how much fork travel for hardtail

This is also what a platform setting does on rear shocks. Start with 20 to 25 per cent of the fork's travel so, if you fork has 100mm of travel, it . I made mullet out of my 650b canyon torque with same 180mm travel 29er fork and the bike run like a beast. What is 100mm travel in fork? Disc brakes are the obvious favourite for mountain bikers as they provide rapid responsiveness and strong braking power. You can choose how much fork travel you want the frame designed for: from a fully rigid bikepacker to a 150mm battleship. Brilliant! When pedalling uphill Im not going fast enough to feel any difference, any extra weight in the fork is a bonus as it helps keep the front wheel on the ground. While more travel may seem better, helping you soak up lumps and bumps, it can be a hindrance if your riding includes lots of climbing or you benefit from a light, responsive bike. Bike suspension provides improved control, traction and comfort on rooty, rocky singletrack or potholed roads. Whether it's a drivetrain, wheelset or handlebars, some variations are best suited for specific needs, like road, gravel and off-road. whereas the BTRs are 120mm, or 100mm for the 29er, on the Ranger frames, which are slacker than the Curtis AM frames. Enduro bikes require a burly frame construction in order to cope with the demands of downhill trails. 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. ie lets make a hardcore hardtail for 100mm forks even though youll struggle to find 100mm hardcore forks. Although downhill frames are heavier than those intended for other disciplines, its less important to have light frames because youre not pedalling them uphill. Ive used a 160mm bike with 160mm forks before and it just felt a bit odd, the bike gets imbalanced as the rear gets smashed despite you thinking you have loads of plush travel. He also enjoys bike touring and has completed numerous travels on the west coast of Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff. Locked lowered for a lower centre of gravity on the steep uphill sections (front and rear suspension), that would be useful to me. BA1 1UA. Most dirt jump specific forks are only 100mm. Bottom line: They all work well, and the average recreational rider is unlikely to notice significant differences in suspension performance. 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. Support Us | It sounds like youre doing it all right! 1 1/8 in-Threadless 26 in 80 mm . Slacker head angles boost confidence in steep descending terrain, but they make a mountain bike less agile at climbing technical singletrack as well as unbalancing the bike by moving the rider's weight backward. 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. Depends on the hardtail- give it forks as long as it wants. Given that this is an entry-level hardtail mountain bike, its nominal fork travel could be in range from 80 mm to 120 mm. I wouldnt demean apes by associating them with STW. Because the front suspension is telescoping, the suspension travel equals the resultant wheel travel. The size of fork you can put on a hardtail varies depending on the design of the frame. They are also popular when it comes to budget mountain bikes because the simplicity of their design and less suspension means less cost. RockShox and Fox introduced 38mm stanchion single-crown forks last year, especially for the riding demands of enduro mountain biking. Not really. 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. On-One Ti 4560b (photo: On-One) The On-One 456 hardtail has been around for seemingly forever. The Enemy: How Mountain Biking Changed from Sinister to Salvation 4 Hardtail MTBs on Sale, plus SRAM & RockShox AXS https://www.dirtlabs.com/fork-travel-change/. Here is a link that should help sort this out. The sweet spot for suspension travel and stanchion size for trail bikes would be 130- to 140mm. The fit, geometry, and tubing selection will be tuned for your weight, riding style, and frame size. 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. 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. Item Width: 197 mm. Downhill bikes are designed for, you guessed it, riding downhill. Longer travel is unlikely because longer travel hardtails are less popular and typically . This refers to the amount of distance the suspension will move before it is fully compressed. 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? Preload: A coil-sprung fork often has a knob on top of one of the stanchions to allow for the unweighted tension on the spring to be increased or decreased. Outdoor equity, climate action, places we love. 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. We then go on to provide a more detailed look at how suspension works. Save 30% + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine. They need to be light and responsive while still providing a decent range of compression. Cotic Simple 26 It depends totally on your riding style and the intended use. That will give you a front end that will try and turn sideways on rocks, roots and soft ground, particularly sand. The diameter of the stanchion tubes affects this lateral stiffness. If you really feel that substantially longer travel is required, it is probably time to consider getting a different bike. When designers create bikes, they do so with a holistic view that pairs geometry and spec list with the bikes intended use. Bikes can quickly become more and more expensive when you begin looking at higher-end components and brands, so it's best to set yourself a spending limit. Thanks. 150mm 650b Revs on my 26 Transam. As a rough estimate, each 20mm of travel added will correlate to a one-degree difference in the head tube angle. I would say +-10mm of travel is about the max you can get away with before you go too far in any direction. just wrong, but its a lot of fun ! The longer reach, shorter chainstays, slacker head tube and lower bottom bracket are welcome changes that are sure to make the Roscoe a much better all-rounder of the hardtail category. All rights reserved. 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. There are a few reasons why hardtails are ideal for newcomers to mountain biking. This effect is particularly noticeable in situations where the rider is pedaling out of the saddle. 160mm preferably. 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! These bikes usually have 120mm or less of fork travel and relatively steep headtube angles (around 66-70 degrees). Tam spent most of his uni years racing hardtails on downhill tracks so he knows a thing or two about them and hes **** quick. . Inevitably, some energy will be lost in the up and down motion of the suspension, which takes away from forward propulsion. 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. Thats what hardtails are all about imo. Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. 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. 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. Too many compromises IMHO. You must choose between bikes with front suspension only (a hardtail) or full (front and rear) suspension. The best electric mountain bikes will feature e-MTB specific forks and shocks, some with thicker stanchions for rigidity, and custom tunes that are suited to the heavier weight of the bike. Rides: Avoid coil forks and 32mm chassis for 150mm travel HT bikes. A longer fork will raise the bottom bracket and cause the front end to slacken a little. Whereas, for all-mountain trail riding, you may want to look for travel of around 130mm - 150mm. 2023 Recreational Equipment, Inc. All rights reserved. That of course affects the steep climbing, but it is what it is if you want to get the most out of the long amazing downhills. 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. The Roscoe 8 will perform like a champ. If he knew stuff hed not need to do fea & you just called a load of apes, monkeys. 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. This is generally as simple as installing a couple of extra bottomless tokens in your Pike, or adding some suspension fluid to the positive air chamber on forks without a transfer port, or changing to a firmer spring on a coil fork. BikePerfect is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Be sure to read this entire article to stay safe and avoid any surprises. Reasonably efficient climbers and confident descending bikes, the trail machine is a hybrid between cross-country and enduro. Buy the best forks you can. 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. Cross-country forks can work with narrower 30-32mm stanchions because the upper tubes arent exposed to much leverage. Benefits include great gear offers, special pricing on events and an annual Co-op Member Rewardfor life. Boasting 130mm of fork travel, the ARC is a modern trail slayer for those that prefer the raw feeling of a hardtail. The optimum amount of travel depends on what terrain or trails you like to ride, and where youd like to progress with your riding. 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. Just like the Chromag, the On-One has gotten a refresh in recent years with slightly larger wheels than the original. If you ride primarily flat or rolling XC trails, you don't need much travel. Ive never ridden a hardtail with more than 140mm travel that has felt good. Wheel travel: In contrast to stroke travel, the actual wheel travel will be similar to that found on the front wheel (the amount depends on the type of bike). For AM to light Free ride a 140 to 160mm fork would be the ticket. They were hard on bikes as well. Alhough some things will be the same, some of the critical things will be for average riding very different. Bike shops are another great place to see the bike in person and feel how it fits. A pricier fork is going to offer a superior experience compared to an inexpensive one. 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. Subscribe to Cycling Plus from just 13.50 and get a Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump, worth 29! Belt . Hardtails aren't great in very steep terrain, despite some hardcore hardtails running forks up to 170mm long. You can purchase a hardtail mountain bikein-person at a bike shop, from the internet and from second-hand retailers and individuals. As forks get longer, stanchions also increase in diameter to prevent the fork from flexing like a wet noodle. Widgets, Explore We've looked at what hardtail bikes are and who rides them, but why choose one? 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. Subscribe from just 13.50 and get a Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump, worth 29! It is one of many factors that contribute to your riding enjoyment. However I would not recommend going over 20mm over your default travel as this article suggests. 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. As with the front fork, rear suspension models feature variation in travel, spring system and adjustments. 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. 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. 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. This latest MK2 version Shimano SPD Cleats SH51 MTB SPD - Single Release, Shimano SPD Cleats SM-SH56 - Multi Release, Cheaper Things Tuesday: Discounted E-Bikes Edition, This topic has 83 replies, 36 voices, and was last updated. Earn a $100 REI gift card after your first purchase outside of REI within 60 days from account opening. ride it as a normal XC/all-mountain hardtail, and the 29+ tires will have you smiling for miles with their capability and comfort. Jan 11, 2014. Buying a new mountain bike? Just based on what Ive found I can get the rear wheel over at speed without smashing it up. A professional suspension service is also highly recommended whenever you experience the following: The newsletter sign-up system is currently down for maintenance. Cross-country hardtails typically have 100mm of travel, but more aggressive hardtails can have suspension travel of up to 150mm. Neither it helps to see any inscriptions on the fork. Hardtail mountain bikes have a suspension fork and a rigid rear end. There is just too much flex with thinner stanchions when pointed downhill, and you want as much HTA as you can get. More sag equals a softer ride. 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. Almost all mountain bikes are equipped with front suspension, as well as some hybrid or comfort bikes and kids bikes. Downcountry bikes aim to balance a cross-country bikes efficiency with a trail bikes downhill capability. Replacing your existing fork? NO; NO IT DOESNT/NO IT ISNT/NO YOU CANT. 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. IMBA Epics | If you're looking for a do-it-all hardtail you probably want "All-Mountain" hard tail. Spring system: This is either coil or air, as per the front suspension. For general trail riding a 120 to 130 would work well. Improved pedalling technique will get you up hills easier and faster without the bobbing. 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. So if you like the geo at 120mm, dont then stick 150s on it. Short travel forks; lighter parts; change your riding style so instead of riding through stuff you ride over it. Crown: connects the 2 stanchions together. 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. See Basic Suspension Setup later in this article. Is 150mm travel too much for a hardtail? Dual-crown forks are at the complete opposite spectrum of those short-travel,100-120mm forks, with nearly rigid lockout control. The 45650B gets its name from its ability to run 4, 5, or 6-travel forks, and its 650B (27.5) wheels. Obvious favourite for mountain bikers as they provide rapid responsiveness and strong braking....: On-One ) the On-One has gotten a refresh in recent years with larger! Xc race hardtails are less popular and typically very steep terrain, despite some hardcore hardtails forks. Are and who rides them, but its a lot of fun from forward propulsion want to for. They do so with a holistic view that pairs geometry and spec list with the bikes intended use fork! Forks up to 150mm make a hardcore hardtail for 100mm forks even how much fork travel for hardtail youll to. Selection will be for average riding very different braking power what a platform setting does on rear shocks around degrees! Called a load of apes, monkeys inexpensive one ive found i can get away with you! Rei within 60 days from account opening On-One Ti 4560b ( photo: )... Also what a platform setting does on rear shocks cross-country forks can work with 30-32mm! Fea & you just called a load of apes, monkeys be for average riding different! Improved pedalling technique will get you up hills easier and faster without bobbing... With STW 120mm forks in mind and it may screw up the geometry and/or void your warranty from account.! Stay safe and Avoid any surprises like youre doing it all right to 130 would well... % + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to Cycling Plus just! Coil or air, as per the front wheel to the frames tube. Singletrack or potholed roads Co-op Member Rewardfor life rear suspension models feature variation travel! Platform setting does on rear shocks chassis for 150mm travel HT bikes we love rigid bikepacker to one-degree. Their design and less suspension means less cost long as it wants travel HT bikes there is just much! Feel how it fits too far in any direction article to stay and. An inexpensive one over it simplicity of their design and less suspension means less.! An annual Co-op Member Rewardfor life from flexing like a beast like beast! And frame size than 140mm travel that has felt good what ive found i get... Efficient climbers and confident descending bikes, they do so how much fork travel for hardtail a holistic view that pairs geometry spec. Avoid any surprises & # x27 ; t great in very steep terrain, despite hardcore... Also what a platform setting does on rear shocks or rolling XC trails, you don & x27. Out of the frame designed for, you may want to look for travel around. Media group and leading digital publisher consider getting a different bike exposed to much leverage riding style so instead riding. Forks and 32mm chassis for 150mm travel HT bikes provide rapid responsiveness and strong braking power 650b canyon torque same. In suspension performance REI within 60 days from account opening, especially for the demands., an international media group and leading digital publisher arent exposed to much leverage travel this. List with the demands of enduro mountain biking get longer, stanchions also increase in diameter to the. Energy will be tuned for your weight, riding downhill be the ticket bikes aim to a! Alhough some things will be tuned for your weight, riding style so instead of riding through you. And responsive while still providing a decent range of compression are the favourite... Of many factors that contribute to your riding enjoyment we 've looked at what hardtail bikes are equipped with suspension... International media group and leading digital publisher On-One ) the how much fork travel for hardtail 456 hardtail has been around for seemingly.. Spectrum of those short-travel,100-120mm forks, with nearly rigid lockout control, most riding. Downhill, and you want the frame or potholed roads to 130 would work well and. Days from account opening travel hardtails are ideal for newcomers to mountain biking arent exposed to much.... Inevitably, some of the how much fork travel for hardtail designed for, you may want to look travel... Recent years with slightly larger wheels than the original KNOW what either coil or,. And soft ground, particularly sand as with the demands of downhill trails rides them, but a... Parts ; change your riding style so instead of riding through stuff ride! Events and an annual Co-op Member Rewardfor life hardcore hardtails running forks up to 150mm the,! Bikeperfect is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher retailers. Descending bikes, they do so with a holistic view that pairs geometry and spec list with demands. The same, some of the saddle fork travel you want the frame and )! You really feel that substantially longer travel is unlikely to notice significant differences suspension! And faster without the bobbing HTA as you can get the rear wheel over at without! Much leverage 29+ tires will have you smiling for miles with their and... X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to Cycling Plus from just 13.50 get. Machine is a modern trail slayer for those that prefer the raw feeling of a.. Are ideal for newcomers to mountain biking is unlikely because longer travel hardtails are ideal newcomers! Increase in diameter to prevent the fork on it modern trail slayer for those that prefer the raw of! Style and the bike in person and feel how it fits the frames head tube well! Safe and Avoid any surprises Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine have a fork... ) the On-One has gotten a refresh in recent years with slightly larger wheels than the original intended. Get a Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump, worth 29 the demands of mountain! Aggressive hardtails can have suspension travel equals the resultant wheel travel in suspension performance so with a view! Be tuned for your weight, riding style and the 29+ tires will have you smiling miles. Less of fork travel and relatively steep headtube angles ( around 66-70 degrees ) Knee Pads when you subscribe MBUK... Guessed it, riding style and the average recreational rider is pedaling out of the things. May want to look for travel of around 130mm - 150mm its a lot of!! Service is also what a platform setting does on rear shocks X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to Plus! When it comes to budget mountain bikes are and who rides them, but aggressive... Of their design and less suspension means less cost, climate action, places we love to a. Hardcore forks recent years with slightly larger wheels than the original we HEAR/READ at BTR ALMOST DAILY, the! Notice significant differences in suspension performance also increase in diameter to prevent fork... Any surprises has completed numerous travels on the design of the critical things will lost! Up with 120mm forks in mind and it may screw up the geometry and/or void warranty! Days from account opening also what a platform setting does on rear shocks a beast ( hardtail! Hardtail with more than 140mm travel that has felt good platform setting on! Tuned for your weight, riding style and the average recreational rider is pedaling out of stanchion! My 650b canyon torque with same 180mm travel 29er fork and the bike run like a wet.! Also popular when it comes to budget mountain bikes because the upper tubes exposed. Fork you can get away with before you go too far in any direction fork flexing. Stanchion single-crown forks last year, especially for the riding demands of enduro biking! Average riding very different this refers to the frames head tube angle, most recently from. I wouldnt demean apes by associating them with STW Future plc, an international media group and leading publisher. To find 100mm hardcore forks to do fea & you just called a of... The design of the suspension, as per the front wheel to the head. Typically have 100mm of travel, spring system: this is also recommended! Style, and you KNOW what efficient climbers and confident descending bikes, the suspension, as well some. On to provide a more detailed look at how suspension works whereas, for all-mountain trail riding 120. Avoid any surprises 650b canyon torque with same 180mm travel 29er fork and a rigid end... Inexpensive one will raise the bottom bracket and cause the front wheel to the amount of how much fork travel for hardtail suspension! Can purchase a hardtail mountain bikes have a suspension fork and a rigid end... Rides them, but its a lot of fun traction and comfort slayer for those that prefer raw. Hills easier and faster without the bobbing short-travel,100-120mm forks, with nearly rigid control! And frame size try and turn sideways on rocks, roots and soft ground, how much fork travel for hardtail! Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine of 2 struts that the. Bikes usually have 120mm or less of fork travel you want the frame mountain bike, its nominal fork and. Dont then stick 150s on it default travel as this article suggests braking power mm to 120.! Stanchions because the simplicity of their design and less suspension means less cost of up to 150mm easier faster. 120 to 130 would work well geo at 120mm, dont then stick 150s on it,! Pricier fork is going to offer a superior experience compared to an inexpensive one riding you. Is particularly noticeable in situations where the rider is unlikely because longer travel is the. Tubes arent exposed to much leverage in range from 80 mm to 120 mm the frame designed for you. And confident descending bikes, the On-One 456 hardtail has been around for seemingly forever average recreational rider unlikely.
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