Fork Travel Advice Needed!
Discussion
Just bought a new giant trance frame with a 5" travel RP23 rear shock and gonna re-frame my old trance. The frame is XL. My question is, and I'd like to increase front travel more than the standard 5"; what's the maximum I can go for without ruining the bike's handling? Is 170mm too much?
Any opinions?
Any opinions?
I have a Trance and am quite happy with the 140mm forks, I am not sure I would want to go any bigger as the balance is about perfect for the seat/head angle. I have had other bikes where I felt meddling with the shocks/forks would be of benefit but I have to say I think the balance on the Trance is really good, in fact its a lot better than a number of significantly more expensive bikes I have ridden.
I have changed quite a few bits; bars, cranks, rear mech, wheels, brakes, seat, seat post, skewers, pedals - in fact thinking about it the shock and forks are the only bits I haven't changed!
Why do you want to go bigger?
I have changed quite a few bits; bars, cranks, rear mech, wheels, brakes, seat, seat post, skewers, pedals - in fact thinking about it the shock and forks are the only bits I haven't changed!
Why do you want to go bigger?
jshell said:
Is 170mm too much?
Yes.The 170mm forks will not doubt have a long axle to crown length than the frame was meant to have which will make the head angle slacker and slow the turning rate terribly.
It will void the warranty on your new frame, ok if you do have a problem they won't hold a gun to your head until you admit what forks you were running on it, but it will put more pressure on the head tube and increase the chance of a frame failure.
170mm forks are real Freeride spec forks and you'll be adding a lot of extra weight for travel you probably wont need on that type of bike (not to mention expense).
Plus there are some great forks in the 140mm range that will work brilliantly with your frame, you could even go 150mm (I’m think 150mm Fox 32's) if you did want that bit extra and give you a really great bike.
170mm may be pushing it a bit, right enough! I have a 2006 trance XL at the moment and with the seat at a comfortable pedaling height, the bars are just too darned low. So, bought a brand new 2011 Trance X framset with 5" travel and thought that best way of raising the bars and getting the best 'hit ability' would be to increase travel on the front... I know a lot of people do raise the front on these! I already have riser bars and shortened the stem on the original bike.
170mm is way too much. The head angle will be so slack that it will flop into corners. 140mm-150mm is more than adequate for any UK trail. Remember it wasn't long ago that DH bikes were running 150mm triple clamps on the world circuit.
If you're blowing through your travel too quickly then give somewhere like TFT a call and get your fork booked in for some fettling.
The other factor is that 170mm forks are very heavy so you're making your bike into a gravity bike rather than something you can pedal all day, which is fine if that's your aim.
If your bike is rated for 140mm one option you have is to fit some DUC32s as these are 150mm travel but are quite short so when fitted will have a similar head angle to a set of single crown 140mm forks. Try them first though because some people don't like them.
If you're blowing through your travel too quickly then give somewhere like TFT a call and get your fork booked in for some fettling.
The other factor is that 170mm forks are very heavy so you're making your bike into a gravity bike rather than something you can pedal all day, which is fine if that's your aim.
If your bike is rated for 140mm one option you have is to fit some DUC32s as these are 150mm travel but are quite short so when fitted will have a similar head angle to a set of single crown 140mm forks. Try them first though because some people don't like them.
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