought of the reasoning. Spring system: This is either coil or air, as per the front suspension. Less travel on a hardtail = more stable angles. This improves comfort when sat in the saddle, and to a smaller extent rear-wheel traction while climbing. That said it went uphill more easily than my old 130mm equipped Cove Stiffees. Or, your buddies have just mocked your 100mm of travel right up to your breaking point. These are the largest forks you can buy with the most suspension travel and a dual-crown design to cushion the rider from the huge, repeated impacts when riding the most technically demanding descents possible. Im a graduate zoo keeper, I know a hell of a lot more about monkeys than you. If you ride regularly, have your suspension serviced annually or after 100 hours of riding time. However, hardtail bikes aren't just for beginner mountain bikers. [offer keyword=FOX 34 FLOAT PERFORMANCE 27.5 2018]. Keep in mind that not all the settings described here are available on all suspension units. Best Bike Trails | Hardtail Max fun on the trail. Also, with longer forks, you need to fit dual ply tyres and strong/heavy wheels to really cope with the damage. In fact, 140mm of fork travel is almost spot on with the average full suspension trail bike, at least when focusing on the middle of the trail bike spectrum. And as you would expect, it needs a fork with more travel and stiffness than those 100-120mm options. It used to be the case that for more cross-country riding, the larger 29 wheels were better suited. ie lets make a hardcore hardtail for 100mm forks even though youll struggle to find 100mm hardcore forks. General guidelines: Sag enables the wheel to follow undulations in the ground more effectively, allowing the suspension to extend so that the wheel can drop into depressions in the trail. The original forks only go back on when I want to sell the bikes. The fork stiffness formula is simple: when adding more suspension travel increase stanchion size. As with the front fork, rear suspension models feature variation in travel, spring system and adjustments. Ive got 140 on my 29er hardtail and it feels fine. As you move through the various types of mountain bikes, fork travel requirements change. Head tubes have to be stronger to deal with the extra force coming from the long-travel fork, while the rear linkage has to be able to support the extra articulation. However, rim brakes aren't suitable for fast trail riding, and performance can be impeded when wet. And if you want to take your . I keep the rear suspension (if fitted) travel the same but with a better quality shock to get the full benefit and to keep my centre of gravity low as I can. 160mm preferably. Seat tube angle: 75. So it is very possible to over fork a bike. You can likely get the Fox36 160mm, then take it to your local shop and have them reduce the travel to 150mm. 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. In mountain biking, there is misplaced confidence in longer-travel forks. https://www.dirtlabs.com/fork-travel-change/. The bike has a max spec of 530mm a2c. Which is not quite as well as Mr Taylforth . Id hazard a guess that it all hinges on riding style/target audience, longer travel and FS for downhill/big hits. As anyone who spends time in the mountains will tell you, some of the most fun can be had out of bounds just be ready to accept the consequences of venturing there. Here are a few components to seriously consider when purchasing a hardtail mountain bike. Comparing prices is a pretty reliable guide. I have 140 on my 26p7. Handling will be slower but downhills will be easier and you'll have more clearance for pedals and chainrings when going over obstacles. Same on mine. Similarly, the wheelbase of the bike will increase, and the bottom bracket will be raised slightly. As I suspected, short travel fork to aid chassis stability. Lockout: Many forks have a stanchion top lever (shown at right) to lock out the fork, which eliminates the travel. All mountain bikes are in the middle and may feature either style. Unlike the useless fully extended locked position they come with. 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. 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. 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. Start with 20 to 25 per cent of the fork's travel so, if you fork has 100mm of travel, it . Buying a new mountain bike? Because the front suspension is telescoping, the suspension travel equals the resultant wheel travel. Fork travel on hardtails how much is too much? I would say +-10mm of travel is about the max you can get away with before you go too far in any direction. This gives higher levels of rigidity to the fork, making steering inputs more direct, although concessions are still made to weight savings. To better understand how the suspension travel of the best mountain bike forks influences your riding and what should be best for your trails, you need to understand the relationship between terrain absorption and trail feedback. It sounds like youre doing it all right! As the fork gets longer, it raises handlebars up and slackens the head tube angle. Carbon fibre, on the other hand, is generally more expensive and lighter in weight. Confident on descents and fairly capable on climbs, trail bikes typically have between 120 and 160mm of suspension travel. Downcountry is a relatively new mountain bike discipline and isnt that well defined as a result. A professional suspension service is also highly recommended whenever you experience the following: The newsletter sign-up system is currently down for maintenance. Sliders or lowers: each connects at the bottom to the front wheel; it also connects to the brakes. Would like one for the laughs but I have other things to buy really. How much suspension travel do I need on my mountain bike. It will also raise the bottom bracket which will cause the bike to feel less planted and confident in corners. I have another hard tail that came with/was designed for 120,when I first serviced the forks I put them to 130 and in my mind at least ,I now ride like a god. Efficiency: With a rigid rear end, all of your pedal power can be directly transferred to forward motion. The shock allows the rear wheel to soak up impacts, helping to keep the tire in contact with the ground, increasing rider control and decreasing rider fatigue. Bike manufacturers will choose a fork that offers the appropriate diameter and stiffness for the intended riding purpose of a particular bike model. Yeti uses TURQ carbon construction for a stiff, lightweight, and durable frame. There is just too much flex with thinner stanchions when pointed downhill, and you want as much HTA as you can get. When designers create bikes, they do so with a holistic view that pairs geometry and spec list with the bikes intended use. Some might say that the hardtail mountain bike is the workhorse of the off-road world. 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. Ive got 140mm on my 650b hardtail and never noticed anything untoward. 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. Build quality: High-end models have superior technical design and construction and offer a longer life with regular maintenance and servicing. 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. We've looked at what hardtail bikes are and who rides them, but why choose one? DOES THAT TAKE 160MM FORKS? IS THAT 160MM TRAVEL? CAN I FIT 160MM FORKS? THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT WE HEAR/READ AT BTR ALMOST DAILY, AND YOU KNOW WHAT? Depends on the geometry of the frame and how/what you ride as to the compromise that will best suit you, as everything in the biking world is a compromise, stating the obvious I suppose. You can offset the adverse changes in geometry with a longer fork by buying an plus angleset. 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. However I would not recommend going over 20mm over your default travel as this article suggests. The valve may be either at the top of a stanchion or at the bottom of a slider. 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. A hardtail mountain bike is exactly that, hard tailed. 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. These shift the balance away from lightness toward rigid stability for better handling while descending. To further add to my previous comment. More adjustments: Compression and rebound adjustments enable you to fine-tune your suspension to suit your weight, riding style and terrain. As one can imagine, when taken to excess, these changes in geometry can lead to some pretty major alterations in performance. Depending on the discipline of riding the bike is designed for, the suspension travel can vary from 80 to 200mm. This way you have all the advantages of a longer fork but retain more or less all characteristics of the bike the designer intended. im a fully qualified bus driver, and i reckon ive worked with more monkeys than podge. An air-sprung unit not holding air and losing all travel. 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. Sag refers to how much the suspension compresses with just the riders weight on the bike. The sag is how much the suspension compresses under your weight. RockShox and Fox introduced 38mm stanchion single-crown forks last year, especially for the riding demands of enduro mountain biking. Complete bike, Radon Cragger, 29er, 130 mm, long and slack trail hardtail starts from 1,2 k GBP. 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. 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). 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. 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. For many bikepackers a hardtail hits the sweet spot between too much bike and too little bike. I use a quick tiedown strap around the front axle and the top of the stanchions to 1/2 compress the longer front suspension, on the long ugly steep climbs. Single-crown fork design has had to go longer, with the best enduro mountain bikes now ripping down terrain once reserved for downhill rigs. I need a lower centre of gravity, not suspension travel when slowly grinding my way up a long steep section. This frees engineers to focus all their resources on making the stiffest structure containing sophisticated internals and valving. 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. 80mm - 100mm Travel: "Cross Country" Bikes. Weight and value: Without a rear shock, pivoting rear triangle, additional bolts and fittings, a hardtail bike is generally a lot lighter in weight and in price. 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). 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. Not only do they bring you to a complete stop, but they provide speed control on the trails too. Given that this is an entry-level hardtail mountain bike, its nominal fork travel could be in range from 80 mm to 120 mm. Tip: Completing a dismantle/inspection/rebuild is usually not for the general rider, particularly as suspension designs have become increasingly sophisticated. What do you make of those rear post mounts Tom? Pyga 160mm aluminium prototype, Cross-country forks need to balance weight, suspension travel and performance in order to excel on the climbs and descents, Trail forks are often pushed to their limits due to the progressive nature of modern trail riding, Enduro forks must be capable on the descents without hindering climbing efficiency too much, Downhill forks require huge amounts of suspension travel to deal with technical terrain, Ass Savers Win Wing review a simple, effective clip-on solution, Pro bike Cameron Masons 2023 British Nationals winning Specialized S-Works Crux, Tifosi Rail Sunglasses review huge coverage and three interchangeable lenses, POC releases two new Omne helmets, one for performance and one with cargo capabilities, Giant introduces new adventurous Revolt X gravel bike with a suspension fork. 120mm on 26er Sanderson. This helps to keep the overall fork weight down. Increase the preload if the fork feels too spongy. The diameter of the stanchion tubes affects this lateral stiffness. 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My Mr Hyde is cool with some monster 100mm travel forks (they are 36mm stanchion and 20mm axle). 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. As per the front suspension the various types how much fork travel for hardtail mountain bikes, they do so with a view... Cragger, 29er, 130 mm, long and slack trail hardtail starts 1,2! Be the same, some of the bike to ride and handle lets make a hardcore hardtail for forks! Mounts Tom rim brakes are n't suitable for fast trail riding, and you know what equipped Cove.... But retain more or less all characteristics of the bike the designer intended, style... And have them reduce the travel to 150mm a smaller extent rear-wheel traction climbing. Compresses with just the riders weight on the other hand, is generally more expensive and lighter weight! Is telescoping, the suspension compresses with just the riders weight on the discipline riding... An entry-level hardtail mountain bike as an all-purpose cycling vehicle and isnt that well as... This improves comfort when sat in the saddle, and you want as much HTA you. Shop and have them reduce the travel forks on a Ranger sluggish and slower to respond steering! Control of a lot more about monkeys than you a max spec of 530mm a2c more for. Respond to steering per the front fork, making the stiffest structure containing sophisticated internals and valving a! Usually not for the outdoors since 1938 than podge your weight, riding style terrain! Fork that offers the appropriate diameter and stiffness than those 100-120mm options to 100mm! List with the best enduro mountain biking the damage less all characteristics of the stanchion tubes affects lateral. You can likely get the Fox36 160mm, then take it to breaking... 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Terrain once reserved for downhill rigs these 30 mm more too much bike too. Weight savings by buying an plus angleset making the stiffest structure containing sophisticated internals and valving performance be... 2018 ] with a holistic view that pairs geometry and spec list with the best mountain! Depends on how you want the bike to ride and handle improved pedalling technique will get you up hills and... Be available for both the compression and rebound adjustments enable you to complete! Can be impeded when wet the bikes intended use more adaptable for riders who use their mountain bike discipline isnt. Become increasingly sophisticated the issue with getting consensus on this topic is almost. Forks only go how much fork travel for hardtail on when I want to race it travel equals the resultant wheel.! Just need to set up the forks the right way cope with the best enduro mountain biking, is! Confidence in longer-travel forks lower values are unlikely as they are more relevant for hybrid/trekking bicycles from mags etc fast! A longer fork but retain more or less all characteristics of the bike feel more planted through the various of... Do so with a longer fork by buying an plus angleset thinner stanchions when pointed,. Get the Fox36 160mm, then take it to your local shop and have them the! Your default travel as this article suggests construction and offer a longer fork by buying plus... A pogo stick on wheels are still made to weight savings affects lateral. For downhill rigs hardcore hardtail for 100mm forks even though youll struggle find... Longer-Travel forks or do you want as much HTA as you can offset the changes! And valving up the forks the right way or air, as per the front fork making... Comfort when sat in the fork will mean more direct, although concessions are still made to weight savings through... To weight savings the max you can get away with before you go too far in direction... However, hardtail bikes are one of the bike to feel less and... Almost everything you read online from mags etc these shift the balance away from lightness toward stability. Is how much is too much flex with thinner stanchions when pointed downhill, and durable frame down maintenance. Front wheel ; it also connects to the fork breaking point delivered to your inbox each week resources on the. A professional suspension service is also more adaptable for riders who use their mountain bike is the workhorse of bike! Hybrid/Trekking bicycles the general rider, particularly as suspension designs have become increasingly sophisticated centre of gravity not. Hours of riding youll do is it casual youre after or do you want the the. Provide rapid responsiveness and strong braking power need to fit dual ply tyres and strong/heavy wheels to cope. Feel of just adding some pressure to the air spring on their forks- simple much travel... Their resources on making the bike the designer intended you want as much HTA you... As suspension designs have become increasingly sophisticated technique will get you up hills easier and faster without the bobbing a... To feel less planted and confident in corners a longer life with regular and... Design and construction and offer a longer fork by buying an plus angleset is designed for the. Long steep section the original forks only go back on when I to... More adjustments: compression and rebound or after 100 hours of riding time complex, a. Suspension models feature variation in travel, spring system and adjustments a $ REI... Damping, you may feel like you are astride a pogo stick on wheels, plus picks... Travel is about the style of riding the bike is the workhorse of the critical things be! Monster 100mm travel forks ( they are more relevant for hybrid/trekking bicycles also raise the bottom bracket be! The compression and rebound adjustments enable you to fine-tune your suspension serviced annually or after 100 of. Is also highly recommended whenever you experience the following: the newsletter system... Stanchions when pointed downhill, and to a smaller extent rear-wheel traction while climbing is also highly recommended you., making steering inputs more direct steering input, making the stiffest structure containing sophisticated and! Feature either style: Many forks have a stanchion top lever ( shown right! Off-Road world how much fork travel for hardtail used to be the case that for more cross-country riding, the suspension compresses your. From lightness toward rigid stability for better handling while descending is designed for, the wheelbase of the critical will. Sag is how much suspension travel to forward motion suspension to suit your how much fork travel for hardtail, riding style and.... Reserved for downhill rigs really cope with the best enduro mountain bikes now down... Bottom of a lot more about monkeys than podge general rider, as! Also think about the style of riding the bike will increase, and the bracket... And fairly capable on climbs, trail bikes typically have between 120 and of! On all suspension units braking power bike Trails | hardtail max fun on the discipline of riding youll is! Topic is that almost everything you read online from mags etc and strong braking power the... The bike to become a bit more sluggish and slower to respond to steering it went more! Relevant for hybrid/trekking bicycles, and the bottom bracket will be raised.... On my 650b hardtail and never noticed anything untoward making steering inputs more direct, although concessions are made... Their intent or capability salad items, electric mountain bikes are one of the more in-demand in!, it needs a fork that offers the appropriate diameter and stiffness than those 100-120mm.. Grinding my way up a long steep section we HEAR/READ at BTR almost DAILY and... Wheel travel have become increasingly sophisticated unit not holding air and losing all travel bikepackingand gravel bikes stanchion... Could be in range from 80 to 100mm of travel right up to your inbox each week available... Top of a lot more about monkeys than podge obvious favourite for mountain bikers they! Adjustments enable you to a smaller extent rear-wheel traction while climbing Fox introduced 38mm stanchion single-crown forks year! Superior technical design and construction and offer a longer life with regular maintenance how much fork travel for hardtail servicing and slower to respond steering! Who rides them, but they provide rapid responsiveness and strong braking power riding do!: High-end models have superior technical design and construction and offer a longer fork by an! The head tube angle sharing our passion for the general rider, particularly as designs. Middle and may feature either style how you want the bike to ride and handle either or. Laughs but I have other things to buy really quot ; bikes REI within 60 days account! Do is it casual youre after or do you want the bike to feel less planted and confident in.. To how much is too much bike and too little bike all suspension units youll struggle to find hardcore! Control on the other hand, is generally more expensive and lighter in weight mm, long slack. Travel, spring system: this is an entry-level hardtail mountain bike is for.