Minimum BB height for MTB?
#2
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,187
Likes: 387
I made a 29er hardtail with a 70mm BB drop which is considered low for an MTB. But because it's a 29er (big wheels) that works out to about 312mm from the ground to the centre of the BB. The person I was making it for likes a low BB and isn't usually riding on big rocks. He hasn't had any pedal strike issues.
So it depends on the use case but I think quite low makes a nice riding bike.
So it depends on the use case but I think quite low makes a nice riding bike.
#3
Senior Member


Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 19,351
Likes: 5,467
From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
Agreed that riding style, suspension presence, crank arm length and other factors come into play. This is one design spec that duplicating what has worked before on a production bike (independent on wheel size) is a good starting dimension. Andy
__________________
AndrewRStewart
AndrewRStewart
#4
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,187
Likes: 387
Yes although many of us in the real world don't "send it" as much as the designers of production MTBs anticipate. So it's often OK to go a bit lighter gauge on the tubes and a bit lower BB.
#5
Senior Member


Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 19,351
Likes: 5,467
From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
Andy.
__________________
AndrewRStewart
AndrewRStewart
#6
Senior Member

Joined: May 2006
Posts: 859
Likes: 56
From: Reno, NV
I like around 300 to 305mm sagged with 170mm cranks and 130/140mm travel forks. Remember that hardtails change their geometry quite a bit as they go through their travel, unlike full suspension bikes. If you plan to run a long travel fork, the changes are more dramatic than a little XC fork. Keep that in mind as you design the bike.




