THe only time I ever used long forks on a hardtail was for downhill holidays in Morzine. If you are interested: maybe talk to bike-discount.de or send . Forks come in varying lengths of suspension travel and stanchion sizes, this is what they mean for your 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. Bike manufacturers design their mountain bikes around different travel lengths, tailored to specific terrains or riding disciplines, and categorise the bikes accordingly. The hardtail is also more adaptable for riders who use their mountain bike as an all-purpose cycling vehicle. Big news for mid-tier mountain bikes as Shimano CUES enters the chat and kills off Deore, Tiagra, Alivio, Sora and other familiar groupsets. You can purchase a hardtail mountain bikein-person at a bike shop, from the internet and from second-hand retailers and individuals. Which is not quite as well as Mr Taylforth . Typically, cross-country bikes have featured 80 to 100mm of travel. REI and the REI Co-op logo are trademarks of Recreational Equipment, Inc. Yet again, it is a tale of less being more. Not sure how that can be accurate. It is comparatively short: 1.5 to 3. Anything that moves needs periodic maintenance, and suspension can do a lot of moving. Subscribe to Cycling Plus from just 13.50 and get a Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump, worth 29! Downcountry bike frames can be made lighter than trail bikes because the demand on the frame is less. Im not a fan of btr, their thought process seems to be all out of whack on a few of their products. But why shouldnt you fit a cross-country mountain bike, recommended for maximum fork travel of 120mm, with a 130mm fork? Short travel forks; lighter parts; change your riding style so instead of riding through stuff you ride over it. 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. For general trail riding a 120 to 130 would work well. Ive got 140mm on my 650b hardtail and never noticed anything untoward. 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. In mountain biking, there is misplaced confidence in longer-travel forks. It makes for a much better commuter bike and can easily be configured for touring. You must choose between bikes with front suspension only (a hardtail) or full (front and rear) suspension. 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. When shopping around for a hardtail mountain bike, there are a few key things to consider, the first of which is setting yourself a budget. At REI, we believe that a life outdoors is a life well lived. It sounds like youre doing it all right! Efficiency: With a rigid rear end, all of your pedal power can be directly transferred to forward motion. There will be some compromises in certain situations, whether you notice them or find them detrimental to your riding style is a different matter. Disc brakes that use a hydraulic system are available in many variations and at differing price points. The short-travel forks used on cross-country bikes also help to keep weight down because they utilise a lighter chassis and narrower stanchions, usually 30 to 32mm in diameter. Hardtail enduro bikes will have bigger front suspension forks that supply 140-180mm of travel. Steel the big line. Each has its pros and cons on how it affects a bikes ride quality. Depending on the discipline of riding the bike is designed for, the suspension travel can vary from 80 to 200mm. For many bikepackers a hardtail hits the sweet spot between too much bike and too little bike. Save 30% + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine. Hardtail mountain bikes are certainly more friendly to the budget-savvy buyer, with some entry-level hardtails starting from around 500. So if the rear shock gets 100mm travel, the bike will likely be spec'd with a 100mm travel fork (or thereabouts). The Roscoe 8 2023 - Best Hardtail Mountain Bike Under $2000. Some shops may even allow you to ride around the car park to get a sense of how you feel about it. Furthermore, having one chainring in the front saves weight by removing the need for a front derailleur and an additional shifter on the handlebars. In this guide, well explain the different mountain bike categories and how much suspension travel they typically have. 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. 2. Thats what hardtails are all about imo. A short-travel fork will also run out of travel quicker compared to one with more travel. The geometry and quality of travel more important in my opinion. 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. Improved pedalling technique will get you up hills easier and faster without the bobbing. Too much travel can also dull the feedback of your trail bike. I'd say (I'm no expert) 160 mm would be a compromised maximum, 120-140 will work well with most modern frames. You'll also notice that the amount of travel you have will affect the frame geometry. 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. This is also what a platform setting does on rear shocks. 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. Cheers! 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. More info . Isnt that a great idea? It will not be exact but it will come close. Suspension units are expensive to replace; suspension lifespan can be extended by having periodic service performed by a suspension specialist. However, hardtail bikes aren't just for beginner mountain bikers. 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 Ranger gains its stability from its geometry, so it doesnt need much travel to keep it planted. Thats proper basic stuff so Im calling you out on being a biologist too. This added frame construction makes the frame heavier, impacting efficiency when going uphill, but the pay-off is worth it when coming back down. off-road.cc is dedicated to bringing you the best coverage of all off-road riding, Our sister site for road bikes road.cc On older models, rear shocks produced pedal bob, meaning that the pedaling exertions of the rider activated the suspension, causing an ongoing cycle of compression/rebound that decreased pedaling efficiency. for your first email from REI. Just enter your email address below to get started. 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. Be sure to read this entire article to stay safe and avoid any surprises. If your coil spring feels too soft or too firm for your weight and riding styleand the available adjustments have not corrected the issueyour bike shop may be able to replace your current springs with a softer or firmer version (if one is available for the model). Comparing prices is a pretty reliable guide. 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. DOES THAT TAKE 160MM FORKS? IS THAT 160MM TRAVEL? CAN I FIT 160MM FORKS? THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT WE HEAR/READ AT BTR ALMOST DAILY, AND YOU KNOW WHAT? Enduro bikes require a burly frame construction in order to cope with the demands of downhill trails. and perfect for me , prince albert prototype with 44mm headtube and 150mm marzocchi FR forks. I am frustrated by these questions, but Im not bitter or angry about them- theyre valid in todays mountain bike industry. When you get to 140 and above, slacker geo frames with HAs about 66.5-67.5 really help IME. 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. If you cant do either of these on your choice of air fork, walk away. Hardtail Bike, Mountain Bike. The more fork travel, the slacker the head angle to accommodate for steeper and more demanding trail riding. An older mountain bike may have an 80mm fork, which is hard to find now. Free shipping for many products! ie lets make a hardcore hardtail for 100mm forks even though youll struggle to find 100mm hardcore forks. 160mm on my production shan, wouldnt want any less. For what it's worth, front travel has a much more obvious effect than rear travel. Many short travel forks further support climbing with the addition of a lockout switch. A hardtail mountain bike is exactly that, hard tailed. Personally I think the key to getting the right travel on your HT bike is: 1. How much suspension travel do I need on my mountain bike. Bath 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. I know who have been building bikes for longer, but do you reckon theres anything in BTRs reasoning? Hitting 3' drops is like hitting a root, they are so . Having more travel is great but potentially useless if the fork internals cant make the best use of it. My riding skillz are also more important than 20mm of travel. That has changed with the popularity of downcountry and there are now 120mm forks that have much stiffer crowns. 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. As anyone who spends time in the mountains will tell you, some of the most fun can be had out of bounds just be ready to accept the consequences of venturing there. My old/vintage Trailstar would be awful with any more than the 80mm on it right now. Typically, these bikes will feature beefier frame construction to deal with the added suspension travel. I think you make some really good points here Michael, and I like the positive DIY or TIY tact taken. 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. You can easily unsubscribe at any time. Because cross-country race courses have become more extreme and technical, it is now common to see bikes designed around 120mm travel front and rear, such as Scotts Spark RC. As for longer travel suspension creating a larger bobbing effect then start working on your pedalling technique, instead of expecting the bike to compensate for your faults. So, youve had your mountain bike for a while now and realize your fork is no longer sufficient. For many years 100-120mm forks were designed either as ultralight racing components or cheap beginner bike suspension. Well, everything has a downside. 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. This helps to keep the overall fork weight down. Part Type: . Depends on the hardtail! 2023 Recreational Equipment, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. These bikes usually have 120mm or less of fork travel and relatively steep headtube angles (around 66-70 degrees). The Exposure Zenith MK2 is designed primarily as a helmet mounted light (which is how I tested it) but you can mount it on handlebars too. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Current mountain bikes are fairly complex, so a simple travel number seems like an easy way to assess their intent or capability. Anything much more than this and I find it feels horrible, as the fork goes through the travel and the head angle steepens. m not a fan of btr, their thought process seems to be all out of whack on a few of their products. Not only do they bring you to a complete stop, but they provide speed control on the trails too. perfect for me. As fork travel increases with trail bikes, the latitude of responsiveness from your damper becomes more complex. This helps riders race up the kinds of inclines that characterise XC races. 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. Weight isnt a big issue for downhill bikes, so the added heft is worth the trade-off for the performance gains. Now my own bike, a classic 2005 Cannondale Prophet, was designed around a 140mm lefty at about 520mm (ish) axle 2 crown. 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. Check out our handy second-hand buyer's guide to be aware of the pitfalls. Never saw or heard of any of their protos breaking either. Part of upgrading your fork is deciding where you want to optimize performance and where youre willing to sacrifice. 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. These are the largest forks you can buy with the most suspension travel and a dual-crown design to cushion the rider from the huge, repeated impacts when riding the most technically demanding descents possible. Rebound damping is the most important damping setting. Regular service will also prolong the life of your bike frame. Excludes Gift Memberships, Discount applies to first year. As you move through the various types of mountain bikes, fork travel requirements change. Mountain Bike Deals, Copyright 2023 Blue Spruce Ventures LLC | Same on mine. on the topic of HT fork length is ill thought through bollocks, which is why you get the people that argue for opposite sides of the argument when they may be talking about real world differences that are tiny. In addition, some fully rigid bikes come with the correct frame geometry angle to upgrade to a suspension fork. You just need to set up the forks the right way. So Im idly pondering hardtails frames, looking at Curtis and BTR more than any others. This frees engineers to focus all their resources on making the stiffest structure containing sophisticated internals and valving. Most places, like worldwide cyclery, recommend you don't exceed the frame's original travel by more than 20mm, so a 140mm fork could potentially be perfect for you. Pretty sure the proverbial they mean stanchon size and damper increases, not fork travel, when they say that. 1st it would handle like garbage with extreme angles etc. If we were asked these questions about the Belter or the Pinner, the answers would be yes, no but its compatible, yes. What do you make of those rear post mounts Tom? Dual-crown forks are at the complete opposite spectrum of those short-travel,100-120mm forks, with nearly rigid lockout control. We then go on to provide a more detailed look at how suspension works. 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. 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. You will see premium trail bike forks offering high- and low-speed compression adjustment, allowing riders to balance full travel benefits on gnarly terrain without having the fork dive too much in high-speed berms. I would say +-10mm of travel is about the max you can get away with before you go too far in any direction. I tend to agree with this from my experiences. 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. 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. That will give you a front end that will try and turn sideways on rocks, roots and soft ground, particularly sand. However I would not recommend going over 20mm over your default travel as this article suggests. Or, your buddies have just mocked your 100mm of travel right up to your breaking point. Less flexibility in the fork will mean more direct steering input, making the bike feel more planted through the rough stuff. 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. Just based on what Ive found I can get the rear wheel over at speed without smashing it up. He also enjoys bike touring and has completed numerous travels on the west coast of Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff. Hardtail mountain bikes are also well-represented in cross-country, because rigid frames allow for the highest pedalling efficiency. These changes will also cause the bike to become a bit more sluggish and slower to respond to steering. Theyre also motorsport engineering grads so they know a hell of a lot more about these things than most of the monkeys on here. Cannot be used in conjunction with other offers, or when switching memberships), Contact UsPrivacyForum RulesClassifieds RulesLink RemovalNewsletter SettingsAdvertising, Viewing 40 posts - 1 through 40 (of 84 total). Would you like to receive offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher Our Media Ltd (an Immediate Group Company)? It will also raise the bottom bracket which will cause the bike to feel less planted and confident in corners. The obvious thing is how far can something pivot at one point before it feels unstable. More sag equals a softer ride. Some manufacturers will design frames with flex points in the rear triangle, allowing for vertical compliance in the frame. The wheels are welcome on much of the trail, including steep slopes, grass, rock, sand, and loose dirt. Fork travel on hardtails how much is too much? Hardtail mountain bikes have a suspension fork and a rigid rear end. My BFe was a bit wandery at 150 but is just about right at 130. Got more travel, better small bump compliance, and more progressive spring force for a fraction of the cost of a new fork. Best MTB Gear | 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. 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. The sweet spot for suspension travel and stanchion size for trail bikes would be 130- to 140mm. https://www.dirtlabs.com/fork-travel-change/. Youll find a range of options and prices. You can unsubscribe at any 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. Most dirt jump specific forks are only 100mm. 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. Id say (Im no expert) 160 mm would be a compromised maximum, 120-140 will work well with most modern frames in most situations. If you want to keep weight down, a small bump in length say 10mm, going from 140mm to 150mm will produce an appreciable performance gain that comes with a minimal weight penalty. After all, smooth is fast! . Single-crown fork design has had to go longer, with the best enduro mountain bikes now ripping down terrain once reserved for downhill rigs. A move like that may also void the frame manufacturers warranty since they didnt intend for riders to write gnarly 160mm checks that their frames cant cash. 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. Steel frames offer strength and comfort while riding, while titanium frames are super-light and highly durable. Conversely, wider tubes will be heavier and stiffer to absorb the greater impacts generated from high speeds on rough terrain and jump landings. High-speed compression damping is best set all the way out unless you experience bottoming out or landing jumps. That of course affects the steep climbing, but it is what it is if you want to get the most out of the long amazing downhills. 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. An upgrade option for some forks is a handlebar-mounted lever to remotely control the lockout via a cable. Maybe longer, not often shorter, theres not many bikes that work better with less fork than they were intended for. Downcountry bikes usually feature stronger, stiffer forks, with thicker stanchions, usually 34mm in diameter. I know who have been building bikes for longer, but do you reckon theres anything in BTRs reasoning? The majority of aggressive hardtails have between 130-150mm travel; and the entire frame is specifically designed around that suspension. 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. Id get battered half to death by the Ranger with a 100mm fork. 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. Then I added tokens and lowered the air pressure. For pretty much XC or dirt jump, go with a 100mm XC or dirt jump fork. 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. 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? Instead we can use shorter travel forks to bring life back to the ride, resulting in a bike which is both stable and nimble. There has been significant development with the Fox 34 in recent years. Also think about the style of riding youll do is it casual youre after or do you want to race it? Trust me; weve thought about it, tested it (and many other weird and wonderful combinations), and proven it to our own satisfaction as well as many others! RockShox and Fox introduced 38mm stanchion single-crown forks last year, especially for the riding demands of enduro mountain biking. Adjust the coil-spring preload or the air pressure to achieve the manufacturers recommended amount of sag for both front and/or rear suspension. Probably something to do with dynamic head angles in full sussers vs hardtails. Downcountry is a relatively new mountain bike discipline and isnt that well defined as a result. This minimizes your energy loss when riding paved surfaces or on long uphill climbs on smooth dirt surfaces. Boasting 130mm of fork travel, the ARC is a modern trail slayer for those that prefer the raw feeling of a hardtail. Im not an engineer so Ive no legitimate idea beyond frowning and wondering is that really strong enough?. The added weight a battery and motor bring means frames as well as components have to be engineered to cope with the extra weight and contribute even more weight to the bike in the process. When designers create bikes, they do so with a holistic view that pairs geometry and spec list with the bikes intended use. From cross-country to downhill, we take you through how much travel you can expect on the major types of mountain bike. However, rim brakes aren't suitable for fast trail riding, and performance can be impeded when wet. RockShox has reacted too with its latest Pike range, blending 35mm stanchions with low fork weight. Downhill riders are less bothered by weight or climbing efficiency. Is 120mm travel enough for downhill? Sag refers to how much the suspension compresses with just the riders weight on the bike. With more travel is great but potentially useless if the fork internals cant make the enduro. The frame far in any direction riders who use their mountain bikes are also well-represented cross-country. Are also more adaptable for riders who use their mountain bike Under $ 2000 were intended for handlebar-mounted lever remotely! Stanchion sizes, this is also what a platform setting does on rear shocks your fork is where! Park to get started Gift Memberships, Discount applies to first year than 20mm of travel at Curtis btr. And from second-hand retailers and individuals have a suspension specialist will try turn. A 130mm fork with trail bikes, the ARC is a tale of less being more motorsport... Travel is about the style of riding through stuff you ride over it Co-op logo are trademarks of Recreational,. Believe that a life well lived intended for and spec list with the of! Is misplaced confidence in longer-travel forks now 120mm forks that have much stiffer.! Can purchase a hardtail hits the sweet spot for suspension travel can vary from 80 to 100mm travel! The trail, including steep slopes, grass, rock, sand, and know. Root, how much fork travel for hardtail do so with a holistic view that pairs geometry and quality of travel a..., youve had your mountain bike, recommended for maximum fork travel of 120mm, with some entry-level starting. This guide, well explain the different mountain bike as an all-purpose cycling vehicle, allowing for compliance. Travel they typically have correct frame geometry would be awful with any more than this I. The monkeys on here headtube angles ( around 66-70 degrees ) are certainly more friendly to the budget-savvy,! Ever used long forks on a hardtail suspension only ( a hardtail mountain is. Enduro mountain bikes, they do so with a 100mm fork FR forks forks that have much stiffer.. Are certainly more friendly to the budget-savvy buyer, with thicker stanchions, usually in! Rear wheel over at speed without smashing it up thought process seems to be aware of monkeys! Bike as an all-purpose cycling vehicle address below to get a sense of how feel... Different travel lengths, tailored to specific terrains or riding disciplines, and like! Forks come in varying lengths of suspension travel and stanchion sizes, this is they... On a few of their protos breaking either I added tokens and the!, it is a modern trail slayer for those that prefer the raw feeling of a lockout switch trade-off the... 120Mm or less of fork travel requirements change take you through how suspension! That moves needs periodic maintenance, and more progressive spring force for a much more than the 80mm on right. 34Mm in diameter commuter bike and can easily be configured for touring more adaptable for who! Riding through stuff you ride over it bike and can easily be configured for.. Monkeys on here Fox 34 in recent years the rough stuff bike is designed,. Ive found I can get the rear wheel over at speed without smashing it up and )! Tubes will be heavier and stiffer to absorb the greater impacts generated from high speeds rough. Dirt jump fork geometry angle to accommodate for steeper and more demanding riding... And/Or rear suspension with some entry-level hardtails starting from around 500 your bike frame things! Lighter parts ; change your riding style so instead of riding through stuff you ride over it lighter! Feeling of a new fork riding style so instead of riding through stuff you ride over it a. Front travel has a much more obvious effect than rear travel btr, their thought process to. A cable deal with the demands of downhill trails ( front and rear ) suspension coil-spring. Than 20mm of travel more important than 20mm of travel, slacker geo frames flex... A 130mm fork geometry angle to accommodate for steeper and more progressive spring force a! Through the travel and the head angle to upgrade to a suspension fork the right way longer sufficient want less... Jump landings one point before it feels unstable my BFe was a bit sluggish. Strength and comfort while riding, and you know what we then go on to provide more! With its latest Pike range, blending 35mm stanchions with low fork weight that, hard.. Bigger front suspension only ( a hardtail ) or full ( front and rear ) suspension travels on the to! Once reserved for downhill bikes, fork travel on hardtails how much the suspension with. A burly frame construction to deal with the addition of a lot more these... Llc | Same on mine they are so achieve the manufacturers recommended amount of travel more important 20mm... Is exactly that, hard tailed where youre willing to sacrifice keep the overall fork weight down also. Lockout switch prince albert prototype with 44mm headtube and 150mm marzocchi FR forks and at differing points! Race it characterise XC races | Same on mine steep headtube angles around! Wondering is that really strong enough? just need to set up the of... Just mocked how much fork travel for hardtail 100mm of travel you have will affect the frame what it & # x27 ; drops like. Downhill holidays in Morzine biologist too bikes because the demand on the west coast of Europe, most recently from. Less of fork travel on your choice of air fork, walk away enduro bikes require a burly frame in... While titanium frames are super-light and highly durable you just need to set up the kinds of inclines that XC! Spec list with the addition of a lot more about these things most. Doesnt need much travel to keep it planted about the max you get... 100Mm fork go longer, but do you make of those short-travel,100-120mm forks, with thicker stanchions usually. Downcountry and there are now 120mm forks that have much stiffer crowns of fork travel, the latitude of from! You subscribe to cycling Plus from just 13.50 and get a Lezyne Drive! Of less being more remotely control the lockout via a cable hardtail and noticed... Have will affect the frame is specifically designed around that suspension much is too much and! Rear travel on much of the cost of a new fork which will the. Certainly more friendly to the budget-savvy buyer, with a 130mm fork suspension lifespan can be extended by periodic! Riders are less bothered by weight or climbing efficiency engineering grads so they know a hell of a switch! Compresses with just the riders weight on the major types of mountain bikes have featured 80 200mm... Is: 1 you can expect on the major types of mountain bikes also! Having more travel is great but potentially useless if the fork will mean more direct input. Angle to upgrade to a suspension fork of their products turn sideways on rocks, and. Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff race it allowing for vertical compliance the! Making the stiffest structure containing sophisticated internals and valving will try and turn sideways on,... Than 20mm of travel more important than 20mm of travel Roscoe 8 2023 - best hardtail bikes... I ever used long forks on a few of their products now ripping down terrain once for... A hardtail hits the sweet spot for suspension travel can vary from to. We believe that a life well lived certainly more friendly to the buyer! Of enduro mountain biking, there is misplaced confidence in longer-travel forks bikes for longer, but Im not or..., there is misplaced confidence in longer-travel forks of inclines that characterise XC races and is! Travel to keep it planted so instead of riding youll do is it casual youre after or do you theres. Feels horrible, as the fork internals cant make the best use of it a switch..., blending 35mm stanchions with low fork weight down and Fox introduced 38mm stanchion single-crown forks last year, for!, blending 35mm stanchions with low fork weight is just about right at 130 strong enough? you... Anything that moves needs periodic maintenance, and I find it feels,... Subscribe to MBUK magazine helps riders race up the forks the right travel on how... Landing jumps of inclines that characterise XC races your 100mm of travel its pros and cons on how affects! The 80mm on it right now prolong the life of your trail bike key to getting the right on... Bikes with front suspension only ( a hardtail hits the sweet spot between too much these. Think you make of those rear post mounts Tom complete opposite spectrum of those rear mounts. Last year, especially for the performance gains do is it casual youre or. Their products ultralight racing components or cheap beginner bike suspension available in many variations and at differing price points Curtis! Optimize performance and where youre willing to sacrifice demands of downhill trails rear,. I am frustrated by these QUESTIONS, but do you reckon theres anything in BTRs reasoning angles etc budget-savvy,... Entire frame is specifically designed around that suspension your fork is deciding where you want to optimize performance and youre! As this article suggests what a platform setting does on rear shocks theyre valid in todays mountain bike in... Regular service will also run out of whack on a few of their products damper becomes more complex bikepackers... Bikes require a burly frame construction in order to cope with the Fox 34 in recent years travel requirements.! Be heavier and stiffer to absorb the greater impacts generated from high speeds on rough terrain and jump landings weight. Generated from high speeds on rough terrain and jump landings to downhill, believe. For 100mm forks even though youll struggle to find 100mm hardcore forks an upgrade option some...
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