One exception is Cannondales proprietary Lefty single strut suspension design. What is 100mm travel in fork? Although the front-end of a hardcore hardtail and the best enduro mountain bikes have similar geometry, the absence of any suspension travel at the rear means you will ride the fork much harder. The fit, geometry, and tubing selection will be tuned for your weight, riding style, and frame size. m not a fan of btr, their thought process seems to be all out of whack on a few of their products. 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. Theres room to play there within reason. 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. Hardtails can be fun on mildly technical descents if they have the appropriate geometry and a decent suspension fork. Weight isnt a big issue for downhill bikes, so the added heft is worth the trade-off for the performance gains. Hardtails in a nutshell, who they're for, what riding they suit and where to find one that's suitable for you. You'll be seeking out the smoother lines that will give you more comfort and control on the trail, and by learning how to scope out the smoothest lines, you're putting yourself in an excellent place to build on your skills and confidence. There is just too much flex with thinner stanchions when pointed downhill, and you want as much HTA as you can get. If you ride regularly, have your suspension serviced annually or after 100 hours of riding time. He has a weakness for British steel hardtails, especially those which only run a single gear. Increase the preload if the fork feels too spongy. Of course, trying out a bike provides you with valuable insight into what's suitable for you. Same on mine. Fork travel on hardtails how much is too much? 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. 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? Wow, great piece of information Brian about possibly lengthening ones current fork. Enduro bikes are designed to meet the demands of enduro racing, which consists of multiple downhill stages that riders have to reach within a set time limit. These shift the balance away from lightness toward rigid stability for better handling while descending. You've been subscribed to our newsletter. So it is very possible to over fork a bike. Crown: connects the 2 stanchions together. Adjusting the travel not only affects the bump-softening capacity of the bike, it also affects the steering and control. Already have an account with us? 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. When you have a rear shock, along with moving pivot points, some of that pedal power is absorbed by the movement of the rear triangle, thus reducing your pedal efficiency. The Ranger uses 120mm travel forks (100mm for the 29er) primarily for stability. Shorter travel forks are generally aimed at cross-country mountain biking, designed to balance performance, lightweight and just enough suspension travel to help smooth out bumpy singletrack. These bikes feature some of the longest suspension travel, ranging from 180 to 200mm, helping to protect riders from large, repeated impacts. So if you like the geo at 120mm, dont then stick 150s on it. Dont own a hardtail at the mo but the Transition Trans Am with Domains up front was a riot check the pic below anything less wouldve made the head angle silly steep. Not only do they bring you to a complete stop, but they provide speed control on the trails too. As with other types of mountain bikes, fork travel is usually dependent on discipline. While the 27.5" wheel is lighter; of course, but can also be more nimble for technical riding. For AM to light Free ride a 140 to 160mm fork would be the ticket. Im not an engineer though either, just a biologist like Podge apparently. The change in steering tube angle is also small, to give it bad handling habits you would need to be trying to turn it into something like a Harley Davidson chopper. 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. MTB Podcast | Modern mountain bike geometries are designed explicitly around suspension travel. 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. A 100- to 120mm lightweight cross-country fork will be ideal if your trails are smooth and flowing. Hardtail Bike, Mountain Bike. Along with certain salad items, electric mountain bikes are one of the more in-demand items in the United Kingdom currently. The shorter suspension travel gives a more responsive feel and youll enjoy greater trail feedback through the handlebar and grips. It pretty much requires 160mm minimum and 36. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. 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. Thats proper basic stuff so Im calling you out on being a biologist too. About Us | Depends on the geometry of the frame and how/what you ride as to the compromise that will best suit you, as everything in the biking world is a compromise, stating the obvious I suppose. They can be seen in a variety of disciplines, though are mainly represented in the cross-country and trail disciplines. Note: Bicycle manufacturers dont make their own suspension products. And that risks overwhelming the rear of . For general trail riding a 120 to 130 would work well. 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). A fork may offer no adjustability, or it may have one or more knobs and dials to tweak. Riding a bike off-road requires sturdy purpose-built components that can handle the demands of mountain biking. But why shouldnt you fit a cross-country mountain bike, recommended for maximum fork travel of 120mm, with a 130mm fork? They'll typically have narrower bars for faster, responsive steering and for getting through tightly packed sections of the course. Because it has this tolerance for brutish behaviour, aluminium has a slight advantage in damping vibrations and impact absorption. It is one of many factors that contribute to your riding enjoyment. 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. My Mr Hyde is cool with some monster 100mm travel forks (they are 36mm stanchion and 20mm axle). If you ride steep terrain with a lot of extended descents, you'll likely want more travel. He also enjoys bike touring and has completed numerous travels on the west coast of Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff. They were hard on bikes as well. Rebound damping is the most important damping setting. For pretty much XC or dirt jump, go with a 100mm XC or dirt jump fork. This means you can't slap on a longer travel fork without potentially compromising your bike's handling, geometry and overall safety. Differences: The most common type of front suspension is the fork. It is comprised of 2 struts that connect the front wheel to the frames head tube. Price: Aluminum: $1,199 - $1,599; Carbon: $2,199 - $4,299. Be sure to read this entire article to stay safe and avoid any surprises. It just depends on how you want the bike to ride and handle. This added frame construction makes the frame heavier, impacting efficiency when going uphill, but the pay-off is worth it when coming back down. That will give you a front end that will try and turn sideways on rocks, roots and soft ground, particularly sand. 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. See Basic Suspension Setup later in this article. 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. While weight is certainly a factor in the upgrade decision, its also important to consider that a fork with more travel will be less efficient when the rider is pedaling. and perfect for me , prince albert prototype with 44mm headtube and 150mm marzocchi FR forks. When not fettling with bikes or blowing her legs out on the trails, self-proclaimed tea-addict Jessica is a colossal sci-fi fanatic. Updated Fox 34 and 34 Step-Cast Forks and 2 New 3 Expert Tips to Improve Winter Mountain Bike Performance. for your first email from REI. And a digital membership where you can read all the digital magazines is normally 25, and now 12.50 with the code. How much travel you need will depend on the riding you do. Confident on descents and fairly capable on climbs, trail bikes typically have between 120 and 160mm of suspension travel. 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. I keep the rear suspension (if fitted) travel the same but with a better quality shock to get the full benefit and to keep my centre of gravity low as I can. The topic Fork travel on hardtails how much is too much? is closed to new replies. However, the traction and descending ability of full-suspension bikes make them desirable to many riders. 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. Bounce up and down on the fork and let it settle to the sagged position. Suspension units are expensive to replace; suspension lifespan can be extended by having periodic service performed by a suspension specialist. Havent ridden a 650b ht myself but Id say 140mm is about right for 26in and 120mm for 29in. 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. Locked lowered for a lower centre of gravity on the steep uphill sections (front and rear suspension), that would be useful to me. The concept of the long travel hardtail is pretty well established too. Excessive oil leak onto the stanchions around the top of the sliders. 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. Any increase in fork travel will slacken the bike and shorten its reach. Folks interested in adding a bit of travel up front can also do some research to see if their existing fork can be lengthened. Big news for mid-tier mountain bikes as Shimano CUES enters the chat and kills off Deore, Tiagra, Alivio, Sora and other familiar groupsets. 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. Too much is a bad thing, but 20mm or so should be OK. Be careful about trying to make a silk purse from a sours ear though - an entry level XC hard tail will never be a great down hill machine. 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. An air spring (pressurized air in a chamber) has a progressive compression rate, meaning it is softer in the first part of the travel and then gets stiffer as more compression is applied. How much suspension travel do I need on my mountain bike. A narrow tube will flex more under the same force than a wider tube. 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 . Nope, thats not a contradiction of terms! Here is what may be worth paying more for: Less weight: This is primarily achieved by moving from a coil to an air spring. For what it's worth, front travel has a much more obvious effect than rear travel. While more travel may seem better, helping you soak up lumps and bumps, it can be a hindrance if your riding includes lots of climbing or you benefit from a light, responsive bike. Stanchions: each travels in and out of the sliders; internal workings consist of a spring or air chamber, damper rod, oil, valves. Coil springs are available with different resistance rates and are matched to an average rider for the size of frame the fork is on. Sag refers to how much the suspension compresses with just the riders weight on the bike. Company Also, with longer forks, you need to fit dual ply tyres and strong/heavy wheels to really cope with the damage. I think I remember the guy who started it from the SDH forum days, and like me, he can clearly ride a bike . Downhill bikes are designed for, you guessed it, riding downhill. 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? The main advantage of an air-sprung fork is its lighter weight, which translates to less effort when pedaling, especially uphill. Any unusual collapse or resistance to normal function. You must choose between bikes with front suspension only (a hardtail) or full (front and rear) suspension. High-speed compression damping is best set all the way out unless you experience bottoming out or landing jumps. The majority of aggressive hardtails have between 130-150mm travel; and the entire frame is specifically designed around that suspension. 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! Best Bike Trails | Regular service will also prolong the life of your bike frame. 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Hardtail mountain bikes are certainly more friendly to the budget-savvy buyer, with some entry-level hardtails starting from around 500. As the fork gets longer, it raises handlebars up and slackens the head tube angle. Reasonably efficient climbers and confident descending bikes, the trail machine is a hybrid between cross-country and enduro. 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. Would like one for the laughs but I have other things to buy really. BikePerfect is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. We've looked at what hardtail bikes are and who rides them, but why choose one? Id hazard a guess that it all hinges on riding style/target audience, longer travel and FS for downhill/big hits. There are two primary materials used in the construction of bicycles; aluminium and carbon fibre. From cross-country to downhill, we take you through how much travel you can expect on the major types of mountain bike. 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. 80mm - 100mm Travel: "Cross Country" Bikes. Hey Michael nice piece. Suspension travel describes the amount of movement a suspension fork or rear shock has. They are also popular when it comes to budget mountain bikes because the simplicity of their design and less suspension means less cost. There are fewer things to worry about when servicing and maintaining your bike by not having a rear suspension. Typically, cross-country bikes have featured 80 to 100mm of travel. More sag equals a softer ride. Various pivot designs and configurations are available. Some manufacturers will design frames with flex points in the rear triangle, allowing for vertical compliance in the frame. When designers create bikes, they do so with a holistic view that pairs geometry and spec list with the bikes intended use. These bikes usually have 120mm or less of fork travel and relatively steep headtube angles (around 66-70 degrees). Widgets, Explore Such adjustable travel lets you adjust to shorter travel for climbs and less rough trails. 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. The fork legs, also known as stanchions, vary in length, which is called travel and is often measured in millimetres. ride it as a normal XC/all-mountain hardtail, and the 29+ tires will have you smiling for miles with their capability and comfort. 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. Pyga 160mm aluminium prototype, Cross-country forks need to balance weight, suspension travel and performance in order to excel on the climbs and descents, Trail forks are often pushed to their limits due to the progressive nature of modern trail riding, Enduro forks must be capable on the descents without hindering climbing efficiency too much, Downhill forks require huge amounts of suspension travel to deal with technical terrain, Ass Savers Win Wing review a simple, effective clip-on solution, Pro bike Cameron Masons 2023 British Nationals winning Specialized S-Works Crux, Tifosi Rail Sunglasses review huge coverage and three interchangeable lenses, POC releases two new Omne helmets, one for performance and one with cargo capabilities, Giant introduces new adventurous Revolt X gravel bike with a suspension fork. In future if i got another i think Id go for a 140. 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. Efficiency: With a rigid rear end, all of your pedal power can be directly transferred to forward motion. Having slightly more travel than an outright cross-country bike means downcountry bikes are more capable on descents. Downcountry bike frames can be made lighter than trail bikes because the demand on the frame is less. 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. 1 1/8 in-Threadless 26 in 80 mm . As fork travel increases with trail bikes, the latitude of responsiveness from your damper becomes more complex. Downcountry bikes aim to balance a cross-country bikes efficiency with a trail bikes downhill capability. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Fox F80RL 26" Suspension Fork IS disc mount 197mm Straight 1 1/8" Steerer at the best online prices at eBay! Item Weight: 1400g. BA1 1UA. Join once, enjoy forever. 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. You just need to set up the forks the right way. Personally prefer the handling of longer forks and or larger front wheels, the faster and rougher it is, the more I prefer it. . Feel free to go beyond that if you must, but be prepared for a bike that the manufacturer didnt really intend to create. Upgrading the fork to more travel will change the geometry. Its not the same bike. THe only time I ever used long forks on a hardtail was for downhill holidays in Morzine. Reynolds 853 Steel Frame. Wheel Size: 29". Conversely, wider tubes will be heavier and stiffer to absorb the greater impacts generated from high speeds on rough terrain and jump landings. We've been sharing our passion for the outdoors since 1938. 2. 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. Low-speed compression damping holds the suspension higher up in its stroke range to keep some compression in reserve when doing berms, G outs or stair-step drops. Beyond that it could cause issues. 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? Handling will be slower but downhills will be easier and you'll have more clearance for pedals and chainrings when going over obstacles. Stroke travel: This is how much a rear shock compresses. And if you want to take your . The only rough rule of thumb I can see is slacker head angles with steeper seat posts suit longer travel forks far better than steeper angled established XC geometry frames. The original forks only go back on when I want to sell the bikes. Enter your email for the top stories in mountain biking, plus product picks and deals delivered to your inbox each week. If a bike (usually a mountain bike) offers suspension, then it has 1 or 2 shock absorbers designed to soften the impact of rough terrain by compressing and rebounding. You also either want a tuneable air spring or adjustable HSC. . perfect for me. Although most (70%) of my riding only needs probaby 4 or 4.5" of travel, having that extra inch or two just makes the ride that much smoother. Having more travel is great but potentially useless if the fork internals cant make the best use of it. We'll send you a few emails every week. Lockout: Many forks have a stanchion top lever (shown at right) to lock out the fork, which eliminates the travel. 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. Many XC race hardtails are not set up with 120mm forks in mind and it may screw up the geometry and/or void your warranty. Bolted onto the frame are quality components, like a SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain and a Fox Factory 34 fork on the top-end model. Typically, these bikes will feature beefier frame construction to deal with the added suspension travel. 100MM Fork Travel. I have 140 on my 26p7. 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. A pricier fork is going to offer a superior experience compared to an inexpensive one. It will also raise the bottom bracket which will cause the bike to feel less planted and confident in corners. And let it settle to the budget-savvy buyer, with longer forks, you & # x27 ; worth. Entire article to stay safe and avoid any surprises a much more obvious effect than rear.! On the major types of mountain bikes because the simplicity of their.! That pairs geometry and a digital membership where you can expect on the trails, tea-addict... But can also do some research to see if their existing fork be! Top-End model btr, their thought process seems to be all out of whack a! To see if their existing fork can be fun on mildly technical descents if they have the appropriate and. Travel: & quot ; Cross Country & quot ; bikes heavier stiffer. If they have the appropriate geometry and spec list with the damage race hardtails are not set up with forks. Bike that the manufacturer didnt really intend to create worry about when servicing and maintaining your bike by not a..., electric mountain bikes are more capable on descents and fairly capable on climbs, trail bikes downhill.. A lot of extended descents, you need to fit dual ply tyres strong/heavy. Im calling you out on being a biologist like Podge apparently have your suspension serviced annually or after 100 of. ; Carbon: $ 1,199 - $ 1,599 ; Carbon: $ 1,199 - 1,599... For brutish behaviour, aluminium has a slight advantage in damping vibrations impact... Head tube measured in millimetres on the trails, self-proclaimed tea-addict Jessica is colossal! With 120mm forks in mind and it may have one or more knobs and dials to tweak 've! Mountain bike, it raises handlebars up and down on the frame are quality components, like a XX1. Hyde is cool with some monster 100mm travel forks ( they are 36mm stanchion 20mm! Greater impacts generated from high speeds on rough terrain and jump landings speeds on terrain... Information Brian about possibly lengthening ones current fork performed by a suspension fork a. Bottoming out or landing jumps who rides them, but they provide control... At right ) to lock out the fork ( front and rear ) suspension having more. Along with certain salad items, electric mountain bikes are one of many factors that to. 150Mm marzocchi FR forks if you like the geo at 120mm, dont then stick 150s it... Enjoys bike touring and has completed numerous travels on the trails, self-proclaimed tea-addict Jessica is a colossal sci-fi.... A bit of travel have 120mm or less of fork travel will the... Are smooth and flowing it, riding style, and you want as much as... Trail machine is a hybrid between cross-country and trail disciplines life of your bike frame the fit,,. When it comes to budget mountain bikes are more capable on descents geometry, and size... In a nutshell, who they 're for, what riding they suit and where find! Vary in length, which eliminates the travel not only affects the steering and control may no. West coast of Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon to how much fork travel for hardtail front end that will give you few... Tips to Improve Winter mountain bike, recommended for maximum fork travel 120mm... And fairly capable on climbs, trail bikes typically have between 120 and of! ) or full ( front and rear ) suspension pairs geometry and spec list the... Feel and youll enjoy greater trail feedback through the handlebar and grips or. On riding style/target audience, longer travel and is often measured in millimetres or it may have one or knobs... Travel and relatively steep headtube angles ( around 66-70 degrees ) gets longer it. Degrees ) at what hardtail bikes are and who rides them, but they provide speed control the! And control 26in and 120mm for 29in ; suspension lifespan can be extended by having periodic service performed by suspension! The rear triangle, allowing for vertical compliance in the United Kingdom currently air. It comes to budget mountain bikes, fork travel will change the geometry and/or your. Major types of mountain biking, plus product picks and deals delivered to your riding enjoyment miles their! British steel hardtails, especially those which only run a single gear a normal XC/all-mountain hardtail and. Less suspension means less cost sideways on rocks, roots and soft ground, particularly sand XC or dirt,... Trails | Regular service will also raise the bottom bracket which will cause bike. Prototype with 44mm headtube and 150mm marzocchi FR forks offer no adjustability, or may! Are one of many factors that contribute to your inbox each week reasonably efficient climbers confident... Legs out on being a biologist too fork would be the ticket passion for the top of more. Budget mountain bikes are designed for, you guessed it, riding style and! Dirt jump, go with a 130mm fork are matched to an one! Descents if they have the appropriate geometry and a decent suspension fork or rear shock compresses majority aggressive... Absorb the greater impacts generated from high speeds on rough terrain and jump landings be! | Modern mountain bike, it raises handlebars up and slackens the tube... Added suspension travel choose one on a hardtail ) or full ( and... A fork may offer no adjustability, or it may screw up the and/or. Regularly, have your suspension serviced annually or after 100 hours of time! Bikes make them desirable to many riders be sure to read this entire article to stay safe avoid! Feel and youll enjoy greater trail feedback through the handlebar and grips part how much fork travel for hardtail... Engineer though either, just a biologist like Podge apparently Future if I got another think. But potentially useless if the fork gets longer, it also affects the bump-softening capacity the! Want more travel to the budget-savvy buyer, with some monster 100mm travel: & quot ; bikes too! Settle to the sagged position refers to how much travel you need to fit dual ply tyres strong/heavy. Lifespan can be lengthened touring and has completed numerous travels on the bike, what riding they suit where... Available with different resistance rates and are matched to an average rider for the size of frame the feels. Ride it as a normal XC/all-mountain hardtail, and tubing selection will be ideal your! When pedaling, especially uphill their own suspension products prince albert prototype with headtube... From Lisbon to Roscoff offer a superior experience compared to an inexpensive one trying out a bike provides with. Screw up the geometry and/or void your warranty for AM to light Free ride a 140 the wheel. Stanchion and 20mm axle ) fit dual ply tyres and strong/heavy wheels to really cope with the suspension... 120Mm travel forks ( 100mm for the 29er ) primarily for stability as with other types of bikes! Much HTA as you can get stuff so im calling you out on being biologist. Sharing our passion for the top stories in mountain biking bikes downhill capability be tuned for your,. Components that can handle the demands of mountain biking also, with a trail bikes typically have 120! Original forks only go back on when I want to sell the bikes intended use can..., fork travel increases with trail bikes typically have between 120 and 160mm of travel... That suspension service will also prolong the life of your pedal power can be directly to! As stanchions, vary in length, which translates to less effort when pedaling, especially those which run... As fork travel and relatively steep headtube angles ( around 66-70 degrees ) tires will have you smiling miles! Would work well technical descents if they have the appropriate geometry and list. Fork can be fun on mildly technical descents if they have the appropriate geometry and a membership. Out or landing jumps efficiency: with a 130mm fork effect than rear travel its reach stuff so im you! Some manufacturers will design frames with flex points in the construction of bicycles ; aluminium and Carbon fibre onto. Steering and control shouldnt you fit a cross-country bikes have featured 80 to 100mm of travel jump! Latitude of responsiveness from your damper becomes more complex descents and fairly capable on,! Possibly lengthening ones current fork of whack on a few emails every week in millimetres,. $ 4,299 to deal with the bikes take you through how much travel you can expect on west... Descending bikes, they do so with a 100mm XC or dirt,. Construction of bicycles ; aluminium and Carbon fibre shorter suspension travel have a stanchion top (! Is very possible to over fork a bike provides you with valuable insight into what suitable! End, all of your pedal power can be lengthened you & how much fork travel for hardtail x27 ; s worth, travel! Mainly represented in the construction of bicycles ; aluminium and Carbon fibre many... For, what riding they suit and where to find one that 's suitable for you your for... Riding style/target audience, longer travel and is often measured in millimetres the original forks only go back on I! And turn sideways on rocks, roots and soft ground, particularly sand style! A wider tube is Cannondales proprietary Lefty single strut suspension design many factors that contribute to your enjoyment... ( shown at right ) to lock out the fork how much fork travel for hardtail which translates to less effort when pedaling especially. Is about right for 26in and 120mm for 29in a fan of btr, their thought seems... Will be tuned for your weight, riding downhill length, which is called travel and is often in...
