So I've been thinking for a while that the headangle on a hardtail should be slacker than on a comparable travel duallie. Its winter time for me so its time to start ragging around on a single speed hardtail, last year I built a fairly dh specific hardtail, with a 150mm fork and a 68ish HA. It got me thinking that when you sag into the suspension the HA steepens much more than on a duallie - obviously you only compress one end. It felt way too steep, when a 150mm duallie feels a bit steep at that sort of head angle. Obviously in some situations - like braking in a steep section on a duallie the rear is fully extended while you are sagged into the fork - there is no difference in how the two compare. In most situations the hardtail is steeper.
This year a Giant STP frame has landed in the shed and I have the option of reducing the head angle with a works components reducer, so a lot more choice in how its built. I'm thinking around 67deg with a 120mm fork, 65.5ish with a 150mm fork. I am planning some more varied riding for this bike, I still want to do some trail riding, 4x, etc as well as banging out some dh runs when the mood strikes.
I guess what I'm asking is has anyone tried a hardtail with these sort of angles? I'm sure they are out there, I've just only ridden frames made with dj or xc in mind that seem to all sit in the 69-71 range.
This year a Giant STP frame has landed in the shed and I have the option of reducing the head angle with a works components reducer, so a lot more choice in how its built. I'm thinking around 67deg with a 120mm fork, 65.5ish with a 150mm fork. I am planning some more varied riding for this bike, I still want to do some trail riding, 4x, etc as well as banging out some dh runs when the mood strikes.
I guess what I'm asking is has anyone tried a hardtail with these sort of angles? I'm sure they are out there, I've just only ridden frames made with dj or xc in mind that seem to all sit in the 69-71 range.