trek mountain bike front suspension

Join our Email List

Subscribe to our mailing list.

Oversize Charges

Some of our large and/or heavy items are subject to additional oversize charges that are separate from standard shipping costs. Most Bikes are subject to this fee. Learn More

The Bike Shoppe Home Page

OPEN: Mon, Sat 10-5; Tues - Fri 10-6; CLOSED: Sun

  • Account Account
  • Stores Stores
  • Subtotal : $ 0.00 Checkout Cart

trek mountain bike front suspension

Trek Full Suspension MTB Buyer's Guide

Trek offers a wide range of full-suspension mountain bikes built to dominate the toughest terrain. Explore this comprehensive guide to Trek’s XC and enduro racers, downhill models, and versatile trail bikes.

What are Trek Full-Suspension MTBs?

Trek full-suspension mountain bikes include both a front suspension fork and rear shock for ultimate trail capabilities. Extra shock absorption not only makes the ride more comfortable, but also allows riders to have more control over large obstacles. These advantages let mountain bikers carry more speed downhill or through XC race circuits.

If your riding style frequently lands you in the steep-and-chunky, a full-suspension setup is the way to go. And if full-suspension isn’t your thing, you can browse our wide range of Trek bikes available online or in-store.

Trek Supercaliber

Highlights : Front: 100mm, Rear: 60mm, Wheels: 29”, Frame: Carbon, Style: XC

trek mountain bike front suspension

The Supercaliber’s actions speak more than words, winning both the 2021 Olympic and World Championships. This model is the gold standard of high-performance XC bikes and includes enough rear suspension without compromising on speed. The Supercaliber’s secret weapon is the innovative IsoStrut rear shock with 60mm of travel that makes this model stand out from the pack. XC racers beware— this podium-topping bike might give you superpowers..

Forget about the hardtail vs. full-suspension debate. The Supercaliber has 100mm up front and 60mm at the rear for the perfect balance between race pace and shock absorption.

Every model has a lightweight build and Straight Shot downtube to boost stiffness. Knock Block technology prevents frame damage in the event of a crash and the internal cabling stays out of the way.

Racers need to stay hydrated, too. The Supercaliber fits two water bottles in the main frame triangle so you can stay fueled during extended training sessions or long races.

Trek Top Fuel

Highlights : Front: 120mm, Rear: 120mm, Wheels: 29”, Style: XC/Trail

trek mountain bike front suspension

The Top Fuel is a short-travel 29er that hits the sweet spot between trail bike and cross-country racer. This model is ideal for riders that shred the mountain in both directions— the Top Fuel climbs better than a trail bike and outperforms standard XC machines on the rough stuff.

The lightweight full-suspension setup preserves snappy handling so you can go fast with confidence. The updated Top Fuel model is more capable on the downhills than its predecessor and has adjustable geometry via a flip chip. The latest generation comes with Knock Block 2.0 to protect the top tube in the event of a crash— now removable and with a wider turning radius.

The all-new Top Fuel has a 66° head tube angle that's 1.5° slacker than the previous generation and has 10mm more reach, a killer combo for a more stable ride at high speeds. Toggle between High and Low frame geometry settings on the go with the Mino Link.

Pair a rear shock to a standard-travel XC fork and you’ve got an all-mountain beast that stays nimble and efficient. The high anti-squat maintains snappy pedaling for great acceleration on the climbs.

Now all Top Fuel models— both alloy and carbon— come with a built-in storage solution inside the downtube to easily carry tools or snacks. Riders can use the compatible Bontrager BITS tool bag for additional organization.

Trek Fuel EX

Highlights : Front: 150mm, Rear: 140mm, Wheels: 29” (27.5” on XS/S frames), Mixed option, Frame: Carbon or aluminum, Style: Trail

trek mountain bike front suspension

One of Trek’s most popular models, the Fuel EX is a do-it-all-well trail bike that’s designed to go anywhere. The mid-length travel is plenty capable on the rough stuff and isn’t overkill on the more moderate routes. This workhorse is perfect for riders that traverse a variety of terrain and want an all-mountain companion. The Fuel EX runs 29” wheels on the larger frames and has 27.5” hoops on XS and S sizes and the carbon models come with a neat storage compartment in the downtube.

RE:aktiv is Trek’s exclusive rear shock that responds differently to pedal strokes and bumpy terrain to optimize suspension out on the trail. Select Fuel EX models come with the higher-end RE:aktiv Thru Shaft shock.

The Fuel EX comes as a 29er on larger frame sizes and runs 27.5” wheels on XS and S frames. No matter your height, there’s a tuned geometry that’s right for you.

The Active Braking Pivot retains suspension performance under braking and the Mino Link lets riders alter frame geometry with a flick of a switch. Knock Block protects the frame in the case of a crash.

Trek Remedy

Highlights : Front: 160mm, Rear: 150mm, Wheels: 27.5”, Frame: Carbon or aluminum, Style: Enduro/trail

trek mountain bike front suspension

The Remedy is your one-stop-shop when it comes to a long-travel trail bike for aggressive riding. This model is light on its feet thanks to agile 27.5” wheels so you can whip around technical terrain and smash tight corners. There’s no lack of travel here with 160mm at the front and 150mm in the back. The Remedy has similar suspension specs as the 29er Slash, but provides sharper handling that transforms any mountain into a playground. If you’ve got a soft spot for tricky descents, this bike is a sure bet.

Smaller diameter 27.5” rims keep the Remedy nimble, even on the most technical terrain. These hoops and their 2.6” rubber offer zippy handling. Enjoy a more playful feel where you can whip around the trails and take corners like a pro.

Every Remedy model is powered by a SRAM Eagle 1x12 groupset for ultimate trail performance and unprecedented compatibility if you choose to upgrade parts down the road.

Retain suspension performance while braking thanks to Trek’s ABP technology that isolates the chainstays so the rear shock doesn’t stiffen up. You’ll have more traction at those critical moments on steep descents and twisty terrain.

Highlights : Front: 160mm, Rear: 160mm, Wheels: 29”, Style: Enduro/DH

trek mountain bike front suspension

Conquer the wildest terrain with this long-travel 29er enduro bike. The Slash is built for enduro racing, but it’s fearless on the chunkier bumps and jumps of downhill parks, too. Beauty meets beast with this eye-catching MTB with its serious suspension package— 160mm of travel up front and 150mm in the rear. The lively frame is available in carbon or aluminum versions and stays damage-free thanks to Knock Block 2.0 technology.

Engineers from Trek and RockShox collaborated on the enduro-tuned rear suspension that responds to trail inputs rather than rider pedal strokes for more accurate compression on the roughest terrain.

The most recent Slash includes 10mm of extra travel front and rear and improved geometry specs to match. The frame is now longer and slacker for additional stability in steep-and-chunky terrain, even at high speeds.

Every model comes with a full-length downtube guard so riders can transport their bikes on their tailgate without worrying about scratches or frame dings. There’s also an internal frame storage compartment to hide snacks and tools.

Trek Session

Highlights : Front: 190mm (29”) or 200” (27.5”), Rear: 190mm (29”) or 200mm (27.5”), Wheels: 29” (27.5” compatible), Frame: Carbon or aluminum, Style: Downhill

trek mountain bike front suspension

Designed to point downhill, the Trek Session is a world-class 200mm travel bike with the gold medals to prove it. This purebred DH model dominates bike parks and World Cup circuits with the most advanced suspension tech on the market. The high-pivot design and idler pulley provide a smooth, efficient ride over even the gnarliest of obstacles. The Session thrives in lift-services riding areas and on big jumps. With this downhill beast at your side, you’ll smash descents in record time.

The Session’s unique design improves back wheel movement over bumps which results in significantly smoother travel, more traction, and blistering speeds downhill.

The Session comes as a 29er, but riders can swap for 27.5” rims or run a mullet setup depending on their style. The Mino Link allows for on-the-fly progressively adjustment between 20 and 25 percent.

Frame sizes are now based on reach rather than seat tube length for a more accurate representation of ride feel. Chainstay length is also customized to match frame size and achieve a balanced geometry for every rider.

Electric Full Suspension MTB

Trek e-caliber.

Highlights : Lightweight eMTB, Front: 120mm, Rear: 60mm, Wheels: 29”, Motor: Fazua, Style: eMTB Cross-country

trek mountain bike front suspension

Who said electric mountain bikes couldn’t be lightweight? The all-new Trek E-Caliber fits full-suspension and a powerful Fazua motor into a slim setup. The sleek E-Caliber provides extra watts on XC circuits so you can ride longer and close the gap to stronger riders. There are three assist modes to match any conditions and optimize battery range. Big things can come in small packages and this supercharged XC model knows no limits.

The Fazua motor delivers power in different modes to optimize performance based on the terrain and riding style. Use Breeze mode for 100W of assist and longer range, River mode for 210W of assistance, and Rocket mode for 250W of climb-conquering power.

Like the Supercaliber, this bike comes with Trek’s IsoStrut shock for 60mm of travel and pivotless seatstays for ultra-tuned suspension.

At just 4.6kg, the internal motor provides serious pace and 55Nm of torque for getting up the hardest climbs while staying lightweight. Riders can charge or customize mode settings via the FAZUA App.

Trek Powerfly FS

Highlights : Front: 120mm, Rear: 100mm, Wheels: 29” (27.5” on XS/S), Motor: Bosch, Style: eMTB Hybrid/Cross-country

trek mountain bike front suspension

The Powerfly electric mountain bike features serious horsepower and a plush suspension setup to take your adventures to the next level. The trusted Bosch-drive system delivers smooth pedal assist and takes the sting out of the steepest gradients. There’s a battery range of 5 hours on lighter terrain and 3 hours on the rough stuff. The Powerfly is also available as a hardtail for stiffer XC performance.

The Powerfly is built around a top-of-the-line Bosch motor with Nm of torque and pedal assistance up to 20 mph. This renowned drive system combines smooth acceleration with a powerful punch on the trails.

Larger Powerfly frames come with 29” wheels while XS and S sizes run 27.5” for the perfect fit no matter your height. This balanced geometry also features a curved top tube to facilitate standing over the bike.

The smart eMTB mode automatically delivers the right amount of pedal assist and riders can switch to eMTB Lite mode, too. There’s Walk Assist for easy transport off the bike or making it up ramps.

The high-capacity battery fits neatly into the downtube and is easy to remove without tools. There’s still room for a water bottle cage and it fully charges in 3-5 hours.

Trek Fuel EXe

Highlights :  Lightweight eMTB, Front: 150mm, Rear: 140mm, Wheels: 29",  Motor:  TQ 50Nm torque, Style: eMTB Trail

trek mountain bike front suspension

Highlights : Front: 160mm, Rear: 150mm, Wheels: 29”, Motor: Bosch, Style: eMTB Trail/Enduro

trek mountain bike front suspension

Go big or go home. The Trek Rail is a long-travel electric mountain bike that floats over the biggest obstacles and shoots up the climbs with ease. The plush suspension package is a gravity rider’s dream and the Bosch-drive system provides buttery smooth pedal assist. Designed with enduro riders in mind, the Rail feels at home pointing both up and down the mountain. The removable integrated battery keeps you running laps on rowdy trails all day long.

There’s 160mm of travel up front and 150mm at the rear that’s tuned for sending it downhill and pedaling up climbing sections. Its monster truck capabilities soak up the bumps for a more controlled descent.

Ready for another lap? Toggle between pedal assist modes to blast up the mountain and tackle steeper climbs than ever. There’s 85Nm of torque to conquer tough gradients and a top speed of 20 mph.

Large 29” rims come stock on every Rail model regardless of frame size.

Trek Full-Suspension MTB Size Chart

Trek full-suspension mountain bike faqs, is a mountain bike better with full suspension.

Not necessarily— full-suspension bikes are designed for harder-hitting terrain with big bumps and high-speed descents whereas hardtail models ride better on flatter terrain.

Can you ride a full suspension mountain bike on the road?

You can ride a full-suspension Trek mountain bike just about anywhere, but keep in mind that its extra weight and plush amount of travel will slow you down on the road.

Is Trek a good MTB brand?

Yes, Trek is one of the largest bike manufacturers in the world and outfits numerous professional World Tour cycling teams with their innovative bikes and components.

Is a full suspension bike good?

Full-suspension mountain bikes are great choices for riding trails with big obstacles, fast descents, or thrilling jumps. The extra shock absorption keeps the bike under control and allows riders to carry more speed over technical terrain.

  • Help Center
  • Chat with a Ride Guide
  • 1-866-401-9636
  • Retail Store
  • Bike Services

Reset Password

We will send you an email to reset your password.

Don't have an account? Create an account

Create Account

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Favorite your products & save them to your account
  • Save a search & get notified when new products drop
  • Be first to know about the latest events & promotions

Bike Finder

Results have arrived, a basic guide to the most popular mtb suspension designs.

Are you looking for an in-depth course on mountain bike suspension designs? Well you've come to the wrong place, because this is MTB Suspension 101. But we all have to start somewhere. This basic suspension guide will give you a solid foundation for future study.

trek mountain bike front suspension

Written by: Bruce Lin

Published on: Sep 8, 2023

Posted in: Guides

Mountain bike suspension is simple… Wait, actually, no it’s not, especially when we’re talking about rear suspension. There are so many different designs that most riders can’t name (let alone explain) them all. So what do developing mountain bikers need to know? 

Don’t worry, there’s no studying necessary here because this post isn’t going to be some engineering class. Instead, the goal is to just give you a basic understanding of the most popular suspension systems you’ll encounter when shopping for a new or used mountain bike . 

We'll explain the key characteristics of the top 7 suspension designs we commonly see. You might even be able to see a bike pass on the trail and say, “That bike has X suspension.” Your friends will be so impressed… Maybe. 

[button] Shop Mountain Bikes [/button]

What Is the Best MTB Suspension Design?

Forbidden Druid High Pivot MTB suspension

The simple answer is that modern suspension designs are all actually pretty good . The more nuanced answer is: It depends.

Yes, those aren’t very satisfying answers. But really, it’s kind of an unanswerable question. (Disagree? Let me know what suspension you think is best!) If there really is ONE suspension design that is superior to the rest, then most bikes on the market would probably already be using it.

Every suspension design is trying to achieve the same thing: improve comfort and increase traction. There are other considerations too: pedaling efficiency, impact absorption, stiffness, weight, cost, reliability, and maintenance. Then, it all needs to fit within the constraints of a bike frame. There’s actually a lot of overlap between many suspension designs, and the reason multiple designs exist is that bike designers have found multiple ways to achieve similar results .

Where the true differences lie is in the mysterious world of suspension kinematics. You may have heard of things like leverage rate, anti-squat, anti-rise, and axle path (scroll to the bottom if you need a glossary). Regardless of the suspension design, these are the things that actually have the most influence on the ride characteristics of a particular bike.

This means it’s hard to make blanket statements about a particular suspension design (though we’ll try), and there’s often no major reason to prefer one design over another . It all depends on the kinematics of a particular bike.

If you want to dive into the nitty-gritty details of suspension kinematics, then you better be ready to study. My favorite resource for examining and comparing suspension kinematics for specific bikes is Antonio Osuna’s Linkage Design blog . It’s a Spanish site, so it’s written in Spanish, but fortunately, most modern browsers can easily translate his findings.

However, if you just want to know the basics of what suspension designs are out there, let’s take a look at the 7 most common and popular designs…

1. Single-Pivot

Single Pivot MTB Suspension

  • How To Identify It: There is only one suspension pivot
  • Pros: Simple, easy to service, consistent feeling
  • Cons: Harder to tune and refine specific suspension characteristics
  • Examples: Starling Murmur, Any Orange MTB

As the name implies, a single-pivot suspension has only one pivot point. Because of this, it is the simplest suspension design. The rear axle is connected directly to the front triangle by a swing arm, and the rear shock is connected directly to the swing arm.

Simplicity is a single-pivot’s greatest strength. Because there’s only one pivot point, there are fewer moving parts and bearings to maintain. It’s why single pivots are so popular for British brands like Orange and Starling. When you live somewhere with lots of rain and mud, less maintenance is a good thing.

Because the rear axle moves in a constant arc, centered around the pivot point, single pivots also feel very consistent throughout their travel. But this points to one of the main shortcomings of the design — it gives designers less control over the leverage rate of the suspension, as well as important kinematics like anti-squat and anti-rise. This means single-pivot bikes might not feel as refined in super rugged terrain as more complicated designs. 

2. Linkage-Driven Single-Pivot / Flex Stay

Linkage-driven Single Pivot MTB Suspension

  • How To Identify It: The rear axle is connected directly to the main pivot on the front triangle
  • Pros: More freedom to tune the leverage rate to work with different shocks and riding styles
  • Cons: More pivots and bearings than single-pivot, still less tuneable than other designs
  • Examples: Evil Offering, Kona Process, Trek Supercaliber, Specialized Epic Evo

In a linkage-driven single pivot, the rear axle is connected directly to a single pivot on the front triangle, just like a regular single pivot. However, the suspension will use additional linkages and pivots to drive the rear shock. This gives designers more freedom to manipulate the leverage curve to work with particular shocks (e.g., high-volume air or coil shocks) or for particular riding styles (e.g., XC or enduro). While it’s more tunable than a straight single pivot, it still might not be as tunable as more complicated designs.

Transition Spur Flex Stay

In recent years, linkage-driven single pivots with “flex stays” have become popular for more XC-oriented full-suspension bikes (e.g., the Trek Supercaliber). Flex stay designs rely on flex in the seatstays of the rear triangle instead of a pivot to achieve the desired suspension characteristics. This makes the rear suspension simpler and reduces weight.

A linkage-driven single pivot might be easy to mistake for a more complicated suspension design, but it is easy to identify because the rear axle will always be connected to the main pivot by a solid swing arm. Evil’s Delta suspension system is a great example. It looks complex with lots of extra links, pivots, and bearings driving the shock, but ignore those and you’ll see that it’s still just a swingarm moving on a single pivot point. 

3. Horst Link / 4-Bar / FSR

Horst link 4 bar MTB suspension

  • How To Identify It: The characteristic pivot on the chainstay, just in front of the rear axle
  • Pros: Highly tunable and predictable feeling suspension characteristics
  • Cons: Anti-squat and pedal kickback are directly related there may be some compromises
  • Examples: Specialized Stumpjumper EVO, Canyon Strive, YT Jeffsy, Transition Patrol

The Horst link is one of the most common suspension designs on the market, and it’s been around for decades. Its inventor, Horst Leitner, began working on it in the mid-1970s for motorcycle suspension, and he built a prototype mountain bike using a "Horst link" in 1985.

Horst Link is also known as 4-bar suspension (referring to the fact that it’s essentially a four-bar linkage ). Many Specialized bikes throughout the year, like the current Stumpjumper EVO, use FSR (Future Shock Rear) which is just a Horst link Design.

These days, Horst link designs are mostly used on mid- to long-travel trail and enduro bikes designed for gravity-oriented riding. Horst links provide great sensitivity and generally feel very predictable.

Horst link bikes are easy to identify because they incorporate a pivot on the chainstay directly in front of the rear axle. This means the rear axle is not directly connected to the main pivot, allowing designers to tweak the axle path to suit their needs. This gives designers a bit more freedom to play with kinematics like anti-squat and anti-rise than on a single-pivot design. 

4. VPP / DW-Link / Maestro / CVA / Twin Link / Dual Link

DW-link MTB suspension

  • How To Identify It: A solid rear triangle connected to the front triangle with two short links
  • Pros: Extremely tunable for all suspension characteristics
  • Cons: Extra complexity and tighter packaging for pivots and bearings
  • Examples: Santa Cruz Hightower, Pivot Trail 429, Ibis Ripley, Giant Trance

This suspension system is known by many names. Santa Cruz has its VPP (Virtual Pivot Point) suspension system. Ibis and Pivot have DW-Link. Giant has Maestro. Niner has CVA (Constantly Varying Arc). While these are all different designs, they’re all essentially “twin link” or “dual link” designs. This means they use a solid rear triangle that moves on a pair of short links connected to the front triangle.

Where designs from different brands differ is in the placement of the links, the lengths of the links, and the direction in which they rotate. For example, VVP uses counter-rotating links that turn in opposite directions while DW-Link and Maestro use co-rotating links that turn in the same direction.

trek mountain bike front suspension

In practice, twin link systems actually work very similarly to Horst link designs. It allows designers to manipulate the axle path separately from the main pivot points and provides many of the same advantages in terms of tuning, sensitivity, and predictability. There’s a huge range in what characteristics can be achieved with twin link systems, which is why they’ll appear on everything from short-travel XC and trail bikes to full-on downhill bikes.   

5. High-Pivot Idler

High pivot mtb suspension

  • How To Identify It: An idler pulley on or near the main pivot 
  • Pros: Rearward axle path for better impact absorption and reduced pedal kickback
  • Cons: Extra complexity and drag due to the idler, may require combining two chains
  • Examples: Forbidden Druid, Deviate Highlander, Cannondale Jekyll

While there are some exceptions, high-pivot bikes generally use a single-pivot suspension design, but the pivot point is placed much higher than normal. Placing the pivot point higher creates a more rearward axle path, which can help the rear wheel absorb harsh and square-edged hits more effectively.

But because the axle moves backward, it will pull on the chain. This is known as chain growth. It prevents the suspension from moving freely and will cause a sensation known as pedal kickback. The solution is to add an idler pulley which routes the chain up around the pivot point to eliminate chain growth. This prevents pedal kickback, and compared to other suspension designs, it also improves suspension sensitivity.

trek mountain bike front suspension

However, the idler pulley can increase drivetrain drag, noise, and maintenance, and many high-pivot bikes will require you to combine two chains. High-pivot bikes also handle a bit differently than other designs because they like to sit into their travel and stay stuck to the ground. For these reasons, high-pivots tend to be used on longer travel enduro and downhill bikes that focus more on descending than climbing.

High pivot suspension has actually been around since the 90s, but it’s recently experienced a resurgence of popularity in the gravity-oriented side of mountain biking. To dive deeper into why, check out the high-pivot suspension post I wrote after talking to an actual suspension engineer. 

6. Split Pivot / ABP / Concentric

Split pivot ABP MTB suspension

  • How To Identify It: There is a pivot directly on the rear axle
  • Pros: Braking forces don’t affect suspension performance
  • Cons: It may not be as efficient for pedaling 
  • Examples: Devinci Troy, Trek Fuel EX, Orbea Rallon

Like twin link designs, multiple brands use similar suspension designs that incorporate a pivot at the rear axle. Devinci uses Split Pivot. Trek uses ABP (Active Braking Pivot). Orbea uses Concentric. You may notice that the rear axle is directly connected to the main pivot by a solid swingarm, which means these designs are essentially a linkage-driven single pivot. The main difference, of course, is the concentric dropout pivot at the rear axle.

On many suspension systems, using the rear brake can negatively affect the rear suspension’s ability to move. With a Split Pivot, ABP, or Concentric design, the additional pivot at the rear axle allows designers to mount the brake caliper to the seatstay instead of the chainstay, which is beneficial because the seatstays will rotate less around the brake rotor than the chainstays as the suspension moves through its travel.

With this sort of system, the suspension will continue to feel active, providing comfort and traction, even when the brakes are fully applied. This reduces chatter, improves traction, and can give some riders much more confidence on the brakes. For some, the suspension may feel too active, especially when climbing, but it can be controlled with lockouts and compression damping adjustments on the rear shock.  

7. Switch Infinity

Switch Infinity MTB Suspension

  • How To Identify It: The main pivot moves on a pair of stanchions / It’s a Yeti
  • Pros: Good efficiency paired with a supple bottomless feel
  • Cons: Proprietary, expensive, not much different from twin-link 
  • Examples: Yeti SB120, SB140, SB160, etc.

This suspension system is only used by Yeti, but because Yeti’s are so popular, it’s one of the most ubiquitous systems we see. It’s actually not too different from a twin link design, but it does things a bit differently so it’s worth separating out.

Switch Infinity uses a solid rear triangle with an upper link that rotates as the suspension compresses while a lower pivot slides up and down on a pair of stanchions. The lower pivot acts a lot like the lower link on a twin link design, but it moves vertically in a straight line rather than rotating.

trek mountain bike front suspension

On paper, it behaves very similarly to a regular twin link design, but Yeti claims this specific design allows them to tune their kinematics in a certain way throughout the travel. Yetis have a reputation for pedaling efficiently while still having a bottomless feel deep in the travel. With unique Fox Kashima coated stanchions in the frame, Switch Infinity definitely looks cool, and it’s fairly easy to service, but as with any Yeti product, you end up paying a premium. 

What MTB Suspension Designs Are Missing?

Specialized Enduro suspension

A LOT is missing. As stated in the introduction, this guide only covers the most common and popular designs that we see on the market. There are plenty more, including many designs that are only used by a single manufacturer, but not common enough (for us, at least) to cover them in depth.

One design I skipped over that might be seeing an increase in popularity soon is the 6-Bar suspension system , which we’ve seen on Yeti’s 160E E-Bike (they call it Sixfinity), Commencal's latest Supreme downhill bike (which is also a high-pivot), and the Atherton line-up of bikes (which use DW6). And there are plenty more. 

Some Basic Suspension Definitions

MTB suspension leverage curves

MTB suspension leverage curves are generally described as linear or progressive. 

Leverage rate / ratio / curve - How much force it takes to compress the rear shock. We talk about leverage as a “rate” or a “curve” because the amount of force needed increases and changes as the suspension moves through its travel. The leverage rate or curve has a big impact on how a bike feels in certain terrain and what shocks can be used .

Anti-Squat - How the suspension is affected by pedaling forces. Anti-squat is basically a measure of how much the suspension resists pedal bob while pedaling. More anti-squat means more efficiency while climbing, but the trade-off can be a reduction in suppleness or an increase in pedal kickback. 

Anti-Rise - Sometimes referred to as brake jack. Anti-rise is basically a measure of how much the rear brake affects suspension movement. When you brake, the resulting weight shift want to make the rear suspension rise or extend, but the force from the rear brake compresses the suspension, keeping the bike more level. It’s kind of like anti-squat but in reverse.

Pedal Kickback - As the suspension moves, it can pull on the chain. This is known as chain growth and it causes a sensation called pedal kickback, where the cranks rotate backward. It can feel unpleasant (sometimes even kicking your feet off the pedals) and reduce how sensitive or supple your rear suspension feels.

Axle Path - The path the axle takes as it moves through the travel. It’s usually a curved or “C” shape, but many designs aim to tweak the axle path for performance reasons.

More Guides

trek mountain bike front suspension

FAQs, Guides, Latest, Road Mar 14, 2024

FAQ: The Roval Alpinist CL II vs. Roval Rapide CL II

trek mountain bike front suspension

Guides, Latest, Road, Tech Feb 23, 2024

The Best Affordable Carbon Road Wheels for Budget Racers

trek mountain bike front suspension

Features, Guides, Latest Feb 20, 2024

QUOC Shoe Review & Guide: Simple, Stylish, & Refined Cycling Shoes

trek mountain bike front suspension

Guides, Latest Jan 29, 2024

The Ultimate New & Used E-Bike Buyer’s Guide

trek mountain bike front suspension

Guides, Latest Jan 22, 2024

Shimano vs. SRAM: Guide to Groupsets, Drivetrains, Brakes, and More

trek mountain bike front suspension

Guides, Latest, Tech Jan 19, 2024

Road, Gravel & Mountain Bike Tire Pressure: Beginner's Guide w/PSI Chart

trek mountain bike front suspension

Gravel, Guides, Opinion Jan 13, 2024

Gear for Old Man Winter: The 12 Essentials for Winter Riding Kit

trek mountain bike front suspension

Gravel, Guides, Road Jan 8, 2024

Cervélo Bike Guide: R5 vs. S5 vs. Soloist vs. Caledonia. Which is Right For You?

trek mountain bike front suspension

Guides Jan 5, 2024

Bike Saddles Buyers Guide & the Best Saddles You Can Buy Right Now

trek mountain bike front suspension

Guides, Tech Dec 15, 2023

Showdown: Tacx Neo 2T vs Wahoo Kickr V6 Trainer Comparison

trek mountain bike front suspension

Guides Dec 12, 2023

8 Tips for the Festive 500: How To Ride 500km in 8 Days

trek mountain bike front suspension

Features, Guides, Inside Dec 11, 2023

The Best-Selling Bikes of 2023

New arrivals.

trek mountain bike front suspension

Certified Pre-Owned

Scott Addict 20 Road Bike - 2022, 56cm

trek mountain bike front suspension

Kona Libre Gravel Bike - 2020, 51cm

trek mountain bike front suspension

Specialized Turbo Levo Comp Alloy Mountain E-Bike - 2022, S4

trek mountain bike front suspension

Trek Checkpoint SL 6 AXS Gravel Bike 2022, 52cm

trek mountain bike front suspension

Pinarello Gan S Road Bike - 2019, 57.5cm

trek mountain bike front suspension

Ibis DV9 Mountain Bike - 2020, Medium

trek mountain bike front suspension

Scott Addict RC 20 Disc Road Bike - 2019, Large

trek mountain bike front suspension

Trek Domane SL 5 Gen 4 Road Bike - 2023, 60cm

trek mountain bike front suspension

Specialized Turbo Vado SL 4.0 Hybrid E-Bike - 2021, Large

trek mountain bike front suspension

Dean Titanium Hardtail 27.5 Mountain Bike - 2018, Large

trek mountain bike front suspension

Specialized Epic Hardtail Expert Mountain Bike - 2020, Large

trek mountain bike front suspension

Trek Émonda SLR 7 AXS Road Bike - 2023, 56cm

  • Account Account
  • Stores Stores
  • Subtotal : $ 0.00 Checkout Cart

Availability

  • In-Store 12
  • Medium/Large 17
  • Show More Sizes
  • XX-Large 11
  • Show Fewer Sizes
  • $200 to $499.99 1
  • $500 to $749.99 4
  • $750 to $999.99 5
  • $1000 to $1999.99 8
  • $2000 to $3499.99 6
  • Bicycling Catalog
  • Mountain Bikes

Trek Roscoe 9

Mountain Bike Reviews Forum banner

  • Forum Listing
  • Marketplace
  • Advanced Search
  • Shocks and Suspension

Trek 930 Single Track - Front Suspension Swap out?

jtcastillo

  • Add to quote

trek mountain bike front suspension

General rule of thumb is that every 20mm will change the head angle by ~1 degree. What you want to look at is the axle-to-crown measurement. I'm of the opinion that you should stay within 20mm of the original suspension.  

TNC

I have a '97 930. At one point I had a Judy XC fork with a 3" travel White Bros. kit installed. It yielded no odd handling traits. How far can you go on the fork? My take is that the geometry of this bike has traditionally steep head angle numbers of an old school nature. It's relatively hard to kill the handling manners by raising the front end like on some bikes. How far?...hard to tell. Three inches don't seem to faze it a bit, and I'd suspect it would take a bit more. I think the major improvement you'll notice is the lack of flex in the fork. Those Indy models are absolute noodles for real off roading. My old 930 is now a frankenbike commuter style with an old Indy SL w/Englund air carts, road triple crankset, and 1.5 semi-knobbies...a real freakshow...but surprisingly useful.  

Attachments

Bicycle frame Bicycle tire Tire Wheel Bicycle fork

Two issues I see here: 1) That frame is 1993 or earlier (the 930 was tig'd starting in 1994) so at max it was designed for a 48mm travel fork. So your already running a fork that is 15mm more than is was designed for (if it was even designed for suspension at all), I certainly would not exceed 80mm but honestly would be wary of even that. 2) You running Canti's...nothing new will have a hanger on the fork for Canti's, they are all V-brake specific (if they have brake studs, many forks are disc specific) so your looking at replacing brakes and levers as well (at least the front brake).  

27.2 seatpost 31.8 clamp  

mtnbiker72 said: 27.2 seatpost 31.8 clamp Click to expand...
TNC said: Hmmmm...my '97 930 pictured above has a 26.4 seatpost or some such odd size. Click to expand...
mtnbiker72 said: It's probably a 25.4 (common suspension post size) with a shim Click to expand...

Great, thank you..........  

mtnbiker72 said: Two issues I see here: 1) That frame is 1993 or earlier (the 930 was tig'd starting in 1994) so at max it was designed for a 48mm travel fork. So your already running a fork that is 15mm more than is was designed for (if it was even designed for suspension at all), I certainly would not exceed 80mm but honestly would be wary of even that. 2) You running Canti's...nothing new will have a hanger on the fork for Canti's, they are all V-brake specific (if they have brake studs, many forks are disc specific) so your looking at replacing brakes and levers as well (at least the front brake). Click to expand...
petetomo said: I know this is an older thread but you seem pretty knowledgeable in this topic. I own a 1993 Trek 930 and I would like to upgrade to a fork with suspension. I am commuting to/from work more frequently and the New England potholes are killing me. What are the specs I need to look for in a replacement fork? I'm assuming it is threaded but that's about all I know. Click to expand...
mtnbiker72 said: The 1993 Trek 930 full rigid is 1 1/8" threaded. It is not a suspension corrected frame which means putting a modern XC fork (80mm travel) is going to raise the front end quite a bit. I would caution you if your looking to add a fork. Your likely looking at the bare minimum of a new fork, front brake (v-type with adapter to use old canti levers), headset, and stem to install a modern fork. You might instead consider going with a high volume tire for your commute along with some shock absorbing titanium handlebars and some ESI grips. Cost wise you'll come out around the same as a decent fork and you won't be altering the bike geometry or making any large changes. Click to expand...
petetomo said: Thanks for the quick response. My plan is to purchase an older fork (maybe even the same one that was used for the 930 shx). However, I need to know what specs to look for to ensure it will fit the bike. What travel should I look for? Isn't there another dimension which needs to match? Click to expand...
mtnbiker72 said: Your going to be hard pressed to find a threaded 1 1/8" so even looking for older forks you should count on changing out the headset and stem. To determine what length steerer you need, use this formula Headtube length + Headset stack height (figure 30mm) + Stem clamp (figure 40mm) + Spacers (0-40mm depending on how much adjustment you want). Remember 25.4mm = 1 inch for the conversion. Stay away from the old Air/Oil forks, seals are almost impossible to get. Instead look for old Rock Shox Judy (1995-1996) or Manitou 2/3/4 forks that use springs or elastomers. Judy used a oil damper cartridge which is rebuildable but even if it fails the fork will still provide some suspension. Replacement elastomers can be found from suspensionforkparts.net. Keep the travel down...<50mm is best though a 63mm Judy wouldn't hurt the handling too much. Good luck Click to expand...

I had a 930 singletrack that came with a rigid fork stock. I put a Rock Shox Pilot fork on with 100mm of travel. Other than some slower steering it worked great. I could be wrong but it seems from the pic that the fork is threadless already.  

petetomo said: Do you think this one would work? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170627027305&fromMakeTrack=true Click to expand...
D-Avid said: I had a 930 singletrack that came with a rigid fork stock. I put a Rock Shox Pilot fork on with 100mm of travel. Other than some slower steering it worked great. I could be wrong but it seems from the pic that the fork is threadless already. Click to expand...

Are you sure that the '93 was a 1 1/8" steerer? I have complete frames for both a '92 and '93 out in my shed and I thought that they were both 1" threaded and that the 1 1/8" didn't start until you got to the 970 and above.  

trboxman said: Are you sure that the '93 was a 1 1/8" steerer? I have complete frames for both a '92 and '93 out in my shed and I thought that they were both 1" threaded and that the 1 1/8" didn't start until you got to the 970 and above. Click to expand...

Well, just for grins and giggles...and because I wouldn't be the geek that I am if I didn't...I went out and mic'd both of them and you are indeed correct (not that you needed the affirmation) the '93 is a 1 1/8" steerer, threaded as it was not suspended from the factory. The '92 is the same. I had a Trek DDS 2 air/oil fork on the '93. Most flexy, piece of crap that I can imagine...made steering very vague, like you were asking it to turn and it was considering not turning...but damn the air/oil fork was some kinda cool for the day. Now I'm thinking about doing a rebuild as SS's for both....  

The Trek 930 has really old, old, geometry and all the other pitfalls of bikes from that era compared to the awakening that occured later. Anytime you have to mention "suspension corrected" in reference to a frame, you know you're in trouble. It already sucks so bad that you won't hurt it with a 100mm fork...LOL!  

In a similar fix... I'm fixing up a 1993 Trek 930 Singletrack SHX, and the fork is completely locked up. Finding a Rock Shox Judy XC is a challenge anymore, but I'd really like to put another suspension fork on. I was looking at MOMBAT, and it appears that several of the Rock Shox from 95 would be useable. Several options present themselves on Ebay with some judicious search engine work. One question I have, based on a fork I found listed: A Rock Shox Judy DH is listed as having an 1 1/4 steerer tube. I call bull, but could be wrong. I say the seller didn't list the correct dimension. The SL or DH Judy's were better than the XC, so if I could score one of those, I'd be thrilled. A number of riders on another thread have suggested switching to a rigid fork, which is a possibility. The only forks I see that seem like a workable option in this case would be the Surly or Tange CroMoly forks with cantilever options. Any other rigid suggestions out there?  

PaulCoffeeFreak said: I'm fixing up a 1993 Trek 930 Singletrack SHX, and the fork is completely locked up. Finding a Rock Shox Judy XC is a challenge anymore, but I'd really like to put another suspension fork on. I was looking at MOMBAT, and it appears that several of the Rock Shox from 95 would be useable. Several options present themselves on Ebay with some judicious search engine work. One question I have, based on a fork I found listed: A Rock Shox Judy DH is listed as having an 1 1/4 steerer tube. I call bull, but could be wrong. I say the seller didn't list the correct dimension. The SL or DH Judy's were better than the XC, so if I could score one of those, I'd be thrilled. A number of riders on another thread have suggested switching to a rigid fork, which is a possibility. The only forks I see that seem like a workable option in this case would be the Surly or Tange CroMoly forks with cantilever options. Any other rigid suggestions out there? Click to expand...

I rode a 930 with an 80mm sid and an 80 mm manitou black both worked well and have v-brake posts.the sid would be hard to find they hardley ever show up on ebay but the blacks pop up from time to time Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk  

Nice! I like what you did with it! Can I ask what this fork is? I'm familiar with the Surly 1x1. Which of the two forks do you like the best, and why? When you changed your front brake, did you have to change anything on the handbrake/shifter?  

It's probably overkill for width, as I don't envision using 3 inch tires, but this might meet the rigid fork requirements, plus the black matte finish won't clash with that electric plum paint! Nashbar Rigid Mountain Bike Fork - Mountain Bike Suspension Forks  

  • ?            
  • 15.4M posts
  • 515.1K members

The Complete Guide to Full Suspension Mountain Bikes.

full suspension mountain bike

Discover the exhilarating world of off-road cycling through the lens of full suspension mountain bikes, the game-changers in the realm of adventurous riding. This comprehensive guide offers an accessible window into the universe of these high-performance machines, providing insights into their structure, versatility, benefits, unique features, comparisons with hardtail bikes, recommended models, care tips, and more.

Mountain biking has steadily gained momentum as the go-to outdoor activity for thrill-seekers and nature enthusiasts alike. While hardtail mountain bikes, known for their front suspension, have been a trusty companion for many riders, full suspension mountain bikes have taken the off-road experience to new heights.

Table of Contents

Unveiling the Inner Workings of Full Suspension Mountain Bikes

Full suspension mountain bikes are not just tools for conquering challenging trails; they are mechanical marvels that have undergone a continuous evolution to offer riders an unmatched off-road experience. In this comprehensive exploration, we will delve into the intricate anatomy of these cutting-edge machines, revealing how each component works in harmony to elevate your mountain biking adventures.

The Backbone: Frame At the core of every full suspension mountain bike lies its frame, often crafted from lightweight materials such as aluminum, carbon fiber, or robust steel. This frame is meticulously engineered to strike a balance between stability and agility, ensuring it can handle even the most unforgiving terrains while responding seamlessly to the rider’s commands.

Front-End Comfort: Suspension Fork The front suspension fork is the first line of defense against rough terrain. It incorporates hydraulic or air-based dampers to absorb shocks, delivering a smoother and more controlled ride. This component allows riders to tackle uneven trails with confidence, maintaining traction and steering precision.

Rear Resilience: Rear Suspension System The hallmark of full suspension mountain bikes is their rear suspension system, a dynamic duo that teams up with the front fork to provide superior traction, control, and comfort. The rear suspension, often accompanied by a shock absorber, adapts to varying terrains, enabling riders to confidently tackle steep descents, technical climbs, and obstacles of all kinds.

Traction Masters: Wheels and Tires The wheels and tires are your connection to the trail. These mountain bikes often feature larger wheels, typically 27.5 or 29 inches in diameter, for smoother rolling over rugged terrain. Paired with wide, knobby tires, they ensure optimal grip and stability. Many riders opt for tubeless setups to reduce puncture risks and maintain consistent performance in demanding conditions.

Control and Safety: Braking System Safety and control are paramount, and the disc braking system delivers both. With options for hydraulic or mechanical variants, these brakes offer reliable stopping power in all weather conditions. This critical component ensures that riders can confidently navigate steep descents and maintain control during challenging maneuvers.

Powerhouse: Drivetrain The drivetrain is the beating heart of the bike, featuring an array of gears, derailleurs, and shifters. Its primary responsibility is to convert your pedaling effort into forward motion. Modern drivetrains come in various configurations, emphasizing efficiency and precise shifting, enabling riders to seamlessly adapt to diverse terrains.

Diverse Categories of Full Suspension Mountain Bikes

Full suspension mountain bikes encompass a broad spectrum of options, each finely tuned to excel in specific terrains and cater to the unique preferences of riders. These bikes are categorized into distinct types, each designed to provide a specialized and thrilling riding experience. Let’s take a deep dive into the world of full suspension mountain bikes and explore the various types available. This exploration will empower you to understand the distinct attributes of each type and choose the one that aligns perfectly with your cycling goals.

Trail Bikes: Versatility in Motion

Trail bikes are the Swiss Army knives of mountain biking, offering versatility that allows riders to tackle a wide range of trail conditions with ease. They strike a harmonious balance between climbing efficiency and downhill performance. Sporting moderate suspension travel, versatile geometry, and a comfortable riding position, trail bikes are ideal companions for all-day adventures. Whether you’re navigating technical descents, exploring meandering singletracks, or embarking on epic long-distance rides, these bikes provide the adaptability and comfort needed to conquer diverse terrains.

Enduro Bikes: Dominance on the Descents

Enduro bikes are the bruisers of the mountain biking world, purpose-built to dominate aggressive downhill riding and challenging descents. These specialized machines boast extended suspension travel, robust construction, and aggressive geometry. While they excel in tackling technical trails and absorbing hard impacts, enduro bikes are known for their surprising uphill prowess, making them a popular choice among thrill-seekers who relish the balance between uphill challenges and adrenaline-pumping descents.

Downhill Bikes: Speed and Precision

Downhill bikes are all about one thing: extreme speed and precision in descents. These dedicated machines feature exceptionally long suspension travel, sturdy frames, and geometry that is optimized for high-speed stability. While they are unmatched in downhill performance, downhill bikes are not suited for climbing and are typically reserved for dedicated downhill parks and racing circuits.

Cross-Country Bikes: Racing and Exploration

Cross-country (XC) bikes are the thoroughbreds of mountain biking, designed for speed, efficiency, and endurance. These lightweight frames, coupled with shorter suspension travel and efficient geometry, make XC bikes the top choice for racers and riders who seek long-distance adventures. They excel in climbing and acceleration, making them perfect for those who aim to compete in races or explore extensive trail networks without compromising on speed.

All-Mountain Bikes: Versatile Trail Explorers

All-mountain bikes offer a balanced and versatile riding experience that bridges the gap between trail and enduro bikes. These bikes feature well-rounded suspension travel, versatile geometry, and adaptability across a range of terrains. Whether you’re navigating technical sections, conquering steep climbs, or descending challenging trails, all-mountain bikes are the versatile companions for riders who crave exploration without sacrificing performance.

In a world of full suspension mountain bikes, these diverse categories offer riders a spectrum of choices, each tailored to suit specific riding preferences and terrains. Your ultimate adventure begins with selecting the type of bike that matches your style and inspires you to conquer new horizons.

Revealing the Benefits of Full Suspension Mountain Bikes

1. enhanced comfort on rough terrain.

  • The dual suspension system, composed of a front fork and rear shock, serves as your ultimate comfort cushion, absorbing shocks and vibrations from the most uneven and challenging trails.
  • Reduced rider fatigue means that even long rides become significantly more comfortable and less physically demanding, allowing you to explore new territories without feeling beat up.
  • The plush and cushioned ride quality encourages riders to take on more demanding trails, fostering a sense of adventure while ensuring the utmost comfort.

2. Superior Traction and Control

  • Full suspension bikes excel in maintaining tire contact with the ground, offering superior traction even on slippery or technically demanding terrain.
  • This enhanced traction translates into unrivaled control, especially when tackling tight corners, daunting climbs, and exhilarating descents.
  • Riders can confidently navigate obstacles, maintaining control, reducing the risk of accidents, and pushing the boundaries of their off-road prowess.

3. Confidence-Boosting Performance

  • The heart of a full suspension bike is its ability to instill unwavering confidence in riders, empowering them to push their limits and explore uncharted territories.
  • The suspension systems work diligently to absorb impacts from unforgiving elements like rocks, roots, and drops, enabling riders to tackle even the most challenging technical sections with grace and ease.
  • With full suspension under you, you can venture forth on your mountain biking adventures without hesitation, knowing your bike is prepared to meet the demands of the trail.

4. Acceleration and Speed

  • Full suspension bikes deliver remarkable power transfer, thanks to their improved traction and control, leading to faster acceleration and the ability to maintain higher speeds on descents and technical sections.
  • Whether you’re seeking an adrenaline rush on thrilling downhill runs or looking to outpace your competition in cross-country races, the added speed potential of full suspension bikes is a game-changer.

5. Precise Handling and Responsiveness

  • The sophisticated suspension systems found on these bikes optimize your contact with the ground, enhancing stability and responsiveness.
  • You can confidently and precisely navigate tight switchbacks, negotiate treacherous rock gardens, and handle challenging technical features with finesse.
  • The bike’s agility and responsiveness cater to a wide range of riding styles and terrains, ensuring that you can conquer any trail with grace and skill.

6. Versatility for Varied Riding Styles

  • Full suspension mountain bikes come in a variety of types, each tailored to specific riding styles, from the lightning-fast world of cross-country racing to the exhilarating realm of downhill adventures.
  • Riders can select a bike that perfectly aligns with their preferences, whether they prioritize speed, comfort, or technical prowess.
  • The versatility of these bikes ensures that you can explore an extensive range of trails and terrain types, truly embracing the spirit of off-road cycling.

In summary, full suspension mountain bikes offer a compelling array of benefits that go beyond enhancing your off-road adventures. They provide a gateway to exhilarating experiences, unmatched comfort, and the confidence to push the boundaries of your riding skills. Whether you’re navigating technical descents, embarking on lengthy cross-country journeys, or dominating downhill courses, full suspension bikes have the versatility and performance to make your mountain biking dreams a reality.

Crucial Factors to Evaluate When Purchasing a Full Suspension Mountain Bike

Choosing the ideal full suspension mountain bike is a pivotal decision for riders at every level of experience. To ensure that your chosen bike aligns seamlessly with your riding preferences and aspirations, it’s paramount to meticulously assess a range of key features. In this guide, we explore the essential aspects you should consider when investing in a full suspension mountain bike:

1. Frame Material and Design

  • Frame material choices, such as aluminum, carbon fiber, or steel, substantially affect the bike’s weight, strength, and overall performance.
  • The frame’s design and geometry are integral to determining the bike’s handling characteristics and suitability for specific terrains. Frame geometry can influence factors like stability, agility, and how well the bike tackles obstacles.

2. Suspension Travel

  • Suspension travel, or the distance the front fork and rear shock can compress, has a significant impact on the bike’s performance.
  • Consider the type of riding you plan to undertake; greater suspension travel is well-suited for handling technical descents with finesse, while less travel translates to greater efficiency for climbing and cross-country riding.

3. Wheel Size

  • Wheel size is a pivotal factor that profoundly influences a bike’s performance. Common options include 27.5 inches and 29 inches.
  • Delve into how different wheel sizes affect the bike’s rolling efficiency, handling characteristics, and overall stability, particularly in the context of the specific trails you intend to explore.

4. Braking System

  • Full suspension mountain bikes are typically equipped with disc brakes, which come in hydraulic and mechanical variations.
  • Assess the braking system’s performance, taking into consideration elements such as stopping power, modulation (the ability to control braking force), and durability. These factors significantly impact your safety and control on the trails.

5. Drivetrain and Gear Range

  • Whether you prioritize speedy descents, efficient climbs, or a combination of both, the drivetrain should cater to your specific needs.

6. Price Range

  • Define a budget that aligns with your financial considerations and the features you prioritize in your mountain bike.
  • Be prepared to strike a balance between cost and performance, focusing on components and features that hold the most significance in enhancing your overall riding experience.

By thoughtfully evaluating these key features, you can streamline your selection process and find a full suspension mountain bike that resonates with your riding style, preferences, and performance expectations. Each feature plays a pivotal role in shaping the bike’s capabilities and overall performance, ensuring an engaging and satisfying journey on the trails.

Full Suspension vs. Hardtail Mountain Bikes: Making the Right Choice

The decision between a full suspension and a hardtail mountain bike is pivotal in shaping your off-road cycling adventures.

1. Suspension System

  • Full Suspension: Full suspension bikes boast both front and rear suspension systems, offering a multitude of advantages such as enhanced comfort, traction, and control on rough and technical terrain. The rear suspension ensures a smoother ride over obstacles, reducing rider fatigue.
  • Hardtail: On the other hand, hardtail bikes feature only front suspension. The simplicity of this design often results in a lighter overall weight, making hardtails efficient climbers, ideal for those who favor ascending challenges.

2. Comfort and Control

  • Full Suspension: Full suspension bikes excel in absorbing shocks and vibrations, leading to a plush and comfortable ride, particularly on demanding trails. The increased traction and control provide riders with the confidence to tackle obstacles and descents with ease.
  • Hardtail: Hardtail bikes offer a more direct and connected feel with the trail. This can be appreciated by riders who seek precise control and immediate feedback from the terrain, enhancing their handling skills.

3. Efficiency and Climbing

  • Full Suspension: While full suspension bikes provide a host of benefits, they may sacrifice some climbing efficiency due to the added weight and the phenomenon known as “suspension bob,” where energy is lost in the suspension system during pedaling.
  • Hardtail: Hardtail bikes shine in climbing efficiency, making them a preferred choice for cross-country riders and those who prioritize the ascent. The lack of rear suspension simplifies power transfer to the pedals.

4. Terrain Versatility

  • Full Suspension: Full suspension bikes are incredibly versatile and can handle a wide range of terrains, from technical descents to rugged trails. They excel in providing comfort and control across diverse conditions.
  • Hardtail: Hardtail bikes are well-suited for less aggressive trails and cross-country riding, making them a popular choice for riders who prioritize speed and efficiency on smoother terrain.

5. Maintenance and Simplicity

  • Full Suspension: Full suspension bikes typically require more maintenance due to their complex suspension systems, which have more moving parts. Regular maintenance is essential to keep them in peak condition.
  • Hardtail: Hardtail bikes are lauded for their simplicity, featuring fewer moving parts and thus demanding less maintenance. This can be a significant advantage for riders seeking a low-maintenance bike.

6. Cost Considerations

  • Full Suspension: It’s essential to acknowledge that full suspension bikes are generally more expensive due to their additional components and advanced technology. This should be considered when determining your budget.
  • Hardtail: In contrast, hardtail bikes are often more budget-friendly, making them an attractive option for riders who have financial constraints but still desire a reliable and enjoyable mountain biking experience.

7. Riding Style and Preferences

  • Encourage riders to reflect on their individual riding style, preferences, and the type of trails they frequent. The choice between full suspension and hardtail should align with these personal factors and their unique riding objectives.

Both full suspension and hardtail mountain bikes have their rightful places in the world of mountain biking, catering to diverse preferences and riding objectives. The ultimate choice comes down to aligning your bike with your individual aspirations and the type of terrain you’re passionate about exploring.

Accessories and Gear for Full Suspension Mountain Biking

When embarking on full suspension mountain biking adventures, having the right accessories and gear is essential for safety, comfort, and performance. Here’s a breakdown of the key accessories and gear categories along with some examples:

Protective Gear:

  • Helmets: Your first line of defense in case of falls or impacts. Full-face helmets provide comprehensive protection for your head, while trail helmets offer a balance of protection and ventilation.
  • Body Armor: This gear protects your chest, back, and limbs. Chest protectors shield your torso, while knee and elbow pads safeguard your joints during falls or collisions.
  • Gloves: Providing grip and protection for your hands, full-fingered gloves with knuckle guards are essential to ensure your hands stay unscathed.
  • Goggles/Glasses: Protect your eyes from flying debris and harmful UV rays with goggles or glasses. Look for options with anti-fog and UV protection features for clear vision.
  • Shin Guards: Prevent injuries from pedal strikes and impacts on your shins. Look for lightweight, breathable shin guards that won’t hinder your movement.
  • Neck Braces: Designed to support your neck and minimize the risk of injury, adjustable neck braces offer comfort while enhancing your safety during challenging rides.

Cycling Apparel:

  • Jerseys: Moisture-wicking and breathable, jerseys help regulate your body temperature and keep you dry. Consider both short and long-sleeve options for various weather conditions.
  • Shorts/Pants: These durable bottoms come with padding to enhance saddle comfort. Padded shorts or baggy riding pants are popular choices for full suspension riders.
  • Gloves: Apart from protecting your hands, cycling gloves enhance grip and overall comfort. Look for lightweight, moisture-wicking options to keep your hands dry.
  • Socks: High-performance, moisture-wicking socks play a crucial role in maintaining dry and comfortable feet, even during long and demanding rides.
  • Footwear: Sturdy and grippy shoes are essential for maintaining pedal control and rider safety. Depending on your preference, choose between clipless or flat pedal mountain biking shoes.
  • Jackets: Designed to withstand varying weather conditions, windproof and waterproof jackets provide the protection you need when Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate. Look for options that are packable and breathable for added convenience.

Accessories:

  • Hydration: Staying hydrated on the trails is vital. Hydration packs offer easy access to water while riding, while water bottles provide a simple and lightweight alternative.
  • Tools: Carry essential tools for on-the-trail bike repairs. Multi-tools, tire levers, and pumps ensure you can address minor issues and continue your ride.
  • Bike Lights: Bike lights are essential for safety when riding in low-light conditions or at night. Both front and rear LED bike lights increase visibility and reduce the risk of accidents.
  • GPS/Navigation: For route planning and tracking, bike-specific GPS devices and apps help you navigate new trails, record your progress, and share your achievements.
  • Bike Racks: When transporting your bike to different trails, bike racks, whether hitch-mounted or roof-mounted, make the process convenient and secure.
  • Trail Repair: Kits for fixing punctures and minor issues are a must. Items like tube patches, tire boots, and chain tools ensure you can handle unexpected problems on the trail with ease.

Choosing the right protective gear, cycling apparel, and accessories is crucial for a successful and enjoyable full suspension mountain biking experience. Selecting items that align with your riding style, preferences, and the specific challenges you’ll face on the trails is essential for your safety, comfort, and overall satisfaction.

Conclusion  

In the world of off-road cycling, the full suspension mountain bike stands as a symbol of adventure, versatility, and uncompromising performance. As we’ve ventured through this comprehensive guide, we’ve unveiled the intricate details that make these high-performance machines exceptional in every sense. From the anatomy of full suspension bikes to their diverse types, advantages, and key features, it’s clear that these two-wheeled marvels have revolutionized the way riders conquer rugged terrains.

With a full suspension mountain bike, riders are equipped with the tools needed to take on the most challenging trails and conquer nature’s obstacles. The dual suspension system, consisting of front forks and rear shocks, ensures enhanced comfort, superior traction, and unmatched control on rough terrain. As we’ve learned, this leads to reduced rider fatigue, increased confidence, and the ability to tackle technical sections and rough descents with ease.

The versatility of full suspension mountain bikes is another standout feature. Whether you’re navigating a technical descent, seeking the thrill of downhill racing, or embarking on an epic cross-country adventure, there’s a full suspension bike that aligns with your riding style and preferences.

However, the choice between full suspension and hardtail bikes can be a significant decision. While full suspension bikes offer unrivaled comfort and control, hardtails excel in climbing efficiency and simplicity. The decision ultimately depends on your riding style, the type of trails you frequent, and your individual preferences. Both options have their places in the world of mountain biking.

To maximize your full suspension mountain biking experience, equipping yourself with the right protective gear, cycling apparel, and accessories is essential. Helmets, body armor, gloves, jerseys, and more ensure safety and comfort on the trails. These essential items, when chosen carefully, enhance your adventures while keeping you protected from the elements.

In conclusion, full suspension mountain biking is a world of excitement, challenges, and unending opportunities for exploration. Whether you’re an adrenaline seeker or a nature lover, full suspension bikes are your gateway to the great outdoors. By understanding their intricacies and making informed choices regarding types, features, and gear, you can embark on thrilling rides and create unforgettable memories on the trails. So, gear up, pick your bike, and ride on to conquer the rugged terrains with confidence and enthusiasm. Your mountain biking journey awaits, and it’s bound to be an exhilarating one.

RELATED ARTICLES

820 trek mountain bike

Exploring the Features and Performance of the 820 Trek Mountain Bike

With its quality frame, suspension fork, and name-brand components, the 820 Trek mountain bike delivers confidence-inspiring performance that punches above its affordable price point.

specialized hardrock mountain bike

Full suspension mountain bikes have both front and rear suspension systems to optimize handling, control, and comfort on even the most challenging terrain.

mountain bike project

A Guide to Choosing the Right Professional Mountain Bike

Professional mountain bike is crucial to riders that tackle all trails and participate in mountain biking competitions all around the world.

bike24 inch

The 5 Best Junior Mountain Bikes 26 Inches

Kids and teenagers need mountain bikes suited to their age. That is why you must invest in the best junior mountain bikes 26 inches.

mountain bike rider

A Guide to Buying a Best Beginner Mountain Bike for Women

The best beginner mountain bike for women? Here it is. The best beginner mountain bikes for women will make you feel like a pro in no time!

mountain bike pads

Good Beginner Mountain Bike Guide

Some of the good beginner mountain bikes include Vitus Escarpe 29 CR 2021, Ragley Marley 1.0, ORBEA LAUFEY H30 BIKE 2021 and many more.

26inch bike

Best Junior Mountain Bike

If you want your kids to love mountain biking, we will tell everything you need to know to pick the best junior mountain bike for them.

ned overend

Benefits of Starting With A Best Starter Mountain Bike

Here are some benefits of choosing the best starter mountain bike to pick one that will serve you well and last through many rides.

coolmountainbikes

COOL MOUNTAIN BIKES

  • Privacy Policy

trek mountain bike front suspension

Mountain Bike Suspension Lockout (Ultimate Beginner’s Guide)

Suspension is the biggest component differentiating mountain bikes from road bikes. A fork and shock soak up bumpy terrain and make it smooth…well, a little smoother at least. Nevertheless, you’ve probably noticed that mountain bike suspension also has a lockout feature. But what is it even for, and why would you ever use it?

Lockout effectively eliminates pedal bob –the side effect of riding a bike with suspension. This will improve pedaling efficiency, and while it shouldn’t be used on rough trails (especially when going downhill!), it will provide a firmer platform for pedaling uphill or on smooth, flat terrain.

While locking out your suspension certainly isn’t necessary, I’ve only done it a handful of times at most in the last year, I’ll break down where a full or partial lockout may benefit your riding performance. 

What is Suspension Lockout on a Mountain Bike?

For starters, let’s define what we’re talking about here.

The maximum amount a bike’s fork and shock can compress is called travel (expressed in mm). This compression – as well as the speed at which the suspension rebounds after compressing – is controlled by the flow of oil inside the suspension. 

Yes, even though you add or subtract air to adjust your fork and shock sag, they both contain oil as well.  

Increasing the flow of oil within the suspension increases its travel. Reducing the flow of oil decreases travel. This adjustment is made via the compression lever on the fork and shock (which is typically blue but depends on the brand).  

When you fully restrict the flow of oil, the fork or shock effectively become locked out, meaning they will not compress. Even with the oil fully restricted, however, the suspension will still have a little give to it; in other words, a mountain bike will never be as rigid as a road or gravel bike.

How to Use Suspension Lockout on a Mountain Bike

If you want to lock out your fork or shock, simply turn the compression lever to the fully closed position. For most forks, this means turning the dial on the right fork leg clockwise . A fork will have many adjustment points, allowing you to reduce its travel incrementally depending on the terrain you’re riding.

Most shocks have a three-position switch, with Open, Mid, and Firm (Locked Out) designations. 

When Should You Lock Out Mountain Bike Suspension?

The only time you should fully lock out your fork is when riding on smooth terrain or climbing long fire roads to get to the trails you want to ride. Suspension plays an important role in keeping your tires in contact with the ground on rough terrain, even when climbing. Without tire contact, you have no traction!

On flatter terrain or trails that require a lot of climbing, you could consider firming up your fork rather than locking it out (by turning the compression dial to the midway point). This will help reduce pedal bob and make you more efficient while still allowing your tires to roll over bumps and other obstacles smoothly. 

If you have a longer-travel bike (150mm or greater), firming up the fork for jump trails could keep your suspension from compressing too much on the takeoff. If you’ve ever watched new riders unsuccessfully hit jumps, you may notice their fork nosedive as they ride up the lip of a jump. This is an indicator of poor body position and could send them over the bars!

Running your fork in the mid-range on a longer-travel bike will also just make it more efficient in general when riding trails that aren’t as challenging. I live in Florida – where things are pretty flat everywhere – and I ride a 130mm travel trail bike. If I had a longer-travel bike, I would spend most of the time riding with my fork in the mid-range; because you just don’t need all that travel here!

Similar to the fork, there are few times you’d want to run your shock fully locked out. There are plenty of times you may want to put it in the mid-position though.

In addition to all the reasons above, one additional reason you would want to run your shock in the mid-range would be to prevent pedal strikes on technical climbs. If your climbs have roots, rocks or other obstacles that are just waiting to snag your pedals, setting your shock in the mid-position lets the bike ride higher in its travel and avoid those pedal strikes.

Nothing will grind you to a halt on a climb quite like smashing your pedal–or even worse, your foot–against a big rock or root. 

For more information about how to use compression adjustments to get the most out of your riding, check out the below video:

Do You Need Suspension Lockout?

To be perfectly honest, there are very few times where completely locking out your fork would really improve your riding performance. If you do find yourself using lockout a lot, maybe you don’t even need a mountain bike for the kinds of trails you’re riding: a gravel bike may be a better, more efficient option.

Mountain bike suspension is designed to increase traction on very rough terrain. Lockout reduces traction. Without suspension, your tires won’t be able to stay in contact with the ground. Instead, they’ll be pinging off obstacles and jostling you all over the trail. 

If you want to see for yourself, conduct a little experiment the next time you ride. Choose a trail you know well (preferably an easy one) and ride it twice: once with your suspension open, and once with it locked out. You should notice a huge difference in performance, traction…and comfort.

If you want to improve pedaling performance, firming up your fork and shock a bit by moving the compression lever to the mid-range will provide a superior balance of pedaling efficiency, traction and stability over bumps. After all, riding over obstacles is why you bought a mountain bike in the first place!

Suspension Lockout Not Working? (How to Fix It)

If you engage the lockout lever on your fork or shock and it doesn’t firm up your suspension, there could be a few reasons why: some can be tackled at home, while others may require a trip to the bike shop (unless you’re a professional bike mechanic…or just like the challenge of fixing things yourself!)

Misaligned Compression Lever

If your fork won’t lock out, the first thing to check would be the compression lever itself. The following steps can correct this minor issue:

  • Remove blue compression lever by removing the small allen bolt on top
  • Remove spring and top gear underneath compression lever
  • Hand tighten hex bolt clockwise until it won’t turn any further
  • Replace gear, ensuring it lines up with fixed gear attached to fork leg
  • Replace spring
  • Replace compression lever, ensuring it is aligned in lockout position before tightening allen bolt

This last point is important! If you don’t replace the lever in the lockout position, it will throw off the ability to adjust the compression. I took my fork apart like this and it took at least 10 tries to get it back to working like it did before I messed with it. Ahh, the things I do for you, the reader…  

Please Note: This is how I made adjustments to my Fox fork. If your bike has a different brand fork, consult the manufacturer’s website for more information before you go taking things apart! And if in doubt, seek help from an expert at your local bike shop.

Remote Lockout Switch: Not Enough Cable Tension 

If your bike has one of those fancy remote suspension lockout switches on the handlebar (this is usually found on XC-style bikes), there may not be enough cable tension for the remote lever to engage the suspension.

You can adjust this via the cable tension adjustment screw on the fork’s right leg:

  • Use an allen wrench to loosen the small cable tension screw (not the screw in the center of the fork leg)
  • Pull more of the remote cable through the compression lever and hold it there
  • Retighten the cable tension screw 

If this doesn’t quite fix it, you may need to adjust the preload screw as well:

  • Repeat steps 1-2 above
  • Before tightening the cable tension screw, use an allen wrench to turn and hold the preload screw (in the center of the fork leg) all the way clockwise
  • While holding it in this position, retighten the cable tension screw (it helps to have a partner do this)

This should fix the issue.

Below is a decent video of the steps above that will at least give you a visualization of what I’m talking about!

This is the most likely cause of a compression adjustment issue with your fork or shock. Unfortunately, it’s also the hardest to fix for the ameteur garage mechanic.

If your suspension has an oil leak, you won’t be able to adjust the flow of oil through the chamber and alter the compression rate because the oil pressure is too low. 

Fixing this is beyond my own abilities, so I would strongly recommend taking your bike to a qualified mechanic to repair this issue.

Suspension Lockout: Use it Sparingly!

While a lockout feature on a mountain bike certainly isn’t necessary, there are a few situations where it may come in handy. The adjustment points in between Open and Lockout are nice to have though! You’ll find yourself using those more frequently. 

For most of your riding, just leave your suspension in the open position and let it do its thing! It’s there to make your rides smoother and more comfortable. If you ever try riding a rigid bike down your favorite trails, you’ll definitely appreciate your mountain bike’s suspension that much more!

Rob Marlowe

With years of experience as a dedicated mountain biker and an unwavering passion for research, I have cultivated a deep expertise in all facets of cycling—from the intricacies of bike mechanics and gear optimization to the subtleties of riding techniques. My journey has been one of continuous learning, driven by countless hours delving into the science and art of biking. It's this wealth of knowledge and practical know-how that I aim to impart, offering a trusted resource for novices to gain their footing and for seasoned riders to refine their skills and push their limits.

Recent Posts

What Shoes To Wear With Biker Shorts (7 Mistakes To Avoid)

Discover trendy outfit ideas on what shoes to wear with biker shorts. Avoid fashion mistakes, embrace comfort and style in your cycling journey!

Best Schwinn IC3 Indoor Cycling Bike Review

Explore the Schwinn IC3 Indoor Cycling Bike. Uncover its features, benefits, and user feedback in our comprehensive review. Start your fitness journey now!

Rocket cyclist logo.

Mountain Bike Suspension Lockout Fork: How it Works?

What is a lockout fork.

trek mountain bike front suspension

A lockout fork is a feature found on mountain bikes that allows the rider to lock the front suspension fork in a rigid position, preventing it from compressing and rebounding. This means that the fork remains in a fixed position without absorbing any impacts or bumps during the ride. Essentially, it turns a suspension fork into a rigid fork, providing a completely stiff front end to the bike.

Why is it important for mountain biking?

The suspension lockout fork feature is important for mountain biking because it offers several benefits to riders, including:

1. Climbing Efficiency:  When climbing steep inclines or riding on smooth, flat terrain, a lockout fork allows the rider to transfer more power to the pedals without any energy being lost through the compression and rebound of the suspension fork. This can result in increased efficiency and speed.

2. Better Control:  On rough downhill sections or when riding over technical obstacles, a suspension fork absorbs the impact and helps to maintain traction and control. However, on certain sections of the trail where the rider wants more precise handling, such as tight turns or steep descents, the lockout fork provides a rigid front end, giving the rider more control and responsiveness.

3. Energy Conservation:  By utilizing the lockout fork when it is not needed, riders can conserve energy and reduce fatigue over long rides. This is particularly useful during endurance races or multi-day rides where conserving energy becomes crucial.

In conclusion, a lockout fork on a mountain bike is a valuable feature that provides greater versatility and control to riders. Whether it’s for climbing efficiency, better control, or conserving energy, the lockout fork option is a must-have for serious mountain bikers.

How Does a Lockout Fork Work?

Explanation of the mechanism.

A lockout fork is a feature found on mountain bikes that allows the rider to lock the front suspension fork in a rigid position, essentially turning it into a rigid fork. The mechanism of a lockout fork involves a switch or lever that can be easily accessed by the rider while riding.

When the switch is engaged, it activates a mechanism inside the fork that prevents the fork from compressing and rebounding, effectively locking it in place.

This mechanism typically involves a hydraulic or mechanical lockout system that restricts the flow of oil or causes a mechanical lock to keep the fork from moving. By locking out the fork, the rider can minimize the amount of movement in the front suspension, which can help improve efficiency during climbs or when riding on smooth terrains.

Benefits of using a lockout fork

The use of a lockout fork on a mountain bike can offer several advantages to riders, including:

1. Increased pedaling efficiency :  When riding on flat or smooth terrains, the compression and rebound of the front suspension fork can absorb some of the rider’s pedaling power. By locking out the fork, the rider can transfer all of their pedaling energy directly to the drivetrain, resulting in increased pedaling efficiency and speed.

2. Improved climbing performance:  Climbing steep gradients requires maximum power transfer to the rear wheel. By locking out the front suspension, the rider can maintain better traction on the rear wheel by preventing weight transfer to the front, resulting in improved climbing performance.

3. Enhanced control and stability:  In certain situations where stability and control are crucial, such as on technical descents or when riding at high speeds , a locked-out fork can provide increased stability and precise steering. This can help riders navigate tricky sections with greater confidence and control.

4. Customizability:  Many lockout forks offer adjustable levels of compression and rebound damping. This allows riders to fine-tune the performance of their suspension fork to suit their riding style and preferences.

It is important to note that a lockout fork should not be engaged when riding on rough or technical terrain, as the front suspension is necessary to absorb impacts and provide traction. The lockout feature is best utilized when riding on flat or smooth terrains, climbing, or during situations where maximum efficiency and control are desired.

Overall, a lockout fork is a valuable feature that adds versatility to a mountain bike , allowing riders to optimize their bike’s performance for different terrains and riding conditions.

Types of Lockout Forks

There are several types of lockout forks available for mountain bikes, each offering their own advantages and features. These include:

1. Manual lockout forks:

Manual lockout forks  are the most common type of lockout forks and require the rider to manually adjust the lockout feature. This is done by turning a dial or flipping a switch located on the fork. Manual lockout forks are simple to use and typically offer a firm lockout with minimal suspension movement.

2. Remote lockout forks:

Remote lockout forks  feature a handlebar-mounted control that allows the rider to adjust the lockout feature without taking their hands off the handlebars. This type of lockout fork is popular among riders who frequently switch between open and locked positions while riding.

3. Electronic lockout forks:

Electronic lockout forks  are the most advanced type of lockout forks and utilize electronic mechanisms to control the lockout feature. These forks often integrate with a suspension control system and can be adjusted on the fly using a remote control or smartphone app. Electronic lockout forks offer precise control and can be customized to suit the rider’s preferences.

Each type of lockout fork has its own unique advantages and it’s important to choose the one that best suits your riding style and preferences.

Popular Brands and Models

Overview of lockout forks from different brands.

When it comes to lockout forks for mountain bikes, several popular brands offer reliable and high-performance options. Here are some of the leading brands and their lockout fork models:

1. Fox Racing:  Fox Racing is well-known for its suspension forks, including the Fox 32 Step-Cast and the Fox 34 Factory. These forks feature a lockout mechanism that allows riders to switch between fully active suspension and a rigid fork feel for more efficient climbing.

2. RockShox:  RockShox is a trusted name in the mountain biking industry , offering a range of lockout forks such as the RockShox SID and the RockShox Pike. These forks provide excellent control and adjustability, allowing riders to fine-tune their suspension for different terrains and riding styles.

3. SR Suntour:  SR Suntour is known for producing affordable yet reliable suspension forks . Their lockout forks, such as the SR Suntour XCR and the SR Suntour Raidon, offer impressive performance and are often found on entry-level and mid-range mountain bikes.

4. Manitou:  Manitou is a brand that focuses on innovative suspension technology. Their lockout forks, like the Manitou Markhor and the Manitou Minute, feature advanced damping systems and adjustable lockout mechanisms to enhance performance on the trails.

Comparison of features and performance

Here’s a quick comparison of some key features and performance aspects of lockout forks from different brands:

These are just a few examples of popular lockout forks from different brands. The right choice will depend on factors such as your riding style, budget, and specific preferences.

For more information on mountain bike lockout forks, you can visit the respective brand websites.

Choosing the Right Lockout Fork for Your Mountain Bike

When it comes to mountain biking, having the right equipment can make a significant difference in your riding experience. One important component to consider is the lockout fork. But what exactly is a lockout fork, and how do you choose the right one for your mountain bike? Let’s find out.

Considerations for selecting a lockout fork

When choosing a lockout fork for your mountain bike, there are a few factors to consider:

1. Type of Suspension:  Lockout forks come in different types of suspension, including air, coil, or hybrid (combination of air and coil). Each type has its advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to choose based on your riding preferences and the type of terrain you’ll be riding on.

2. Travel:  The travel of a lockout fork refers to the maximum distance it can compress and extend. The appropriate travel for your bike depends on the type of riding you’ll be doing. Cross-country riders may prefer shorter travel, while downhill riders may opt for longer travel.

3. Adjustability:  Look for a lockout fork that offers adjustability options, such as rebound damping and compression damping. This allows you to fine-tune the fork to match your riding style and terrain.

Matching the lockout fork to your riding style and terrain

When selecting a lockout fork, it’s important to match it to your riding style and the terrain you’ll be riding on. Here are some recommendations:

1. Cross-Country Riding:  If you enjoy long rides on smoother trails and prioritize efficiency and speed, a lockout fork with shorter travel and lighter weight would be ideal. Look for a fork with adjustable damping to provide a responsive and efficient ride.

2. Trail Riding:  For riders who enjoy a mix of climbs, descents, and challenging terrain, a lockout fork with medium travel and adjustable damping would be suitable. This type of fork provides a balance between efficiency and control.

3. Downhill Riding:  Downhill riders typically require long-travel forks to handle rough and technical terrain. Look for a lockout fork with longer travel, adjustable damping, and robust construction to handle the demands of downhill riding.

Remember to consider your skill level, the aggressiveness of your riding style, and the specific characteristics of the trails you’ll be tackling when choosing a lockout fork for your mountain bike.

By understanding the considerations for selecting a lockout fork and matching it to your riding style and terrain, you can enhance your overall mountain biking experience and ensure optimal performance on the trails.

Installing and Setting up a Lockout Fork

Step-by-step guide for installation.

  • Start by removing the front wheel of your mountain bike. This will give you easier access to the fork and make the installation process smoother.
  • Depending on the type of lockout fork you have, you may need to remove the top cap or adjuster knob to access the internals of the fork.
  • Carefully insert the lockout mechanism into the fork, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Ensure that all components are properly aligned and securely fastened.
  • Reinstall the top cap or adjuster knob and tighten it to the manufacturer’s recommended torque specification .
  • Replace the front wheel and ensure that it is securely attached to the fork.

Tips for adjusting the lockout fork for optimal performance

  • Start by setting the lockout to the fully open position and test the fork’s responsiveness on a trail. Adjust the compression damping to find the desired level of firmness for your riding style.
  • Experiment with different settings to find the right balance between comfort and efficiency. A fully locked-out fork can improve pedaling efficiency on smooth surfaces, while a partially open setting can provide better traction on technical terrain.
  • It’s a good idea to carry a small multi-tool with you on rides so that you can make on-the-go adjustments to your lockout fork.
  • Regularly clean and lubricate the lockout mechanism to ensure smooth operation and prevent any issues from arising.

Installing and setting up a lockout fork on your mountain bike can significantly improve your riding experience, providing better control, comfort, and efficiency on various terrains. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and regularly maintain your fork to keep it performing at its best.

Maintenance and Care

Proper maintenance practices for lockout forks.

To ensure optimal performance and longevity of your lockout fork on a mountain bike, it’s important to practice proper maintenance . Here are some key maintenance practices to keep in mind:

1. Regular Cleaning:  Clean your lockout fork regularly to remove dirt, debris, and any build-up that may affect its performance. Use a mild detergent or bike-specific cleaner and a soft brush to gently remove any grime.

2. Lubrication:  Apply lubrication to the moving parts of your lockout fork, such as the seals and stanchions, to prevent them from drying out or experiencing excessive friction. Use a silicone-based lubricant or a lubricant specifically designed for suspension components.

3. Inspection:  Regularly inspect your lockout fork for any signs of damage, such as leaks, scratches, or worn-out parts. Address any issues promptly to prevent further damage and ensure the safety of your ride.

Common problems and troubleshooting

While lockout forks are generally reliable, they may encounter some common problems. Here are a few issues you may come across and some troubleshooting tips:

1. Fork Not Locking Out:  If your lockout fork is not engaging or locking out properly, check if the lockout lever is fully engaged. Sometimes the lever may get stuck or become loose during rides. Ensure it is in the correct position to activate the lockout.

2. Fork Stuck in Locked Position:  If your lockout fork is stuck in the locked position and does not unlock when you adjust the lever, there may be internal issues with the lockout mechanism. In this case, it’s best to consult a professional bike mechanic for further inspection and repair.

3. Fork Adjustments Not Working:  If you are unable to make adjustments to the compression or rebound settings of your lockout fork, check if the adjustment dials or knobs are damaged or worn out. In some cases, they may need to be replaced.

Remember that proper maintenance and regular inspections are key to keeping your lockout fork in top condition. If you are unsure about any issues or if you encounter more significant problems, it’s always recommended to seek professional assistance from a bike mechanic.

Lockout Forks vs. Non-Lockout Forks

When it comes to choosing a fork for your mountain bike, you may come across the terms “lockout forks” and “non-lockout forks.” Here’s a comparison of their performance and benefits to help you make an informed decision:

Comparison of performance and benefits

Lockout Forks:

  • Lockout forks allow riders to lock the fork in a rigid position, minimizing the suspension movement.
  • They are ideal for smooth and flat terrain, such as pavement or uphill climbs, where suspension movement is unnecessary and can reduce pedaling efficiency.
  • Lockout forks provide a more efficient transfer of power from the rider to the bike, resulting in improved climbing performance and speed on smooth surfaces.
  • They offer a firmer and more responsive front end when locked, allowing for better control and handling on rough terrain.

Non-Lockout Forks:

  • Non-lockout forks have active suspension that continuously absorbs impacts and provides a smoother ride.
  • They excel in technical and challenging terrain, such as rocky descents and rough trails, where suspension travel is crucial for absorbing bumps and maintaining traction.
  • Non-lockout forks offer enhanced comfort and control by soaking up vibrations and impacts, reducing rider fatigue and improving overall ride quality.
  • They provide maximum traction and control on uneven surfaces, allowing for better handling and cornering performance.

Pros and cons of each option

  • Improved pedaling efficiency on smooth surfaces.
  • Enhanced control and handling when locked.
  • Ideal for road or uphill climbs.
  • Limited suspension travel, which may reduce comfort and traction on rough terrain.
  • Less effective in absorbing impacts compared to non-lockout forks.
  • Active suspension for better comfort and traction on rough terrain.
  • Improved ride quality and reduced fatigue.
  • Excellent for technical descents and challenging trails.
  • Reduced pedaling efficiency on smooth surfaces.
  • Potentially more weight and complexity compared to lockout forks.

Overall, the choice between lockout forks and non-lockout forks depends on your riding style, terrain preferences, and personal preferences. If you primarily ride on smooth surfaces and prioritize pedaling efficiency, lockout forks may be a suitable option. On the other hand, if you frequently tackle technical terrain and value comfort and control, non-lockout forks are likely the better choice.

Remember to consider factors such as the type of riding you do, the terrain you encounter, and your budget when making a decision.

Real-world Reviews and Experiences

Feedback from mountain bikers using lockout forks.

Mountain bikers who have used lockout forks have provided valuable feedback about their experiences with this feature. Here are a few real-world reviews:

1. Increased Efficiency:  Many riders have praised lockout forks for their ability to increase efficiency on climbs. By locking out the fork, riders can minimize energy loss and maintain better traction on steep uphill sections.

2. Improved Control:  Several mountain bikers have noted that lockout forks provide enhanced control on technical descents. By reducing fork movement, riders can have a more stable and predictable ride, especially on rough terrain.

3. Customizable Suspension:  Lockout forks often come with adjustable settings that allow riders to fine-tune their suspension according to their preferences and the trail conditions. Cyclists have found this feature valuable in achieving the perfect balance between comfort and efficiency.

4. Lightweight Design:  Lockout forks are generally designed to be lightweight, which is advantageous for riders looking to reduce overall bike weight and enhance agility on the trails.

5. Smooth Transition:  Many riders have lauded the smooth transition between locked and unlocked modes on lockout forks. This convenience allows for quick adjustments on the go, without disrupting the flow of the ride.

It’s important to note that individual experiences may vary, and the effectiveness of lockout forks can depend on factors such as bike setup, rider preference, and trail conditions. Nonetheless, these reviews indicate the overall positive impact of lockout forks on mountain biking performance and enjoyment.

Choosing the right lockout fork for your mountain biking needs

In conclusion, a lockout fork is a valuable feature for mountain bikes that allows riders to adjust the suspension system according to their preference and trail conditions. By locking out the fork, riders can effectively turn their mountain bike into a rigid bike, providing greater efficiency and control on smooth surfaces or when climbing. When unlocked, the fork provides the necessary suspension travel to absorb shocks and impacts when riding on rough terrain.

When choosing a lockout fork for your mountain bike, consider the following factors:

1. Suspension Type:  Decide whether you want an air or coil-sprung fork. Air forks are typically lighter and offer better adjustment options, while coil-sprung forks are often more affordable and durable.

2. Adjustability:  Look for a lockout fork that offers adjustable rebound and compression settings. This allows you to fine-tune the fork’s performance based on your riding style and preferences.

3. Travel:  Consider the amount of suspension travel needed for your riding style and the type of trails you frequent. Longer travel forks are better suited for aggressive downhill riding, while shorter travel forks are more efficient for cross-country and trail riding.

4. Brand and Reputation:  Research reputable brands that are known for producing high-quality lockout forks. Look for user reviews and ratings to gauge the performance and reliability of the fork.

Remember that a lockout fork is just one component of a mountain bike’s overall suspension system. It is important to consider the compatibility of the fork with your bike’s frame and other suspension components.

Overall, a lockout fork can significantly enhance your mountain biking experience by providing greater control and efficiency on a variety of terrains. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced rider, choosing the right lockout fork can greatly improve your ride quality and overall performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common queries and answers about lockout forks.

Here are some common questions that individuals often have about lockout forks on mountain bikes:

Q: What is a lockout fork? A: A lockout fork is a feature found on mountain bikes that allows the rider to lock the suspension fork in a more rigid position. This can be beneficial when riding on smooth surfaces or climbing steep hills, as it reduces energy loss from suspension movement.

Q: How does a lockout fork work? A: Lockout forks typically have a lever or switch that the rider can engage to stiffen the suspension. When the lockout is engaged, the fork becomes more rigid, limiting or preventing any movement in the suspension.

Q: When should I use the lockout feature? A: You should use the lockout feature on your fork when riding on smooth surfaces or climbing steep hills. By locking out the suspension, you can improve pedaling efficiency and prevent energy loss from suspension bobbing.

Q: Can I use the lockout feature on rough terrains? A: While the lockout feature is primarily designed for smoother terrains, it can also be used on moderately rough terrains. However, it is important to note that using the lockout feature on very rough terrains can result in less control and a harsher ride.

Q: Are lockout forks necessary? A: Lockout forks are not necessary for all mountain bike riders. They are more commonly found on cross-country or trail bikes where pedaling efficiency is a priority. If you primarily ride on more technical terrains that require responsive suspension, a lockout fork may not be as important.

Q: Do all mountain bikes have lockout forks? A: No, not all mountain bikes have lockout forks. The inclusion of a lockout feature often depends on the specific type and purpose of the bike. Higher-end cross-country or trail bikes are more likely to have lockout forks, while downhill or enduro bikes may not prioritize the feature.

About The Author

trek mountain bike front suspension

Vinson Lozano

Related posts.

A man with a bike on a set of stairs.

Gravel Bike as a Commuter? Here’s What You Need to Know

A bike leaning against a river.

Can Gravel Bikes Go on Trails? Yes, it does!

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Shop in-store for even more deals!

Shop in store for even more deals we can't advertise!

Bike Service

Mountain Bike Suspension Service

Mountain Bike Suspension Service

Trade In Your Bike

Trade in your bike

  • Base Layers
  • Mountain Bike Shorts
  • Bibs, Tights + Knickers
  • Mountain Bike Shoes

SAFETY GEAR

  • Adult Helmets
  • Youth Helmets
  • Road Helmets
  • Casual Wear
  • Road Bike Shorts
  • Bibs, Tights & Knickers
  • Road Bike Shoes
  • Accessories/Parts

Safety Gear

  • Women's Helmets
  • Road Bike Helmets
  • Mountain Bike Helmets

WHEELS & TIRES

  • Road Wheels
  • Mountain Bike Wheels
  • Mountain Bike Tires
  • Wheels Accessories and Parts
  • Derailleurs
  • Chains & Cassettes
  • Cranks and Chainrings
  • Bottom Brackets
  • Cables and Housing
  • Power Meters

BRAKES & PEDALS

  • Clipless Pedals
  • Flat Pedals
  • Mountain Bike Brake Sets
  • Mountain Bike Brake Pads
  • Road Bike Brakes and Pads
  • All Brakes/Levers/Pads

Forks & Cockpit

  • Grips and Bar Tape
  • Rigid Forks
  • Suspension Forks

Accessories

  • Car Rack Accessories
  • Electronics
  • Front Lights
  • Tail Lights
  • Locks/Security
  • Media/Resources
  • Bicycle Mounted Racks
  • Pumps/Inflation
  • Tools/Maintenance
  • Trailers/Strollers
  • Trainers/Rollers
  • Travel/Storage
  • Water Bottles & Cages

Brand Guides

Bike buyer's guides, gear guides, new bike releases, summit bicycles online (855) 245-3663 [email protected] email, burlingame (650) 343-8483 [email protected] email, summit outfitters (408) 878-3252 [email protected] email, los gatos (408) 399-9142 [email protected] email, san jose (408) 264-2453 [email protected] email, palo alto (650) 304-0035 [email protected] email, summit bicycles mobile we'll come to you schedule mobile service today, (855) bike-one - for online orders and rental inquiries.

  • Account Account
  • Subtotal : $ 0.00 Checkout Cart

Availability

  • In Stock 13
  • Bombtrack Bicycle Company 1
  • Santa Cruz 1
  • 21.5-inch 1
  • Medium/Large 18
  • Show More Sizes
  • XX-Large 11
  • Show Fewer Sizes
  • Up to $10 1
  • $500 to $749.99 4
  • $750 to $999.99 6
  • $1000 to $1999.99 9
  • $2000 to $3499.99 10
  • & up 12
  • & up 15
  • Bicycling Catalog

These front suspension mountain bikes, also called hardtail mountain bikes, are perfect for cross country style riding and racing. We've got hardtail models from some of the best brands in the industry at every price point, so whether you're looking for your very first mountain bike or you're upgrading to your dream machine, we've got you covered right here at Summit Bicycles.

Trek Procaliber 9.6

Jack of all trails, master of fun

Fuel EX is up to get down

  • filter controls Items 24 24 48 72 filter controls Sort by Featured Featured A-Z Z-A Price Low-High Price High-Low

NEED HELP CHOOSING?

Use the Bike Finder to narrow your choices, compare models, and find the Trek that’s right for you.

Get started

Biktrix unveils new 2,300W full-suspension electric mountain bike with two chains

Avatar for Micah Toll

If you’ve been wanting to get your off-road e-biking thrills but think all the current eMTBs on the market are too weak with their paltry 750W motors, then Biktrix has just what you’re looking for. The new Biktrix Juggernaut FS XD is the full-suspension electric mountain bike equivalent of the hot-rodder’s hot rod.

Over 2,000 watts of power in an electric mountain bike is no joke, and Canadian electric bike maker Biktrix had to go back to the drawing board to make it happen.

The new e-bike required a custom-built mid-drive motor that was designed in-house by the Biktrix team. Instead of a massive and clunky rear wheel motor to get there, the mid-drive motor built by the company keeps the bike more balanced and allows riders to preserve the type of handling expected from a mountain bike.

And as you can imagine, having nearly 10x the amount of power produced by a human could wreak havoc on traditional bike parts like chains and sprockets, so Biktrix had to get custom there, too. The company designed a second drivetrain just for the motor power, feeding the rear wheel through a higher spec chain and sprocket set on the left side of the bike.

As the company explained:

“The innovative Coaxial-Drive motor provides all the handling and weight distribution benefits that come with a mid-drive motor. But with all this power you need a drivetrain to handle it! The Juggernaut XD features a motor side drivetrain designed specifically to handle the power this motor puts out to keep this bike even more reliable than your average mid-drive motor.”

trek mountain bike front suspension

Of course a big motor means that you’d better have a big battery as well, otherwise that fun ride is going to get cut short. Supplying the Juggernaut FS XD’s motor is a 52V 17Ah battery with 910 Wh of capacity.

The company reports an estimated range of 40 miles (64 km) from the battery, though full-power riding that makes full use of the 2,300W motor is sure to drop that range.

The range estimate likely comes from using pedal assist, though there’s a throttle too for peak fun. Riders who can resist relying purely on the throttle will find that the torque sensor pedal assist is designed to be as intuitive and responsive as possible, feeling more like a true mountain bike when you pedal it than a light dirt bike.

trek mountain bike front suspension

And it’s no surprise that a bike built with this much power also comes with heavy-duty components. The wheels feature 15mm and 12mm thru axle hubs in the front and rear, respectively. The brakes use dual-piston hydraulic calipers with 180mm and 220mm rotors. The transmission is a SRAM NX 11-speed. And the tire sizes come in three larger-than-life options of 26×4″, 27.5×3″, 26×4.8″.

To top it all off, the suspension features a Rockshox Monarch Rl rear shock with 51 mm of travel as well as five different fork options depending on how serious you want to get with your riding. The fork options include:

  • Biktrix Inverted Air Fork with 100mm travel
  • Manitou Mastadon Comp with 100mm travel
  • Wren Inverted Air Fork with 110 mm travel
  • Wren Inverted Air Fork with 150 mm travel
  • Wren Inverted Air Fork with 110 mm travel, lockout and preload

Considering the bike’s weight is listed at 71.9 lb (32.6 kg) before the battery is inserted, those suspension options (and likely the powerful hydraulic disc brakes) are going to be well-appreciated components indeed.

biktrix juggernaut FS XD e-bike

The Biktrix Juggernaut FS XD carries a n MSRP of US $5,999 , but there are some serious savings to be had. The bike is rolling out with a $1,000 off sale as part of the launch, and anyone who puts down a $100 pre-order deposit gets another $500 discount on top of that.

For an all-in price of $4,499, the picture is looking pretty darn rosy for such a powerful and high-spec e-bike. Just remember that with this much power comes some serious responsibility, which includes riding only where permitted and being courteous to other trail users.

Electrek’s Take

Alright, so this bike is pretty ridiculous, but in all the best ways. I mentioned the issue of being courteous of other trail users, but with this much power and suspension, you can leave the trails behind and chart your own overlanding course.

I’ve had a lot of experience with different Biktrix e-bike models over the years and have always been impressed with the company. They take pride in building e-bikes that aren’t just cookie-cutter white-labeled models chosen from an OEM’s catalog.

That means they cost a bit more, but you’re paying for the innovation. That motor certainly wasn’t cheap to develop, nor was the dual drivetrain.

Some people will probably say “just get a Sur Ron or dirt bike for that price”, but I’d argue they’re missing the point. This is still an electric mountain bike, and it still rides like one – albeit a bit heavier than most riders will be accustomed to. Just because it has 2,300W of power doesn’t mean you always need to ride it in full power mode. You can crank the power up to climb a mountain, then drop it back down to get a nice workout on the trails at the top. Most minivans can get up to 100 mph, but they rarely do. People like knowing they have the performance, even if they keep it to much lower levels most of the time. I see the Biktrix Juggernaut FS XD through a similar lens. It has the power and performance to take you places other e-bikes couldn’t, but you can always drop the power back down and ride it like an eMTB. That’s just not possible with a dirt bike or Sur Ron.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

ebikes

Micah Toll is a personal electric vehicle enthusiast, battery nerd, and author of the Amazon #1 bestselling books DIY Lithium Batteries , DIY Solar Power,   The Ultimate DIY Ebike Guide  and The Electric Bike Manifesto .

The e-bikes that make up Micah’s current daily drivers are the $999 Lectric XP 2.0 , the $1,095 Ride1Up Roadster V2 , the $1,199 Rad Power Bikes RadMission , and the $3,299 Priority Current . But it’s a pretty evolving list these days.

You can send Micah tips at [email protected], or find him on Twitter , Instagram , or TikTok .

Micah Toll's favorite gear

trek mountain bike front suspension

Lectric XP 3.0 e-bike sale

Best $999 electric bike ever!

Rad Power Bikes sales

Rad Power Bikes sales

Great e-bikes at great prices!

Steven Sitler Archive

The truth about moscow, blog & mablog: “the high mountain air of public calumny”, blog and mablog | september 7, 2015.

The High Mountain Air of Public Calumny Those who believe themselves to be hep to my tricksy ways might have surmised that I orchestrated this entire recent flap about Steven Sitler because Randy Booth and I recently put out a book entitled A Justice Primer . But whether you are disposed to believe me or not, that was a total coincidence. In this book we address biblical principles for evaluating charges that are brought against someone, anyone. The book is, I believe, quite a necessary resource for good-hearted Christians everywhere — who regularly see defamatory information scrolling by in their Facebook feed. There is even a chapter entitled “Trial by Internet,” which concludes with this sage advice: “Never get into a braying contest with donkeys” (p. 160). Coincidence? Or a masterpiece of publishing guile and cunning? You decide. Nancy and I have been quite blessed by all the believers who have checked in with us to see if we are doing okay, and who have let us know they are praying for us. We really appreciate it, and are doing quite well, thank you. This is not our first rodeo, and we have previously had numerous occasions to see how God uses this kind of situation for blessing in our lives.I thought I would put together a short list of seven ways this kind of thing can be used for good. Of course, the real list is much bigger than seven, but this is what I thought of this morning. Here are a few ways we see blessing, and look for more blessing to follow. These points come in no particular order. This kind of controversy gives me opportunity to hold up A Justice Primer and say, “Did you know that we have this new book out?” Have I already mentioned the book? I forget. Either one of my girls could have had a big country hit if they had wanted — Colporter’s Daughter . This kind of controversy has a winnowing effect. “For there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized” (1 Cor. 11:19, ESV). When something like this happens, it really is revelatory. People come out of the woodwork in very interesting ways, and often they don’t seem to be aware that they are doing so. They “like” articles and posts they shouldn’t, and don’t seem to be aware that what they are doing is quite visible and consequential. Perhaps you knew someone was bitter, but not that bitter, or ungrateful, but not that Or perhaps you had no idea. But uproars like this give people an opportunity to declare themselves, which they then do. When you run your little flag up the flag pole, it turns out other people can see it. This kind of controversy reveals those who have true wisdom also. In line with that winnowing effect, it is a joy to see parishioners and friends who “get it,” and who articulate the truth with grace and verve. They know, for example, the difference between assertions and demonstrations, between yelling and proof. As one of our more astute parishioners illustrated for us, they know when there is a real problem and when the Internet is just throwing poo into the ceiling fan. I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am for the community of saints we have here. This kind of controversy reveals to young men who are preparing for ministry the true nature of gospel ministry. From a distance, certain kinds of “mercy ministry” look wonderful, appealing, and, if you are a hipster, sexy. Everybody likes mercy ministry, and everybody detests those white bread churches that won’t do mercy ministry. Everybody is all about mercy ministry until the meth heads and sex offenders start showing up at church.  “Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:12–14).

These people Jesus was thinking of . . . I wonder what they smelled like. I wonder what their sexual histories were like. I wonder if any of them would be invited to fill out a golf foursome that a well-connected minister had arranged with some Chamber of Commerce leaders. No, this passage is talking about low-lifes, and you can’t minister to them without risking being lumped in with them. You glutton. You drunkard. You protector of pedophiles.

  • This kind of controversy gives me an opportunity to extend an unacknowledged good to certain of my adversaries. Jesus says to bless them, and this is one way to do it. In this last round of poo-throwing, quite a sinister construction was placed on a comment I made a number of years ago — “I am a pastor. I cover up sin for a living.” But some of the disgruntled people who are out there yelling about this are some of the very people I would refuse to tell stories on. And despite their current animus, they don’t need to worry about it; this is not a veiled threat. I would rather die than use information gleaned in the course of pastoral ministry against them in the course of a public fight (1 Cor. 9:15). But I can go so far as to say that among those who are going after me for “protecting” Steven Sitler are some people who are receiving far more protection from me than he is. In the nature of the case, his sins were criminal and therefore public, and have to be discussed publicly. But when certain folks join forces with those who hate the fact that I “cover up sins for a living,” I do want to catch their eye, nod slightly, and enjoy with them a moment of shared irony.
“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matt. 5:11–12).

And Jesus doesn’t say we are to be a little bit glad. He says exceeding glad. He says that we are to go around the corner, get out of their sight, and do a little jig. In this case, Nancy — a Puritan jewel — celebrated by buying me a nice bottle of Laphroaig.

Spurgeon once put it this way: “The more prominent you are in Christ’s service, the more certain are you to be the butt of calumny. I have long ago said farewell to my character. I lost it in the early days of my ministry by being a little more zealous than suited a slumbering age. And I have never been able to regain it except in the sight of Him who judges all the earth, and in the hearts of those who love me for my work’s sake.”

  • This kind of controversy gives us an opportunity to anticipate the next wave of blessing in store for us. As mentioned above, this kind of thing has happened before, and every time it has happened, it was right on the threshold of great blessings for our church and community. This is how God gives His gifts to us. This is the kind of gift wrap He uses, and we recognize it by now. We know the shape of the box and know what’s coming. In one of our previous uproars, a package full of scurrilous charges against me was delivered to our front door, hundreds of pages, and these charges were every bit as energetic as they were erratic. As Nancy and I were talking about it, I said to her, “This is my big promotion.” And it was.

The High Mountain Air of Public Calumny

Monday, September 7, 2015 By Douglas Wilson 276 Comments

Those who believe themselves to be hep to my tricksy ways might have surmised that I orchestrated this entire recent flap about Steven Sitler because Randy Booth and I recently put out a book entitled A Justice Primer . But whether you are disposed to believe me or not, that was a total coincidence. In this book we address biblical principles for evaluating charges that are brought against someone, anyone. The book is, I believe, quite a necessary resource for good-hearted Christians everywhere — who regularly see defamatory information scrolling by in their Facebook feed. There is even a chapter entitled “Trial by Internet,” which concludes with this sage advice: “Never get into a braying contest with donkeys” (p. 160).

Coincidence? Or a masterpiece of publishing guile and cunning? You decide.

Nancy and I have been quite blessed by all the believers who have checked in with us to see if we are doing okay, and who have let us know they are praying for us. We really appreciate it, and are doing quite well, thank you. This is not our first rodeo, and we have previously had numerous occasions to see how God uses this kind of situation for blessing in our lives.

I thought I would put together a short list of seven ways this kind of thing can be used for good. Of course, the real list is much bigger than seven, but this is what I thought of this morning. Here are a few ways we see blessing, and look for more blessing to follow. These points come in no particular order.

1. This kind of controversy gives me opportunity to hold up A Justice Primer and say, “Did you know that we have this new book out?” Have I already mentioned the book? I forget. Either one of my girls could have had a big country hit if they had wanted — Colporter’s Daughter .

trek mountain bike front suspension

3. This kind of controversy reveals those who have true wisdom also. In line with that winnowing effect, it is a joy to see parishioners and friends who “get it,” and who articulate the truth with grace and verve. They know, for example, the difference between assertions and demonstrations, between yelling and proof. As one of our more astute parishioners illustrated for us, they know when there is a real problem and when the Internet is just throwing poo into the ceiling fan. I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am for the community of saints we have here.

4. This kind of controversy reveals to young men who are preparing for ministry the true nature of gospel ministry. From a distance, certain kinds of “mercy ministry” look wonderful, appealing, and, if you are a hipster, sexy. Everybody likes mercy ministry, and everybody detests those white bread churches that won’t do mercy ministry. Everybody is all about mercy ministry until the meth heads and sex offenders start showing up at church.

6. This kind of controversy gives fuller meaning to the communion of opprobrium that faithful ministers of every age share. Jesus says that we are to rejoice when people revile us, in part because of the company it puts us in.

And as another Puritan once put it, he had learned the art of living in the high mountain air of public calumny.

7. This kind of controversy gives us an opportunity to anticipate the next wave of blessing in store for us. As mentioned above, this kind of thing has happened before, and every time it has happened, it was right on the threshold of great blessings for our church and community. This is how God gives His gifts to us. This is the kind of gift wrap He uses, and we recognize it by now. We know the shape of the box and know what’s coming. In one of our previous uproars, a package full of scurrilous charges against me was delivered to our front door, hundreds of pages, and these charges were every bit as energetic as they were erratic. As Nancy and I were talking about it, I said to her, “This is my big promotion.” And it was.

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Sporting Goods
  • Electric Bicycles

Leon Cycle NCM Moscow Plus E Mountain Bike 27.5",29’’,48V 16Ah Battery, Black

Leon Cycle NCM Moscow Plus E Mountain Bike 27.5",29’’,48V 16Ah Battery, Black

The Moscow Plus keeps everything people love about the highly popular Moscow, and then improves them. Most of all, we’ve improved performance: an upgraded Suntour hydraulic suspension fork now has 100mm of travel and a lock-out function; a Shimano Acera crankset and rear derailleur with 8-speeds offer even more versatility; and the Tektro brakes are now hydraulic with 180mm rotors to stop you on a dime. That’s not all, though, as we’ve put even more juice into the battery for a total of 768Wh, and we’ve upgraded the display for more functions and to be more convenient with its buttons and screen now separable. The Moscow is already a high performer, but if you feel like you need a little plus, our NCM Moscow Plus has more than enough to satisfy even the hard-core trail blazers.

Front Brake:

Rear Brake:

  •   Popularity - 13 watchers, 0.2 new watchers per day , 60 days for sale on eBay. Super high amount watching. 2 sold, 0 available. More

Popularity - Leon Cycle NCM Moscow Plus E Mountain Bike 27.5",29’’,48V 16Ah Battery, Black

13 watchers, 0.2 new watchers per day , 60 days for sale on eBay. Super high amount watching. 2 sold, 0 available.

  •   Best Price -

Price - Leon Cycle NCM Moscow Plus E Mountain Bike 27.5",29’’,48V 16Ah Battery, Black

  •   Seller - 264+ items sold. 0% negative feedback. Great seller with very good positive feedback and over 50 ratings. More

Seller - Leon Cycle NCM Moscow Plus E Mountain Bike 27.5",29’’,48V 16Ah Battery, Black

264+ items sold. 0% negative feedback. Great seller with very good positive feedback and over 50 ratings.

Recent Feedback

People also loved picclick exclusive.

Best Electric Bikes 2020

Reviews of the best electric bikes for 2020, tag archives: ncm moscow electric mountain bike, ncm moscow electric mountain bike, electric bike, 250w, 48v battery 13ah 624wh, 27.5″/29″.

ncm moscow review

In this review we are going to be looking at the NCM Moscow Electric Mountain Bike, electric bike, 250W, 48V Battery 13Ah 624Wh, 27.5″/29″ which is currently getting some amazing feedback from customers, and looks like being a good choice of electric mountain bike for commuters, leisure riders, and those who enjoy the thrills and spills of off road riding adventures.

Although the Cyclamatic CX1 is our overall top choice, the NCM Moscow is an amazing electric bike , and a great alternative to the CX1, and we would have been letting you down by not telling you about it.

On this page we will coverall the main features of this bike before telling you exactly what’s being said about it by the people who are buying and using it right now, and also where you can pick one up for yourself at the best available price , and with FREE delivery too!

If you don’t have the time for the full review just now – no problem, we’ve got you covered there too, just click here to go straight over to Amazon.co.uk and check out the NCM Moscow electric mountain bike for yourself…

Alternatively, if you do have a few minutes and you are staying with us, we’ll start with a quick look at the main features of this bike before getting into the full review and giving you our verdict on whether we think you should buy it or not. Main features:

  • FOCUS ON QUALITY: Our exclusive E-bike frames and components have been rigorously tested to guarantee quality. We combined our manufacturing knowledge with Shimano, Tektro, and other top cycling brand components to create one of the best value electric mountain bikes on the market. A STURDY FRAME: The 100% aluminium alloy frame and fork keep weight down while ensuring durability.
  • POWERFUL PERFORMANCE: Our custom 250W Das-Kit X15 rear-drive motor delivers exceptional in-class torque with a unique feature to increase power on steep inclines, easily achieving the UK-regulated top speed of 15.5mph.
  • SMOOTH SHIFTING AND PEDALLING: Shimano shifters, cranks, and derailleurs make up a smooth and versatile 21-speed system, while Tektro disc brakes ensure your safety with an added brake sensor (in the right lever) to turn off the motor.
  • DISPLAY AND BATTERY: A proprietary Das-Kit L7B display shows multiple indicators simultaneously and allows the user to set the power output of the battery and motor with 6 levels of pedal-assist. The high capacity DeHawk removable 48V Lithium-Ion battery allows for up to 75 miles of power-assisted travel. An integrated USB-port lets you charge your smart devices on the go.
  • SMOOTH RIDING: Shimano shifters, cranks, and derailleurs make up a smooth and versatile 21-speed system, while Tektro disc brakes ensure your safety with an added brake sensor (in the left lever) to turn off the motor. High quality Velo ergonomic grips stay comfortable on even the longest and toughest rides.

NCM Moscow Electric Mountain Bike Review…

We have to say right at the outset here that the NCM Moscow electric mountain bike is a phenomenal machine. Imagine an electric bike that is put together using only the highest quality components from leading manufacturers, combine this with German engineering and technological know how, and then make all this available at a very reasonable price, and what you end up with is the NCM Moscow.

This e-bike is built around a 100% aluminium frame making it strong and durable while at the same time keeping the bikes weight down to a minimum which translates to super fast acceleration and an extended range of travel. This bike also features a 100% aluminium alloy Suntour front suspension fork for improved riding comfort.

The NCM Moscow electric bike is driven by a powerful Das-Kit 48 V, 250 W, brushless rear hub motor, with planetary gear making it highly efficient with a high torque-to-weight ratio, and which is super quiet during use, and also maintenance free too.

ncm moscow uk

The motor is powered by a high-capacity Dehawk 48 V, 13Ah integrated removable lithium-ion battery which can be charged either on or off the bike as you require in around 7 hours for a completely empty battery. Once you have your battery fully charged you will have enough power to travel distances up to 75 miles in power assist mode, at speeds of up to 15½ mph.

The NCM Moscow’s motor also has the unique ability to increase the amount of power on steep inclines making hill climbing almost effortless, plus the bikes Tektro mechanical disc brakes have sensors in the right brake lever which cuts the motor when the levers are applied for increased control and reduced stopping distance for powerful and reliable braking however fast you may be travelling.

For smooth pedaling and shifting up and down through the gears, this bike is also fitted with  a 21-speed Shimano Altus  gear system and crank set to give you a more comfortable ride when encountering different road conditions and inclines. And for additional riding comfort, the handlebars have top-quality Velo ergonomic hand grips which offer 2 hand placement options allowing you to ride for longer without any hand soreness.

You also get a Das-Kit L7B adjustable back-lit display monitor which shows your speed in mph/km/h, distance traveled, again in miles and kilometers, your cycling duration, total and current mileage, battery capacity, and assist levels. The display unit and control buttons are located on the left handlebar within easy reach allowing it to be operated without you having to take your hands off the handlebar.

The NCM Moscow also features Schwalbe SMART SAM tyres, a Promax SP-252 seatpost, and Wellgo B087 pedals, and weighs in at 27 kg including the battery. There is also a built in USB port so that you can charge your devices on the go.

This electric bike is like the Mercedes Benz of electric mountain bikes and if you don’t mind paying a little extra for quality, this one is well worth checking out…

ncm moscow 48v 27.5 /29 electric mountain bike

Click here to view the full product listing for this electric mountain bike over on Amazon.co.uk…

Customer Feedback…

At the time of writing this NCM Moscow electric mountain bike review, the feedback being left for it by people who are buying it right now over on Amazon.co.uk is very impressive indeed to say the least. It has an average star rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars from 26 customer reviews, 88% of which are 5 star reviews, with a further 8% of them being 4 star reviews!

We really can’t argue with with figures like these which show that virtually everyone who has so far bought this electric bike over on Amazon.co.uk is very happy with it.

Here are a few examples of what they have to say about it…

  • ” This bike is AMAZING. I have bought a few extras for it to make it even better, but even on its own it is brilliant. The acceleration is phenomenal, it is comfortable to ride, and it is clearly well-made…”
  • ” This really is an extraordinary machine. On the basis of the first few short rides, it was clear that it does everything claimed of it and more. It also looks good. The power delivery is smooth and the power available, particularly at level 4 or 5, is astonishing…”
  • ”  Im very pleased with the bike overall, and the seller was faultless with delivery and the bike is very well made…”
  • ” Never ridden or had an electric bike so took the plunge. Did loads of searching but this came up as really good spec for the price. Came well packed in about 5 working days. Assembled it within hour or two…”
  • ” This bike is fantastic! I’m not going to write a long winded review but I will mention that the power is amazing, especially when going uphill. It also lasts a LOT longer than I thought it would, and the quality of this bike is outstanding. I have nothing even remotely negative to say about this, it’s all GREAT!…”

And here is the only other review at present, it’s a 3 star review with some points you may wish to keep in mind when making your decision…

  • ” The bike display setting default is 1, which is hazardous, if not outright dangerous! The default should be zero, as in most other bikes…”

Click here to see all the customer review that have so far been left for this bike…

ncm bikes

Some Answered Customer Questions…

Q: Does the battery lock in place on the bike to prevent it being stolen?

A: Yes the battery locks in place and cannot be removed without the key.

Q: What size frame does this bike have?

A: This bike is available in 2 frame sizes – 27½” and 29″.

Q: Are replacement batteries available for this bike?

A: Yes, replacement batteries are available.

Q: Does this bike have a throttle?

A: No, it doesn’t have a throttle but has 6 levels of power assistance.

Click here to view 32 answered questions on this bike…

 lcd display monitor

Verdict-Should You Buy The NCM Moscow Electric Mountain Bike ?

If you’re looking for a premium quality electric mountain bike which offers style, comfort, reliability, performance, and that is also built to last from some of best components around, then we can’t recommend the NCM Moscow electric bike highly enough.

It’s got great hill climbing power, a brilliant range of travel, and it gives a solid , smooth and comfortable ride both on and off road.

You even get to test drive it up to 10 km to make sure that you like the size and fit as well as the performance of the bike, for 30 days, if not you can just send it back for a full refund.

However, if the excellent customer feedback being left for this bike on Amazon is anything to go by, this bike is definitely a keeper. It’s one of the 10 best selling electric bikes in the UK , plus It has an average star rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars and 88% of reviewers give it the full 5 out of 5 stars.

Click here to test drive this bike today…

ncm moscow reviews

Best Place To Buy Your NCM Moscow Electric Mountain Bike…

We recommend following in the footsteps of the extremely satisfied customers who have already bought this electric bike and buying on Amazon.co.uk.

Amazon offer the best available prices, speedy delivery, which is also free for the NCM Moscow, plus they also make returning items quick and painless too.

An before you actually make your purchase, you also have the chance to do any last minute research you need to do, like price and product comparisons and checking out the latest customer reviews.

You’re also guaranteed to receive the genuine article from Amazon, and not some poorly made cheap and nasty imitation.

Click here to buy this electric mountain bike on Amazon.co.uk…

A Quick Sneak Preview Before Buying…

Click below to see a short video showcasing the NCM Moscow Electric Mountain Bike and get a closer look before spending any money…

Click here to go straight over to Amazon.co.uk and check out the full product listing, including the latest prices and up to date customer reviews, for yourself…

Well there you have our full review of the NCM Moscow Electric Mountain Bike , where we have covered all the main features of this popular e-bike, as well as given you an insight into the latest customer feedback and answered customer questions.

We have also pointed out where you can pick up one of these electric bikes for yourself at the best price, right now, with superfast delivery.  Hopefully we have given you enough information to help make choosing your electric bike much easier…

However, In Case You Need A Little More Help…

If you would like a little more help picking your ideal electric bike, why not take a minute right now and check out our best electric bike buyers guide.

Once there you will find our 12 point buyers checklist, along with our list of the 10 best electric bikes for 2020.

You will also find a link through to our page on the 10 best electric bikes in the UK for 2020 , as well as a breakdown of our top recommendations for the most popular types of electric bikes on sale right now…

Click here to go straight over to the full buyers guide…

Privacy Overview

IMAGES

  1. Trek Full Stache: New Full Suspension 29+ Mountain Bike

    trek mountain bike front suspension

  2. Trek Fuel EX 8 Full Suspension MTB 29 '' Shimano XT 12V Rage Red to

    trek mountain bike front suspension

  3. Trek's lightest full-suspension e-MTB features removable electric drive

    trek mountain bike front suspension

  4. Buy Trek X-Caliber 8 Front Suspension Mountain Bike 23" (29) Trek Black

    trek mountain bike front suspension

  5. BLACK TREK 4 SERIES 24 SPEED FRONT SUSPENSION MOUNTAIN BIKE WITH FULL

    trek mountain bike front suspension

  6. 2020 Trek Remedy 8 27.5 GX Full Suspension Mountain Bike in Green

    trek mountain bike front suspension

VIDEO

  1. New Trek Mountainbike

  2. Rs 2.5 Lakh TREK Downhill MTB

  3. Suspension on a $10k Mountain Bike 👀#mtb

  4. MTB FULL SUSPENSION TRAVEL 🤙🏽👀

  5. Few issues with Full Suspension MTB

  6. Is it easier to ride a full suspension or hardtail mtb?

COMMENTS

  1. Suspension setup guide

    Proper suspension set-up is a crucial component of getting the best performance out of your mountain bike. Front suspension forks and rear shocks both require simple adjustments to work best for a particular rider, so this information is relevant to riders of both hardtail and full suspension mountain bikes. ... Use the Trek Suspension ...

  2. Trek Suspension Calculator

    United States / English. © Trek Bicycle Corporation 2024

  3. Trek Full Suspension MTB Buyer's Guide

    Trek full-suspension mountain bikes include both a front suspension fork and rear shock for ultimate trail capabilities. Extra shock absorption not only makes the ride more comfortable, but also allows riders to have more control over large obstacles. These advantages let mountain bikers carry more speed downhill or through XC race circuits.

  4. How To: Set Up Mountain Bike Suspension

    Suspension set-up is crucial to getting the best performance from your mountain bike. Trek Certified Service shows you how to make sure you're getting the be...

  5. A Basic Guide to the Most Popular MTB Suspension Designs

    The Horst link is one of the most common suspension designs on the market, and it's been around for decades. Its inventor, Horst Leitner, began working on it in the mid-1970s for motorcycle suspension, and he built a prototype mountain bike using a "Horst link" in 1985.

  6. Front Suspension Mountain Bikes

    Marlin 4 is the gateway mountain bike that will take you from rail trails to singletrack. It's ideal for riders who want a mountain bike with knobby tires that can double as a rugged commuter. Disc brakes, front suspension, Shimano 14-speed shifting, and mounts for a rack and fenders make this a great bike for trail riders and campus commuters ...

  7. Five things to do before every mountain bike ride

    Trek. 5 April, 2021. It's important to inspect your mountain bike before each and every ride to avoid mishaps out on the trail. To make it quick and easy to remember the steps, we use the "M" method. Each of the five points of the letter "M" signifies a checkpoint in your inspection. You'll start at the rear wheel, move up to the ...

  8. What is the "preload" setting on the front fork suspension?

    1. An important thing to remember about the preload setting on a coil fork, is that it does NOT adjust the stiffness of the fork spring. The stiffness, also known as spring rate, is the amount of compression for a given amount of extra force on the fork, and it is fixed with a coil spring. The preload compresses the spring inside the fork ...

  9. PDF Quick Assembly Guide Front Suspension Bikes

    1. Insert the skewer with a spring through the front wheel hub. 2. Put the other spring (small end first) on the skewer and screw on the nut three turns. 3. Lift the front of the bike and insert the front wheel axle into the spaces at the bottom of the fork. Set the bike down. 4. Make sure the quick release lever is on the same side as the

  10. Trek 930 Single Track

    Depends what year, my 1996 Trek 970 came with a rigid fork that was suspension corrected to 63mm travel (with sag) and was threadless. The 930 shared the same geometry so a 1996 model would have come threadless and be suspension corrected. So adding a 100m fork would not have the same effect as the earlier 930's.

  11. Trek Mountain Bike Full Suspension (Front & Rear) Bikes

    1997 Trek Y33 OCLV Carbon 19" Full Suspension Mountain Bike Judy SL Long Travel. $800.00. or Best Offer. $199.00 shipping. Benefits charity.

  12. Full suspension mountain bikes

    Full suspension mountain bikes. Full suspension mountain bikes keep you in control and comfortable over rugged terrain. Trek's suspension solutions have been proven and refined over the years. Active Braking Pivot (ABP) and Mino Link make Trek full suspension models a class above the competition.

  13. Suspension bike forks

    if (typeof dataLayer !== "undefined") { dataLayer.push({ "ecommerce": { "currency": "USD", "impressions": [ { "id": "35697", "name": "Trek 2022 Emonda SL 700c Rigid ...

  14. The Complete Guide to Full Suspension Mountain Bikes

    1. Suspension System. Full Suspension: Full suspension bikes boast both front and rear suspension systems, offering a multitude of advantages such as enhanced comfort, traction, and control on rough and technical terrain. The rear suspension ensures a smoother ride over obstacles, reducing rider fatigue.

  15. Mountain Bike Suspension Lockout (Ultimate Beginner's Guide)

    Repeat steps 1-2 above. Before tightening the cable tension screw, use an allen wrench to turn and hold the preload screw (in the center of the fork leg) all the way clockwise. While holding it in this position, retighten the cable tension screw (it helps to have a partner do this) This should fix the issue.

  16. Mountain Bike Suspension Lockout Fork: How it Works?

    Benefits of using a lockout fork. The use of a lockout fork on a mountain bike can offer several advantages to riders, including: 1. Increased pedaling efficiency: When riding on flat or smooth terrains, the compression and rebound of the front suspension fork can absorb some of the rider's pedaling power. By locking out the fork, the rider can transfer all of their pedaling energy directly ...

  17. Front Suspension Mountain Bikes For Sale

    Trek Marlin 4 Gen 2. $579.99. Trek Wahoo 26. $559.99. Cervelo ZHT-5 XX1 AXS. Page 1 of 1. Choose a trail-tested Front Suspension Mountain Bike from Summit Bicycles. Price Match Guarantee.

  18. TrekFest

    Don't miss the TrekFest Summer Sale bikes collection, where you can find amazing discounts on a variety of Trek and Electra bikes for every type of rider. Whether you are looking for a road, mountain, city, or electric bike, you can save big on your next purchase and enjoy the peak riding season. Hurry, the sale ends on July 31!

  19. Mountain bikes

    Every Trek mountain bike is loaded with features and details that will make any ride, on any trail, better. Discover which MTB is right for you. Shop now! ... Front suspension. Rear suspension travel 60mm. 80mm. 100mm. 120mm. 130mm. 140mm. 150mm. 160mm. 190mm. 200mm. Show all Show less. Size Kids' XS (13-14.5"/36-45cm) XXS (13-13.5")

  20. Juggernaut FS XD 2,300W electric mountain bike has two chains

    Biktrix unveils new 2,300W full-suspension electric mountain bike with two chains. ... The wheels feature 15mm and 12mm thru axle hubs in the front and rear, respectively. The brakes use dual ...

  21. Blog & Mablog: "The High Mountain Air of Public Calumny"

    The High Mountain Air of Public Calumny. Those who believe themselves to be hep to my tricksy ways might have surmised that I orchestrated this entire recent flap about Steven Sitler because Randy Booth and I recently put out a book entitled A Justice Primer. But whether you are disposed to believe me or not, that was a total coincidence.

  22. BananZA Mountain Biking Trail

    The classic route MiniDH with a large number of trajectories, jumps and root sections.

  23. Leon Cycle NCM Moscow Plus E Mountain Bike 27.5",29'',48V 16Ah Battery

    Leon Cycle NCM Moscow Plus E Mountain Bike 27.5",29'',48V 16Ah Battery, Black Sold See similar items $2,199.00 Buy It Now , FREE Shipping , 30-Day Returns, eBay Money Back Guarantee Seller: zacstar2012 ️ (264) 100% , Location: Payneham, AU , Ships to: AU, Item: 133355435321

  24. Tag Archives: NCM Moscow Electric Mountain Bike

    In this review we are going to be looking at the NCM Moscow Electric Mountain Bike, electric bike, 250W, 48V Battery 13Ah 624Wh, 27.5″/29″ which is currently getting some amazing feedback from customers, and looks like being a good choice of electric mountain bike for commuters, leisure riders, and those who enjoy the thrills and spills of off road riding adventures.