How Much Rear Suspension Travel is "Too Much" for Your Local Trails?

How Much Rear Suspension Travel is “Too Much” for Your Local Trails?

Depending on where and how you ride most often, there's likely a point where a certain amount of travel becomes overkill.

By Jeff Barber
August 20, 2023 Last Updated: August 20, 2023

11 comments

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When it comes to mountain bike suspension travel, more isn’t always better. Depending on where and how you ride most often, there’s likely a point where a certain amount of travel becomes overkill. Or at the very least, there’s a point where you start getting weird looks as you roll up to the local trailhead.

Sometimes having the “wrong” amount of travel for your trails can be fun, so be sure to read up on underbiking and overbiking too. And if you’re looking for a bike that better suits your trails, check out some the current deals on complete mountain bikes from hardtail to FS enduro.

How do you decide if you have too much (or not enough) suspension travel for a trail? Tell us in the comments!

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11 Comments

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moctav Texas // 2014
Aug 20, 2023

My local trails tend to have a fair amount of short bursts of technical climbing and descending, and lots of rocks and roots even on the level sections. All this means that I want a bike that can handle those challenges but still pedal efficiently. In 2015, that meant a bike with no more than 130mm travel. In 2023, I've found 140mm and 150mm travel bikes that can give me what I'm looking for.

So, I'll take as much travel as the bike can give and still have efficient pedaling. The only bikes with "too much" travel are those that feel like it drains your energy as you pedal.

2 reply

kc929 California // 2008
Aug 28, 2023

I think it is more about the riders ability and how hard you want to charge it. I ride my local trails at a pace where 150 gets me through everything comfortably at about 75% of full travel. There are other riders on the same trails hitting them hard enough to utilize longer travel.

1 reply

Jason Bowen Florida // 2014
Aug 24, 2023

I think the sweet spot for trail bikes is in the 135-145mm range of travel. Going above that sacrifices the climbing ability of a trail bike. Sure you will still get up the hill, but I know from experience that longer travel riders suffer more on the climbs. If your trails are more descending, yes it will benefit the 150+ travel bikes. However, the average trail rider is best matched to a mid travel bike in my opinion.

flyingchipmunk 2017
Aug 20, 2023

On its own, more suspension is just more air or a slightly longer spring. You can always just make it harder if you want it to feel more efficient. It's everything around the suspension, like geometry, component weight, etc. that you wouldn't want too much of for lighter trails.

Sunspot Colorado // 2019
Aug 20, 2023

Annnnd, a lil more rebar!
(Lookin at my old Turner Sixpack)

0 reply

wareagle4130 2010
Aug 20, 2023

i bought my “dream bike” 7 years ago, with 130/115 travel. I was coming from a 100mm travel bike, and couldn’t imagine ever needing any more than that. Of course now I’m dreaming of more travel. Do I “need” it. Not really. The only time I really felt held back was on the Whole Enchilada. I had previously ridden it on a 150 rental, but this time I brought my own bike. I got beat to death. Did I still have fun? Absolutely. Was the bike ever the limiting factor in being able to ride a feature? Not really. But the longer travel bike just made the whole experience better.

I heard that Jeff's a flatlander riding a 200mm travel dirt couch!!

RemyMac Colorado // 2022
Aug 29, 2023

It is really rocky here, and the occasional 3 - 5 ft drop to flat isn't out of the ordinary. 160mm feels nice on all this stuff but takes a toll to pedal around. And there's a lot of pedaling around. I've found that 140 - 150mm with a coil seems to be the best compromise.

GPFBoyJS Georgia // 2009
Aug 21, 2023

Most feel there is never enough travel, I would also state that it depends on your bike and how progressive the suspension is. I have ridden some of the gnarliest DH on a 120mm travel bike that the progression was phenomenal. Other bikes have a very linear travel, so honestly, it depends!!!!!

I am still impressed with the single speeders I see with fully rigid bikes. True grit, or stupidity, whicher you call it!

My Wildcat is 150/140mm travel and is like cruising a Fleetwood Brougham!
Plenty of travel for what I ride and efficient enough that I'm enjoying it immensely.

I'll admit, my singlespeed does get the majority of the mileage.

The freeride/DH days are behind me due to scoliosis. Pissing off my spine is not recommended! So, the Wildcat has the employment opportunity! Annnnd, has earned tenure in my bike collection!

Shad Holland 2019
Aug 20, 2023

Well, I was reluctant to even get a full suspension bike for many years. It wasn't until about 2015 or so I felt the technology was getting good enough for me to try it. I grew up riding BMX and still ride BMX, so I know suspension isn't needed for most things. Maybe the gnarliest of downhills, but otherwise you can absorb everything with your legs pretty easily. So to me suspension is a comfort thing and I still own a couple of hardtails that I ride regularly.

I started with an enduro bike a few years ago and it was great out west in Colorado, but here in Minnesota it was way too much bike. So now I have a Salsa Rustler and it is perfect! It's 130mm rear and I have 150mm up front. It's a perfect combo and I can even ride that bike out west, which I did this past spring, without any issues. I really think the ideal all around suspension bike is something like my Rustler, a Canyon Spectral 125, or a Commercial T.E.M.P.O. Any bikes like those 3 are excellent for just about everything but the gnarliest of downhill.

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