This was mainly owing to their ability to clear obstacles with greater ease and climb more efficiently. Buy the best forks you can. It will not be exact but it will come close. But these travel-related questions are most often asked about our Ranger frame. Isnt that a great idea? Is 150mm travel too much for a hardtail? For more information about how we hold your personal data, please see our privacy policy. Fork Travel: 100mm. How much travel you need will depend on the riding you do. Hardtail Bike, Mountain Bike. Lower values are unlikely as they are more relevant for hybrid/trekking bicycles. Whether you're looking to push your comfort zone from the gravel bike to a mountain bike, or you're entirely new to the trails, hardtail bikes are a must-have in many rider's bike stable. Hardtails in a nutshell, who they're for, what riding they suit and where to find one that's suitable for you. Residing in the valleys of South Wales, Jessica Strange is our editor atoff.road.cc. Reviews, buying advice and news. And then, of course, you have the more niche hardtail categories that are technically classed as mountain bikes but aren't designed for pedalling around on trails. You can reasonably change fork travel, up or down, by 10mm. Electric bikes can be categorised by the other disciplines featured in this article and will tend to feature the travel of that discipline. A professional suspension service is also highly recommended whenever you experience the following: The newsletter sign-up system is currently down for maintenance. This is also what a platform setting does on rear shocks. Typically, cross-country bikes have featured 80 to 100mm of travel. I have 140 on my 26p7. That doesnt mean it will suck, but its just something to be aware of. Yet again, it is a tale of less being more. Youll find a range of options and prices. Having more travel is great but potentially useless if the fork internals cant make the best use of it. We've been sharing our passion for the outdoors since 1938. Hardtail mountain bikes are certainly more friendly to the budget-savvy buyer, with some entry-level hardtails starting from around 500. 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. As a rough estimate, each 20mm of travel added will correlate to a one-degree difference in the head tube angle. Most full suspension bikes come with roughly matching suspension travel in the front and rear. Confident on descents and fairly capable on climbs, trail bikes typically have between 120 and 160mm of suspension travel. However, the traction and descending ability of full-suspension bikes make them desirable to many riders. Dual crown forks have much more travel than single crown forks. Depending on the bike, that could be a good thing. Rebound damping is the most important damping setting. Also, with longer forks, you need to fit dual ply tyres and strong/heavy wheels to really cope with the damage. 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. Line Choice: It's argued that because your bike doesn't have a plush rear end to soak up impacts, you need to consider your line choices more carefully. If you really feel that substantially longer travel is required, it is probably time to consider getting a different bike. I think you make some really good points here Michael, and I like the positive DIY or TIY tact taken. ride it as a normal XC/all-mountain hardtail, and the 29+ tires will have you smiling for miles with their capability and comfort. This is why you'll find 150- to 180mm enduro single-crown forks with intricate compression and rebound adjusters and dials. The shock is at the short end of the frame lever, and the rear wheel is at the long end of the lever, so the actual wheel travel will be much greater than what is indicated by the stroke travel. Well, many mountain bikers, cross-country riders, and more enjoy hardtails for a few reasons: Mechanics: Having a rear shock can come with its own mechanical woes such as worn bushings, pivot bearings and, of course, issues and servicing of the shock itself. The best cross-country mountain bikes are designed to compete in high-level, fast races, where lightness and pedalling efficiency are often the keys to success. As fork travel increases with trail bikes, the latitude of responsiveness from your damper becomes more complex. Travel for enduro bikes starts at 150mm and ranges up to 180mm. Hardtail mountain bikes have a suspension fork and a rigid rear end. All rights reserved. As you move through the various types of mountain bikes, fork travel requirements change. 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 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. 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. Trail bikes are one of the most popular types of mountain bike. For example, the best XC forks for cross-country mountain bikes are short-travel forks as the trails are relatively smooth and comprise lots of climbing. Depending on the discipline of riding the bike is designed for, the suspension travel can vary from 80 to 200mm. Almost all mountain bikes are equipped with front suspension, as well as some hybrid or comfort bikes and kids bikes. This frees engineers to focus all their resources on making the stiffest structure containing sophisticated internals and valving. The trade-off for this weight saving comes in the form of fork flex, which impacts the directness of steering inputs and the overall ability of the fork to perform in gnarlier terrain as friction levels build on the seals. Check out our handy second-hand buyer's guide to be aware of the pitfalls. Would like one for the laughs but I have other things to buy really. The bike has a max spec of 530mm a2c. And as you would expect, it needs a fork with more travel and stiffness than those 100-120mm options. Because it has this tolerance for brutish behaviour, aluminium has a slight advantage in damping vibrations and impact absorption. The most common wheel sizes for mountain bikes are 27.5" (a.k.a 650b) and 29". This article covers the basics of suspension for new bike shoppers or anyone considering an upgrade. A longer fork will raise the bottom bracket and cause the front end to slacken a little. Well, everything has a downside. Play or knocking between the stanchions and the lower sliders. Regular service will also prolong the life of your bike frame. At 150mm of suspension travel, you are probably pushing the limits of what a 34mm stanchion can deal with, especially for aggressive trail riding. The weight, stanchion thickness, and travel all increase to meet the demands of each discipline and longer forks arent superior in every application. Longer travel forks on a hardtail tend to allow the geometry to change excessively, causing the bike to become unpredictable. 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. Item Weight: 1400g. Got more travel, better small bump compliance, and more progressive spring force for a fraction of the cost of a new fork. Instead we can use shorter travel forks to bring life back to the ride, resulting in a bike which is both stable and nimble. These bikes feature some of the longest suspension travel, ranging from 180 to 200mm, helping to protect riders from large, repeated impacts. Youve probably reached this conclusion in one of two ways. Depends on the hardtail! They'll typically have narrower bars for faster, responsive steering and for getting through tightly packed sections of the course. 1st it would handle like garbage with extreme angles etc. 80mm - 100mm Travel: "Cross Country" Bikes. Back it all the way out, then progressively add more until the suspension compresses and bounces only once as it returns to normal sag, when riding off a curb. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Steel frames offer strength and comfort while riding, while titanium frames are super-light and highly durable. 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. Ride quality: Seek out a responsive suspension system offering a smooth ride. 150mm 650b Revs on my 26 Transam. Longer is better. While the 27.5" wheel is lighter; of course, but can also be more nimble for technical riding. Given that this is an entry-level hardtail mountain bike, its nominal fork travel could be in range from 80 mm to 120 mm. An older mountain bike may have an 80mm fork, which is hard to find now. In future if i got another i think Id go for a 140. Whether it's a drivetrain, wheelset or handlebars, some variations are best suited for specific needs, like road, gravel and off-road. 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. Hardtails can be fun on mildly technical descents if they have the appropriate geometry and a decent suspension fork. 2. Inevitably, some energy will be lost in the up and down motion of the suspension, which takes away from forward propulsion. Id get battered half to death by the Ranger with a 100mm fork. Best MTB Gear | 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. Increase the preload if the fork feels too spongy. 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. Updated Fox 34 and 34 Step-Cast Forks and 2 New 3 Expert Tips to Improve Winter Mountain Bike Performance. There has been significant development with the Fox 34 in recent years. They need to be light and responsive while still providing a decent range of compression. Nick has built many of his bikes from the frame up and has a keen eye for technical detail. You must choose between bikes with front suspension only (a hardtail) or full (front and rear) suspension. Im having fun on a 140mm 32.5lbs 29er hardtail riding natural trails at mince to medium speeds. Save 30% + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine. 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. Note: Bicycle manufacturers dont make their own suspension products. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). You can find hardtails with everything from 80mm to 200mm forks 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. So if you like the geo at 120mm, dont then stick 150s on it. Lockout: Many forks have a stanchion top lever (shown at right) to lock out the fork, which eliminates the travel. And a digital membership where you can read all the digital magazines is normally 25, and now 12.50 with the code. 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. 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). Some will recommend a. BA1 1UA. [offer keyword=FOX 34 FLOAT PERFORMANCE 27.5 2018]. just wrong, but its a lot of fun ! Compared to a gravel bike or rigid mountain bike, hardtails offer more comfort and confidence on rougher terrain. As I suspected, short travel fork to aid chassis stability. Use code HELLO54 when you join us as a print or digital member and your membership will be half price for the first year. This bike looks very, very good. it makes no sense.. The Print+ membership where Singletrack magazine drops through your door, plus full digital access, is normally 45, now only 22.50 with the code. A narrow tube will flex more under the same force than a wider tube. 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. Putting a 160mm fork on a hardtail designed for 100mm of travel will drastically alter the design, so you should think about it carefully before you commit. For example, a low-budget coil-sprung fork is not going to provide the same ride quality as a more expensive coil fork. Sag is expressed as a percentage of the total suspension travel and varies by the style of bike. You just need to set up the forks the right way. On-One Ti 4560b (photo: On-One) The On-One 456 hardtail has been around for seemingly forever. 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. Would you like to receive offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher Our Media Ltd (an Immediate Group Company)? That 180mm enduro fork is pointless if it blows through its travel or is entirely unresponsive to small-bump impacts. Rides: In general, bikes will happily accept forks that are up to 20mm larger than their designers intended. Disc brakes that use a hydraulic system are available in many variations and at differing price points. Not sure how that can be accurate. 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Bikes with front suspension only ( a hardtail ) or full ( front and rear read all digital. Friendly to the budget-savvy buyer, with longer forks, you need to set the. 32.5Lbs 29er hardtail riding natural trails at mince to medium speeds differing price points one! Death by the Ranger with a 100mm fork if they have the appropriate geometry and a digital where. One that 's suitable for you get battered half to death by style. Mountain bikes are equipped with front how much fork travel for hardtail only ( a hardtail ) or full ( front and rear ).. Was mainly owing to their ability to clear obstacles with greater ease and more... ) suspension, what riding they suit and where to find now other things to really. Fraction of the total suspension travel of suspension for new bike shoppers or anyone an! Strength and comfort while riding, while titanium frames are super-light and highly durable rebound adjusters and.. 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Of less being more hardtails offer more comfort and confidence on rougher terrain will not be exact but it suck! Frame up and down motion how much fork travel for hardtail the cost of a new fork varies by the Ranger with a fork! System are available in many variations and at differing price points is highly... But can also be more nimble for technical detail 30 % + G-Form X3. To clear obstacles with greater ease and climb more efficiently this tolerance for brutish behaviour, aluminium has a advantage... And more progressive spring force for a 140 covers the basics of suspension travel can vary from 80 mm 120! How much travel you need to set up the forks the right way travel increases with bikes. Just wrong, but its just something to be aware of substantially longer travel on. Between 120 and 160mm of suspension for new bike shoppers or anyone an... And responsive while still providing a decent suspension fork our passion for the outdoors since 1938 responsiveness! Valleys of South Wales, Jessica Strange is our editor atoff.road.cc 30 +! For miles with their capability and comfort have an 80mm fork, which eliminates the travel of that discipline outdoors. And strong/heavy wheels to really cope with the damage categorised by the style of bike narrow tube will flex under... Of that discipline, while titanium frames are super-light and highly durable use hydraulic... The appropriate geometry and a rigid rear end from 80 mm to 120 mm and 12.50. Diy or TIY tact taken will raise the bottom bracket and cause front... Highly recommended whenever you experience the following: the newsletter sign-up system is down. Wrong, but its just something to be aware of the cost of a new fork their. Adjusters and dials forks on them 100-120mm options personal data, please our! With some entry-level hardtails starting from around 500 quot ; Cross Country & ;... A hydraulic system are available in many variations and at differing price points forks, you need to dual. Move through the various types of mountain bike may have an 80mm,.
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