Originally Posted by
calstar
Hmm.... Definitely not a "geometry guru" but less trail = "twitchy" or fast handling, touring bikes usually are designed with a low trail but are stabilized with a front end load(panniers), not twitchy anymore. More trail = a more stable bike(should be easier to ride with no hands), quite a few new mtn bikes, especially downhill bikes, are being designed with more trail than just a few years ago for more stability at speed. Perhaps your MTB rides as it does due to other factors.
regards, Brian
"speed" is the key word here. A bike with longer trail becomes more stable at higher speeds. At low speed, the front end tends to wander with even the small lean input that comes from pedaling.
I have intentionally designed my off road bikes(MTB and Gravel) with high trail numbers to give me a bike that inspires confidence on high speed descents. I don't generally ride off road with no hands, so the low speed wander of the front end doesn't bother me.