What suspension travel for all rounder MTB?
Discussion
At the present time it should may be titled "what is available within the next 6 months?" due to the shortage of new bikes about but hopefully it'll ease up soon.
I'm looking at full sus stuff, and something which is a bit of an all rounder for longer trail rides and for trail centres for Blue and reds. I'm not going to be doing big drops or huge jumps.
29er seems to be settling as the standard?
What would you recommend for an all rounder?
I'm looking at full sus stuff, and something which is a bit of an all rounder for longer trail rides and for trail centres for Blue and reds. I'm not going to be doing big drops or huge jumps.
29er seems to be settling as the standard?
What would you recommend for an all rounder?
Edited by Chicken Chaser on Tuesday 15th December 22:43
130/140mm rear travel is a good trail bike travel, a little more if you're planning on riding rougher stuff. I ride a 150mm 29er, which has a coil rear shock and will very soon have 160mm front travel, so on the burly trail/light enduro end. I use it for general trail riding (inc reds and blues) and also stuff like the lakes/scotland etc (mainly natural/wild trails so some decently rocky stuff).
Thi isn't my only bike though, had a gravel bike until recently, being replaced with a hardtail (albeit with 160mm front travel...
) for mellow stuff/long days.
Thi isn't my only bike though, had a gravel bike until recently, being replaced with a hardtail (albeit with 160mm front travel...
) for mellow stuff/long days.I've got a steel gravel bike, a 120mm old 26" hardtail and a carbon gravel (which mainly sees road) so those boxes are ticked. It's up north so Yorkshire/Northumberland/Lakes is the kind of terrain. I know the Lakes is particularly rocky in parts whereas the Moors and Dales can just be muddy!
I have been looking at e-mtbs but the current situation means there's hardly any about and the budget is through the roof. I'm finding it very difficult to justify to myself spending £5k on a full sus Whyte e150s at the minute, despite having cash for it.
I have been looking at e-mtbs but the current situation means there's hardly any about and the budget is through the roof. I'm finding it very difficult to justify to myself spending £5k on a full sus Whyte e150s at the minute, despite having cash for it.
150mm front and back seems like the sweet spot for your needs. I wouldn't want much less for some of the reds at BPW, but then again I am 51.
Wheel size is another topic - 29' will give you even more stability and obstacle clearing ability but will feel slightly less lively around tight stuff although it also depends on geo. Aim for around 65deg of head angle and as steep as you can for the seat angle, 77deg or more perhaps.
Wheel size is another topic - 29' will give you even more stability and obstacle clearing ability but will feel slightly less lively around tight stuff although it also depends on geo. Aim for around 65deg of head angle and as steep as you can for the seat angle, 77deg or more perhaps.
Chicken Chaser said:
I have been looking at e-mtbs but the current situation means there's hardly any about and the budget is through the roof. I'm finding it very difficult to justify to myself spending £5k on a full sus Whyte e150s at the minute, despite having cash for it.
Fair enough but you can still get a Decoy 29 Base for £4k in L or XL in 5/6 weeks. https://www.yt-industries.com/uk/detail/index/sArt...I would be nervous about spending serious money on an acoustic bike if you do plan to switch to an e-mtb: they are just incredibly good and are quite literally changing the way we ride and enjoy the sport, for the (even) better.
Edited by nickfrog on Wednesday 16th December 00:28
I don't know how rugged your trails are, but I think around 130mm is pretty good for an all-rounder.
I guess its a balance - you don't want a lack of travel (or XC geometry) to make you reluctant to hit features you would otherwise go for, but too much squish could make a bike feel less fun on the easier trails and and sluggish climbing.
I have a Giant Trance 29 which is 130 front / 115 rear - its agile, efficient climbing, great fun to pop off trail features etc and more capable than the short travel might suggest. Its only very occasionally that I'd like more travel to hit bigger drops or carry speed through chunky stuff more easily.
Its a single bike to do everything for me though, if I had a hardtail as well I'd probably want a full sus with more travel to spread their respective talents further apart.
I guess its a balance - you don't want a lack of travel (or XC geometry) to make you reluctant to hit features you would otherwise go for, but too much squish could make a bike feel less fun on the easier trails and and sluggish climbing.
I have a Giant Trance 29 which is 130 front / 115 rear - its agile, efficient climbing, great fun to pop off trail features etc and more capable than the short travel might suggest. Its only very occasionally that I'd like more travel to hit bigger drops or carry speed through chunky stuff more easily.
Its a single bike to do everything for me though, if I had a hardtail as well I'd probably want a full sus with more travel to spread their respective talents further apart.
These days, travel isn't so much of the determining factor. The biggest facror in trail bike choice is not the travel but the geometry and fit as you need to be comfortable on it for long rides. Geo has changed massively in the last 5 years, e.g. You can now buy a gravel bike with same head angle as a 90s DH bike.
Have a look at the bike mag and pink bike group test videos from this year, which should hopefully narrow down a few. The pink bike one is interesting as they've timed the climbing sections and the time difference between 1st and last is huge.
Do you favour climbing or descending, are you looking for something that helps address an area of weakness in your riding skills - lighter better climber to mitigate lack of fitness and getting dropped by your mates or better descender to help you keep up with your mates on the DH runs.
Once you have a short- list, try and demo a few. For example, there are 150mm bikes that will fit you better and pedal more efficiently than a down county 120mm bike.
Have a look at the bike mag and pink bike group test videos from this year, which should hopefully narrow down a few. The pink bike one is interesting as they've timed the climbing sections and the time difference between 1st and last is huge.
Do you favour climbing or descending, are you looking for something that helps address an area of weakness in your riding skills - lighter better climber to mitigate lack of fitness and getting dropped by your mates or better descender to help you keep up with your mates on the DH runs.
Once you have a short- list, try and demo a few. For example, there are 150mm bikes that will fit you better and pedal more efficiently than a down county 120mm bike.
I have both a decent 29er hardtail and a 27.5 full suss.
The 29er hardtail is perfect for trail centres and trails like you get round the Surrey Hills. The 130mm/150mm full suss is over kill for these.
Where do you ride mainly?
If you have enough (or space) for only one bike I'd recommend a decent short travel bike of either wheel size. You don't need 160/160 for regular trails in this country.
The 29er hardtail is perfect for trail centres and trails like you get round the Surrey Hills. The 130mm/150mm full suss is over kill for these.
Where do you ride mainly?
If you have enough (or space) for only one bike I'd recommend a decent short travel bike of either wheel size. You don't need 160/160 for regular trails in this country.
I’ve a Whyte full sus 27.5 with 140mm all round and a Santa Cruz hard tail 29er with 130mm. Both adequate for xc and trail centres.
I’m enjoying the hard tail loads at the moment, 130 is good.
I’d go full sus 29’er, you’ll be able to take on anything, but your anything might be big to overcome the stability of the 29er.
I’m enjoying the hard tail loads at the moment, 130 is good.
I’d go full sus 29’er, you’ll be able to take on anything, but your anything might be big to overcome the stability of the 29er.
Edited by Simes205 on Wednesday 16th December 06:52
nickfrog said:
Hugo Stiglitz said:
You don't need 160/160 for regular trails in this country.
Sure but you may want 160mm for some regular trails in this country (or any other country for that matter).If the OP is very much trail riding with no real desire for uplift days etc, 130mm 29er is probably a good way to go. Quite a few shorter travel bikes have pretty progressive geometry these days, so are very capable bikes.
nickfrog said:
Fair enough but you can still get a Decoy 29 Base for £4k in L or XL in 5/6 weeks. https://www.yt-industries.com/uk/detail/index/sArt...
I would be nervous about spending serious money on an acoustic bike if you do plan to switch to an e-mtb: they are just incredibly good and are quite literally changing the way we ride and enjoy the sport, for the (even) better.
Nick, thanks for the link but if I was looking at an E bike it would be from a LBS, with back up as I know these can be temperamental. YT have a pretty horrendous reputation for service so Id be wary of it. I know they have some kind of service centre down south now but I'm up in the North East!I would be nervous about spending serious money on an acoustic bike if you do plan to switch to an e-mtb: they are just incredibly good and are quite literally changing the way we ride and enjoy the sport, for the (even) better.
Edited by nickfrog on Wednesday 16th December 00:28
Im a bit of a time crunched cyclist presently due to having young kids, hence the e-bike attraction giving me the opportunity to do more in less time. That said, on the flip side I still like going under my own steam, like the relative simplicity and lack of weight of an analogue bike.
Some interesting contrasts on what's required. I very much doubt I'll be hitting BPW type terrain, popping off trail features sounds much more my thing.
Court_S said:
If the OP is very much trail riding with no real desire for uplift days etc, 130mm 29er is probably a good way to go. Quite a few shorter travel bikes have pretty progressive geometry these days, so are very capable bikes.
Yes sure. I do think he mentioned reds at bike parks so trail riding on uplift days does sound like they are on the menu. I am glad I have 150mm at both ends for the hardest reds at BPW and wouldn't mind 160mm. Come to think of it, even Crackpots at Peaslake is nicer on longer travel but may be that's my lack of technique, who knows ?nickfrog said:
Court_S said:
If the OP is very much trail riding with no real desire for uplift days etc, 130mm 29er is probably a good way to go. Quite a few shorter travel bikes have pretty progressive geometry these days, so are very capable bikes.
Yes sure. I do think he mentioned reds at bike parks so trail riding on uplift days does sound like they are on the menu. I am glad I have 150mm at both ends for the hardest reds at BPW and wouldn't mind 160mm. Come to think of it, even Crackpots at Peaslake is nicer on longer travel but may be that's my lack of technique, who knows ?I think wheel size comes into it too; a 150mm 29er feels like a bigger bike than a 150mm 27.5 bike. Ultimately these days you can have your cake and eat it with a longer travel bike that doesn’t weigh too much and pedals well.
Chicken Chaser said:
I very much doubt I'll be hitting BPW type terrain, popping off trail features sounds much more my thing.
Sorry my bad, I thought you had mentioned reds at trail centres 
, hence my thought process (in fairness the blues at BPW are incredible too and are well worth a visit for them alone).On the ebike front, and I can't believe I am saying this, I think £4k to £5k is an absolute steal for the benefits, especially if time is limited. You won't find a much more conservative mtber than me. If you spend £2.5k in a decent FS analogue now, and then £4k to £5k in an ebike in 12 months time I am confident you won't ride the analogue but I don't know if it will be worth much. The sport is literally morphing in front of our eyes. E bikes at trail centres are particularly in their element, no more dirty buses and more riding, they even make climbs fun to ride.
I share your concerns about YT - I am very near them in Sussex so that helps. FWIW my Decoy has been abused for the past 9 months and still hasn't put a wheel wrong. My friend got a Santa Cruz Heckler for £5k from Germany - this has European wide local dealer support.
Edited by nickfrog on Wednesday 16th December 09:36
Court_S said:
I ride everything on my bike. It feels like harder work on the mellower trails, but I’m happy with that pay off when it gets steeper and chunky.
I think wheel size comes into it too; a 150mm 29er feels like a bigger bike than a 150mm 27.5 bike. Ultimately these days you can have your cake and eat it with a longer travel bike that doesn’t weigh too much and pedals well.
All very true - I don't ride analogue much anymore so my position is a bit hypocritical as I don't have to do the extra work I think wheel size comes into it too; a 150mm 29er feels like a bigger bike than a 150mm 27.5 bike. Ultimately these days you can have your cake and eat it with a longer travel bike that doesn’t weigh too much and pedals well.
Chicken Chaser said:
Nick, thanks for the link but if I was looking at an E bike it would be from a LBS, with back up as I know these can be temperamental. YT have a pretty horrendous reputation for service so Id be wary of it. I know they have some kind of service centre down south now but I'm up in the North East!
Im a bit of a time crunched cyclist presently due to having young kids, hence the e-bike attraction giving me the opportunity to do more in less time. That said, on the flip side I still like going under my own steam, like the relative simplicity and lack of weight of an analogue bike.
Some interesting contrasts on what's required. I very much doubt I'll be hitting BPW type terrain, popping off trail features sounds much more my thing.
You'd be surprised! The red and blue trails are fantastic at BPW. If the Lakes and Peak weren't so close I'd ride BPW so much moreIm a bit of a time crunched cyclist presently due to having young kids, hence the e-bike attraction giving me the opportunity to do more in less time. That said, on the flip side I still like going under my own steam, like the relative simplicity and lack of weight of an analogue bike.
Some interesting contrasts on what's required. I very much doubt I'll be hitting BPW type terrain, popping off trail features sounds much more my thing.
All the blues and 99% of the reds are great on my Pike 29er (2.6 tyres) hardtail
take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:
These days, travel isn't so much of the determining factor. The biggest facror in trail bike choice is not the travel but the geometry and fit as you need to be comfortable on it for long rides. Geo has changed massively in the last 5 years, e.g. You can now buy a gravel bike with same head angle as a 90s DH bike.
Agreed, the World is your Lobster these days, my only bike is a 160mm FS with a 64 degree head angle and a reach on my Medium that's longer than some XL bikes, it also wears 2.6 tyres. It'll do the BPW thing all day, every day, a week in the Alps no problem, DH trails at the FOD, easy peasy (for the bike anyway) you'd expect all that, but it's equally at home doing some 'hills and dales XC' or peddling around the park chasing my 6 year old. Most of the time I ride it around Afan and Cwmcarn, but only because they're local to me. I ride it XC, I ride it to work, in fact, I'm contractually obliged to say it's core purpose is for riding to work if HMRC are listening. Best all rounders sit in what used to be called the 'Trail' category, 130-150mm travel, but there's some really hardcore 120mm bikes and some ploddy 160mm bikes about.
Bird have got a couple of models that fit the 'Trail' cat, the Aeris 120 is a 27.5 120mm bike with more aggressive geo than most Enduro bikes and their new Aether bikes are a little more again. You can get a Carbon Framed Aether 9C compeletely for less than £3k, less than some frames.
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