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. Nick also loves road cycling, where he has completed the holy trinity of spectating at all three grand tours in their host countries. Here are a few components to seriously consider when purchasing a hardtail mountain bike. Raise your voice in the movement to protect and share life outdoors. Disc brakes are the obvious favourite for mountain bikers as they provide rapid responsiveness and strong braking power. As I suspected, short travel fork to aid chassis stability. The forks on downhill bikes have a dual-crown design, meaning the fork mounts above and below the head tube, as opposed to single-crown forks, which mount only from below. It sounds like youre doing it all right! 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. Well **** me, Im never flying again. You'll be seeking out the smoother lines that will give you more comfort and control on the trail, and by learning how to scope out the smoothest lines, you're putting yourself in an excellent place to build on your skills and confidence. Widgets, Explore Suspension travel describes the amount of movement a suspension fork or rear shock has. Hardtail Bike, Mountain Bike. 120mm on 26er Sanderson. Some brands run demo days at bike parks and trail centres where you can get advice and take a bike out for a spin on the trails. I'd say (I'm no expert) 160 mm would be a compromised maximum, 120-140 will work well with most modern frames. Mr__Rogerss 3 yr. ago 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. Ive never ridden a hardtail with more than 140mm travel that has felt good. It just depends on how you want the bike to ride and handle. Whether it's a drivetrain, wheelset or handlebars, some variations are best suited for specific needs, like road, gravel and off-road. And just to confuse things further, you can also get 'fat bike' hardtails which have mahoosive wheels and are best suited for adverse terrains like sand and snow. Ribble launches two brand new hardtails for 2021, How to choose the best dropper post for your mountain bike, Your complete guide to Shimano mountain bike drivetrains, Your ultimate guide to bicycle frame materials, Your complete guide to the RockShox fork range, Your complete guide to the Ohlins fork range, Your complete guide to SRAM mountain bike disc brakes, Your complete guide to Shimano mountain bike disc brakes, Your complete guide to SRAM mountain bike drivetrains, Your complete guide to Shimano mountain bikedrivetrains, 5 Reasons you should have a hardtail in your fleet, The best hardtails and full-suspension bikes for around 1,500, Shimano CUES integrates mid-tier groupsets into one, Crankbrothers adds the Mallet Trail to the pedal range, Mondraker Dusty - the mountain biker's gravel bike. 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. Depends on the hardtail- give it forks as long as it wants. Many short travel forks further support climbing with the addition of a lockout switch. Aluminium is cheaper, heavier and more robust than its carbon fibre counterpart. 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. 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. Other bikes aimed at enduro riding are most often given ~160mm travel nowadays, so we get asked if the Ranger fits in the same mold. So, it goes without saying that a full-suspension mountain bike has both front and rear suspension systems. As a forks suspension travel lengthens, set-up becomes crucial. How much travel you need will depend on the riding you do. That 180mm enduro fork is pointless if it blows through its travel or is entirely unresponsive to small-bump impacts. Longer travel forks on a hardtail tend to allow the geometry to change excessively, causing the bike to become unpredictable. This hardtail features rear rack mounts and bikepacking-friendly. You just need to set up the forks the right way. Bike manufacturers design their mountain bikes around different travel lengths, tailored to specific terrains or riding disciplines, and categorise the bikes accordingly. Thats proper basic stuff so Im calling you out on being a biologist too. This helps riders race up the kinds of inclines that characterise XC races. They can be seen in a variety of disciplines, though are mainly represented in the cross-country and trail disciplines. Carbon is incredibly strong, but brittle so it can't offer the same tolerances as aluminium. Item Weight: 1400g. Forks come in varying lengths of suspension travel and stanchion sizes, this is what they mean for your riding. Hardtail Max fun on the trail. Bike manufacturers will choose a fork that offers the appropriate diameter and stiffness for the intended riding purpose of a particular bike model. The discipline doesnt require the bike to be pedalled on uphill or even flat terrain, enabling designers to focus solely on providing the best platform for descending steep and technical trails. Or, your buddies have just mocked your 100mm of travel right up to your breaking point. Although downhill frames are heavier than those intended for other disciplines, its less important to have light frames because youre not pedalling them uphill. It makes for a much better commuter bike and can easily be configured for touring. 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. The BikeRadar newsletter will bring you our curated selection of the best cycling tech news, reviews, features and more from across the site. Terms | Privacy. A professional suspension service is also highly recommended whenever you experience the following: The newsletter sign-up system is currently down for maintenance. ie lets make a hardcore hardtail for 100mm forks even though youll struggle to find 100mm hardcore forks. Alhough some things will be the same, some of the critical things will be for average riding very different. ride it as a normal XC/all-mountain hardtail, and the 29+ tires will have you smiling for miles with their capability and comfort. Hardtails aren't great in very steep terrain, despite some hardcore hardtails running forks up to 170mm long. If he knew stuff hed not need to do fea & you just called a load of apes, monkeys. Reviews, buying advice and news. The main advantage of an air-sprung fork is its lighter weight, which translates to less effort when pedaling, especially uphill. Cross-country hardtails typically have 100mm of travel, but more aggressive hardtails can have suspension travel of up to 150mm. 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. At 150mm of suspension travel, you are probably pushing the limits of what a 34mm stanchion can deal with, especially for aggressive trail riding. So what happens if you put 160mm forks on a Ranger? Nick Clark is a digital writer for BikeRadar, focusing on all things mountain bikes. Those roots and rocks can ping you offline, despite being sure of your steering inputs. With the amount of leverage involved at 200mm of travel, and considering how slack the best downhill mountain bikes are, the dual-crown design is crucial. Just based on what Ive found I can get the rear wheel over at speed without smashing it up. Sliders or lowers: each connects at the bottom to the front wheel; it also connects to the brakes. 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. 150mm on my c456. Yet again, it is a tale of less being more. As a qualified bike mechanic, if Jessica isn't riding her bike, you can bet she's tinkering with one! 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. Here is a link that should help sort this out. We'll send you a few emails every week. There will be some compromises in certain situations, whether you notice them or find them detrimental to your riding style is a different matter. Id get battered half to death by the Ranger with a 100mm fork. Compared to a gravel bike or rigid mountain bike, hardtails offer more comfort and confidence on rougher terrain. 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. Neither it helps to see any inscriptions on the fork. He also enjoys bike touring and has completed numerous travels on the west coast of Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff. This is why you'll find 150- to 180mm enduro single-crown forks with intricate compression and rebound adjusters and dials. Shorter suspension travel forks also bob less when climbing up steep trails in a standing position. Save 30% + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine. 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. 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. Outdoor equity, climate action, places we love. Because it has this tolerance for brutish behaviour, aluminium has a slight advantage in damping vibrations and impact absorption. This is also what a platform setting does on rear shocks. Shorter travel forks are generally aimed at cross-country mountain biking, designed to balance performance, lightweight and just enough suspension travel to help smooth out bumpy singletrack. perfect for me. There would be enormous flex issues if you were to produce a single-crown fork at 200mm of travel and ride it down very steep and technical terrain. 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). You can find hardtails with everything from 80mm to 200mm forks on them. Theyre also motorsport engineering grads so they know a hell of a lot more about these things than most of the monkeys on here. And the amount of metal thats been removed from the drive side chainstay to make room for the chainring? You must choose between bikes with front suspension only (a hardtail) or full (front and rear) suspension. Pretty sure the proverbial they mean stanchon size and damper increases, not fork travel, when they say that. . [offer keyword=FOX 34 FLOAT PERFORMANCE 27.5 2018]. As the fork gets longer, it raises handlebars up and slackens the head tube angle. However, hardtail bikes aren't just for beginner mountain bikers. As forks get longer, stanchions also increase in diameter to prevent the fork from flexing like a wet noodle. Never underestimate the second-hand market as you can end up finding yourself a proper good bargain. Fork travel on hardtails how much is too much? Then I added tokens and lowered the air pressure. 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. I need a lower centre of gravity, not suspension travel when slowly grinding my way up a long steep section. Benefits include great gear offers, special pricing on events and an annual Co-op Member Rewardfor life. 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. Bolted onto the frame are quality components, like a SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain and a Fox Factory 34 fork on the top-end model. . However, a majority of mountain bike brands are moving to a 1x drivetrain as cassette sizes have come along so far that you can achieve an ample range of gears for all your trail needs. Hopefully, youve been riding quite a bit, and thanks to your improving skills youre now placing more demands on your front suspension with higher speeds and/or more adventurous line choices. Of course, there are other, less mainstream frame materials you may encounter in your hardtail research; steel and titanium. 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. This article covers the basics of suspension for new bike shoppers or anyone considering an upgrade. Wheel Size: 29". It pretty much requires 160mm minimum and 36. But why shouldnt you fit a cross-country mountain bike, recommended for maximum fork travel of 120mm, with a 130mm fork? 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. Anything much more than this and I find it feels horrible, as the fork goes through the travel and the head angle steepens. The fork stiffness formula is simple: when adding more suspension travel increase stanchion size. 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. A lockout feature is commonly included; one upgrade is a handlebar-mounted remote control for the lockout. From cross-country to downhill, we take you through how much travel you can expect on the major types of mountain bike. As with other types of mountain bikes, fork travel is usually dependent on discipline. Complete bike, Radon Cragger, 29er, 130 mm, long and slack trail hardtail starts from 1,2 k GBP. The bike has a max spec of 530mm a2c. For cross-country trails, you ought to be looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Similarly, the wheelbase of the bike will increase, and the bottom bracket will be raised slightly. 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. ie lets make a hardcore hardtail for 100mm forks even though youll struggle to find 100mm hardcore forks. 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. 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. In this guide, well explain the different mountain bike categories and how much suspension travel they typically have. The valve may be either at the top of a stanchion or at the bottom of a slider. Typically, these bikes will feature beefier frame construction to deal with the added suspension travel. Stroke travel: This is how much a rear shock compresses. 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. 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. Conversely, wider tubes will be heavier and stiffer to absorb the greater impacts generated from high speeds on rough terrain and jump landings. Im a graduate zoo keeper, I know a hell of a lot more about monkeys than you. The shorter suspension travel gives a more responsive feel and youll enjoy greater trail feedback through the handlebar and grips. Free shipping for many products! The Lefty often garners looks of disbelief and skepticism, but it is an established and proven design. The Roscoe 8 will perform like a champ. Some manufacturers will design frames with flex points in the rear triangle, allowing for vertical compliance in the frame. 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. Morewood Kwela Thanks. 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. Comparing prices is a pretty reliable guide. A move like that may also void the frame manufacturer's warranty since they didn't intend for riders to write gnarly 160mm checks that their frames can't cash. Who do I have to answer to for doing it all wrong? Adjust the coil-spring preload or the air pressure to achieve the manufacturers recommended amount of sag for both front and/or rear suspension. 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. Check the manufacturers manual (usually found on their website) for your specific model. How will you know? it makes no sense.. Well, everything has a downside. To further add to my previous comment. However I would not recommend going over 20mm over your default travel as this article suggests. If they have 120mm forks allowed, I would give it a shot. 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/. Part of upgrading your fork is deciding where you want to optimize performance and where youre willing to sacrifice. You'll probably find her on either a mountain or gravel bike in the Afan Valley Forest, either riding or guiding visitors around the trails. My old/vintage Trailstar would be awful with any more than the 80mm on it right now. Be honest with yourself about where and what youll ride. im a fully qualified bus driver, and i reckon ive worked with more monkeys than podge. 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. [offer keyword=FOX 36 FLOAT FACTORY 27.5 2018]. The majority of aggressive hardtails have between 130-150mm travel; and the entire frame is specifically designed around that suspension. 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. Such adjustable travel lets you adjust to shorter travel for climbs and less rough trails. IMBA Epics | For this reason, collisions and rock strikes are more likely to crack the frame rather than dent it. An air spring (pressurized air in a chamber) has a progressive compression rate, meaning it is softer in the first part of the travel and then gets stiffer as more compression is applied. 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. Keep in mind that not all the settings described here are available on all suspension units. That dual-crown structure increases the stiffness of these long-travel forks, although steering angle is reduced, at very low speeds. If I put a 180mm single crown on it at 570mm (ish) a2c then it may fail as well as generally handle like shit. A pricier fork is going to offer a superior experience compared to an inexpensive one. Sag is expressed as a percentage of the total suspension travel and varies by the style of bike. 2. in my fork to get more travel out of it. It will not be exact but it will come close. These 120mm (or 100mm) forks also keep the bike responsive, efficient and nimble. Tam always struck me as a person who knew his stuff. But is this the case? Id say (Im no expert) 160 mm would be a compromised maximum, 120-140 will work well with most modern frames in most situations. Hardtails can be fun on mildly technical descents if they have the appropriate geometry and a decent suspension fork. Riding a bike off-road requires sturdy purpose-built components that can handle the demands of mountain biking. Havent ridden a 650b ht myself but Id say 140mm is about right for 26in and 120mm for 29in. Confident on descents and fairly capable on climbs, trail bikes typically have between 120 and 160mm of suspension travel. You can unsubscribe at any time. The wheels are welcome on much of the trail, including steep slopes, grass, rock, sand, and loose dirt. Downhill riders are less bothered by weight or climbing efficiency. 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. These bikes feature some of the longest suspension travel, ranging from 180 to 200mm, helping to protect riders from large, repeated impacts. Im not an engineer so Ive no legitimate idea beyond frowning and wondering is that really strong enough?. For a full-suspension bike 160mm travel can be great; there can be no denying that many 160mm travel full-suspension bikes exist which are incredibly capable down hills as well as being plenty efficient up them. As you move through the various types of mountain bikes, fork travel requirements change. We then go on to provide a more detailed look at how suspension works. Mountain bikes feature different amounts of suspension travel depending on the type of riding theyre designed for. Having said that I plan to put a 150mm fork at 530mm (ish of course) that will slacken out the stock angles and modify the handling in an acceptable way. Hardtail mountain bikes are also well-represented in cross-country, because rigid frames allow for the highest pedalling efficiency. Pick a frame that is the way you want it for the travel you want. My BFe was a bit wandery at 150 but is just about right at 130. Thats what hardtails are all about imo. Sizes: S, M, L, XL. Fork Travel: 100mm. Almost all mountain bikes are equipped with front suspension, as well as some hybrid or comfort bikes and kids bikes. See Basic Suspension Setup later in this article. Consider the terrain you are riding. They are also popular when it comes to budget mountain bikes because the simplicity of their design and less suspension means less cost. He is currently riding a YT Capra on the trails and a Focus Izalco Max for the road. For pretty much XC or dirt jump, go with a 100mm XC or dirt jump fork. 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. its unpredictable.. Adjusting the travel not only affects the bump-softening capacity of the bike, it also affects the steering and control. Cross-country hardtails typically have 100mm of travel, but more aggressive hardtails can have suspension travel of up to 150mm. They'll typically have narrower bars for faster, responsive steering and for getting through tightly packed sections of the course. Thanks! My riding skillz are also more important than 20mm of travel. 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. While the 27.5" wheel is lighter; of course, but can also be more nimble for technical riding. Besides factors such as weight, stiffness, and efficiency, riders will also want to think about how a longer fork will change the shape of the bike. While weight is certainly a factor in the upgrade decision, its also important to consider that a fork with more travel will be less efficient when the rider is pedaling. 2. What is 100mm travel in fork? 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. Dont know about other wheel sizes. They were hard on bikes as well. As a rough estimate, each 20mm of travel added will correlate to a one-degree difference in the head tube angle. Long steep section guide, well explain the different mountain bike, recommended for maximum fork travel is dependent. The 29+ tires will have you smiling for miles with their capability and comfort any inscriptions on fork! Also what a platform setting does on rear shocks strikes are more to... Are n't just for beginner mountain bikers as they provide rapid responsiveness strong... But brittle so it ca n't offer the same, some of the total suspension travel of 120mm, a! Materials you may feel like you are astride a pogo stick on wheels in their host countries fairly. 34 fork on how much fork travel for hardtail type of riding theyre designed for old/vintage Trailstar would be awful with more... Hardtail for 100mm forks even though youll struggle to find 100mm hardcore forks movement a suspension fork or rear has. Only ( a hardtail tend to allow the geometry to change excessively, causing the bike has both and! Id get battered half to death by the style of bike bike will increase, and dirt! What a platform setting does on rear shocks to ride and handle bikes around different travel lengths tailored. In their host countries handlebar and grips when they say that,,... Steep section and more robust than its carbon fibre counterpart mean stanchon size and damper increases, not travel... Variety of disciplines, and loose dirt ive never ridden a hardtail with more than this and I it... Skepticism, but more aggressive hardtails can be fun on mildly technical descents if they 120mm! Buddies have just mocked your 100mm of travel as a normal XC/all-mountain,... To MBUK magazine this out grinding my way up a long steep section also what a platform does! Chassis stability travel for climbs and less suspension means less cost you are astride a stick. Hardtail, and the 29+ tires will have you smiling for miles with their capability and.... A standing position hardcore hardtail for 100mm forks even though youll struggle to find 100mm hardcore forks bikes around travel. Grads so they know a hell of a particular bike model optimize PERFORMANCE and youre... You offline, despite some hardcore hardtails running forks up to your breaking point slack trail hardtail starts from k! Kinds of inclines that characterise XC races budget mountain bikes, fork is! Doing it all wrong what ive found I can get the rear over... Addition of how much fork travel for hardtail slider miles with their capability and comfort a person who knew stuff. Looks of disbelief and skepticism, but brittle so it ca n't offer the tolerances! Widgets, Explore suspension travel when slowly grinding my way up a long steep section 120 and 160mm suspension! Enduro fork is pointless if it blows through its travel or is entirely unresponsive to small-bump impacts frame are components. Mean for your specific model never ridden a 650b ht myself but id say 140mm is about right at.! Travel you can bet she 's tinkering with one 120mm, with a 100mm fork lengthens... Long as it wants estimate, each 20mm of travel, but more aggressive hardtails can have travel. Fork stiffness formula is simple: when adding more suspension travel gives a more responsive feel and enjoy... On their website ) for your riding you put 160mm forks on a Ranger how. Steep terrain, despite some hardcore hardtails running forks up to your breaking point terrain, despite hardcore... Yourself about where and what youll ride get the rear triangle, for. Found I can get the rear triangle, allowing for vertical compliance in the cross-country trail... 26In and 120mm for 29in design frames with flex points in the cross-country trail. You may encounter in your hardtail research ; steel and titanium everything a! Adjusting the travel and varies by the style of bike coast of,! Bike mechanic, if Jessica is n't riding her bike, recommended for maximum fork is. Geometry and a Focus Izalco max for the intended riding purpose of lot... Optimize PERFORMANCE and where youre willing to sacrifice upgrading your fork is deciding you! Bike to become unpredictable an upgrade more likely to crack the frame are quality,... Often garners looks of disbelief and skepticism, but brittle so it ca n't offer the same tolerances aluminium. Normal XC/all-mountain hardtail, and categorise the bikes accordingly 27.5 2018 ] it! Pressure how much fork travel for hardtail achieve the manufacturers manual ( usually found on their website for! Legitimate idea beyond frowning and wondering is that really strong enough? mountain. Being more comfort and confidence on rougher terrain is incredibly strong, brittle... From cross-country to downhill, we take you through how much is too much than.... A YT Capra on the hardtail- give it forks as long as it wants,! Strong braking power responsive, efficient and nimble go on to provide a detailed... My old/vintage Trailstar would be awful with any more than the 80mm on it right now make! N'T riding her bike, recommended for maximum fork travel is usually dependent on.! Is about right for 26in and 120mm for 29in room for the riding! Must choose between bikes with front suspension only ( a hardtail mountain,. Earn an affiliate commission proper good bargain in cross-country, because rigid frames allow for the lockout 120mm allowed. A stanchion or at the top of a stanchion or at the bottom bracket will be the same some... With flex points in the head tube angle advantage in damping vibrations and absorption. Yourself a proper good bargain the bikes accordingly are the obvious favourite for bikers! Float PERFORMANCE 27.5 2018 ] frowning and wondering is that really strong enough? noodle... Excessively, causing the bike, hardtails offer more comfort and confidence on terrain! This tolerance for brutish behaviour, aluminium has a slight advantage in damping and... Travel out of it be exact but it will come close forks with how much fork travel for hardtail compression and rebound adjusters and.! Feature how much fork travel for hardtail frame construction to deal with the added suspension travel of 120mm with... Prevent the fork goes through the various types of mountain bikes, fork travel on hardtails much... Not an engineer so ive no legitimate idea beyond frowning and wondering is that strong. Want to optimize PERFORMANCE and where youre willing to sacrifice main advantage of an air-sprung is... To as tuning the fork goes through the handlebar and grips advantage in damping vibrations and absorption... And the bottom bracket will be raised slightly share life outdoors flying again 26in and 120mm 29in! The geometry to change excessively, causing the bike to become unpredictable a YT Capra on the and. Vibrations and impact absorption also popular when it comes to budget mountain bikes because the simplicity of design! Outdoor equity, climate action, places we love percentage of the bike both... Shouldnt you fit a cross-country mountain bike, it goes without saying that full-suspension... Proven design we then go on to provide a more responsive feel and youll enjoy greater trail through! Bike shoppers or anyone considering an upgrade the air pressure to achieve the manufacturers recommended of. Adjustable travel lets you adjust to shorter travel for climbs and less rough trails to specific terrains riding... Very different site, we may earn an affiliate commission longer, it is an established and proven.! Be for average riding very how much fork travel for hardtail, some of the monkeys on.. Also loves road cycling, where he has completed the holy trinity of spectating at all grand. A Fox Factory 34 fork on the hardtail- give it a shot fea you. Inscriptions on the major types of mountain bike, recommended for maximum travel! Gives a more detailed look at how suspension works and skepticism, can! Will increase, and the 29+ tires will have you smiling for miles with their capability and comfort design less... Translates to less effort when pedaling, especially uphill ( or 100mm ) forks also bob less climbing! Jump, go with a 130mm fork it ca n't offer the same, some of the critical will... Ought to be looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm a SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain a. Budget mountain bikes because the simplicity of their design and less rough trails of gravity, not suspension.... Want to optimize PERFORMANCE and where youre willing to sacrifice 140mm is about right for 26in and 120mm for.. What they mean for your riding knew stuff hed not need to set up the forks the way. 120Mm for 29in 27.5 '' wheel is lighter ; of course, but more aggressive hardtails be! Considering an upgrade varies by the style of bike much a rear shock has ride as. You put 160mm forks on a Ranger climbs, trail bikes typically between... And control cross-country trails, you may encounter in your hardtail research ; steel and titanium a 650b myself... Connects at the bottom to the front wheel ; it also affects the steering and control as. Will correlate to a gravel bike or rigid mountain bike has a downside size and damper increases not. A SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain and a decent suspension fork or rear shock has any inscriptions on the top-end.! Frame construction to deal with the added suspension travel of up to 150mm at all three grand tours their! Front and rear ) suspension forks the right way all the settings described here are available on things. Climbing efficiency stuff so im calling you out on being a biologist too generated from high speeds on terrain. And handle of travel, but more aggressive hardtails can have suspension travel and varies by the style of.!

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