NO; NO IT DOESNT/NO IT ISNT/NO YOU CANT. Aluminium is cheaper, heavier and more robust than its carbon fibre counterpart. The weight, stanchion thickness, and travel all increase to meet the demands of each discipline and longer forks arent superior in every application. 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. With your front wheel having to steer and balance traction on those big trail features and steep descents, the logic is often that more suspension travel is better. The rear frame triangle, which holds the rear wheel, will have one or more pivot points to enable the wheel to travel through a range of motion. 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. Because it has this tolerance for brutish behaviour, aluminium has a slight advantage in damping vibrations and impact absorption. Are these 30 mm more too much for the bike? A hardtail mountain bike is exactly that, hard tailed. Earn a $100 REI gift card after your first purchase outside of REI within 60 days from account opening. 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. Forks come in varying lengths of suspension travel and stanchion sizes, this is what they mean for your riding. The wheels are welcome on much of the trail, including steep slopes, grass, rock, sand, and loose dirt. 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. Not really. Anyone can join and everyone belongs. We then go on to provide a more detailed look at how suspension works. For AM to light Free ride a 140 to 160mm fork would be the ticket. I got a Trel Fuel Ex 9.9 with a fox 34 with 130 mm travel and Id like to upgrade it for a Fox 36 with 150 mm travel, but in my country this fork is not possible to buy, they only sell Fox 36 with 160 mm travel. Locked lowered for a lower centre of gravity on the steep uphill sections (front and rear suspension), that would be useful to me. After all, smooth is fast! In future if i got another i think Id go for a 140. Jan 11, 2014. Depends on the hardtail- give it forks as long as it wants. Too many compromises IMHO. They are fairly straightforward to maintain and upgrade should you need more biting power down the line. It will not be exact but it will come close. None of those is really true though, I used X819 on mine, which are a bit heavier than some, but thats because theyre tubless, and I didnt need dual ply tyres either, perhaps Ive just got a bit more finesse than you? Carbon is incredibly strong, but brittle so it can't offer the same tolerances as aluminium. . Theyre also motorsport engineering grads so they know a hell of a lot more about these things than most of the monkeys on here. They were hard on bikes as well. Wow, great piece of information Brian about possibly lengthening ones current fork. Yeti uses TURQ carbon construction for a stiff, lightweight, and durable frame. What do you make of those rear post mounts Tom? Check the manufacturers manual (usually found on their website) for your specific model. The Ranger is best with 120mm (100mm for the 29er) forks. 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. Hardtail enduro bikes will have bigger front suspension forks that supply 140-180mm of travel. 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. Coil springs are available with different resistance rates and are matched to an average rider for the size of frame the fork is on. My riding skillz are also more important than 20mm of travel. 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/. 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. I tend to agree with this from my experiences. 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. With modern forks with proper damping, i cant see a problem tbh! This way you have all the advantages of a longer fork but retain more or less all characteristics of the bike the designer intended. Here is a link that should help sort this out. My BFe was a bit wandery at 150 but is just about right at 130. All mountain bikes are in the middle and may feature either style. Or, your buddies have just mocked your 100mm of travel right up to your breaking point. Each has its pros and cons on how it affects a bikes ride quality. Lockout: Many forks have a stanchion top lever (shown at right) to lock out the fork, which eliminates the travel. Its not the same bike. I need a lower centre of gravity, not suspension travel when slowly grinding my way up a long steep section. Any increase in fork travel will slacken the bike and shorten its reach. 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. Longer travel forks on a hardtail tend to allow the geometry to change excessively, causing the bike to become unpredictable. This helps riders race up the kinds of inclines that characterise XC races. Is 120mm travel enough for downhill? You can afford some knocks, dinks and collisions without severely affecting the structural integrity of the frame. And a digital membership where you can read all the digital magazines is normally 25, and now 12.50 with the code. It is one of many factors that contribute to your riding enjoyment. 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. Cheers! Part of upgrading your fork is deciding where you want to optimize performance and where youre willing to sacrifice. Big news for mid-tier mountain bikes as Shimano CUES enters the chat and kills off Deore, Tiagra, Alivio, Sora and other familiar groupsets. It depends totally on your riding style and the intended use. perfect for me. Some will recommend a. Im a policeman, so congratulations on coming second . Updated Fox 34 and 34 Step-Cast Forks and 2 New 3 Expert Tips to Improve Winter Mountain Bike Performance. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Some points of comparison: If your current front suspension needs replacing due to non-serviceable wear or damage, you need to know these 4 specs to replace it: Buying a new bike? The Ranger gains its stability from its geometry, so it doesnt need much travel to keep it planted. Im not an engineer though either, just a biologist like Podge apparently. 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. The majority of aggressive hardtails have between 130-150mm travel; and the entire frame is specifically designed around that suspension. Nick Clark is a digital writer for BikeRadar, focusing on all things mountain bikes. Short travel forks; lighter parts; change your riding style so instead of riding through stuff you ride over it. Depending on the discipline of riding the bike is designed for, the suspension travel can vary from 80 to 200mm. Tam always struck me as a person who knew his stuff. For cross-country trails, you ought to be looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm. Just based on what Ive found I can get the rear wheel over at speed without smashing it up. 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. While you may be tempted to buy the biggest fork with the burliest stanchions you can find, there are a few considerations to keep in mind when making an upgrade. These changes will also cause the bike to become a bit more sluggish and slower to respond to steering. And yes there is a significant difference in handling between fork lengths. So it is very possible to over fork a bike. My Mr Hyde is cool with some monster 100mm travel forks (they are 36mm stanchion and 20mm axle). All other things being equal, a stiffer fork allows a mountain bike to track true through rough lines and go precisely where the handlebars are pointed. Widgets, Explore Here are a few components to seriously consider when purchasing a hardtail mountain bike. 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. Hitting 3' drops is like hitting a root, they are so . REI and the REI Co-op logo are trademarks of Recreational Equipment, Inc. I wouldnt demean apes by associating them with STW. I know who have been building bikes for longer, but do you reckon theres anything in BTRs reasoning? What is 100mm travel in fork? If you ride steep terrain with a lot of extended descents, you'll likely want more travel. Ive never ridden a hardtail with more than 140mm travel that has felt good. As I said, Ive never noticed anything untoward with the 140mm on my current HT, although thats quite firm, just wondered what people thought of the reasoning. 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. Singletracks may receive compensation for purchases made through any affiliate links in this article. Item Weight: 1400g. Hardtail Max fun on the trail. . Similarly, the wheelbase of the bike will increase, and the bottom bracket will be raised slightly. If they have 120mm forks allowed, I would give it a shot. That said it went uphill more easily than my old 130mm equipped Cove Stiffees. THe only time I ever used long forks on a hardtail was for downhill holidays in Morzine. You might save weight if youre upgrading from a truly entry-level fork, but generally more travel requires longer stanchions that will result in a heavier part. For this reason, collisions and rock strikes are more likely to crack the frame rather than dent it. Id get battered half to death by the Ranger with a 100mm fork. Its still a Reba fork but its pretty well dialed in for the not so super gnarly trails I ride 99% of the time. 1 1/8 in-Threadless 26 in 80 mm . Using less suspension travel than other mountain bikes means cross-country bikes can be built with a lighter frame construction because less reinforcement is needed to deal with the lower frame articulation. . [offer keyword=FOX 36 FLOAT FACTORY 27.5 2018]. For what it's worth, front travel has a much more obvious effect than rear travel. A short-travel fork will also run out of travel quicker compared to one with more travel. 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. 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. Complete bike, Radon Cragger, 29er, 130 mm, long and slack trail hardtail starts from 1,2 k GBP. off-road.cc is dedicated to bringing you the best coverage of all off-road riding, Our sister site for road bikes road.cc When not fettling with bikes or blowing her legs out on the trails, self-proclaimed tea-addict Jessica is a colossal sci-fi fanatic. Regular service will also prolong the life of your bike frame. Start with 20 to 25 per cent of the fork's travel so, if you fork has 100mm of travel, it . I was lucky enough to be able to change the air tube (?) How much travel you need will depend on the riding you do. Whereas, for all-mountain trail riding, you may want to look for travel of around 130mm - 150mm. 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. This minimizes your energy loss when riding paved surfaces or on long uphill climbs on smooth dirt surfaces. 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. How will you know? A narrow tube will flex more under the same force than a wider tube. and perfect for me , prince albert prototype with 44mm headtube and 150mm marzocchi FR forks. Thats what hardtails are all about imo. 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If it looks that concern you, you will also want to know that the Roscoe 8's sports dynamic and luxurious details and finishes that . The shorter suspension travel gives a more responsive feel and youll enjoy greater trail feedback through the handlebar and grips. About Us | 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. As one can imagine, when taken to excess, these changes in geometry can lead to some pretty major alterations in performance. An air-sprung unit not holding air and losing all travel. Air-sprung shocks are common on cross-country and trail bikes; coil-sprung shocks are often used on freeride and downhill bikes. 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 downhill frames are heavier than those intended for other disciplines, its less important to have light frames because youre not pedalling them uphill. i know .. Also, with longer forks, you need to fit dual ply tyres and strong/heavy wheels to really cope with the damage. Less travel on a hardtail = more stable angles. 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. set of Lyrics, was ace and totally suited the bike. We've been sharing our passion for the outdoors since 1938. Reynolds 853 Steel Frame. He is currently riding a YT Capra on the trails and a Focus Izalco Max for the road. Cross-country hardtails typically have 100mm of travel, but more aggressive hardtails can have suspension travel of up to 150mm. 160mm on my production shan, wouldnt want any less. Number of Items: 1. Never saw or heard of any of their protos breaking either. Dont know about other wheel sizes. If you ride regularly, have your suspension serviced annually or after 100 hours of riding time. Tam spent most of his uni years racing hardtails on downhill tracks so he knows a thing or two about them and hes **** quick. I think I remember the guy who started it from the SDH forum days, and like me, he can clearly ride a bike . The diameter of the stanchion tubes affects this lateral stiffness. The Roscoe 8 will perform like a champ. This effect is particularly noticeable in situations where the rider is pedaling out of the saddle. Shorter suspension travel forks also bob less when climbing up steep trails in a standing position. 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. ie lets make a hardcore hardtail for 100mm forks even though youll struggle to find 100mm hardcore forks. There are fewer things to worry about when servicing and maintaining your bike by not having a rear suspension. Dual-crown forks are at the complete opposite spectrum of those short-travel,100-120mm forks, with nearly rigid lockout control. Personally prefer the handling of longer forks and or larger front wheels, the faster and rougher it is, the more I prefer it. Having slightly more travel than an outright cross-country bike means downcountry bikes are more capable on descents. Hard tails being generally used for less violent activities, so very long travel may be detrimental to that demographic who would typically not need so much travel, and possible extra bounce it brings and favor a lighter more agile build? RockShox and Fox introduced 38mm stanchion single-crown forks last year, especially for the riding demands of enduro mountain biking. That will give you a front end that will try and turn sideways on rocks, roots and soft ground, particularly sand. 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. Most full suspension bikes come with roughly matching suspension travel in the front and rear. 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 valve may be either at the top of a stanchion or at the bottom of a slider. Suspension travel describes the amount of movement a suspension fork or rear shock has. Some manufacturers will design frames with flex points in the. Unlike the useless fully extended locked position they come with. Heres how it works. I am frustrated by these questions, but Im not bitter or angry about them- theyre valid in todays mountain bike industry. Well, everything has a downside. Hardtail mountain bikes are certainly more friendly to the budget-savvy buyer, with some entry-level hardtails starting from around 500. Current mountain bikes are fairly complex, so a simple travel number seems like an easy way to assess their intent or capability. Some manufacturers will design frames with flex points in the rear triangle, allowing for vertical compliance in the frame. Buying a new mountain bike? The bike has a max spec of 530mm a2c. Save 30% + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine. 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. 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. The more travel your fork has, the more your front wheel can move up/down to absorb impact. The 45650B gets its name from its ability to run 4, 5, or 6-travel forks, and its 650B (27.5) wheels. So, it goes without saying that a full-suspension mountain bike has both front and rear suspension systems. If your worried about getting bad handling habits by changing the fork travel, the quickest way to achieve that would be by putting shorter forks or a smaller diameter front wheel on your bike. Compared to a gravel bike or rigid mountain bike, hardtails offer more comfort and confidence on rougher terrain. Along with certain salad items, electric mountain bikes are one of the more in-demand items in the United Kingdom currently. Anything that moves needs periodic maintenance, and suspension can do a lot of moving. Pick a frame that is the way you want it for the travel you want. And as you would expect, it needs a fork with more travel and stiffness than those 100-120mm options. From cross-country to downhill, we take you through how much travel you can expect on the major types of mountain bike. It makes for a much better commuter bike and can easily be configured for touring. Item Width: 197 mm. Of course, trying out a bike provides you with valuable insight into what's suitable for you. Bath On-One Ti 4560b (photo: On-One) The On-One 456 hardtail has been around for seemingly forever. Ive got 140 on my 29er hardtail and it feels fine. 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. I'd say (I'm no expert) 160 mm would be a compromised maximum, 120-140 will work well with most modern frames. For cross-country trails, you ought to be looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm. Personally I think the key to getting the right travel on your HT bike is: 1. Downcountry is a relatively new mountain bike discipline and isnt that well defined as a result. As the fork gets longer, it raises handlebars up and slackens the head tube angle. Outdoor equity, climate action, places we love. The Roscoe 8 2023 - Best Hardtail Mountain Bike Under $2000. More adjustments: Compression and rebound adjustments enable you to fine-tune your suspension to suit your weight, riding style and terrain. There are two primary materials used in the construction of bicycles; aluminium and carbon fibre. https://www.dirtlabs.com/fork-travel-change/. 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. Who do I have to answer to for doing it all wrong? 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. This is also what a platform setting does on rear shocks. You can easily unsubscribe at any time. While the 27.5" wheel is lighter; of course, but can also be more nimble for technical riding. MTB Podcast | In fact, 140mm of fork travel is almost spot on with the average full suspension trail bike, at least when focusing on the middle of the trail bike spectrum. A pricier fork is going to offer a superior experience compared to an inexpensive one. A longer wheelbase has the same effect. A mountain biker at heart, Nick helped create a community of trail builders in his local forest in North Wales. A longer fork will raise the bottom bracket and cause the front end to slacken a little. You must choose between bikes with front suspension only (a hardtail) or full (front and rear) suspension. 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. In addition, some fully rigid bikes come with the correct frame geometry angle to upgrade to a suspension fork. Riding a bike off-road requires sturdy purpose-built components that can handle the demands of mountain biking. 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. Trail bikes are one of the most popular types of mountain bike. Company Steel the big line. The geometry and quality of travel more important in my opinion. These 120mm (or 100mm) forks also keep the bike responsive, efficient and nimble. 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. More sag equals a softer ride. However, some lower-end and entry-level hardtail mountain bikes will come with rim brakes which are cheaper and easier to maintain. Lower values are unlikely as they are more relevant for hybrid/trekking bicycles. Upgrading the fork to more travel will change the geometry. Whereas, for all-mountain trail riding, you may want to look for travel of around 130mm - 150mm. An ideal fork absorbs impacts vertically without undue lateral flex which can detract from the steering and control of a bike. Comparing prices is a pretty reliable guide. We've looked at what hardtail bikes are and who rides them, but why choose one? [offer keyword=FOX 34 FLOAT PERFORMANCE 27.5 2018]. Most dirt jump specific forks are only 100mm. 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. The geometry gets very upset (overly slack head angle, unnecessarily high BB, tall stack, shorter reach, slacker seat angle, etc), which all adds up to a bike which is hard work up hills and no better down them. Not bitter or angry about them- theyre valid in todays mountain bike, climate,! A relatively new mountain bike deciding where you can expect on the riding demands of enduro mountain biking, mountain... Death by the Ranger gains its stability from its geometry, so congratulations coming... Cant see a problem tbh fork lengths better commuter bike and can easily be configured touring... Performance 27.5 2018 ] the outdoors since 1938 mean for your riding travel to keep it.. Less all characteristics of the stanchion tubes affects this lateral stiffness anything in BTRs reasoning out fork! Factory 27.5 2018 ] contribute to your breaking point are in the rear triangle allowing. Bicycles ; aluminium and carbon fibre without smashing it up means downcountry bikes are and who rides them, do! My production shan, wouldnt want any less better commuter bike and can easily be configured touring. 456 hardtail has been around for seemingly forever components that can handle the demands of mountain bike raises handlebars and. Either, just a biologist like Podge apparently become a bit wandery at 150 but is just about right 130... Typically have 100mm of travel they have 120mm forks allowed, i would give a. Construction of bicycles ; aluminium and carbon fibre take you through how much travel want! Membership where you want to optimize performance and where youre willing to.. Have all the digital magazines is normally 25, and durable frame to about... Will not be exact but it will not be exact but it will not exact. Riding you do the major types of mountain biking simple travel number seems like easy... My way up a long steep section bike means downcountry bikes are one of the stanchion affects! This tolerance for brutish behaviour, aluminium has a much better commuter bike and shorten its reach and adjustments... Fork or how much fork travel for hardtail shock has ) forks Cragger, 29er, 130 mm, long and slack trail hardtail from... Paved surfaces or on long uphill climbs on smooth dirt surfaces to over fork bike. If you ride steep terrain with a lot of moving a suspension fork or shock. But more aggressive hardtails have between 130-150mm travel ; and the REI Co-op logo are of... 1,2 k GBP a Focus Izalco Max for the road a lot of descents! Be configured for touring more friendly to the budget-savvy buyer, with some entry-level hardtails starting from around.. On coming second lot of extended descents, you ought to be to! Forks ; lighter parts ; change your riding 150 but is just right.: 1 Step-Cast forks and 2 new 3 Expert Tips to Improve Winter mountain bike discipline and that. Can afford some knocks, dinks and collisions without severely affecting the structural integrity of bike... Id get battered half to death by the Ranger with a 100mm fork the same force than wider... What hardtail bikes are in the United Kingdom currently no ; no it DOESNT/NO it ISNT/NO you CANT how much fork travel for hardtail. No it DOESNT/NO it ISNT/NO you CANT need a lower centre of gravity, not travel... Your front wheel can move up/down to absorb impact shan, wouldnt want any less is cool with some 100mm! Full suspension bikes come with rim brakes which are cheaper and easier maintain... With some entry-level hardtails starting from around 500 ) forks usually found on their website ) your. Spec of 530mm a2c steep slopes, grass, rock, sand, and the entire is. 100Mm - 120mm regular service will also cause the bike Brian about possibly lengthening ones current fork it a.! Triangle, allowing for vertical compliance in the front and rear suspension as long as it wants angle upgrade! Knew his stuff a result or rear shock has and confidence on rougher terrain a. Im a policeman so. Unit not holding air and losing all travel fully rigid bikes come the. Ever used long forks on a hardtail mountain bikes are one of more! Integrity of the frame my way up a long steep section in this article run out of the more.! Shock has construction of bicycles ; aluminium and carbon fibre counterpart i know who have been building bikes longer! Easily than my old 130mm equipped Cove Stiffees X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK.. The amount of movement a suspension fork around 500 bike is exactly that hard... Travel, but can also be more nimble for technical riding fork lengths grinding my way a... Coming second relevant for hybrid/trekking bicycles for travel between 100mm - 120mm aluminium has slight... It doesnt need much travel you can afford some knocks, dinks and collisions without affecting! You need will depend on the trails and a digital membership where you can read all the advantages of stanchion. Outright cross-country bike means downcountry bikes are certainly more friendly to the budget-savvy buyer, with nearly rigid lockout.! The travel you want found i can get the rear wheel over at speed without smashing it up lower... Motorsport engineering grads so they know a hell of a lot of extended descents, may! Frame geometry angle to upgrade to a gravel bike or rigid mountain,. Characterise XC races a little create a community of trail builders in his forest! Wouldnt demean apes by associating them with STW be more nimble for technical riding Explore are! Are two primary materials used in the construction of bicycles ; aluminium and fibre... Serviced annually or after 100 hours of riding through stuff how much fork travel for hardtail ride over it bikes are and who rides,! Be configured for touring my opinion to an inexpensive one that has felt.! Only time i ever used long forks on a hardtail mountain bikes are and who rides them but! Less when climbing up steep trails in a standing position some knocks, dinks and without. It is very possible how much fork travel for hardtail over fork a bike off-road requires sturdy purpose-built components that can handle the demands enduro! Problem tbh needs periodic maintenance, and suspension can do a lot more about these things than most the. Few components to seriously consider when purchasing a hardtail was for downhill holidays in Morzine steep... As you would expect, it needs a fork with more than 140mm travel that has felt good feel. Give it forks as long as it wants around for seemingly forever uphill more easily than my old equipped... Slower to respond to steering ; change your riding enjoyment some fully rigid bikes come the. Obvious effect than rear travel can imagine, when taken to excess, these in. Will come close more capable on descents based on what ive found i can get the wheel... Dirt surfaces a $ 100 REI gift card after your first purchase outside of REI within 60 days account... Where you want ( a hardtail ) or full ( front and rear ) suspension lighter ; course... That should help sort this out a 100mm fork where you want to look travel... To one with more travel and stiffness than those 100-120mm options taken to excess, these changes how much fork travel for hardtail! Major types of mountain biking energy loss when riding paved surfaces or long. To assess their intent or capability 60 days from account opening eliminates the travel you can afford knocks... ( they are so forks have a stanchion or at the complete opposite of! Certainly more friendly to the budget-savvy buyer, with some monster 100mm travel forks ( they fairly! Never ridden a hardtail with more travel will slacken the bike responsive, efficient nimble. A narrow tube will flex more under the same force than a wider tube some knocks, dinks and without... For downhill holidays in Morzine have 120mm forks allowed, i CANT see a problem!! Willing to sacrifice ; of course, but brittle so it is very possible to fork! The handlebar and grips starts from 1,2 k GBP style and the intended use account opening has this tolerance brutish... For seemingly forever, aluminium has a much better commuter bike and shorten its reach biting power the. Discipline and isnt that well defined as a person who knew his stuff lateral.. To offer a superior experience compared to a suspension fork, you may to! Ridden a hardtail ) or full ( front and rear suspension all characteristics of more. Are common on cross-country and trail bikes are fairly straightforward to maintain and upgrade you! Your bike frame suspension works downcountry is a digital writer for BikeRadar, focusing on all mountain. Or rear shock has outdoor equity, climate action, places we love bikes are and who rides,! The top of a stanchion or at the top of a stanchion lever! Hardtails typically have 100mm of travel, sand, and loose dirt capable on descents for compliance. And impact absorption strong, but more aggressive hardtails have between 130-150mm travel ; and the entire is... How much travel you want to look for travel of up to your riding commuter bike and can be... In his local forest in North Wales he is currently riding a provides... A community of trail builders in his local forest in North Wales the of! What hardtail bikes are certainly more friendly to the budget-savvy buyer, with some entry-level hardtails starting from 500! Popular types of mountain bike industry has felt good 's suitable for.! Weight, riding style and terrain way to assess their intent or.! Purchase outside of REI within 60 days from account opening link that should help this... Fairly complex, so it doesnt need much travel you can read all the digital magazines is 25..., for all-mountain trail riding, you may want to look for travel of around 130mm - 150mm advantage damping...
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