Having now ridden and compared a couple 27.5" and 29" forks for a longer period of time, I'd like to add a few observations if anyone ever comes back to this article. The bottom line is that I have really drunk the Kool-aid on Transition's SBG setup. Here are my observations / opinions:
* Shorter Offset increases trail just like a slacker head angle does BUT it does not have exactly the same effect on handling, especially at low speed because it also reduces the torque / force / lever arm applied to the handle bars around the steering axis. What that means is that you get all the same things that more trail normally causes like high speed stability and more wheel flop (which means it is easier to turn using weight shifts rather than just turning the bars). However, it also takes less force to turn the wheel or keep it straight, especially as slower speeds. This is why one of the ingredients of Transition's SBG setup is a very slack head angle to start with. If your head angle is not slack enough and you put a short offset fork on the bike, it can feel twitchy, especially at low speeds.
* One huge advantage of this reduced leverage caused by the reduced offset is that when you have a slack head angle it is still very easy to control the front wheel on very steep and slow technical terrain. Have you ever had your front wheel flop to full lock because you applied the front brakes while trying to turn on a steep, descending, rocky corner? (Spoiler alert: I have far too often until I learned better). Reduced offset means that it takes much less force to control the wheel flop in this kind of situation, making these sorts of maneuvers much less sketchy feeling. On the flip side, at high speed this reduced leverage also makes it easier to control front wheel deflection due to hitting roots and rocks, and it still allows you to overcome the inherent stability caused by the larger amount of trail when you do need to turn.
While some people may not like the feel of the reduced offset, and it may not work well on a bike that has a head angle steeper than 65 degrees, I think it is the ideal setup for an all mountain / enduro bike in the Pacific North West, both for steep, slow tech and high speed bike park riding.
July 28, 2018, 7:25 a.m. - Brad_xyz
Having now ridden and compared a couple 27.5" and 29" forks for a longer period of time, I'd like to add a few observations if anyone ever comes back to this article. The bottom line is that I have really drunk the Kool-aid on Transition's SBG setup. Here are my observations / opinions: * Shorter Offset increases trail just like a slacker head angle does BUT it does not have exactly the same effect on handling, especially at low speed because it also reduces the torque / force / lever arm applied to the handle bars around the steering axis. What that means is that you get all the same things that more trail normally causes like high speed stability and more wheel flop (which means it is easier to turn using weight shifts rather than just turning the bars). However, it also takes less force to turn the wheel or keep it straight, especially as slower speeds. This is why one of the ingredients of Transition's SBG setup is a very slack head angle to start with. If your head angle is not slack enough and you put a short offset fork on the bike, it can feel twitchy, especially at low speeds. * One huge advantage of this reduced leverage caused by the reduced offset is that when you have a slack head angle it is still very easy to control the front wheel on very steep and slow technical terrain. Have you ever had your front wheel flop to full lock because you applied the front brakes while trying to turn on a steep, descending, rocky corner? (Spoiler alert: I have far too often until I learned better). Reduced offset means that it takes much less force to control the wheel flop in this kind of situation, making these sorts of maneuvers much less sketchy feeling. On the flip side, at high speed this reduced leverage also makes it easier to control front wheel deflection due to hitting roots and rocks, and it still allows you to overcome the inherent stability caused by the larger amount of trail when you do need to turn. While some people may not like the feel of the reduced offset, and it may not work well on a bike that has a head angle steeper than 65 degrees, I think it is the ideal setup for an all mountain / enduro bike in the Pacific North West, both for steep, slow tech and high speed bike park riding.