Should You Set Up Your MTB For Speed Or Comfort? | GMBN Tech Show Ep. 183

Something we noticed when checking out some of the EWS racers bikes in the pits at Val di Fassa is a tendency towards a set up that favours rider comfort over out and out speed. Perhaps due to the nature of Enduro racing, both bike and rider must make it to the end of the multi stage races, and if their bike is set up softer and more compliant they will fatigue slower and should be able to ride faster for longer. Do you set your mountain bike up for speed or comfort?

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[gmbntech]

Do you set your mountain bike up for speed or comfort?

[AZHighlandHomestead]

Yes, after breaking my wrists multiple times, leaning towards comfort is necessary. Bigger front tire, Spank Vibrocore bars, ESI Plush grips. All help out quite a bit and don’t cost much more in price or weight than other options for the benefits I receive.

[Couldever]

I ride a hardtail, and have found the sweet spot at a 2.8” 27.5 tire. The grip is insane, can run lower pressures!

[jesusmckraken]

Classic Doddy line - I'm always interested in trying new sealents. 😁

[Couldever]

Volume spacers seem to be a universally desired thing, but I’ve found that I actually like running my fork with… none. I spent a week testing with 4, 3, 2, and 1, and finally just ended up at 0 with a fast rebound. The fork uses 90% of the travel on most rides and feels sooo comfortable.

Any other folks out there saying GOODBYE to volume spacers?!

[braullotolentino]

Set up on comfort as you said the comfortable you are on the bike the faster you can go. Carbon Handle bars with RevGrips and running SC Reserve 30 with cushcore insert as well.. as always great video. Liked and Shared.

[jd]

Bike set up for comfort.

2.5" Assegai F 23psi & 2.5 Aggressor 21psi, both dual compound/exo/wide-trail & Cush Core on both, on Hope Fortus 35, comfy grippy but not light.

Suspension with good lowspeed compression for stability and try to sit high at about 22-25% sag, high-speed compression fully open or mid for smoother trails, and rebound set to stop oscillation on a curb drop.

Long slack, short stem & enough space for moving stem up/down to tune cockpit length/height.

ODI Dread-loc grips are the comfiest grips I've ever used.

My bike is fkn heavy but I don't notice it, 17kg enduro 160mm.

Have had two sets of Spank wheels, amazing wheels but bent rims on all wheels, there were no spare rims to buy.

[Coolcmsc]

Ti Hardtails! I’m servicing my Ti On One 26” 456 with 140 Fox Vanilla Coil forks with the Push upgrade, old Avid brakes from my previous Pace 303 build and original Hanz Dampf front and back. What A Bike! The previous Ti 456 made by Lynskey allegedly had a rep for breaking… I’ve been riding emtb a lot the last 2yrs and now I’m excited to discover the joys of a featherweight compliant reasonably hardcore hardtail 💪😊 I bought it about 9 yrs ago from On One as one of the last they made at a massive discount: £600 including Rockshocks SID 100 World Cup with carbon crown and steerer…. a bargain or what ? 🥳

[wrench_n_ride]

I love a 2.6 inch tire especially on the front for comfort and grip. I am also a Bontrager tire guy and I love the XR4 for the front and an XR3 for the rear.

[hane_]

2.5 Assegai Front (25psi), 2.4 DHR II Rear (29psi), 25% sag in the fork, hardtail rear 😉 95kg rider, comfort & speed.

[maximilianweling]

Definently on the firm side. I run a 130mm Trail bike and tons of spacers with 20% sag just help to not bottom out frequently. Also feels nice when pumping through stuff or popping off small features.

[spencerwvcmoon]

That's a mint top mod doddy nice one!

[sanabibimtb]

Great video once again! Thank You! I try to get that middle ground between comfort and speed on my Trek full suspension MTB! I’m also going to be upgrading and servicing my Trek Liquid full suspension/All mountain bike which was sitting in the garage for a long time, I decided to get it back out at the end of winter and fix her up!
Doing work on the bike and documenting my progress on my channel I got some pictures of the bike on there if you wanted to have a look and point me the right direction if you could! Any advice/information/tips would be greatly appreciated and once again thank you for all your video and entertaining information you provide for us..👍

[moof]

Comfort. Most of my riding is double track and dirt touring. 29+ and a semi-upright position are my friends. Anything that keeps my butt off the couch and in the saddle is a priority. Nothing wrong with other people having vastly different priorities.

[reniervanrensburg]

Try to set up for both, somedays cruising and other days smoking on the road, not sure if I need to do one more upgrade Rockshock Reba to Fox 32 Stepcast Factory

[redbomberr]

Go Jesse 🤘 Oh, and great vid Doddy. Keen to hear your thoughts on how those Spanks ride

[ninovignes_]

Hi, Doddy. Please make a video about how to make your enduro/trail bike more downhill capable. I have a Mondraker foxy carbon xr and do love downhill racing, but I don’t want to buy another bike. Btw, I LOVE your show🤘🤘🤙🤙

[timwalker]

I was tempted by the Spank wheels but decided against them because I couldn’t find any information on how well sealed the foam is from water. Would love to see this tested.

[TheDustyShredder]

2.4 continental trail king on a DT Swiss 533d laced to a Shimano Deore 15mm TA front hub

2.4 Vittoria Mazza on a Mavic ex630 laced to a Shimano XT 10mm qr rear hub

Full tubeless using mucoff tape on the rear, my shop's preferred tape on the front, and Orange endurance sealant. I injected the sealant using an empty vape juice bottle, 100ml. Slightly bored out the nozzle.

140mm travel front and rear, dnm burner coil shock 190mm with a 550lb coil, rebound damper, low speed compression piggyback damper, and air pressure adjustment on the piggyback, Lutu air fork with rebound and abs damper, thinking of upgrading to an SR Suntour Aion. My fork is just too stiff, even at the recommended 75psi for my weight. Any lower, and it blows through the travel.

680mm Next carbon handlebars with dual textured dual locking grips and 70mm Funn Stryge stem. This handlebar is just a touch too narrow for control, but it feels really good because I'm not spread out. I'm making a compromise and going for a 720mm carbon bar, since the bar I switched from was a 760mm alloy bar.

Quiz:
1: to the front, so they don't loosen while pedaling.
2: no idea
3: no idea

[hench_wrench_repairs]

Continental Mountain king 2.4 at the front, quite soft, dont know the pressure because i go off feel. Hutchinson Toro wire on the back quite hard because smashing into stairs😂. 100 psi in the 170mm rockshox lyrik r 26 and 210 psi in the shock at 28% sag and one innertube volume spacer.