What does travel on a mountain bike mean?

Mountain biking travel refers to how far moving parts move or “travel” and is usually measured in millimeters (mm). Travel used to refer specifically to the mountain bike (MTB) suspension, but now also includes the dropper seatpost.

Two main types of travel

1. Suspension

   • Hardtail

   • Full suspension

2. Dropper seatpost

What is suspension travel?

Suspension travel refers to how much movement a suspension mechanism allows and is usually a measure of how much the wheel axle moves when the suspension compresses. 

• Pedal bob and squat refer to how a suspension (usually rear), responds to the rider while pedaling

• Squat- Refers to how the suspension compresses under acceleration (As you pedal the bike goes forward, but also the suspension begins to compress) 

  • Anti-squat = resistance to suspension compressions 

  • Pedal bob - Refers to repeated squat and rebounds with each pedal stroke. 

Both are undesirable since both bob and squat decrease pedal efficiency and power. (One reason why hardtails are more efficient than full-suspension bikes)

What is sag? 

The amount your suspension compresses under your weight is called sag. 

No. Travel is the distance your suspension moves, while sag is the amount your shocks compress under the weight of your body.

rigid, hardtail & full-suspension & MTB travel

• Rigid - No suspension system and no ‘travel’

• Hardtail - Front suspension fork only

• Full suspension - Front suspension fork and rear shock

Short Vs mid vs long & suspension travel

What is the difference between short travel, mid-travel, and long travel?

Travel ranges from about 80 - 220 mm (~3-8 inches) and is trail & terrain & rider dependent. There are some general rules for riding style & front suspension travel:

• Short travel: 80 - 120 mm

  • Cross-Country (XC) MTB

• Mid-travel: 120 - 140 mm

  • Trail riding

• Long travel: 150 mm+

  • All-mountain MTB (140-170 mm)

  • Downhilling (170 mm+)

What is Damping?

Damping refers to a system that controls (through slowing) the rate of compression in a front-fork shock, or rear shock. This is accomplished by:

• Forcing hydraulic fluid (usually oil) through a valve when the shock becomes loaded 

• Amount of damping determined by:

  • Resistance through the valve

  • Greater resistance in the valve = higher amount of damping 

• Lockout functions usually work by not allowing any hydraulic fluid to flow through the damping valve 

Shocks that compress and rebound too quickly will make your MTB bounce like a pogo stick.

travel, stroke & Leverage ratio

When you’re talking with your MTB buddies about suspension travel, you’re talking about the maximum distance that the front or rear suspension can compress before bottoming out. This is the commonly accepted and talked about definition.

However, if you were to talk to a MTB engineer, you would get a different response, since leverage ratio would be a more accurate description of suspension utility:

• Stroke is the amount that a rear shock can compress

• Leverage ratio is the total rear wheel travel divided by the total shock stroke

  • High leverage ratio = softer ride

  • Low leverage ratio = stiffer ride

Suspension systems can be fairly complex, but you don't have to understand all the complexities to enjoy riding singletrack. Understanding the commonly accepted meaning of travel is all that matters when talking about mountain bikes and suspensions for most recreational riders. 

How much travel is enough?

How much travel is enough?

This is a common question, but is really hard to answer in general terms due to differences in:

• Riding styles

• Trails

• Terrain

• Steepness

• Length/Duration

However, there are some general rules of thumb:

• Smaller travel = more efficient (less pedal bob and weight): Best for longer rides with minimal technical steep sections like XC MTB

• Mid-travel = more versatility: Good all-around trail riding MTB, since they climb and descend technical trails. Nowadays with plus size tubeless tires, you can reduce the tire pressure and get even more out of it for advanced technical terrain

• Long travel = less efficient (heavier with increased pedal bob):

  • All-mountain bikes are designed more for riding steep technical downhill compared to pedaling uphill. However, as bike technology has improved this category of bikes is getting significantly more efficient with uphill and flat pedaling. (Unless you live in areas or ride trails that feature routine sections of steep technical climbs & descents with numerous natural obstacles - MTB’s with long travel is unnecessary for most riders)

  • Downhill bikes are built only for rough descents in a bike park or other steep and rough terrain. Not designed nor would you want to do pedal on flat terrain, let alone up any hill

What was the 1st full-suspension mtb?

What was the first production full suspension mountain bike?

• In 1991 the first full-suspension MTB was produced called the Boulder Gazelle. However, the Boulder Gazelle wasn’t technology advanced enough to handle the rigors of mountain biking

• The Specialized FSR (full suspension ride) was the first successful mass produced full suspension bike, which came out around the year 2000

• Year of first iPod- 2001

So why do I bring this up? Mountain bike technology is relatively new, with every year bringing more and better components, which means lighter, faster, more efficient and better bikes. Even though bicycles have been around for over 200 years, mountain bike suspensions are barely older than the iPod.

First Fork: In 1989 Rockshox introduced the RS-1, which was the first production mountain bike suspension fork.

What is dropper-post travel?

What is dropper seatpost travel?

Dropper post travel is the distance the saddle (seat) moves from the regular pedaling position to the dropped position for riding technical descents.

• Dropper post travel ranges from <60 - 200 mm+

• Short travel = <60 to ~ 80 mm

• Mid - travel = 80 - 150 mm

• Long travel = 150 mm+

Dropper seatpost travel is also rider and trail dependent, but these numbers are general rules of thumb.

Learn more about how to dial in your MTB

Jesse (Director of Pedal Chile) lives in the Chilean Patagonia. I’m an avid MTBer and I enjoy riding both hardtail and full suspension, depending on the trail. Jesse has a Master of Science in Health and Human Performance and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology.

More articles from Pedal Chile

Sources & References

1. Baltes, Jeff, et al. “Development of a Freeride Mountain Bike Suspension Fork.” Sports Technology, vol. 1, no. 2–3, Jan. 2008, pp. 152–165, 10.1080/19346182.2008.9648466.

2. Clive Forth (2011). The mountain bike skills manual : fitness and skills for every rider. Guilford, Ct: Globe Pequot Press.

3. Fuss, F.K. (2016). Routledge handbook of sports technology and engineering. London ; New York Routledge.

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