Suspension travel refers to how much movement a suspension mechanism allows and is usually a measure of how much the wheel axle moves when the suspension compresses Pedal bob and squat refer to how a suspension (usually rear), responds to the rider while pedaling
What does travel mean in suspension?
Travel This refers to the amount of distance the suspension will move before it is fully compressed Because the front suspension is telescoping, the suspension travel equals the resultant wheel travel
What is a good suspension travel?
Depending on the types of trails you ride (or aspire to ride), there is (hypothetically) an ideal amount of suspension travel for your purposes Most modern mountain bikes will have somewhere between 100mm and 170mm of suspension travel
Is more suspension travel better?
A shorter travel will be more responsive and allow you to put more power into the trail while a longer suspension is better for rough trails and high lifts
How much suspension travel is enough?
The answer may seem obvious: 100 millimeters (4 inches) for cross-country, 130 millimeters (51 inches) for trail, 150 to 160 millimeters (6 to 63 inches) for all mountain and enduro, 180 millimeters (7 inches) for “freeride” (I know, a dated term, but let’s just move along) bikes and 200 to 220 millimeters (78 Dec 15, 2017
How is suspension travel measured?
Start with the vehicle at ride height Raise the wheel to ~4” above ride height (measured vertically), record the exact compression Measure and record the distance between the shock mounts The amount the shock moved between droop and bump divided by the amount you moved the wheel is your motion ratio
What is full suspension bike?
A full-suspension mountain bike features both a suspension fork up front and a rear shock, whereas a hardtail bike has only a suspension fork The type of suspension a mountain bike has will affect the bike’s control, traction and comfort—not to mention how enjoyable it is to ride
Is front suspension necessary?
Do you need a front suspension for your bike? Whether you need a suspension for your bike or not depends on the quality and length of the road you are going to ride most on, and your riding style A suspension fork provides a more comfortable ride on rough roads such as off road or bad quality urban or city roads
What is a front suspension?
Dependent front suspensions have a rigid front axle that connects the front wheels Basically, this looks like a solid bar under the front of the car, kept in place by leaf springs and shock absorbers Common on trucks, dependent front suspensions haven’t been used in mainstream cars for years
Do road bikes have suspension?
Suspension decouples the wheels from the rest of the bike This means that rather than the whole bike having to bump up and down on irregularities in the road, the wheels can move independently That helps maintain forward momentum, making easier work of ridingSocial Accept Cookie Expiry 2 Years
Is 120 mm travel enough?
In addition, you’re not likely to notice much difference between a 120mm, 130mm, and 140mm fork Honesty, a 120mm fork is enough travel for most Trail riders
What does 100mm travel mean?
Most full suspension bikes come with roughly matching suspension travel in the front and rear So if the rear shock gets 100mm travel, the bike will likely be spec’d with a 100mm travel fork (or thereabouts) 80mm – 100mm Travel: “Cross Country” Bikes
Is 150 mm travel too much?
150mm is absolute overkill for every trail in the lower peninsula Get a downcountry bike instead if you want to go the full suspension route Or a rowdy hardtail
Is more fork travel better?
Fork differences The more travel a fork has, the bigger, heavier and stiffer the fork will be, so the chassis will be designed to reflect these demands too The payoff for having a burlier fork chassis that’s more capable on the descents is that it will feel big and cumbersome on the climbs
Does a mountain bike need suspension?
Do you need a mountain bike with suspension? A mountain bike without suspension does a great job at handling some basic trails at your local park but if you want to go full beast mode on a steep and bumpy trail, you should use a bike with partial or full suspension
What is suspension travel on a mountain bike?
Suspension travel refers to how much movement a suspension mechanism allows and is usually a measure of how much the wheel axle moves when the suspension compresses Pedal bob and squat refer to how a suspension (usually rear), responds to the rider while pedaling
What is suspension ratio?
Motion ratio in suspension of a vehicle describes the amount of shock travel for a given amount of wheel travel Mathematically it is the ratio of shock travel and wheel travel Suspension stiffness: Suspensions tends to stiffen when the inclination of the shock absorber to horizontal tends to 90 deg
How do I know my shocks travel?
The most accurate method for shock measurement: Measure the eye to eye length Attach a shock pump and slowly remove all the air from the shock Compress the shock fully and measure the eye to eye length again Subtract this measurement from the initial eye to eye length to find the usable stroke (ie 185 – 1325 = 525)
What are Hardtails good for?
Hardtails are great for goofing off, hitting jumps, riding some street trials, or just enjoying on the same trails as usual Hardtails are a little rougher, but that just adds to the sense of speed, even if you’re not riding as fast
Is full suspension good for beginners?
Beginners can be equally well served by choosing either a hardtail or full suspension mountain bike The benefits of hardtails include lower cost and weight, higher efficiency, and faster skill development By comparison, full suspension bikes provide more comfort and versatility
Which full suspension bike is best?
The best full suspension mountain bikes Calibre Sentry Marin Rift Zone 3 Cannondale Habit 4 Canyon Spectral CF 70 Santa Cruz Hightower Specialized Enduro Expert Trek Slash 98 XT