REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Anyone trying the less travel route?

2832 Views 30 Replies 17 Participants Last post by phantoj, Dec 29, 2021

RETROROCKS

Discussion Starter · Dec 23, 2021

Wondering if anyone is trying or regularly using a bike with less travel.
Less than the 5", 6" or 7" travel bikes of the current trend.
I recently picked up an old foes xtc with 3" of rear travel.
Its a nice bike and very capable with the short travel.
Ive ridden several of my local trails and have yet to feel like i need more travel.
Anyone else riding a shorter travel bike.. ?? And how is it working for you?

1 - 20 of 31 Posts

sgltrak

· #2 · Dec 23, 2021 (Edited)

I've never owned a bike with more than 100mm rear and 120mm front. For the past four years all of my bikes have been either soft tails with 20mm of rear travel or hard tails. It is working out just fine and I have no intention of changing anything in the coming year.

Soft tail

Bicycle Plant Plant community Bicycle tire Bicycle handlebar

See less See more

Reactions: 2

RETROROCKS

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 23, 2021

Are you in the NOCO area?

sgltrak

· #4 · Dec 23, 2021

RETROROCKS said:
Are you in the NOCO area?

Yep! West FoCo.

Blatant

· #5 · Dec 23, 2021

The entire “downcountry“ movement seems to have escaped you. Welcome.

Reactions: 1

looks easy from here

· #6 · Dec 23, 2021

I ride 0".

Reactions: 2

Sinastsa

· #7 · Dec 23, 2021

Thats why you have multiple bikes.

Reactions: 2

rideit

· #8 · Dec 23, 2021

^^^^^^dingdingding^^^^^^

Reactions: 1

RETROROCKS

Discussion Starter · #9 · Dec 23, 2021

sgltrak said:
Yep! West FoCo.

Nice im in Loveland!
Maybe once I get back in shape we can go for a ride!
How do you like what they did to Maxwell?

John Kuhl

· #10 · Dec 23, 2021

I have two bikes that I ride most of the time, and one is a 100mm 29er.

Reactions: 1

phantoj

· #11 · Dec 23, 2021

I have a Rocket 88 (88mm rear travel)... I don't really ride it, though...

Reactions: 1

sgltrak

· #12 · Dec 23, 2021

RETROROCKS said:
Nice im in Loveland!
Maybe once I get back in shape we can go for a ride!
How do you like what they did to Maxwell?

Not impressed with the Maxwell changes, but it remains my access corridor to other trails so I deal with it. The kitty litter they put down makes the descent a lot slower and more sketchy.
PM me when you want to ride. My schedule is flexible.

Reactions: 1

RETROROCKS

Discussion Starter · #13 · Dec 23, 2021

phantoj said:
I have a Rocket 88 (88mm rear travel)... I don't really ride it, though...

I had one back in the day.. loved it!! SID fork and all

chazpat

· #14 · Dec 23, 2021

My full suspension is 120/100. And my newest two bikes are rigid, one SS, the other geared. I have no desire for more travel than 120.

Reactions: 1

Cdal1770

· #15 · Dec 23, 2021

I sold my Evil Following MB because I found it had too short of a travel for my liking. I think that a short travel mtb is fine if one is riding flowy trails without an appreciable amount of chunder. I'm neither a racer nor a masher, but that 36 fork coupled with, at least, 140mm travel makes a difference in comfort, control, stability, and all-around confidence. Since the overwhelming majority of my trails are a little on the rough and robust side, I shy away from short travel mtbs.

plummet

· #16 · Dec 23, 2021

A want.....

Reactions: 4

Crankout

· #17 · Dec 23, 2021

Pure xc bikes for me so minimal FS travel.

Crankout

· #18 · Dec 23, 2021

plummet said:
A want.....

Damn, son... I have the cassette from '87 or '88? Somewhere in that era...

Reactions: 2

plummet

· #19 · Dec 23, 2021

Crankout said:
Damn, son... I have the cassette from '87 or '88? Somewhere in that era...

Yep. It was a while ago.... and so was my less travel

Reactions: 1

schwaggy

· #20 · Dec 23, 2021

Does this count?

Bicycle Tire Wheel Plant Bicycle wheel

See less See more

Reactions: 1

1 - 20 of 31 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.