Is 120mm enough?

[Martylaa]

Quick question, whats the general consensus with regards to the amount of travel you need for general trail riding around places like Dalby/Hamsterly, out in the North York Moors and some light downhill sections, nothing extreme.

Is a bike with 120mm enough or should I be looking at 140/150mm minimum?

 

[Deleted member 7464]

I would say for North Yorkshire moors 120mm would be about right.i ride a 120mm kingdom there and I've never wanted for more.if you are into jumping or aggressive downhills at bikeparks then I would say about 160mm would be right.

 

[The Hodge]

Depends how comfortable you want to be ..140..would be my suggestion having had a Whyte T130 rs which dealt with the type of riding you have suggested .
Saying that ..my e160rs doesn't in any way feel over suspended ..

 

[steve_sordy]

You will always want more.

 

[Chris ledger]

Not for my wife

 

[The Hodge]

Not for my wife

...at only 4.724 " ..I would think not !

 

[Gary]

You will always want more.

Except when you don't.

 

[Tubby G]

Dalby & Hamsterley are my regular haunts. 120mm ravel will get you round ok but 140mm (+) travel will get your round far more comfortably

 

[steve_sordy]

Except when you don't.

I agree with that of course. Since I took up mtb, my skills have improved a bit and my ambition a lot. The stuff I tackle, while modest by many standards, has increased in difficulty. That was what was behind my comment of always wanting more. And then I got to ride locally during the pandemic and wished I had a rigid!

 

[Tubby G]

Depends how comfortable you want to be ..140..would be my suggestion having had a Whyte T130 rs which dealt with the type of riding you have suggested .
Saying that ..my e160rs doesn't in any way feel over suspended ..

I have to agree with you that 140mm is probably the sweet spot for trail riding. However, we’ll need at least 200mm travel to get round Hamsterley at the weekend with all the trees still down on the trails !

 

[The Hodge]

So ..you are still hopeful that its going to be OK..?

 

[Martylaa]

So ..you are still hopeful that its going to be OK..?

I really don't know, I'm reading and watching reviews as we speak, appreciate all the comments.

 

[Tubby G]

I really don't know, I'm reading and watching reviews as we speak, appreciate all the comments.

I think Hodge means our planned ride at Hamsterley at the weekend which isn’t looking good due to all the storms and trees all over the trails

I live in hope @The Hodge , but its not looking good is it

 

[The Hodge]

Sorry mate ..I should have quoted TG there ...I was referring to our planned ride at Hamsterley this weekend ..and not your expectations from 120mm travel ..☺
Edit : you got there just before me Tubs ..

 

[Martylaa]

Haha...

 

[Chris ledger]

...at only 4.724 " ..I would think not !

Thats on a good day with the wind behind me

 

[MOTO13]

My Husky has 180mm fr/rr and I really dig it over my Trek Rail 9.7 (160mm fr/rr). I couldn't imagine anything under 160mm travel. Once you get used to longer travel bikes, you can definitely ride more aggressive and have a super plush ride. I ride single track in the mid west USA btw.

 

[Martylaa]

A lot of good posts and I think I’m going to look for 140 to 150mm travel bikes.

 

[Tubby G]

A lot of good posts and I think I’m going to look for 140 to 150mm travel bikes.

I’m slightly biased as I have a Rise on order, but for £4.5k the new alloy H30 Orbea Rise looks like the perfect 140mm travel trail bike. No idea how long the lead times are though

 

[Gary]

With FS Emtb's there's honestly no real drawback of having 170mm travel over something shorter. Unlike with normal bikes. The weight remains pretty similar.
What you will find is the longer travel the slacker and more enduro/DH orientated the geometry. So the choice should be based more on what sort of riding you do and what sort of handling you prefer rather than just suspension travel.

 

[Martylaa]

With FS Emtb's there's honestly no real drawback of having 170mm travel over something shorter. Unlike with normal bikes. The weight remains pretty similar.
What you will find is the longer travel the slacker and more enduro/DH orientated the geometry. So the choice should be based more on what sort of riding you do and what sort of handling you prefer rather than just suspension travel.

Thanks trail riding basically, some climbing and nothing too naughty going downhill, that's going to sum up my riding tbh...