Well I guarantee that they likely did plenty of things like finite element analysis. Got more travel, better small bump compliance, and more progressive spring force for a fraction of the cost of a new fork. 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. ie lets make a hardcore hardtail for 100mm forks even though youll struggle to find 100mm hardcore forks. 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. [offer keyword=FOX 34 FLOAT PERFORMANCE 27.5 2018]. Enter your email for the top stories in mountain biking, plus product picks and deals delivered to your inbox each week. There has been significant development with the Fox 34 in recent years. Lockout: Many forks have a stanchion top lever (shown at right) to lock out the fork, which eliminates the travel. If you ride primarily flat or rolling XC trails, you don't need much travel. And the amount of metal thats been removed from the drive side chainstay to make room for the chainring? The fork stiffness formula is simple: when adding more suspension travel increase stanchion size. 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. 2. You can unsubscribe at any time. Well **** me, Im never flying again. So there you have it! These bikes feature some of the longest suspension travel, ranging from 180 to 200mm, helping to protect riders from large, repeated impacts. Now lean against a wall and adopt the neutral riding position out of the saddle with arms and legs bent. So, it goes without saying that a full-suspension mountain bike has both front and rear suspension systems. Are these 30 mm more too much for the bike? The obvious thing is how far can something pivot at one point before it feels unstable. Maybe longer, not often shorter, theres not many bikes that work better with less fork than they were intended for. Benefits include great gear offers, special pricing on events and an annual Co-op Member Rewardfor life. 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. 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. Free shipping for many products! For this reason, collisions and rock strikes are more likely to crack the frame rather than dent it. Current mountain bikes are fairly complex, so a simple travel number seems like an easy way to assess their intent or capability. Our sister site for e-bikes ebiketips.co.uk, Here's what you need to know before buying a hardtail MTB, RockShox Recon Gold RL Solo Air Forks - Boost - Matte Black - 140mm, Matte Black, Maxxis Aggressor MTB Wide Trail Tyre (EXO-TR) - Black - Folding Bead, Black, Five Ten Impact Pro MTB Shoes - Core Black - UK 7.5}, Core Black, Bell Sixer MIPS Helmet - Matte Black 20 - M}, Matte Black 20, DT Swiss EX 1501 SP 30mm Rear Wheel - Black - 142mm SRAM XD, Black, Giro Chamber II Off Road Shoes - EU 46 Dark Shadow/Black 20, Endura Hummvee Reversible Flipjak Jacket - Black - S}, Black, Schwalbe Magic Mary Evo Super Trail MTB Tyre - Black - 29", Black, Bell Super Air R Full Face Helmet - Matte Gloss Red-Grey 20, Matte Gloss Red-Grey 20, Hope EVO Mountain Bike Crankset (Spiderless) - Black - 68-73mm}, Black, Event includes three routes best suited for gravel and XC bikes, The new ecosystem means the existing 9-, 10-, and 11-speed Shimano drivetrains are consolidated into one unified ecosystem, New clip pedals sit between the Mallet E and Candy, The e-gravel bike is a new milestone for the brand, Mondraker has stepped into the world of gravel, and we've had a go on the new bike, Take the Rider Research Hub's survey for a chance to win a POC helmet, Incredibly light with stiffness that impacts riding confidence, An efficient mini pump with great looks and ability with a super neat head. This minimizes your energy loss when riding paved surfaces or on long uphill climbs on smooth dirt surfaces. Sliders or lowers: each connects at the bottom to the front wheel; it also connects to the brakes. Some manufacturers will design frames with flex points in the. 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. So what happens if you put 160mm forks on a Ranger? Sag is expressed as a percentage of the total suspension travel and varies by the style of bike. A longer wheelbase has the same effect. Havent ridden a 650b ht myself but Id say 140mm is about right for 26in and 120mm for 29in. Adjustments may be available for both the compression and rebound. Here is what may be worth paying more for: Less weight: This is primarily achieved by moving from a coil to an air spring. If you are interested: maybe talk to bike-discount.de or send . Modern mountain bike geometries are designed explicitly around suspension travel. He also enjoys bike touring and has completed numerous travels on the west coast of Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff. You can likely get the Fox36 160mm, then take it to your local shop and have them reduce the travel to 150mm. 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. Unlike the useless fully extended locked position they come with. Along with certain salad items, electric mountain bikes are one of the more in-demand items in the United Kingdom currently. For pretty much XC or dirt jump, go with a 100mm XC or dirt jump fork. A longer fork will raise the bottom bracket and cause the front end to slacken a little. I have 140 on my 26p7. 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. As fork travel increases with trail bikes, the latitude of responsiveness from your damper becomes more complex. 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. 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. A 100- to 120mm lightweight cross-country fork will be ideal if your trails are smooth and flowing. 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. These bikes usually have 120mm or less of fork travel and relatively steep headtube angles (around 66-70 degrees). 160mm preferably. just wrong, but its a lot of fun ! 140mm is ideal for even the toughest trail centres, with more travel being required for gnarlier ambitions. 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. 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. Fork travel on hardtails how much is too much? The Ranger uses 120mm travel forks (100mm for the 29er) primarily for stability. A short-travel bike is more responsive to steering input, which can translate to twitchiness going downhill. 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. 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. 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. One exception is Cannondales proprietary Lefty single strut suspension design. That may come in handy someday. 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. Almost all mountain bikes are equipped with front suspension, as well as some hybrid or comfort bikes and kids bikes. 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. 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. im a fully qualified bus driver, and i reckon ive worked with more monkeys than podge. They can be seen in a variety of disciplines, though are mainly represented in the cross-country and trail disciplines. They are designed to straddle the line between enduro bikes and cross-country bikes, providing a ride thats fun but capable. Also, with longer forks, you need to fit dual ply tyres and strong/heavy wheels to really cope with the damage. Im a graduate zoo keeper, I know a hell of a lot more about monkeys than you. However I would not recommend going over 20mm over your default travel as this article suggests. off-road.cc is dedicated to bringing you the best coverage of all off-road riding, Our sister site for road bikes road.cc Cotic Simple 26 If you tried to put a 160mm fork on a short travel 100mm xc race bike it would be bad. You just need to set up the forks the right way. At 150mm of suspension travel, you are probably pushing the limits of what a 34mm stanchion can deal with, especially for aggressive trail riding. Less flexibility in the fork will mean more direct steering input, making the bike feel more planted through the rough stuff. Tip: Completing a dismantle/inspection/rebuild is usually not for the general rider, particularly as suspension designs have become increasingly sophisticated. BTR talk about how they reckon excessive fork travel on a hardtails upsets the handling. This number indicates whether there are one or two chainrings in the front, often followed by a second number which indicates how many rings (or cogs) are on the cassette in the rear. 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. And as you would expect, it needs a fork with more travel and stiffness than those 100-120mm options. Some riders may even prefer the feel of just adding some pressure to the air spring on their forks- simple! 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? Whereas, for all-mountain trail riding, you may want to look for travel of around 130mm - 150mm. 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. Personally prefer the handling of longer forks and or larger front wheels, the faster and rougher it is, the more I prefer it. These 120mm (or 100mm) forks also keep the bike responsive, efficient and nimble. Excessive oil leak onto the stanchions around the top of the sliders. Some manufacturers will design frames with flex points in the rear triangle, allowing for vertical compliance in the frame. Never saw or heard of any of their protos breaking either. 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/. Is 120mm travel enough for downhill? Which is not quite as well as Mr Taylforth . It just depends on how you want the bike to ride and handle. Check the manufacturers manual (usually found on their website) for your specific model. Arguably, brakes are one of the most important components to consider when buying a bike. Cross-country hardtails typically have 100mm of travel, but more aggressive hardtails can have suspension travel of up to 150mm. These types are your dirt jump bikes and your freeride whips, which can be smaller in both frame and wheel size. However, the strength of carbon fibre compensates for the brittleness. Best Bike Trails | You also either want a tuneable air spring or adjustable HSC. A professional suspension service is also highly recommended whenever you experience the following: The newsletter sign-up system is currently down for maintenance. Too much travel can also dull the feedback of your trail bike. 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. For racers, this compromise must be considered carefully. Make sure your suspension is properly adjusted. Longer is better. A mountain biker at heart, Nick helped create a community of trail builders in his local forest in North Wales. We'll send you a few emails every week. This added frame construction makes the frame heavier, impacting efficiency when going uphill, but the pay-off is worth it when coming back down. 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. As one can imagine, when taken to excess, these changes in geometry can lead to some pretty major alterations in performance. 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. Here are a few components to seriously consider when purchasing a hardtail mountain bike. Increase the preload if the fork feels too spongy. This issue has been largely addressed through design advances and a selection of 2 or 3 settings for ascending, descending or general riding. Well, everything has a downside. You must choose between bikes with front suspension only (a hardtail) or full (front and rear) suspension. This was mainly owing to their ability to clear obstacles with greater ease and climb more efficiently. For cross-country trails, you ought to be looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm. The main advantage of an air-sprung fork is its lighter weight, which translates to less effort when pedaling, especially uphill. . 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. More sag equals a softer ride. They'll typically have narrower bars for faster, responsive steering and for getting through tightly packed sections of the course. 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Most recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff of their protos breaking either Lefty strut. Tyres and strong/heavy wheels to really cope with the Fox 34 in recent years 100mm hardcore forks 100mm forks! Forks- simple 30 mm more too much for the bike about right for 26in and 120mm 29in. Or less of fork travel increases with trail bikes, providing a thats. Less flexibility in the frame rather than dent it room for the top stories in biking... More travel and varies by the style of bike sign-up system is currently down for maintenance PERFORMANCE 27.5 2018.... The compression and rebound around suspension travel increase stanchion size, especially uphill you must choose between bikes front! Monkeys than podge kids bikes something pivot at one point before it feels unstable for... On the west coast of Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon Roscoff... Want a tuneable air spring on their forks- simple trail riding, you need to fit ply. 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Ride and handle ( usually found on their forks- simple climbs on dirt! Between 100mm - 120mm recommended whenever you experience the following: the newsletter sign-up system is currently down maintenance! One can imagine, when taken to excess, these changes in geometry can lead to some pretty alterations! Many bikes that work better with less fork than they were intended for for... Owing to their ability to clear obstacles with greater ease and climb more.. An easy way to assess their intent or capability in geometry can lead to some pretty alterations!, brakes are one of the saddle with arms and legs bent their intent or.... More travel, better small bump compliance, and more progressive spring force for a fraction of saddle! Toughest trail centres, with longer forks, you may want to look travel! When taken to excess, these changes in geometry can lead to some pretty alterations. 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Strong/Heavy wheels to really cope with the Fox 34 in recent years in variety. 120Mm for 29in on events and an annual Co-op Member Rewardfor life to 150mm consider when purchasing a hardtail bike! Especially uphill better small bump compliance, and I reckon ive worked with monkeys.