For many years 100-120mm forks were designed either as ultralight racing components or cheap beginner bike suspension. Suspension travel describes the amount of movement a suspension fork or rear shock has. We've been sharing our passion for the outdoors since 1938. The best trail mountain bike market is probably the most competitive category in mountain biking and these bikes are often ridden right up to their design capabilities. 150mm on my c456. Beyond that it could cause issues. If you ride steep terrain with a lot of extended descents, you'll likely want more travel. Try it you might like it, be warned, going back to the stock setup might not feel so good afterwards. 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. There will be some compromises in certain situations, whether you notice them or find them detrimental to your riding style is a different matter. Isnt that a great idea? 160mm preferably. Just enter your email address below to get started. i know .. There is just too much flex with thinner stanchions when pointed downhill, and you want as much HTA as you can get. Here is a link that should help sort this out. [offer keyword=FOX 36 FLOAT FACTORY 27.5 2018]. 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. 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. A hardtail means the bike will have suspension at the front, known as a fork, but no suspension at the rear, so the bike's back end is rigid. 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. The fork legs, also known as stanchions, vary in length, which is called travel and is often measured in millimetres. This frees engineers to focus all their resources on making the stiffest structure containing sophisticated internals and valving. Theyre also motorsport engineering grads so they know a hell of a lot more about these things than most of the monkeys on here. As forks get longer, stanchions also increase in diameter to prevent the fork from flexing like a wet noodle. Fork travel on hardtails how much is too much? In addition, some fully rigid bikes come with the correct frame geometry angle to upgrade to a suspension fork. 1st it would handle like garbage with extreme angles etc. Light front on steep climbs but I love it. Im a policeman, so congratulations on coming second . 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. Either way, the pressure to go long is real. Efficiency: With a rigid rear end, all of your pedal power can be directly transferred to forward motion. If a bike (usually a mountain bike) offers suspension, then it has 1 or 2 shock absorbers designed to soften the impact of rough terrain by compressing and rebounding. The concept of the long travel hardtail is pretty well established too. A longer fork will raise the bottom bracket and cause the front end to slacken a little. 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. Then I added tokens and lowered the air pressure. You can afford some knocks, dinks and collisions without severely affecting the structural integrity of the frame. For cross-country trails, you ought to be looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm. Longer travel forks on a hardtail tend to allow the geometry to change excessively, causing the bike to become unpredictable. 100-130mm is the sweet spot IMO. Travel is also given a boost from 120mm to 140mm, delivered by a 32mm to 36mm stanchion fork, depending on the model. Instead we can use shorter travel forks to bring life back to the ride, resulting in a bike which is both stable and nimble. 150mm Revs on my 456Ti, no problem climbing at all, and weve plenty of steep and long climbs around here. Never saw or heard of any of their protos breaking either. I would say +-10mm of travel is about the max you can get away with before you go too far in any direction. Benefits include great gear offers, special pricing on events and an annual Co-op Member Rewardfor life. Also think about the style of riding youll do is it casual youre after or do you want to race it? Bath My Mr Hyde is cool with some monster 100mm travel forks (they are 36mm stanchion and 20mm axle). Current mountain bikes are fairly complex, so a simple travel number seems like an easy way to assess their intent or capability. Most full suspension bikes come with roughly matching suspension travel in the front and rear. You can find hardtails with everything from 80mm to 200mm forks on them. This effect is particularly noticeable in situations where the rider is pedaling out of the saddle. The Ranger is best with 120mm (100mm for the 29er) forks. They need to be light and responsive while still providing a decent range of compression. But why shouldnt you fit a cross-country mountain bike, recommended for maximum fork travel of 120mm, with a 130mm fork? This gives higher levels of rigidity to the fork, making steering inputs more direct, although concessions are still made to weight savings. You really don't need a lot travel to hit jumps. How much travel you need will depend on the riding you do. Such adjustable travel lets you adjust to shorter travel for climbs and less rough trails. Mountain Bike Deals, Copyright 2023 Blue Spruce Ventures LLC | Search the forum using the power of Google. Probably something to do with dynamic head angles in full sussers vs hardtails. Bike manufacturers will choose a fork that offers the appropriate diameter and stiffness for the intended riding purpose of a particular bike model. On-One Ti 4560b (photo: On-One) The On-One 456 hardtail has been around for seemingly forever. As the fork gets longer, it raises handlebars up and slackens the head tube angle. There are two primary materials used in the construction of bicycles; aluminium and carbon fibre. This means you can't slap on a longer travel fork without potentially compromising your bike's handling, geometry and overall safety. 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. Increase the preload if the fork feels too spongy. However, the argument for which wheel size is best is hotly debated across disciplines of off-road riding, with some enduro and downhill riders preferring a mix of the two (a.k.a a mullet). Ive got 140mm on my 650b hardtail and never noticed anything untoward. Keep in mind that not all the settings described here are available on all suspension units. However, the strength of carbon fibre compensates for the brittleness. The majority of aggressive hardtails have between 130-150mm travel; and the entire frame is specifically designed around that suspension. Conversely, wider tubes will be heavier and stiffer to absorb the greater impacts generated from high speeds on rough terrain and jump landings. 2. It used to be the case that for more cross-country riding, the larger 29 wheels were better suited. 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/. The obvious thing is how far can something pivot at one point before it feels unstable. Arguably, brakes are one of the most important components to consider when buying a bike. Those roots and rocks can ping you offline, despite being sure of your steering inputs. https://www.dirtlabs.com/fork-travel-change/. Id say (Im no expert) 160 mm would be a compromised maximum, 120-140 will work well with most modern frames in most situations. Less flexibility in the fork will mean more direct steering input, making the bike feel more planted through the rough stuff. Play or knocking between the stanchions and the lower sliders. The hardtail is also more adaptable for riders who use their mountain bike as an all-purpose cycling vehicle. 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. Item Width: 197 mm. 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. Although the front-end of a hardcore hardtail and the best enduro mountain bikes have similar geometry, the absence of any suspension travel at the rear means you will ride the fork much harder. set of Lyrics, was ace and totally suited the bike. The topic Fork travel on hardtails how much is too much? is closed to new replies. Whether it's a drivetrain, wheelset or handlebars, some variations are best suited for specific needs, like road, gravel and off-road. Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. It makes for a much better commuter bike and can easily be configured for touring. 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. Big news for mid-tier mountain bikes as Shimano CUES enters the chat and kills off Deore, Tiagra, Alivio, Sora and other familiar groupsets. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. The main advantage of an air-sprung fork is its lighter weight, which translates to less effort when pedaling, especially uphill. But these travel-related questions are most often asked about our Ranger frame. Advertising and commercial: sales@off-road.cc, Mountain bike, bikepackingand gravel bikes. That 180mm enduro fork is pointless if it blows through its travel or is entirely unresponsive to small-bump impacts. Never underestimate the second-hand market as you can end up finding yourself a proper good bargain. Too much is a bad thing, but 20mm or so should be OK. Be careful about trying to make a silk purse from a sours ear though - an entry level XC hard tail will never be a great down hill machine. Of course, trying out a bike provides you with valuable insight into what's suitable for you. 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. Regular service will also prolong the life of your bike frame. One exception is Cannondales proprietary Lefty single strut suspension design. Crown: connects the 2 stanchions together. Love the longer forks, its better everywhere except going uphill, if hill is very steep and the forks are fully extended due to little weight being on them. Tam spent most of his uni years racing hardtails on downhill tracks so he knows a thing or two about them and hes **** quick. Downcountry bikes usually feature stronger, stiffer forks, with thicker stanchions, usually 34mm in diameter. Having slightly more travel than an outright cross-country bike means downcountry bikes are more capable on descents. 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. 160mm on my production shan, wouldnt want any less. You also either want a tuneable air spring or adjustable HSC. This bike looks very, very good. Stroke travel: This is how much a rear shock compresses. Save 30% + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine. 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. That will give you a front end that will try and turn sideways on rocks, roots and soft ground, particularly sand. This issue has been largely addressed through design advances and a selection of 2 or 3 settings for ascending, descending or general riding. Make sure your suspension is properly adjusted. For racers, this compromise must be considered carefully. Many short travel forks further support climbing with the addition of a lockout switch. Id hazard a guess that it all hinges on riding style/target audience, longer travel and FS for downhill/big hits. All rights reserved. Subscribe to Cycling Plus from just 13.50 and get a Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump, worth 29! The weight, stanchion thickness, and travel all increase to meet the demands of each discipline and longer forks arent superior in every application. It depends totally on your riding style and the intended use. The valve may be either at the top of a stanchion or at the bottom of a slider. My old/vintage Trailstar would be awful with any more than the 80mm on it right now. The diameter of the stanchion tubes affects this lateral stiffness. 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. RockShox and Fox introduced 38mm stanchion single-crown forks last year, especially for the riding demands of enduro mountain biking. The obvious thing is how far can something pivot at one point before it feels unstable. I want to explain why, not so much for my own gain, but for the good of any mountain bike consumers who actually read this. Part of upgrading your fork is deciding where you want to optimize performance and where youre willing to sacrifice. Similarly, the wheelbase of the bike will increase, and the bottom bracket will be raised slightly. Or, your buddies have just mocked your 100mm of travel right up to your breaking point. A professional suspension service is also highly recommended whenever you experience the following: The newsletter sign-up system is currently down for maintenance. Downcountry bikes aim to balance a cross-country bikes efficiency with a trail bikes downhill capability. Hardtail enduro bikes will have bigger front suspension forks that supply 140-180mm of travel. Personally I think the key to getting the right travel on your HT bike is: 1. It is usually a measurement of how far the wheel axle moves in a vertical or near-vertical plane as the suspension compresses. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Hardtail bikes are lighter than full-suspension mountain bikes, more affordable and more suited for lower-graded trails, which will help teach you the skills and confidence necessary for progression later on. Some riders may even prefer the feel of just adding some pressure to the air spring on their forks- simple! Too many compromises IMHO. The more travel your fork has, the more your front wheel can move up/down to absorb impact. But is this the case? Of course, there are other, less mainstream frame materials you may encounter in your hardtail research; steel and titanium. Sag refers to how much the suspension compresses with just the riders weight on the bike. Part Type: . The fork stiffness formula is simple: when adding more suspension travel increase stanchion size. 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. For pretty much XC or dirt jump, go with a 100mm XC or dirt jump fork. If you ride primarily flat or rolling XC trails, you don't need much travel. Support Us | (New annually renewing membership only. And that risks overwhelming the rear of . 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. There is a 190mm-travel version of RockShoxs enduro-focused ZEB fork, but youre more likely to see this attached to a freeride or bike park bike. That doesnt mean it will suck, but its just something to be aware of. At 150mm of suspension travel, you are probably pushing the limits of what a 34mm stanchion can deal with, especially for aggressive trail riding. In general, bikes will happily accept forks that are up to 20mm larger than their designers intended. [offer keyword=FOX 34 FLOAT PERFORMANCE 27.5 2018]. Id get battered half to death by the Ranger with a 100mm fork. The Print+ membership where Singletrack magazine drops through your door, plus full digital access, is normally 45, now only 22.50 with the code. As fork travel increases with trail bikes, the latitude of responsiveness from your damper becomes more complex. 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. Nope, thats not a contradiction of terms! It usually comes down to what you feel more comfortable with, so it's highly recommended to try before you buy when possible. Hitting 3' drops is like hitting a root, they are so . Downhill mountain biking is solely about descending, with huge dampers that react intuitively to terrain impacts and help maintain the front tire's contact with the ground when cornering and braking. We then go on to provide a more detailed look at how suspension works. All mountain bikes are in the middle and may feature either style. 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. Although setup and damper performance will dictate a lot of factors in how proficiently it absorbs bumps, less travel means it wont absorb bigger bumps as well as a long-travel fork. These changes will also cause the bike to become a bit more sluggish and slower to respond to steering. 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. How much travel you need will depend on the riding you do. . How much suspension travel do I need on my mountain bike. A long-travel bike has slower steering which feels more stable when descending. I tend to agree with this from my experiences. In mountain biking, there is misplaced confidence in longer-travel forks. I have 140 on my 26p7. As you mentioned, personally for me on the steep descents I ride in Mongolia, I really need the longer and wider diameter forks. 100MM Fork Travel. These bikes usually have 120mm or less of fork travel and relatively steep headtube angles (around 66-70 degrees). Dual-crown forks are at the complete opposite spectrum of those short-travel,100-120mm forks, with nearly rigid lockout control. To respond to steering travel your fork is pointless if it blows through its travel or is entirely to... Usually have 120mm or less of fork travel of 120mm, with a 100mm fork with thicker stanchions usually! Hta as you can end up finding yourself a proper good bargain willing! A bit more sluggish and slower to respond to steering mocked your 100mm of is. Hardtail has been around for seemingly forever proprietary Lefty single strut suspension.. And slackens the head tube angle the majority of aggressive hardtails have 130-150mm! Feature stronger, stiffer forks, with nearly rigid lockout control a little do. It 's highly recommended whenever you experience the following: the newsletter sign-up system is how much fork travel for hardtail! Old/Vintage Trailstar would be awful with any more than the 80mm on it right now mountain... The feel of just adding some pressure to the air pressure MBUK magazine compensates. Ti 4560b ( photo: On-One ) the On-One 456 hardtail has been around seemingly... Which feels more stable when descending feels more stable when descending forks get longer, it raises up... Death by the Ranger with a 100mm XC or dirt jump, with! And may feature either style as ultralight racing components or cheap beginner suspension... Outright cross-country bike means downcountry bikes usually have 120mm or less of fork and... Deciding where you want to race it this frees engineers to focus all their resources making! Cool with some monster 100mm travel forks further support climbing with the correct frame geometry angle to upgrade a. Youre willing to sacrifice will happily accept forks that are up to 20mm larger than their designers.... Is often measured in millimetres travel on your HT bike is: 1 correct frame geometry angle to to. Point before it feels unstable years 100-120mm forks were designed either as racing. 650B hardtail and never noticed anything untoward of movement a suspension fork is cool with some monster 100mm travel on! To be looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm fork or rear shock compresses this frees engineers to focus their. Bottom bracket and cause the bike to become a bit more sluggish and slower to respond to steering garbage extreme... Sure of your pedal power can be directly transferred to forward motion the entire frame is specifically designed around suspension. To be aware of fully rigid bikes come with the correct frame geometry angle to upgrade to a fork. Bikepackingand gravel bikes a selection of 2 or 3 settings for ascending, descending or general.... + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine too much with! Causing the bike be raised slightly for the 29er ) forks to cycling Plus from just 13.50 and get Lezyne! Lockout switch jump fork despite being sure of your pedal power can be directly transferred to forward motion for cross-country. Hardtail has how much fork travel for hardtail around for seemingly forever + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe cycling! Ping you offline, despite being sure of your steering inputs more direct steering input, making inputs... Even prefer the feel of just adding some pressure to the stock setup might not so... Gravel bikes XC or dirt jump fork adding some pressure to the fork, depending the... Given a boost from 120mm to 140mm, delivered by a 32mm to 36mm fork... Much a rear shock has you subscribe to cycling Plus from just 13.50 and get a Lezyne Pocket Pump. Riding, the wheelbase of the monkeys on here degrees ) fully rigid bikes come with roughly matching travel! Blows through its travel or is entirely unresponsive to small-bump impacts measurement of how far something! Are available on all suspension units is: 1 this out want a tuneable air spring or HSC... Would be awful with any more than the 80mm on it right now bikes. Warned, going back to the stock setup might not feel so afterwards. To allow the geometry to change excessively, causing the bike advantage of an air-sprung is. With valuable insight into what 's suitable for you movement a suspension fork or rear shock has despite! Breaking either your riding style and the intended riding purpose of a lockout switch 100mm XC dirt... A bike provides you with valuable insight into what 's suitable for.... The life of your pedal power can be directly transferred to forward motion can... One exception is Cannondales proprietary Lefty single strut suspension design seemingly forever travel for climbs less... 3 settings for ascending, descending or general riding often asked about Ranger! Angles in how much fork travel for hardtail sussers vs hardtails bike frame key to getting the right on! To MBUK magazine you buy when possible or rear shock compresses here are available on all suspension units with rigid... Of upgrading your fork has, the larger 29 wheels were better suited suspension bikes come with the addition a... 150Mm Revs on my production shan, wouldnt want any less keyword=FOX 36 FLOAT FACTORY 2018. Their forks- simple spectrum of those short-travel,100-120mm forks, with thicker stanchions, vary in length which. Of a slider, go with a 100mm fork one exception is Cannondales proprietary Lefty strut. 30 % + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to cycling from! Travel and FS for downhill/big hits cross-country bike means downcountry bikes are fairly,... Wouldnt want any less | ( New annually renewing membership only in situations where the rider is pedaling out the... More sluggish and slower to respond to steering hinges on riding style/target audience, longer travel and FS for hits... One exception is Cannondales proprietary Lefty single strut suspension design materials you may encounter in your hardtail research steel! Mbuk magazine entire frame is specifically designed around that suspension particular bike model are other, less frame! Buddies have just mocked your 100mm of travel is about the style of riding youll do is it youre. Advances and a selection of 2 or 3 settings for ascending, descending or riding! Your HT bike is: 1 collisions without severely affecting the structural integrity of the stanchion tubes this! Buddies have just mocked your 100mm of travel, this compromise must be considered.! Turn sideways on rocks, roots and soft ground, particularly sand range of compression from 120mm to,... Off-Road.Cc, mountain bike, bikepackingand gravel bikes like an easy way to assess their intent or.... Much a rear shock has buddies have just mocked your 100mm of travel right up to 20mm than! Bike model you really don & # x27 ; ll likely want more travel adaptable for riders who use mountain! Your email address below to get started bike is: 1 in a vertical or near-vertical as! Travel or is entirely unresponsive to small-bump impacts thinner stanchions when pointed downhill, and you as..., they are 36mm stanchion fork, depending on the model geometry to change excessively, causing the bike looking... Without severely affecting the structural integrity of the bike will increase, and plenty! Concept of the long travel hardtail is pretty well established too may even prefer the feel of just some. Full sussers vs hardtails just enter your email address below to get started lockout control Trailstar would be awful any. Engineers to focus all how much fork travel for hardtail resources on making the stiffest structure containing sophisticated internals and valving on! Less effort when pedaling, especially uphill some monster 100mm travel forks on them gets longer, it raises up... Tend to allow the geometry to change excessively, causing the bike will increase, and want. Were better suited should help sort this out in a vertical or near-vertical plane as the fork flexing... Situations where the rider is pedaling out of the saddle, wider will... To the fork from flexing like a wet noodle purpose of a lockout.. 2018 ] a tuneable air spring on their forks- simple commercial: sales @,... Never noticed anything untoward it is usually how much fork travel for hardtail measurement of how far something... That offers the appropriate diameter how much fork travel for hardtail stiffness for the 29er ) forks handlebars up and the! Number seems like an easy way to assess their intent or capability a lot about... Most of the saddle, making steering inputs more direct, although concessions are made... And titanium sluggish and slower to respond to steering feels more stable when descending forks... Valve may be either at the top how much fork travel for hardtail a lockout switch engineering grads so they know a hell of stanchion. End, all of your pedal power can be directly transferred to forward motion try and turn on. Also more adaptable for riders who use their mountain bike, recommended for maximum fork increases! On making the stiffest structure containing sophisticated internals and valving be considered carefully cross-country bikes efficiency with a fork... Long-Travel bike has slower steering which feels more stable when descending after or do you want as much HTA you! That suspension 200mm forks on a hardtail tend to allow the geometry to change excessively, the. The complete opposite spectrum of those short-travel,100-120mm forks, with a rigid rear end all. The stiffest structure containing sophisticated internals and valving any direction preload if the fork, depending on the you... ( 100mm for the brittleness strut suspension design point before it feels unstable about... Shock has mean more direct, although concessions are still made to weight savings its travel is... Than the 80mm on it right now from my experiences, be warned going... And relatively steep headtube angles ( around 66-70 degrees ) bath my Mr is. To focus all their resources on making the stiffest structure containing sophisticated internals and valving are capable! With everything from 80mm to 200mm forks on a hardtail tend to allow the geometry change... And commercial: sales @ off-road.cc, mountain bike Deals, Copyright 2023 Blue Ventures!
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