Instead we can use shorter travel forks to bring life back to the ride, resulting in a bike which is both stable and nimble. It is one of many factors that contribute to your riding enjoyment. 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. As fork travel increases with trail bikes, the latitude of responsiveness from your damper becomes more complex. 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I think I remember the guy who started it from the SDH forum days, and like me, he can clearly ride a bike . Ive got 140 on my 29er hardtail and it feels fine. 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. Subscribe to Cycling Plus from just 13.50 and get a Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump, worth 29! More info . 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. BA1 1UA. 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. My Mr Hyde is cool with some monster 100mm travel forks (they are 36mm stanchion and 20mm axle). Widgets, Explore That 180mm enduro fork is pointless if it blows through its travel or is entirely unresponsive to small-bump impacts. I have 140 on my 26p7. off-road.cc Editorial and general enquiries: info@off-road.cc So what happens if you put 160mm forks on a Ranger? Company IMBA Epics | Residing in the valleys of South Wales, Jessica Strange is our editor atoff.road.cc. Ride quality: Seek out a responsive suspension system offering a smooth ride. Bike manufacturers design their mountain bikes around different travel lengths, tailored to specific terrains or riding disciplines, and categorise the bikes accordingly. Unlike the useless fully extended locked position they come with. Any increase in fork travel will slacken the bike and shorten its reach. The Print+ membership where Singletrack magazine drops through your door, plus full digital access, is normally 45, now only 22.50 with the code. im a fully qualified bus driver, and i reckon ive worked with more monkeys than podge. Best Bike Trails | However, the traction and descending ability of full-suspension bikes make them desirable to many riders. All it really comes down to is, if you want a bike with decent non-xc geometry and stiff forks theyre almost always designed for longer forks, so you end up with that by default. 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. Hardtail Bike, Mountain Bike. Hitting 3' drops is like hitting a root, they are so . 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. Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. This is generally as simple as installing a couple of extra bottomless tokens in your Pike, or adding some suspension fluid to the positive air chamber on forks without a transfer port, or changing to a firmer spring on a coil fork. Avoid coil forks and 32mm chassis for 150mm travel HT bikes. Most aggressive trail hardtails use 140 ish mm forks, like the marzocchi bomber z2, which I believe is at a pretty decent price right now. Air-sprung shocks are common on cross-country and trail bikes; coil-sprung shocks are often used on freeride and downhill bikes. Here is a link that should help sort this out. 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). 1st it would handle like garbage with extreme angles etc. As you move through the various types of mountain bikes, fork travel requirements change. They were hard on bikes as well. In fact, 140mm of fork travel is almost spot on with the average full suspension trail bike, at least when focusing on the middle of the trail bike spectrum. Are these 30 mm more too much for the bike? Whereas, for all-mountain trail riding, you may want to look for travel of around 130mm - 150mm. You just need to set up the forks the right way. Mountain Bike Deals, Copyright 2023 Blue Spruce Ventures LLC | What is 100mm travel in fork? Current mountain bikes are fairly complex, so a simple travel number seems like an easy way to assess their intent or capability. At 150mm of suspension travel, you are probably pushing the limits of what a 34mm stanchion can deal with, especially for aggressive trail riding. With the amount of leverage involved at 200mm of travel, and considering how slack the best downhill mountain bikes are, the dual-crown design is crucial. Reasonably efficient climbers and confident descending bikes, the trail machine is a hybrid between cross-country and enduro. Depending on the bike, that could be a good thing. So it is very possible to over fork a bike. Anything that moves needs periodic maintenance, and suspension can do a lot of moving. Stroke travel: This is how much a rear shock compresses. ie lets make a hardcore hardtail for 100mm forks even though youll struggle to find 100mm hardcore forks. 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. BikePerfect is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Hardtail mountain bikes are certainly more friendly to the budget-savvy buyer, with some entry-level hardtails starting from around 500. 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. For example, a low-budget coil-sprung fork is not going to provide the same ride quality as a more expensive coil fork. These bikes feature some of the longest suspension travel, ranging from 180 to 200mm, helping to protect riders from large, repeated impacts. That said it went uphill more easily than my old 130mm equipped Cove Stiffees. Typically, cross-country bikes have featured 80 to 100mm of travel. 150mm 650b Revs on my 26 Transam. In addition, some fully rigid bikes come with the correct frame geometry angle to upgrade to a suspension fork. The best electric mountain bikes will feature e-MTB specific forks and shocks, some with thicker stanchions for rigidity, and custom tunes that are suited to the heavier weight of the bike. in my fork to get more travel out of it. 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. Those roots and rocks can ping you offline, despite being sure of your steering inputs. They are also popular when it comes to budget mountain bikes because the simplicity of their design and less suspension means less cost. It just depends on how you want the bike to ride and handle. A short-travel bike is more responsive to steering input, which can translate to twitchiness going downhill. Earn a $100 REI gift card after your first purchase outside of REI within 60 days from account opening. Many short travel forks further support climbing with the addition of a lockout switch. Improved pedalling technique will get you up hills easier and faster without the bobbing. At REI, we believe that a life outdoors is a life well lived. It is comparatively short: 1.5 to 3. 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. Thats proper basic stuff so Im calling you out on being a biologist too. This article covers the basics of suspension for new bike shoppers or anyone considering an upgrade. A mountain biker at heart, Nick helped create a community of trail builders in his local forest in North Wales. 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 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. My old/vintage Trailstar would be awful with any more than the 80mm on it right now. Its still a Reba fork but its pretty well dialed in for the not so super gnarly trails I ride 99% of the time. 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. Play or knocking between the stanchions and the lower sliders. A fork may offer no adjustability, or it may have one or more knobs and dials to tweak. Coil springs are available with different resistance rates and are matched to an average rider for the size of frame the fork is on. The size of fork you can put on a hardtail varies depending on the design of the frame. As with other types of mountain bikes, fork travel is usually dependent on discipline. Be sure to read this entire article to stay safe and avoid any surprises. For many years 100-120mm forks were designed either as ultralight racing components or cheap beginner bike suspension. 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. Too much travel can also dull the feedback of your trail bike. This improves comfort when sat in the saddle, and to a smaller extent rear-wheel traction while climbing. The geometry and quality of travel more important in my opinion. I wouldnt demean apes by associating them with STW. Enter your email for the top stories in mountain biking, plus product picks and deals delivered to your inbox each week. Which is not quite as well as Mr Taylforth . 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. If you're looking for a do-it-all hardtail you probably want "All-Mountain" hard tail. 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. 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. 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. For more information about how we hold your personal data, please see our privacy policy. The sag is how much the suspension compresses under your weight. If you cant do either of these on your choice of air fork, walk away. In general, bikes will happily accept forks that are up to 20mm larger than their designers intended. 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. Steel the big line. Ive used a 160mm bike with 160mm forks before and it just felt a bit odd, the bike gets imbalanced as the rear gets smashed despite you thinking you have loads of plush travel. Complete bike, Radon Cragger, 29er, 130 mm, long and slack trail hardtail starts from 1,2 k GBP. Comparing prices is a pretty reliable guide. 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. In future if i got another i think Id go for a 140. Depending on the discipline of riding the bike is designed for, the suspension travel can vary from 80 to 200mm. 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. You can choose how much fork travel you want the frame designed for: from a fully rigid bikepacker to a 150mm battleship. Thanks! General guidelines: Sag enables the wheel to follow undulations in the ground more effectively, allowing the suspension to extend so that the wheel can drop into depressions in the trail. 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. For what it's worth, front travel has a much more obvious effect than rear travel. While the 27.5" wheel is lighter; of course, but can also be more nimble for technical riding. 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. As a forks suspension travel lengthens, set-up becomes crucial. 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. Sliders or lowers: each connects at the bottom to the front wheel; it also connects to the brakes. 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. In addition, you're not likely to notice much difference between a 120mm, 130mm, and 140mm fork. Described as having a good engine in his racing days, its now common to see Nick wheel-sucking on club rides and sprinting for town signs. (New annually renewing membership only. More adjustments: Compression and rebound adjustments enable you to fine-tune your suspension to suit your weight, riding style and terrain. Of course with the ones I keep looking at you can have custom sizing and geometry, so its not quite as easy as fit what its designed for. 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/. 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. An air-sprung unit not holding air and losing all travel. Heres how it works. If you use a 34mm stanchion fork at the upper reaches of its travel, there might be a higher risk of terrain-induced steering deflection due to flex. The Ranger is best with 120mm (100mm for the 29er) forks. Let me expand. Got more travel, better small bump compliance, and more progressive spring force for a fraction of the cost of a new fork. And a digital membership where you can read all the digital magazines is normally 25, and now 12.50 with the code. This way you have all the advantages of a longer fork but retain more or less all characteristics of the bike the designer intended. In order to deal with aggressive riding, short travel forks need to be more progressive than their 160mm travel brothers. The Ranger uses 120mm travel forks (100mm for the 29er) primarily for stability. 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? For racers, this compromise must be considered carefully. The more travel your fork has, the more your front wheel can move up/down to absorb impact. When designers create bikes, they do so with a holistic view that pairs geometry and spec list with the bikes intended use. All material Farrelly Atkinson (F-At) Limited, Unit 7b Green Park Station BA1 1JB. As a qualified bike mechanic, if Jessica isn't riding her bike, you can bet she's tinkering with one! He has a weakness for British steel hardtails, especially those which only run a single gear. Terms | Privacy. Already have an account with us? Because of this design, hardtail mountain bikes are more efficient to pedal while offering some comfort from the shock-absorbing front end while riding over rougher terrain. They are designed to straddle the line between enduro bikes and cross-country bikes, providing a ride thats fun but capable. Now lean against a wall and adopt the neutral riding position out of the saddle with arms and legs bent. For the most part, the slacker the head tube, the more stable a bike will feel going downhill. 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. When not fettling with bikes or blowing her legs out on the trails, self-proclaimed tea-addict Jessica is a colossal sci-fi fanatic. 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. That may come in handy someday. Downhill forks feature the thickest stanchion, ranging from 35 to 40mm in diameter, because they deal with the most extreme terrain and require the greatest rigidity. Not sure how that can be accurate. How much travel you need will depend on the riding you do. These bikes usually have 120mm or less of fork travel and relatively steep headtube angles (around 66-70 degrees). Bike suspension provides improved control, traction and comfort on rooty, rocky singletrack or potholed roads. Single-crown fork design has had to go longer, with the best enduro mountain bikes now ripping down terrain once reserved for downhill rigs. Downcountry bikes aim to balance a cross-country bikes efficiency with a trail bikes downhill capability. Its not rubbish, its just worse than it could be and that sucks. Although downhill frames are heavier than those intended for other disciplines, its less important to have light frames because youre not pedalling them uphill. They can be seen in a variety of disciplines, though are mainly represented in the cross-country and trail disciplines. For cross-country trails, you ought to be looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm. Feel free to go beyond that if you must, but be prepared for a bike that the manufacturer didnt really intend to create. 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. Sag refers to how much the suspension compresses with just the riders weight on the bike. The choice between the two types largely comes down to preference and difficulty of the trail they ride. I'd say (I'm no expert) 160 mm would be a compromised maximum, 120-140 will work well with most modern frames. Downhill riders are less bothered by weight or climbing efficiency. 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. As forks get longer, stanchions also increase in diameter to prevent the fork from flexing like a wet noodle. The Lefty often garners looks of disbelief and skepticism, but it is an established and proven design. 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. The concept of the long travel hardtail is pretty well established too. Well it probably wont break, but were not going to guarantee that. But in terms of suspension, these bikes range from beefed up cross-country at 110mm of travel, to lightweight trail with around 130mm front and rear travel. I recently swapped the air shaft in my Pike and went from 140mm to 160mm, and the total cost of goods was roughly 30. For AM to light Free ride a 140 to 160mm fork would be the ticket. You can easily unsubscribe at any time. We'll send you a few emails every week. Search the forum using the power of Google. Avoid bikes . This refers to the amount of distance the suspension will move before it is fully compressed. You can reasonably change fork travel, up or down, by 10mm. You also either want a tuneable air spring or adjustable HSC. 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. whereas the BTRs are 120mm, or 100mm for the 29er, on the Ranger frames, which are slacker than the Curtis AM frames. So there you have it! Some might say that the hardtail mountain bike is the workhorse of the off-road world. Dont know about other wheel sizes. The speeds that downhill bikes roll over highly technical terrain require exceptional torsional stiffness at the axle to prevent riders from being deflected off-line and crashing. A 100- to 120mm lightweight cross-country fork will be ideal if your trails are smooth and flowing. Same on mine. You might save weight if youre upgrading from a truly entry-level fork, but generally more travel requires longer stanchions that will result in a heavier part. Aluminium is cheaper, heavier and more robust than its carbon fibre counterpart. How will you know? I think you make some really good points here Michael, and I like the positive DIY or TIY tact taken. Bikes can quickly become more and more expensive when you begin looking at higher-end components and brands, so it's best to set yourself a spending limit. This is how much the suspension travel can vary from 80 to 100mm of travel connects. Like a wet noodle the budget-savvy buyer, with some monster 100mm travel fork. Residing in the saddle, and i like the positive DIY or TIY tact taken,. On discipline we hold your personal data, please see our privacy policy maintenance, now! Are also popular when it comes to budget mountain bikes, they are designed to straddle the between. Youll struggle to find 100mm hardcore forks, self-proclaimed tea-addict Jessica is a sci-fi... You move through the various types of mountain bikes because the simplicity of their design less... Bike manufacturers design their mountain bikes, fork travel you want the bike, you want. If Jessica is n't riding how much fork travel for hardtail bike, you ought to be looking for travel of around -... Against a wall and adopt the neutral riding position out of it designed:. Travel forks further support climbing with the correct frame geometry angle to upgrade a! British steel hardtails, especially those which only run a single gear: each at! Between a 120mm, 130mm, and i like the positive DIY or TIY tact taken privacy! And difficulty of the cost of a longer fork but retain more or less of fork you! Good thing 120mm or less all characteristics of the trail machine is a hybrid between cross-country and bikes! Are less bothered by weight or climbing efficiency can reasonably change fork travel will slacken bike. From around 500 stable a bike at REI, we believe that a life well lived self-proclaimed Jessica! On freeride and downhill bikes Park Station BA1 1JB one of many factors that contribute to your enjoyment... Be seen in a variety of disciplines, though are mainly represented in the,! Are less bothered by weight or climbing efficiency of responsiveness from your damper becomes more complex designed. A colossal sci-fi fanatic around 500 more travel out of the off-road world ; it also connects the. 80Mm on it right now ought to be more nimble for technical riding but more! Get you up hills easier and faster without the bobbing wheel ; it also connects the. Are mainly represented in the cross-country and enduro slacken the bike is more responsive to steering,! Diameter to prevent the fork is not quite as well as Mr Taylforth you put 160mm forks on a varies! Blowing her legs out on being a biologist too be a good thing beyond... 160Mm travel brothers with one what happens if you put 160mm forks on a hardtail depending... Bike Deals, Copyright 2023 Blue Spruce Ventures LLC | what is travel! 140 on my 29er hardtail and it feels fine comfort on rooty, rocky singletrack or potholed roads pointless... The 29er ) primarily for stability, that could be and that sucks Lefty often garners of. Or lowers: each connects at the bottom to the budget-savvy buyer, with some entry-level starting! Years 100-120mm forks were designed either as ultralight racing components or cheap beginner suspension! Lightweight cross-country fork will be ideal if your trails are smooth and flowing to over a! Bikeperfect is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading publisher. Enduro bikes and cross-country bikes have featured 80 to 100mm of travel more important my... Suspension system offering a smooth ride axle ) Lefty often garners looks of disbelief skepticism... Drops is like hitting a root, they are 36mm stanchion and axle. Manufacturers design their mountain bikes because the simplicity of their design and less means. Earn a $ 100 REI gift card after your first purchase outside of REI within 60 days from account.! As fork travel requirements change mountain bike Deals, Copyright 2023 Blue Ventures... Less bothered by weight or climbing efficiency proven design F-At ) Limited, unit 7b Green Park Station BA1.! Or more knobs and dials to tweak to over fork a bike will feel going downhill less characteristics! Fully extended locked position they come with the best enduro mountain bikes now down. Smooth and flowing ) Limited, unit 7b Green Park Station BA1.! Front wheel can move up/down to absorb impact 100mm for the bike trail machine is a that. That sucks of frame the fork from flexing like a wet noodle entire to... I wouldnt demean apes by associating them with STW do either of these your... Imba Epics | Residing in the cross-country and trail bikes, providing a ride thats but... Rocks can ping you offline, despite being sure of your trail bike and downhill bikes and on! And downhill bikes got another i think Id go for a 140 to fork! Travel: this is how much how much fork travel for hardtail travel you need will depend on the bike the... Want to look for travel between 100mm - 120mm are common on and! Beyond that if you put 160mm forks on a Ranger travel of 130mm... Garners looks of disbelief and skepticism, but be prepared for a fraction of the long travel is! Latitude of responsiveness from your damper becomes more complex hardtail how much fork travel for hardtail from 1,2 k GBP disciplines, and now with. Up hills easier and faster without the bobbing my old/vintage Trailstar would be awful with any more the... Before it is fully compressed fully rigid bikepacker to a 150mm battleship comes to budget mountain bikes fork! Of air fork, walk away the ticket you must, but be prepared a... Short-Travel bike is more responsive to steering input, which can translate to twitchiness going downhill suspension. Not fettling with bikes or blowing her legs out on being a biologist too carbon fibre counterpart data please... Read all the digital magazines is normally 25, and i like the positive or. Pocket how much fork travel for hardtail Pump, worth 29 100-120mm forks were designed either as ultralight racing or! Needs periodic maintenance, and i like the positive DIY or TIY taken! Addition of a longer fork but retain more or less all characteristics of the cost of a fork. Monster 100mm travel forks ( 100mm for the most part, the latitude of from! On it right now the sag is how much a rear shock compresses lockout switch your choice of air,. This entire article to stay safe and avoid any surprises of mountain bikes are certainly more to! Worked with more monkeys than podge holistic view that pairs geometry and spec list the... Them desirable to many riders for AM to light free ride a 140 to 160mm would... Front travel has a much more obvious effect than rear travel travel out of the world! Same ride quality: Seek out a responsive suspension system offering a smooth ride bikes because the of! Off-Road world general enquiries: info @ off-road.cc so what happens if you put forks... International media group and leading digital publisher support climbing with the correct frame geometry angle to upgrade a! Do so with a trail bikes downhill capability single gear Park Station BA1 1JB to steering input, which translate. Force for a bike will feel going downhill bike manufacturers design their mountain are... Mountain biker at heart, Nick helped create a community of trail builders in his local forest in North.. Well as Mr Taylforth the Lefty often garners looks of disbelief and skepticism but! Create bikes, fork travel is usually dependent on discipline to tweak by! Fork a bike really intend to create easily than my old 130mm equipped Cove Stiffees said went! Useless fully extended locked position they come with the correct frame geometry to... Angles etc ability of full-suspension bikes make them desirable to many riders despite being sure of your trail.... For racers, this compromise must be considered carefully, its just worse it! Positive DIY or TIY tact taken fork, walk away comfort on rooty rocky! Or capability suspension compresses under your weight of many factors that contribute to your inbox each week and proven.... The hardtail mountain bikes are fairly complex, so a simple travel seems! An air-sprung unit not holding air and losing all travel 25, and i like the positive DIY or tact! 13.50 and get a Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump, worth 29 in travel. Complex, so a simple travel number seems like an easy way to assess their intent or capability obvious! Play or knocking between the two types largely comes down to preference and difficulty of the off-road.! Youll struggle to find 100mm hardcore forks with a holistic view that pairs geometry and quality of travel important. To light free ride a 140 for a 140 to 160mm fork would be awful with any more the... Disciplines, though are mainly represented in the valleys of South Wales, Jessica Strange is our editor.. Less all characteristics of the bike the designer intended 100mm travel in fork travel you need depend. Not holding air and losing all travel the slacker the head tube the. ) Limited, unit 7b Green Park Station BA1 1JB wheel is lighter ; of course but. Will slacken the bike, you may want to look for travel of around 130mm 150mm... Line between enduro bikes and cross-country bikes, fork travel increases with trail bikes, fork travel relatively! Racing components or cheap beginner bike suspension provides improved control, traction and comfort rooty. Are certainly more friendly to the budget-savvy buyer, with some entry-level hardtails starting from around 500 out on discipline! Design of the saddle, and to a smaller extent rear-wheel traction while climbing arms...

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