120mm vs 100mm travel

[Wildfx]

I am wanting to upgrade to a soft tail, but have had different advice on weather I should go for a bike with 100mm travel or 120mm travel. I enjoy riding on the more technical stuff, but tend to do longer rides/races around 40km mark.

 

The bike I like most is the Merida 120TFS800 that fits into my budget (15000 to 20000), but I'm worried that as I get more experienced I'll wish I had a racier bike with the 100mm Travel like the new KTM comp R1

 

Will this make much of a difference? Any suggentions.

[Iwan Kemp]

The real difference is not in 100mm vs 120mm worth of travel. The difference is THE BIKE THAT IT IS ON. A 120mm fork will most often be on a bike with slightly slacker head angle. This will give you more confidence on,over and through technical terrain.

 

 

 

For 40k races up to 140mm will even be fine depending on the bike. A Ibis Mojo will race like any other 10mm bike, only faster, but a Morewood Shova will be a bit tougher to get to the finish.

 

 

 

Both have 140mm travel front and back, but they were designed with different intended use in mind.

 

 

 

Having said that a Merida 120, Giant Anthem X or Trance X will all be super bikes you won't regret buying.

 

 

 

If you do end up going 100mm think long and hard before buying the Merida 96. The angles are VERY steep and the bike rides almost like a HT. A Anthem X with 100mm will be better trail/xc/race bike.

 

 

 

For no, don't buy a KTM. They are new to the market so 2nd hand value will drop like only an Alfa's can and they may not be around in a couple of years. And they are WAY over-priced (anybody say Specialized?)

[Wildfx]

Thanks. Appreciate your opinion.

 

The Anthem X3, seems to have lower spec compenents for around the same price as the Merida. So Merida seems to be the better choice.

 

How about Trek EX5?

 

Anyone else?

 

Wildfx2010-02-02 01:06:15

[CAAD4]

The Anthem X3 is probably the same frame as the X2 and X1. If that geometry is comfortable go for it, you can always upgrade components later if they break. I ride an adjustable 100,20,140 fork mostly xc and singletrack. Generally I have it set at 120 but when the downhills come I open it to 140. I rarely use the 100 as I do not like the front too low.

[dirtrider]

Crow said it . All depends on the head angle of the bike . BTW I got a 160mm on my Shova , finished DEsert-Dash , 2xS2C and a few other long races in comfort .

[Iwan Kemp]

BTW I got a 160mm on my Shova ' date=' finished DEsert-Dash , 2xS2C and a few other long races in comfort .[/quote']

 

 

 

Sure. I've done a race or two on my Mbuzi. What I meant was that you can still do it, but it won't be as easy as on a trail or marathon bike.

 

 

 

Not sure I'll attempt a S2C on the Mbuzi...heck no!

[dirtrider]

But if I wanted it to be easy I would take the MX bike . Getting up those small hills are worth the effort to have fun on the DH .

[cat-i]

the bike that you feel most comfortable on - see if you can get a demo-model to go ride a place like groenkloof, and see which one feels best?

[dirtrider]

Groenkloof is to mild to really test something like a fork , go next door to Fountains rather