Head Tube angle

[Mawbs]

what difference will the head angle make to the ride ?  Basically im trying to decide which bike will better suit my riding, which is mostly single track but i do enjoy it when there are Bull runs with drop offs involved. So im looking at bikes with minimum 130mm travel and have seen that on the three bikes that look the business they each have different head angle. namely 68 - 69 - 69.5.   Please can someone give me some input

 

thanks

 

[Johan Bornman]

Small differences in head tube angle are neither here nor there. You want to make a choice from a range within two broad groups. The one group will be in the 70 degree region and the other in the high 60s. The latter is more suited to slow steering for downhill purposes and the former for cross country and road bike riding. Any deviation by a degree or so is imperceptible unless you know what to look for. To feel the difference you have to stand and climb and observe carefully how the bike handles under those conditions. Cornering will tell you nothing.

 

 

[Flowta]

Also remember, there is no real standard ass to how the manufacturers get to those angles.

 

Some measure it when the forked is sagged, some when the fork is at it's full length. Best is to try the bikes and see which one works for you best.

 

[GoLefty!!]

actually I believe all head angle measures given are taken under static conditions with no load i.e. unsagged.

 

The headtube influences the amount of trail a bike has. Trail determines the steering sensitivity to inputs from the bars and also allows a longer front dentre which allows for stability on steep drop off's.

 

The bikes whole geometry needs to be taken into account.

 

Generally XC / Marathon bikes have head angles in the 69degree to 71 degree range.

 

Trail bikes generally are 67degrees to 69degres

 

and DH?FR bikes are 65degrees to 68degrees.

 

I disagree with Johan in that a 1 degree change is very perceptable, to a rider hoping between bikes with 70degrees and69 degree head angles or other with 1 degree difference.

 

Under out of the saddle climbing conditions the difference is less perceptable than under fast flowing single track conditions.

The faster the bike is going,the more the Trail and the associated head angle come into play.

 

on DH bikes we feel floppy steering because of  a combination of differences as well as weight transfer.

[Mawbs]

Thaks for the input guys and im gonna agree with Lefty that the 1 degree does indeed make a difference. i have also read many overseas blogs and forums on the subject and and feel confident i need the 68deg machine.

[GoLefty!!]

don't base your decision solely on head angle please.

Also look at wheelbase and front centre and trail

 

[Mawbs]

The head angle will only be my starting point and obviously all the other points will come into play as well. thanks

[Tuxstir]

the closer to 90deg the more reponsive the bike becomes..

the furthe away the more sluggish the cornering becomes

on road bikes this just one factor when choicing what type of frame you would like. bikes best suited for sprinting and time trials use more steeper head angles.. where a frame more suited to  long distance frame has a smaller angle ie closer to 60 deg. but as i said this is only one factor.. other factors include fork trail, fork offset. and seat tube angle.

 

hope that helps