Frame Fork

Frame Fork How do you determine if the length (travel) of a suspension fork is suitable for a hardtail / soft-tail frame? The length of fork used on a bicycle affects the handling . But what and ...


Frame Fork

Frame Fork
How do you determine if the length (travel) of a suspension fork is suitable for a hardtail / soft-tail frame?

The length of fork used on a bicycle affects the handling .
But what and how does one detemine if a particular length is suitable ?
Is there a particular method other than refering to the manual or its manufacturer's website ? Hardtails and full-sus behave rather differently , so is there a way of finding a suitable fork that does not mess up the handling of it ?

Well, it depends on the type of frame you're dealing with. Generally, mountain bikes are classified into certain categories.
CrossCountry (XC):
You can find both hard/soft tail types. XC bikes generally use forks that have 3-4 inches of travel. XC bikes aren't meant for technical terrain. They are mainly used for nice long rides on smooth (sometimes slightly technical) trails and for XC racing.
Trail bike:
Trail bikes are essentially all around bikes. They come in both hard/soft tails. They use forks with 4-6 inches of travel. Trail bikes can be used for XC, but because they have a bit more travel, they can handle technical terrain. Therefore you can be more aggressive on the rough trails.
Freeride and Downhill (DH):
These bikes are meant for abuse. These are what you call the "stunt" bikes. They have travel from 6-8 inches. These are the type of bikes that can race down rocky mountains and drop off 5-10 foot cliffs. They only come in soft-tails obviously.

Although the length of the fork does affect handling, there are other factors to consider as well. Stem length, handle bars, tires, cockpit, seat position, and the size of the frame, all contribute to the handling of the bike.



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