NSMB - 2022 - Hardtail Thread...

Posted by: BC_Nuggets

Do you guys/gals/other use the lock-out function on your forks often?  

Often? Nope. Sometimes for riding to the trails, but honestly I am not sure it does anything useful. I'm not standing up mashing on the commute to the trails so there isn't all that much fork movement on pavement when I am seated.

Once set for excellent trail performance if my hardtail fork damper couldn't be adjusted once I left home I'd be fine with that. I don't really love faffing with stuff during a ride.

I don't have them anymore on the Sram products but i was always leaving the Fox fork & shock locked out until I noticed it about half way down

The Yeti design climbed pretty good so I'm not sure if I noticed any benifit to using the lockout when i had them and don't miss them now

Posted by: BC_Nuggets

Do you guys/gals/other use the lock-out function on your forks often?  I would probably use mine on long paved climbs to the trail head if it wasn't for the one time I used it in the past I swear (and maybe it was my imagination) it seemed to be sticky and not work well after I stopped using the lockout (ie turned it back to fully open.)  Seemed off until I got the lowers serviced.  Was I imagining things?  It's an older 34 float (RLC...yeah it goes back a ways.)

I used to not really be concerned about lockout but I must admit it could be useful on some occasions.

Never ever.

This^

I have never found any advantage to a front lockout. A rigid fork does offer a significant climbing improvement for standing climbing but I have never had the same feeling with locked out suspension fork. I think the advantage is not from lack of bobbing but the rigid connection with the front wheel that does not flex or twist. A locked out suspension fork still flexes and twists between the stations and lowers. I try not to buy forks with a lockout, high and low speed compression is worth spending extra on.

58 deg is the new 62 deg.

https://bikerumor.com/shand-ioma-slackest-hardtail/?fbclid=IwAR1VpFQ7ngpDCNyAJvu17-vFa1AxOyUTS-G7t-cgXyYE4LbENNiCT6qwK-E

I can't believe I've been riding around a hardtail with 68-degree hta and haven't died yet.

That's a beautiful looking bike but I wouldn't want to ride it up anything steep.  I'm no geo expert tho...

;)

Posted by: RAHrider

This^

I have never found any advantage to a front lockout. A rigid fork does offer a significant climbing improvement for standing climbing but I have never had the same feeling with locked out suspension fork. I think the advantage is not from lack of bobbing but the rigid connection with the front wheel that does not flex or twist. A locked out suspension fork still flexes and twists between the stations and lowers. I try not to buy forks with a lockout, high and low speed compression is worth spending extra on.

This makes a lot of sense.

Posted by: Vikb

58 deg is the new 62 deg.

https://bikerumor.com/shand-ioma-slackest-hardtail/?fbclid=IwAR1VpFQ7ngpDCNyAJvu17-vFa1AxOyUTS-G7t-cgXyYE4LbENNiCT6qwK-E

There's a lot of fun in that. Shame they went press / EBB over sliders / swingers. 

Maybe they listened to Marty advocating for 65° +/- 2° and said "More is more".

My hardtail is not a hardtail any more... It's just... Hard? Not quite a gravel bike. Not quite a 90s MTB. Not quite a beach cruiser. It's a shore cruiser, I guess. Lol

Posted by: Kenny

My hardtail is not a hardtail any more... It's just... Hard? Not quite a gravel bike. Not quite a 90s MTB. Not quite a beach cruiser. It's a shore cruiser, I guess. Lol

What that is, is a good time cruising and chatting with your small person. 

Until they get tall enough for the helmet / chin interactions to ruin it. Enoy yourselves.

Posted by: BC_Nuggets

Do you guys/gals/other use the lock-out function on your forks often?  

Only when I have my HT in road mode (road tyres) and even it's only comp damping (Pike RC) so the forks still work.  

I never use lockouts off road on either HT or FS (coil sprung both ends) bikes.

Back in the saddle.

Congrats. Can we get a side shot?

Yeah we need more pics please! Looks killer though.