120mm forks on a Giant XTC

supertwisted

Only hypothetical as I'm quite happy with mine the way it is, but wondering if anyone has used longer forks on an XTC?

I'm assuming an extra inch is well within the tolerance of the frame, but wondering how it's racey stance will take to a slightly higher front end.

doktorsteve

I put a 100 mm fork on a Boulder and gained 20mm. This could be largely taken out by removing spacers but the slacker steering angle makes the bike feel slightly more relaxed and stable in a straight line.

nicklouse

I have a bike that is great with 100mm but crap with 120mm (it is a U turn fork).

as well as slackening the head angle by 1 degree you also slacken the seat post angle and move your weight backwards. which effects climbing.

supertwisted

Seat tube angle on an XTC is 73 degrees, so I'm guessing a degree slacker wouldn't be too bad.

The reason I ask is I saw some loon running 140mm Floats on an XTC and he claimed it handled fine (though he's still quite quite mad in my book), but it made me wonder how well it would work with a more modest and sensible increase in front travel.

doktorsteve

I agree with nicklouse - the bike was better balanced with the original forks - Giant do know how to get the geometry right. Don't be deceived into thinking that a 1 degree change in angle is insignificant. I kept the new forks on because the original Suntour ones were so crap - just springs and no damping.