Never underestimate the second-hand market as you can end up finding yourself a proper good bargain. Youve probably reached this conclusion in one of two ways. Be honest with yourself about where and what youll ride. Heres how it works. You must choose between bikes with front suspension only (a hardtail) or full (front and rear) suspension. For cross-country trails, you ought to be looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm. 3. Bolted onto the frame are quality components, like a SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain and a Fox Factory 34 fork on the top-end model. its unpredictable.. In this guide, well explain the different mountain bike categories and how much suspension travel they typically have. 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. 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. Youll find a range of options and prices. The extra stress of a longer fork is negligible, eg adding 50mm travel by adding a Reba to a XTC will only increase the lever arm (the distance from the centre of the steering tube to the axle) by 10%. These allow riders to make the best of all that travel by configuring the damping circuits and rebound to work across all terrain. Probably something to do with dynamic head angles in full sussers vs hardtails. The Print+ membership where Singletrack magazine drops through your door, plus full digital access, is normally 45, now only 22.50 with the code. 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. 80mm - 100mm Travel: "Cross Country" Bikes. Adjust the coil-spring preload or the air pressure to achieve the manufacturers recommended amount of sag for both front and/or rear suspension. 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. Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. We've looked at what hardtail bikes are and who rides them, but why choose one? Hardtail Max fun on the trail. Start with 20 to 25 per cent of the fork's travel so, if you fork has 100mm of travel, it . 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. Slacker head angles boost confidence in steep descending terrain, but they make a mountain bike less agile at climbing technical singletrack as well as unbalancing the bike by moving the rider's weight backward. This latest MK2 version Shimano SPD Cleats SH51 MTB SPD - Single Release, Shimano SPD Cleats SM-SH56 - Multi Release, Cheaper Things Tuesday: Discounted E-Bikes Edition, This topic has 83 replies, 36 voices, and was last updated. Ride quality: Seek out a responsive suspension system offering a smooth ride. For more information about how we hold your personal data, please see our privacy policy. But why shouldnt you fit a cross-country mountain bike, recommended for maximum fork travel of 120mm, with a 130mm fork? However, the traction and descending ability of full-suspension bikes make them desirable to many riders. Ive put longer travel forks on nearly every MTB Ive owned and never had bad handling habits or broken frames (hard tails, dual suspension, aluminium and carbon). Make sure your suspension is properly adjusted. 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. Complete bike, Radon Cragger, 29er, 130 mm, long and slack trail hardtail starts from 1,2 k GBP. Adjusting the travel not only affects the bump-softening capacity of the bike, it also affects the steering and control. You can unsubscribe at any time. This issue has been largely addressed through design advances and a selection of 2 or 3 settings for ascending, descending or general riding. 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. And as you would expect, it needs a fork with more travel and stiffness than those 100-120mm options. Note: Bicycle manufacturers dont make their own suspension products. 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. How much travel you need will depend on the riding you do. Also think about the style of riding youll do is it casual youre after or do you want to race it? 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. Trail bikes are one of the most popular types of mountain bike. m not a fan of btr, their thought process seems to be all out of whack on a few of their products. That 180mm enduro fork is pointless if it blows through its travel or is entirely unresponsive to small-bump impacts. But these travel-related questions are most often asked about our Ranger frame. Tam always struck me as a person who knew his stuff. Hardtails aren't great in very steep terrain, despite some hardcore hardtails running forks up to 170mm long. Sizes: S, M, L, XL. A mountain biker at heart, Nick helped create a community of trail builders in his local forest in North Wales. Typically, these bikes will feature beefier frame construction to deal with the added suspension travel. This hardtail features rear rack mounts and bikepacking-friendly. Best Bike Trails | Downcountry is a relatively new mountain bike discipline and isnt that well defined as a result. The terrain you ride on really determines how much travel you need. Various pivot designs and configurations are available. 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. I know who have been building bikes for longer, but do you reckon theres anything in BTRs reasoning? 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. You can choose how much fork travel you want the frame designed for: from a fully rigid bikepacker to a 150mm battleship. Travel for enduro bikes starts at 150mm and ranges up to 180mm. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The hardtail is also more adaptable for riders who use their mountain bike as an all-purpose cycling vehicle. Hitting 3' drops is like hitting a root, they are so . As with other types of mountain bikes, fork travel is usually dependent on discipline. Just based on what Ive found I can get the rear wheel over at speed without smashing it up. Item Width: 197 mm. Build quality: High-end models have superior technical design and construction and offer a longer life with regular maintenance and servicing. Well, everything has a downside. It will also raise the bottom bracket which will cause the bike to feel less planted and confident in corners. 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. 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. My riding skillz are also more important than 20mm of travel. These bikes feature some of the longest suspension travel, ranging from 180 to 200mm, helping to protect riders from large, repeated impacts. It usually comes down to what you feel more comfortable with, so it's highly recommended to try before you buy when possible. Given that this is an entry-level hardtail mountain bike, its nominal fork travel could be in range from 80 mm to 120 mm. perfect for me. Item Weight: 1400g. Rebound damping is the most important damping setting. 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. In future if i got another i think Id go for a 140. Nick has built many of his bikes from the frame up and has a keen eye for technical detail. As fork travel increases with trail bikes, the latitude of responsiveness from your damper becomes more complex. Im having fun on a 140mm 32.5lbs 29er hardtail riding natural trails at mince to medium speeds. They are designed to straddle the line between enduro bikes and cross-country bikes, providing a ride thats fun but capable. They are also popular when it comes to budget mountain bikes because the simplicity of their design and less suspension means less cost. These 120mm (or 100mm) forks also keep the bike responsive, efficient and nimble. The Roscoe 8 will perform like a champ. While the 27.5" wheel is lighter; of course, but can also be more nimble for technical riding. Adjusting damping settings are referred to as tuning the fork. Without correct damping, you may feel like you are astride a pogo stick on wheels. Excludes Gift Memberships, Discount applies to first year. Increase the preload if the fork feels too spongy. My BFe was a bit wandery at 150 but is just about right at 130. Carbon is incredibly strong, but brittle so it can't offer the same tolerances as aluminium. In general, bikes will happily accept forks that are up to 20mm larger than their designers intended. The wheels are welcome on much of the trail, including steep slopes, grass, rock, sand, and loose dirt. Adjustments may be available for both the compression and rebound. 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 shorter suspension travel gives a more responsive feel and youll enjoy greater trail feedback through the handlebar and grips. You've been subscribed to our newsletter. Alhough some things will be the same, some of the critical things will be for average riding very different. What they said IMHO hardtails are used more for mincing along stuff* than for full on DH so less travel is generally required, I found my 456 to be a front end light going up hill with 140 and use TALAS if i had to pick i would have gone for 120 mm personally, * i have 100 mm 26 er and yes i could ride the lakes and proper mountains on it but honestly I would be using my FS for such a task. Although many cross-country bikes are now moving over to full-suspension set-ups, there's still a large population of XC riders who love riding and racing on hardtails. Then I added tokens and lowered the air pressure. 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. An air-sprung unit not holding air and losing all travel. 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. Electric mountain bikes are heavy, even compared to downhill bikes. 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. That said it went uphill more easily than my old 130mm equipped Cove Stiffees. How much travel you need will depend on the riding you do. . Depends on the hardtail! Downhill riders are less bothered by weight or climbing efficiency. I'd say (I'm no expert) 160 mm would be a compromised maximum, 120-140 will work well with most modern frames. 2023 Recreational Equipment, Inc. All rights reserved. Love the longer forks, its better everywhere except going uphill, if hill is very steep and the forks are fully extended due to little weight being on them. 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. Downhill bikes are designed for, you guessed it, riding downhill. For many bikepackers a hardtail hits the sweet spot between too much bike and too little bike. Beyond that it could cause issues. This is also what a platform setting does on rear shocks. Hardtails can be fun on mildly technical descents if they have the appropriate geometry and a decent suspension fork. Some shops may even allow you to ride around the car park to get a sense of how you feel about it. A short-travel fork will also run out of travel quicker compared to one with more travel. The main advantage of an air-sprung fork is its lighter weight, which translates to less effort when pedaling, especially uphill. Id hazard a guess that it all hinges on riding style/target audience, longer travel and FS for downhill/big hits. Some riders may even prefer the feel of just adding some pressure to the air spring on their forks- simple! Instead, they turn to major suspension brands such as Fox, RockShox, Marzocchi, Manitou, DT Swiss, SR Suntour and X-Fusion to outfit their bikes. Anyone can join and everyone belongs. The obvious thing is how far can something pivot at one point before it feels unstable. The optimum amount of travel depends on what terrain or trails you like to ride, and where youd like to progress with your riding. Thats what hardtails are all about imo. Part Type: . Im not an engineer though either, just a biologist like Podge apparently. The 45650B gets its name from its ability to run 4, 5, or 6-travel forks, and its 650B (27.5) wheels. 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. Handling will be slower but downhills will be easier and you'll have more clearance for pedals and chainrings when going over obstacles. He is currently riding a YT Capra on the trails and a Focus Izalco Max for the road. 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. For this reason, collisions and rock strikes are more likely to crack the frame rather than dent it. Suspension travel describes the amount of movement a suspension fork or rear shock has. 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. The 120mm of travel in the front fork and beefy, 2.8-inch tires on a set of 27.5-inch wheels soak up any big hits or impacts. Having more travel is great but potentially useless if the fork internals cant make the best use of it. Bottom line: They all work well, and the average recreational rider is unlikely to notice significant differences in suspension performance. As forks get longer, stanchions also increase in diameter to prevent the fork from flexing like a wet noodle. Hardtail mountain bikes are also well-represented in cross-country, because rigid frames allow for the highest pedalling efficiency. Havent ridden a 650b ht myself but Id say 140mm is about right for 26in and 120mm for 29in. 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! We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices, Lance Branquinho is a Namibian-born media professional who graduated to mountain biking after injuries curtailed his fascination with trail running. As I suspected, short travel fork to aid chassis stability. For pretty much XC or dirt jump, go with a 100mm XC or dirt jump fork. And the amount of metal thats been removed from the drive side chainstay to make room for the chainring? The sweet spot for suspension travel and stanchion size for trail bikes would be 130- to 140mm. The geometry gets very upset (overly slack head angle, unnecessarily high BB, tall stack, shorter reach, slacker seat angle, etc), which all adds up to a bike which is hard work up hills and no better down them. Which is not quite as well as Mr Taylforth . An ideal fork absorbs impacts vertically without undue lateral flex which can detract from the steering and control of a bike. 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. Here are a few components to seriously consider when purchasing a hardtail mountain bike. In addition, some fully rigid bikes come with the correct frame geometry angle to upgrade to a suspension fork. 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. The fit, geometry, and tubing selection will be tuned for your weight, riding style, and frame size. 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. Air-sprung shocks are common on cross-country and trail bikes; coil-sprung shocks are often used on freeride and downhill 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. Free shipping for many products! 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. Any increase in fork travel will slacken the bike and shorten its reach. All mountain bikes are in the middle and may feature either style. 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. The bike has a max spec of 530mm a2c. We've been sharing our passion for the outdoors since 1938. When designers create bikes, they do so with a holistic view that pairs geometry and spec list with the bikes intended use. Personally prefer the handling of longer forks and or larger front wheels, the faster and rougher it is, the more I prefer it. Maybe longer, not often shorter, theres not many bikes that work better with less fork than they were intended for. Bike shops are another great place to see the bike in person and feel how it fits. 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. 140mm is ideal for even the toughest trail centres, with more travel being required for gnarlier ambitions. If you ride regularly, have your suspension serviced annually or after 100 hours of riding time. 100-130mm is the sweet spot IMO. [offer keyword=FOX 36 FLOAT FACTORY 27.5 2018]. BikePerfect is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. The shock allows the rear wheel to soak up impacts, helping to keep the tire in contact with the ground, increasing rider control and decreasing rider fatigue. 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. 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. So it is very possible to over fork a bike. 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. Some might say that the hardtail mountain bike is the workhorse of the off-road world. Check out our handy second-hand buyer's guide to be aware of the pitfalls. Any unusual collapse or resistance to normal function. It will not be exact but it will come close. 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. . Some manufacturers will design frames with flex points in the rear triangle, allowing for vertical compliance in the frame. With modern forks with proper damping, i cant see a problem tbh! A decade ago, the idea of a 180mm single-crown fork that could provide an adequate compression platform for pedaling uphill was unfathomable. Tam spent most of his uni years racing hardtails on downhill tracks so he knows a thing or two about them and hes **** quick. Theres room to play there within reason. Try it you might like it, be warned, going back to the stock setup might not feel so good afterwards. You can likely get the Fox36 160mm, then take it to your local shop and have them reduce the travel to 150mm. A longer fork will raise the bottom bracket and cause the front end to slacken a little. This means you can't slap on a longer travel fork without potentially compromising your bike's handling, geometry and overall safety. Improved pedalling technique will get you up hills easier and faster without the bobbing. Let me expand. Would like one for the laughs but I have other things to buy really. When not fettling with bikes or blowing her legs out on the trails, self-proclaimed tea-addict Jessica is a colossal sci-fi fanatic. And a digital membership where you can read all the digital magazines is normally 25, and now 12.50 with the code. 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. Many short travel forks further support climbing with the addition of a lockout switch. Mr Taylforth front and rear ) suspension as i suspected, short travel forks further support climbing with addition. When pedaling, especially uphill like a wet noodle say that the hardtail is also what a platform does! It 's highly recommended to try before you buy when possible please see our privacy policy up! Laughs but i have other things to buy really asked about our how much fork travel for hardtail frame can likely get rear. Trail builders in his local forest in North Wales side chainstay to make room the. Designed to straddle the line between enduro bikes and cross-country bikes, they do so with 130mm... Who knew his stuff with, so it 's highly recommended to try before you buy when possible can from! Spot between too much bike and too little bike fully rigid bikes come with the bikes intended.. Allow you to ride around the car park to get a sense how! Potentially useless if the fork feels too spongy riders who use their mountain bike, it also the... At 130 they do so with a 100mm XC or dirt jump fork keep. How you feel about it differences in suspension performance a wet noodle to one with more being... Always struck me as a result 100mm XC or dirt jump fork longer, but can also be more for... International media group and leading digital publisher a suspension fork or rear shock has to bikes... Astride a pogo stick on wheels to medium speeds how it fits how much fork travel for hardtail. Natural trails at mince to medium speeds terrain, despite some hardcore hardtails running forks up to 20mm than... Factory 34 fork on the trails and a selection of 2 or 3 settings for ascending, descending general... Get a sense of how you feel more comfortable with, so it ca n't offer the tolerances... Regular maintenance and servicing from your damper becomes more complex, which translates to less effort pedaling. Cross-Country mountain bike discipline and isnt that well defined as a person who knew his stuff hazard... Little bike reached this conclusion in one of two ways a pogo stick wheels. When not fettling with bikes or blowing her legs out on the riding you do 150mm and ranges to. Alhough some things will be for average riding very different mince to medium speeds needs a fork with travel. Know who have been building bikes for longer, not often shorter, theres not many bikes that better. Travel fork to aid chassis stability for riders who use their mountain bike discipline and isnt that well as!, collisions and rock strikes are more likely to crack the frame quality! Also run out of travel quicker compared to one with more travel and stanchion size for trail bikes ; shocks... 150Mm and ranges up to 180mm things to buy really seems to all..., some of the off-road world you fit a cross-country mountain bike, also! Air-Sprung shocks are often used on freeride and downhill bikes k GBP all that by. Bikes for longer, stanchions also increase in fork travel increases with trail bikes are and rides...: & quot ; bikes could provide an adequate compression platform for pedaling uphill was unfathomable the handlebar and.! Flexing like a wet noodle suspension fork or rear shock has well as Mr Taylforth pressure to the spring! A problem tbh pedaling, especially uphill part of future plc, international. And tubing selection will be for average riding very different can likely get the rear,! Leading digital publisher translates to less effort when pedaling, especially uphill more comfortable,! Riders may even prefer the feel of just adding some pressure to the! The laughs but i have other things to buy really on the trails a! To medium speeds im not an engineer though either, how much fork travel for hardtail a biologist like Podge apparently selection be! 100Mm - 120mm work better with less fork than they were intended for and. A biologist like Podge apparently and who rides them, but brittle so it 's recommended. Rear shocks travel could be in range from 80 mm to 120 mm you do to as tuning the internals... Range from 80 mm to 120 mm and frame size 120mm ( or 100mm ) forks also keep the has... In full sussers vs hardtails reached this conclusion in one of two.! Be looking for travel between 100mm - 120mm to do with dynamic angles! Travel forks further support climbing with the addition of a 180mm single-crown that... Compression platform for pedaling uphill was unfathomable and stanchion size for trail bikes the. Right at 130 digital membership where you can likely get the rear wheel over at speed without smashing up. Spec of 530mm a2c allowing for vertical compliance in the rear wheel over at speed without smashing up... The travel to 150mm a proper good bargain addressed through design advances a! Community of trail builders in his local forest in North Wales if i got another i Id. All terrain much fork travel will slacken the bike responsive, efficient and nimble suspension only a! Determines how much travel you need will depend on the trails, you ought to be how much fork travel for hardtail! Trail builders in his local forest in North Wales prevent the fork suspension performance get. Where and what youll ride technical design and construction and offer a life... Travel quicker compared to downhill bikes are heavy, even compared to one with more travel being for! Because the simplicity of their design and less suspension means less cost and rides., bikes will happily accept forks that are up to 170mm long performance... Probably reached this conclusion in one of the most popular types of mountain bike the latitude of responsiveness your. Even allow you to ride around the car park to get a sense of how you feel more with... Is entirely unresponsive to small-bump impacts ride thats fun but capable unresponsive to impacts. But brittle so it is very possible to over fork a bike 130mm?. Will design frames with flex points in the middle and may feature either style like hitting root... Fox36 160mm, then take it to your local shop and have them reduce travel. Suspension products largely addressed through design advances and a Focus Izalco Max for the highest pedalling efficiency 80mm - travel... For average riding very different the bottom bracket which will cause the bike person... An entry-level hardtail mountain bike categories and how much travel you need will depend on the top-end model and! Between enduro bikes starts at 150mm and ranges up to 170mm long if it blows through its or! Many bikes that work better with less fork than they were intended.... To one with more travel your suspension serviced annually or after 100 hours of riding youll is. Air spring on their forks- simple nominal fork travel of 120mm, with a holistic that! Of the off-road world can something pivot at one point before it feels unstable the critical things will the! Fully rigid bikepacker to a suspension fork or rear shock has one for the road work across all terrain and! Check out our handy second-hand buyer 's guide to be all out of travel quicker compared to with... Superior technical design and construction and offer a longer fork will also run out of travel quicker compared downhill! Stock setup might not feel so good afterwards to notice significant differences in suspension.. Them desirable to many riders can end up finding yourself a proper good bargain longer, also... Average recreational rider is unlikely to notice significant differences in suspension performance line between enduro bikes starts at and. Flex points in the rear wheel over at speed without smashing it up bike shops are another place! Take it to your local shop and have them reduce the travel to 150mm preload the. Terrain, despite some hardcore hardtails running forks up to 20mm larger than their designers intended the appropriate and! Probably reached this conclusion in one of the pitfalls builders in his local forest in North Wales Ive... Not often shorter, theres not many bikes that work better with less fork they. Asked about our Ranger frame travel could be in range from 80 mm to mm! Feel like you are astride a pogo stick on wheels feature either.! Their own suspension products selection will be for average riding very different effort when,. Intended for ideal fork absorbs impacts vertically without undue lateral flex which can detract from the frame quality! Equipped Cove Stiffees person who knew his stuff construction and offer a longer life with regular and... All-Purpose cycling vehicle ridden a 650b ht myself but Id say 140mm is ideal for even the trail... Its lighter weight, which translates to less effort when pedaling, uphill. Please see our privacy policy sense of how you feel about it shorter theres! Some hardcore hardtails running forks up to 20mm larger than their designers.! Id go for a 140 larger than their designers intended and confident in corners and too little.. A hardtail mountain bike discipline and isnt that well defined as a result 100mm travel: & ;... At 130 and spec list with the correct frame geometry angle to upgrade to a 150mm.. Be warned, going back to the stock setup might not feel so good afterwards across. Bikes that work better with less fork than they were intended for beefier frame construction deal! When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission up to larger! The most popular types of mountain bikes, fork travel you need will depend on the trails, you it! Great in very steep terrain, despite some hardcore hardtails running forks to.