Mountain Biking - How much travel in shocks to get?

I'm looking at three bikes, Jamis Dakar Sport, Jamis Dakar XC, and the Jamis XLT 1.0

The XC has about 100 mm of travel, while the XLT has 125 Sounds like about another inch to me. Someone said the more you ride the more travel you'll want in shocks. On the other hand, cross country can be long miles, and a stiffer shock system with less travel might be more efficient and appropriate.

What say Bike Gurus?


munk

If your racing keep it about 80mm, just trail riding around I'd go 100mm, if you are going to be doing any drops or a lot of rock gardens go with the 125mm.

-Middi-zon

I pretty much agree with the above post. It is true that after riding a lot of miles at a time, you might feel like more suspension travel could be better. Are you going to be doing more casual stufff? Then go for the 100 or 80. The features and quality of the fork can be more important than the travel available. A low-quality 80mm travel fork could sap much more power from you while pedaling than a properly tuned and adjusted nicer 100 mm fork.

Out of the fors you listed, I would tend to lean towards the 100mm travel fork, but then again I race XC so I'm more likely to go with the shorter travel option. You'll be thanking the extra 25mm of travel that come with the 125 if you do any kind of drops or real rough trail riding.

-Moab

I'm mostly an explorer. This bike will rarely see pavement, same as my old Dakar. I used to climb as far as I could go, till either I gave up or fell off. Deer trails will be taken. There are rocks, timber, mining tailings, mud here in Eastern Montana.

It will be used, used well, probably not dropped off cliffs or to see how fast I can slide down a rock slope.


munk

If you are going to be doing alot of exploring, especially in the back coumtry, I would suggest 100mm to 135mm travel up front.

You never know what type of terrain you will encounter so it is best to be prepared.

:beer:

As long you're not racing i'd go for 100mm of travel front and rear. I personally think that it really is possible to have too much travel because you loose the feel of the trail and depend upon the suspension too much which will cost you when you have to manuever the bike at all. I just took a look at those three bikes and it seems as if the Dakar Pro is definately the best all-rounder of the group. The thing is though, the XLT has a fox fork on it which is a sweet ride and can be lowered to 100mms of travel. Still i stick to my pervious statement

Peter, when you say the 'pro', I hope you're not referring the Dakar XCPro- which I can't afford. I'm in Dakar Sport, Dakar XC Comp, or Dakar XLT 1.0 territory- topping around 1450 bucks.

The geometry is pretty similar amongst the three, with the XLT being an inch longer wheelbase, if I remember correctly. The XC Comp has the same wheelbase and standover as my old Dakar.

That XC Pro cost 3000 bucks.

1000 to 1400 may not seem like much here, but I'm going to be lucky in the next few months to come up with the money.

I'm selling some of my prize firearms. That is how serious I am about riding again.

munk

definately 100mm

danka, if you take a 125 mm and adjust it to 100, what is the down side? Usually there is a price; for instance, does the 125 unit weigh more, does it not do as good a job as a shock intended for only that rate of travel? Please advice.

In the physical universe there are very few situations where if you rob Peter you don't pay Paul.


munk

You won't be racing so 80mm will be too little, but you want good climbing, 125mm can be a bit hairy climbing, 100mm is a good balance. To answer your question, you will be wasting 25 mm by adjusting it to 100, when you can get a bike that has a shock(s) with 100mm.

The more travel, the harder it is to climb.

It is not a waste to have 25mm on tap in case you need it, and can adjust accordingly. Cross country seems to come with about 100; there is a reason for that- you've mentioned one; climbing.

Freestyle wants more travel. I can only conclude that a single shock system, adjustable or not, will not do the same job as a specific shock made for that range.

munk

Aggro XC is 100, normal xc tends to be 80. That doesn't have the travel change on the fly, so you would have to stop, disengage the lockout, then get back on, which by that time you might have been able to find a smoother line which 100mm will be able to handle with out a catch. If you want a bike with 125 mm, go for one without lock out, you don't have to think as much.

personally after trying the 70mm travel on posts of weed about 10" high at medium speed they felt like i went over a small bump in the road i dotn see the need to spend the extra $$$ on the more travel. btw it was a trek 4300

Ok, that makes sense to me. I hate getting off the bike unless I want to.

Thanks all for you responses. Thanks Danka.

sounds like 100mm is about it for me.


munk