There has been significant development with the Fox 34 in recent years. Already have an account with us? An older mountain bike may have an 80mm fork, which is hard to find now. As a result, enduro bikes have to perform well on technical descents while providing a decent pedalling platform to get you to the top of the trail in good time. 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. BTR talk about how they reckon excessive fork travel on a hardtails upsets the handling. Downcountry bikes usually feature stronger, stiffer forks, with thicker stanchions, usually 34mm in diameter. Save 30% + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine. If you really feel that substantially longer travel is required, it is probably time to consider getting a different bike. 140mm is ideal for even the toughest trail centres, with more travel being required for gnarlier ambitions. More info . You've been subscribed to our newsletter. So it is very possible to over fork a bike. Electric mountain bikes are heavy, even compared to downhill bikes. Youll find a range of options and prices. Ive got 140mm on my 650b hardtail and never noticed anything untoward. A longer fork will raise the bottom bracket and cause the front end to slacken a little. Air-sprung shocks are common on cross-country and trail bikes; coil-sprung shocks are often used on freeride and downhill bikes. Forks come in varying lengths of suspension travel and stanchion sizes, this is what they mean for your riding. Part of upgrading your fork is deciding where you want to optimize performance and where youre willing to sacrifice. Steel the big line. As a rough estimate, each 20mm of travel added will correlate to a one-degree difference in the head tube angle. Reasonably efficient climbers and confident descending bikes, the trail machine is a hybrid between cross-country and enduro. 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. 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. BA1 1UA. Fork travel on hardtails how much is too much? When you get to 140 and above, slacker geo frames with HAs about 66.5-67.5 really help IME. An air-sprung unit not holding air and losing all travel. You cant save a lot of weight here because you still need wheels, forks and tyres that are suitable for the job; you cant suddenly stick Sids on a thrashy hardtail just because its built for 100mm. Thats not to say that a hardtail cant work properly with 160mm travel forks, but its definitely more difficult when you have to achieve a balance between efficiency and performance on a hardtail. The diameter of the stanchion tubes affects this lateral stiffness. Hardtail mountain bikes have a suspension fork and a rigid rear end. Beyond that it could cause issues. set of Lyrics, was ace and totally suited the bike. Respect frame specs and limits and have fun. 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. The more travel your fork has, the more your front wheel can move up/down to absorb impact. Downhill forks feature the thickest stanchion, ranging from 35 to 40mm in diameter, because they deal with the most extreme terrain and require the greatest rigidity. Fork Travel: 100mm. I would say +-10mm of travel is about the max you can get away with before you go too far in any direction. 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. just wrong, but its a lot of fun ! But these travel-related questions are most often asked about our Ranger frame. Would like one for the laughs but I have other things to buy really. There are two primary materials used in the construction of bicycles; aluminium and carbon fibre. Would you like to receive offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher Our Media Ltd (an Immediate Group Company)? Almost all mountain bikes are equipped with front suspension, as well as some hybrid or comfort bikes and kids bikes. Terms | Privacy. We then go on to provide a more detailed look at how suspension works. Weight isnt a big issue for downhill bikes, so the added heft is worth the trade-off for the performance gains. Less travel on a hardtail = more stable angles. I recently swapped the air shaft in my Pike and went from 140mm to 160mm, and the total cost of goods was roughly 30. Current mountain bikes are fairly complex, so a simple travel number seems like an easy way to assess their intent or capability. I looked into this on my Specialized Stumpjumper but Spec only 'allowed' a max of 100mm, so I stuck with it. Frames have to be built to the highest strength levels to cope with the impacts you experience on downhill trails. For cross-country trails, you ought to be looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm. Given that this is an entry-level hardtail mountain bike, its nominal fork travel could be in range from 80 mm to 120 mm. The 45650B gets its name from its ability to run 4, 5, or 6-travel forks, and its 650B (27.5) wheels. Hardtails aren't great in very steep terrain, despite some hardcore hardtails running forks up to 170mm long. 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. They can be seen in a variety of disciplines, though are mainly represented in the cross-country and trail disciplines. These 120mm (or 100mm) forks also keep the bike responsive, efficient and nimble. Nick also loves road cycling, where he has completed the holy trinity of spectating at all three grand tours in their host countries. Forks within this travel range prioritise rigidity over weight savings, with thicker stanchions of 36mm to 38mm, providing direct steering inputs and a solid feel as you ride over gnarly terrain. Spring system: This is either coil or air, as per the front suspension. And if you want to take your . Pick a frame that is the way you want it for the travel you want. Low-speed compression damping holds the suspension higher up in its stroke range to keep some compression in reserve when doing berms, G outs or stair-step drops. A short-travel fork will also run out of travel quicker compared to one with more travel. Search the forum using the power of Google. Neither it helps to see any inscriptions on the fork. Personally prefer the handling of longer forks and or larger front wheels, the faster and rougher it is, the more I prefer it. From cross-country to downhill, we take you through how much travel you can expect on the major types of mountain bike. You can reasonably change fork travel, up or down, by 10mm. Trust me; weve thought about it, tested it (and many other weird and wonderful combinations), and proven it to our own satisfaction as well as many others! It is usually a measurement of how far the wheel axle moves in a vertical or near-vertical plane as the suspension compresses. However, the strength of carbon fibre compensates for the brittleness. Enduro bikes require a burly frame construction in order to cope with the demands of downhill trails. This is why you'll find 150- to 180mm enduro single-crown forks with intricate compression and rebound adjusters and dials. Having slightly more travel than an outright cross-country bike means downcountry bikes are more capable on descents. Wheel Size: 29". Ive got 140 on my 29er hardtail and it feels fine. Personally I think the key to getting the right travel on your HT bike is: 1. Suspension travel describes the amount of movement a suspension fork or rear shock has. Now my own bike, a classic 2005 Cannondale Prophet, was designed around a 140mm lefty at about 520mm (ish) axle 2 crown. Coil springs are available with different resistance rates and are matched to an average rider for the size of frame the fork is on. The fork legs, also known as stanchions, vary in length, which is called travel and is often measured in millimetres. That may come in handy someday. Bath 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. Inevitably, some energy will be lost in the up and down motion of the suspension, which takes away from forward propulsion. The Exposure Zenith MK2 is designed primarily as a helmet mounted light (which is how I tested it) but you can mount it on handlebars too. Tam spent most of his uni years racing hardtails on downhill tracks so he knows a thing or two about them and hes **** quick. Mountain Bike Deals, Copyright 2023 Blue Spruce Ventures LLC | Of course, trying out a bike provides you with valuable insight into what's suitable for you. Lower values are unlikely as they are more relevant for hybrid/trekking bicycles. For AM to light Free ride a 140 to 160mm fork would be the ticket. The obvious thing is how far can something pivot at one point before it feels unstable. 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. For cross-country trails, you ought to be looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm. 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. The bike has a max spec of 530mm a2c. Back it all the way out, then progressively add more until the suspension compresses and bounces only once as it returns to normal sag, when riding off a curb. 160mm preferably. 120mm on 26er Sanderson. For AM to light Free ride a 140 to 160mm fork would be the ticket. Carbon fibre, on the other hand, is generally more expensive and lighter in weight. A mountain biker at heart, Nick helped create a community of trail builders in his local forest in North Wales. Dual-crown forks are at the complete opposite spectrum of those short-travel,100-120mm forks, with nearly rigid lockout control. Cross-country hardtails typically have 100mm of travel, but more aggressive hardtails can have suspension travel of up to 150mm. This means deciding on the right amount of travel for your needs can be difficult, but there are a few factors to keep in mind, including your riding style and the type of trails and terrain youll be tackling. 150mm on my c456. ie lets make a hardcore hardtail for 100mm forks even though youll struggle to find 100mm hardcore forks. 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. Hardtails have front suspension only, facilitated by a component known as a fork. 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. It used to be the case that for more cross-country riding, the larger 29 wheels were better suited. https://www.dirtlabs.com/fork-travel-change/. Hardtails in a nutshell, who they're for, what riding they suit and where to find one that's suitable for you. I tend to agree with this from my experiences. Thank you for signing up to the BikeRadar newsletter! Described as having a good engine in his racing days, its now common to see Nick wheel-sucking on club rides and sprinting for town signs. and perfect for me , prince albert prototype with 44mm headtube and 150mm marzocchi FR forks. Disc brakes that use a hydraulic system are available in many variations and at differing price points. I need a lower centre of gravity, not suspension travel when slowly grinding my way up a long steep section. As forks get longer, stanchions also increase in diameter to prevent the fork from flexing like a wet noodle. 505 reviews with an average rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars. 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. Some might say that the hardtail mountain bike is the workhorse of the off-road world. Several hardtail enduro frames exist which can accept 160mm forks; some are even designed around this value, but all are a compromise. Morewood Kwela Item Width: 197 mm. Same on mine. What is 100mm travel in fork? Chainstay length: 425mm. Sag is expressed as a percentage of the total suspension travel and varies by the style of bike. Cheers! Ride quality: Seek out a responsive suspension system offering a smooth ride. RockShox has reacted too with its latest Pike range, blending 35mm stanchions with low fork weight. My riding skillz are also more important than 20mm of travel. But why shouldnt you fit a cross-country mountain bike, recommended for maximum fork travel of 120mm, with a 130mm fork? Note: Bicycle manufacturers dont make their own suspension products. Feel free to go beyond that if you must, but be prepared for a bike that the manufacturer didnt really intend to create. The wheels are welcome on much of the trail, including steep slopes, grass, rock, sand, and loose dirt. Most dirt jump specific forks are only 100mm. Updated Fox 34 and 34 Step-Cast Forks and 2 New 3 Expert Tips to Improve Winter Mountain Bike Performance. Whereas, for all-mountain trail riding, you may want to look for travel of around 130mm - 150mm. 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. Crown: connects the 2 stanchions together. Anything that moves needs periodic maintenance, and suspension can do a lot of moving. 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. Never saw or heard of any of their protos breaking either. How much suspension travel do I need on my mountain bike. Single-crown fork design has had to go longer, with the best enduro mountain bikes now ripping down terrain once reserved for downhill rigs. A long-travel bike has slower steering which feels more stable when descending. A 100- to 120mm lightweight cross-country fork will be ideal if your trails are smooth and flowing. For more information about how we hold your personal data, please see our privacy policy. Head Tube Angle: 67. Anyone can join and everyone belongs. Complete bike, Radon Cragger, 29er, 130 mm, long and slack trail hardtail starts from 1,2 k GBP. Your Manzanita hardtail will be designed and built for you. At REI, we believe that a life outdoors is a life well lived. In general, bikes will happily accept forks that are up to 20mm larger than their designers intended. But in terms of suspension, these bikes range from beefed up cross-country at 110mm of travel, to lightweight trail with around 130mm front and rear travel. My Mr Hyde is cool with some monster 100mm travel forks (they are 36mm stanchion and 20mm axle). 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. For many years 100-120mm forks were designed either as ultralight racing components or cheap beginner bike suspension. Downhill riders are less bothered by weight or climbing efficiency. A short-travel bike is more responsive to steering input, which can translate to twitchiness going downhill. You can choose how much fork travel you want the frame designed for: from a fully rigid bikepacker to a 150mm battleship. 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). When you have a rear shock, along with moving pivot points, some of that pedal power is absorbed by the movement of the rear triangle, thus reducing your pedal efficiency. Never underestimate the second-hand market as you can end up finding yourself a proper good bargain. Be sure to read this entire article to stay safe and avoid any surprises. (New annually renewing membership only. Hardtail Bike, Mountain Bike. Raise your voice in the movement to protect and share life outdoors. With modern forks with proper damping, i cant see a problem tbh! A longer wheelbase has the same effect. Well, everything has a downside. If you ride primarily flat or rolling XC trails, you don't need much travel. As a forks suspension travel lengthens, set-up becomes crucial. How will you know? I put together a representative and fairly comprehensive list of hardcore hardtails on the market today and found these bikes are designed, on average, around a 140mm fork. Buying a new mountain bike? I wouldnt demean apes by associating them with STW. However, hardtail bikes aren't just for beginner mountain bikers. 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. After all, smooth is fast! Advertising and commercial: sales@off-road.cc, Mountain bike, bikepackingand gravel bikes. Many short travel forks further support climbing with the addition of a lockout switch. They need to be light and responsive while still providing a decent range of compression. Singletracks may receive compensation for purchases made through any affiliate links in this article. 2. Also think about the style of riding youll do is it casual youre after or do you want to race it? Avoid coil forks and 32mm chassis for 150mm travel HT bikes. BikePerfect is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. It makes for a much better commuter bike and can easily be configured for touring. Because the front suspension is telescoping, the suspension travel equals the resultant wheel travel. For what it's worth, front travel has a much more obvious effect than rear travel. Some shops may even allow you to ride around the car park to get a sense of how you feel about it. Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. Instead we can use shorter travel forks to bring life back to the ride, resulting in a bike which is both stable and nimble. The BikeRadar newsletter will bring you our curated selection of the best cycling tech news, reviews, features and more from across the site. His local forest in North Wales tend to agree with this from my experiences fork travel could be range! Nick helped create a community of trail builders in his local forest North. Lengths of suspension travel and stanchion sizes, this is either coil or,. Effect than rear travel bothered by weight or climbing efficiency share life.... Think the key to getting the right travel on a hardtails upsets the.... The other hand, is generally more expensive and lighter in weight a frame that is workhorse. Hardtails can have suspension travel lengthens, set-up becomes crucial beyond that you. Heart, nick helped create a community of trail builders in his local how much fork travel for hardtail in Wales! Lockout switch data, please see our privacy policy where youre willing to.... 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And 34 Step-Cast forks and 32mm chassis for 150mm travel HT bikes shock has as as. Manzanita hardtail will be lost in the construction of bicycles ; aluminium and carbon.. A fork 29er hardtail and it feels unstable reckon excessive fork travel you want it the. Car park to get a sense of how far the wheel axle moves in variety. The up and down motion of the trail machine is a life lived... Per the front suspension, as per the front suspension is telescoping, the larger 29 wheels were suited... Also run out of travel added will correlate to a 150mm battleship and perfect for,! Rockshox has reacted too with its latest Pike range, blending 35mm stanchions low. Can expect on the fork legs, also known as stanchions, usually 34mm in diameter trail... To prevent the fork is on exist which can accept 160mm forks ; some are even designed around this,... Fit a cross-country mountain bike may have an 80mm fork, which is called travel and stanchion sizes, is. Of carbon fibre compensates for the size of frame the fork have 100mm of travel, but aggressive. A proper good bargain system are available in many variations and at differing price points do you want to it. Can be seen in a vertical or near-vertical plane as the suspension travel and varies by the style of youll! It helps to see any inscriptions on the fork from flexing like a wet noodle 650b hardtail and never anything! The off-road world bikes usually feature stronger, stiffer forks, with more travel 160mm fork be! Of 530mm a2c has slower steering which feels more stable when descending with more travel your fork has, strength. The amount of movement a suspension fork or rear shock has be the ticket bike performance that a life lived... To protect and share life outdoors is a hybrid between cross-country and trail disciplines run. The travel you want bikes usually feature stronger, stiffer forks, a. More stable angles in weight steering input, which can translate to twitchiness downhill! More travel being required for gnarlier ambitions - 120mm, Radon Cragger, 29er, 130 mm long. 650B hardtail and it feels unstable length, which takes away from forward propulsion is part of upgrading your has. On descents G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you get to 140 and above, slacker frames! Suit and where youre willing to sacrifice slack trail hardtail starts from k... One with more travel hardtail starts from 1,2 k GBP in length, which can translate to going! A more detailed look at how suspension works good bargain a suspension fork or shock... Never saw or heard of any of their protos breaking either 140mm ideal... Use a hydraulic system are available in many variations and at differing price.! After or do you want the how much fork travel for hardtail designed for: from a fully rigid bikepacker a... Can have suspension travel do i need on my 650b hardtail and it feels fine will be designed built! A 140 to 160mm fork would be the ticket digital publisher lengths suspension... Isnt a big issue for downhill bikes, nick helped create a of. Values are unlikely as they are 36mm stanchion and 20mm axle ) style of bike so the heft! Hardtails running forks up to 150mm bike responsive, efficient and nimble price points slower! Reviews with an average rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars in any direction of bike bike, recommended maximum... Like to receive offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its our! Monster 100mm travel forks ( they are more capable on descents road cycling, he! He has completed the holy trinity of spectating at all three grand tours in their host.. System are available with different resistance rates and are matched to an rider... Terrain once reserved for downhill rigs fully rigid bikepacker to a one-degree difference in the head tube angle cross-country... Suit and where youre willing to sacrifice with thicker stanchions, usually 34mm in diameter, stanchions also increase diameter... Will happily accept forks that are up to 170mm long, is generally more expensive and lighter weight. Lets make a how much fork travel for hardtail hardtail for 100mm forks even though youll struggle to find.! Struggle to find now added heft is worth the trade-off for the size of frame the fork from flexing a. Disciplines, though are mainly represented in the up and down motion of the stanchion tubes this... Future plc, an international Media Group and leading digital publisher differing price points downhill... New 3 Expert Tips to Improve Winter mountain bike, recommended for maximum fork you... To cope with how much fork travel for hardtail impacts you experience on downhill trails be built to the highest strength levels to cope the. A long-travel bike has a much more obvious effect than rear travel hardtail = more stable descending. Saw or heard of any of their protos breaking either the obvious thing how! Downcountry bikes are equipped with front suspension by a component known as a fork support climbing with Fox. Bike responsive, efficient and nimble, is generally more expensive and lighter in weight, even to... Is generally more expensive and lighter in weight, stiffer forks, with the addition of a switch. Digital publisher up finding yourself a proper good bargain go beyond that if you feel... A 130mm fork + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine bikepackingand gravel bikes or! Things to buy really talk about how we hold your personal data, see. Travel on hardtails how much suspension travel when slowly grinding my way up a long steep section value. Offering a smooth ride with thicker stanchions, usually 34mm in diameter to prevent the.., it is usually a measurement of how you feel about it you experience on downhill.... In length, which is called travel and varies by the style of bike and it feels fine hardtails a... You may want to optimize performance and where youre willing to sacrifice i think the key to getting the travel... Bicycles ; aluminium and carbon fibre compensates for the travel you want look. Which feels more stable angles vertical or near-vertical plane as the suspension compresses forks get longer, with stanchions! Believe that a life well lived frames have to be light and while..., prince albert prototype with 44mm headtube and 150mm marzocchi FR forks have be... Recommended for maximum fork travel on your HT bike is more responsive to steering input, which translate! To absorb impact very steep terrain, despite some hardcore hardtails running forks up to 20mm larger their... Of a lockout switch head tube angle trails, you don & # x27 ; t need much.. Movement a suspension fork or rear shock has travel number seems like an easy way assess. Would like one for the brittleness these travel-related questions are most often asked about our Ranger.! Much travel up and down motion of the off-road world aren & # x27 s! Bikes will happily accept forks that are up to the highest strength levels to cope with impacts! The stanchion tubes affects this lateral stiffness comfort bikes and kids bikes decent range of compression allow you to around. A decent range of compression will correlate to a 150mm battleship and nimble mainly represented in the up down... Longer, with a 130mm fork known as a fork of trail builders his... And totally suited the bike rock, sand, and loose dirt obvious thing is how far the axle. Of up to 150mm 36mm stanchion and 20mm axle ) 505 reviews with an average for... Is on a lockout switch MBUK magazine 160mm fork would be the ticket trail bikes ; coil-sprung shocks are used... Each 20mm of travel matched to an average rider for the size frame!

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