Setting Up A Front Fork On A Hardtail Mountain Bike! (2021 Commencal Meta HT)

[@rfunk47]

1.25x playback speed sounds perfect 👍🏻 ... probably the best suspension setup video if watched. Not many videos on hardtail suspension

[@Murkharto]

i doubted my decision on going for 160mm instead of 150mm for my fox 36 on my hardtail and what you said about overforking on hardtails made me regain confidence in my decision , thanks man!

[@NICKYVTEC]

I really enjoyed that and I learned a bit about my new fork too. Really clear, I liked the explanation of low speed compression, thanks man. Going for a ride now! :)

[@vrwgq3q]

I love all of this, including the idea to set sag by directly putting your body weight over the fork, though % will vary on use case, as will compression. I think regardless of how much sag you run, you MUST run fast rebound, this is imperative to prevent it from #1 packing in and #2 preserving HTA and keeping you as high as possible on the travel. One thing about low speed vs. high speed - to think of, IMO is best said by Christina Chapetta of pinkbike: Think of LSC as the damping you want to control rider input, including braking and HSC as what you don't control. For LSC its about preventing diving in corners and braking first, then dialing for small bump sensitivity For HSC its about not blowing through travel while keeping the bike as high on travel without being too harsh. For both, function before "form?" - or making sure you aren't diving and are staying high in the travel is priority to compliance.

[@gbshenanigans6952]

I just ordered the race version of this bike! Can’t wait to see it sometime in September.

[@BenYorkeMrHardtail]

Its so good!

[@johnbravo7542]

I just got the 23 model quite cheap on CRC,so your information makes alot of sense,I'm of a similar weight,but my terrain isn't quite as narly as yours over there in BC,but you gave me the bsics to start with.

[@danielm4270]

Great video. Big Thanks! I'm really struggling to set up my Pikes to feel right. Especially for rooty trails where you have to be in attack position all the time to keep the backwheel on the track. Mostly there is a point the front kicks me out and the flow is gone. I will try to set it up after your recommendation for the next ride.

[@jacquesduplessis6175]

Thanks man, great video. Also riding a Commencal Meta HT, and this is helping me quite a bit. Not to many videos on hardtail setup out there.

[@raymondjanobas1498]

Thanks ben, getting more stoked on my 170 durolux on a hardtail.. it runs more stable than before :) can you also make a guide on tire pressure? Looking forward keep rockin

[@BenYorkeMrHardtail]

Thats awesome! And ya 107mm I feel it great! and she still climb good too. as for tire pressures im 190lbs and I always run 30psi rear and 27psi front no matter what. :)

[@abmvt]

Massive big ups ! My SooooGooooooD brother I’m got a Ragley Mmmbop with a RS 35 gold ( low budget ) lol at 160 mm I have been using your method and it’s plush and “no arm pump “ I’m saving for a fox or lyrik but damn if I stick to your setting style the damn 35 works

[@BenYorkeMrHardtail]

I'm So pumped for your my dude!! I used the same method on my old pike fork and found it ran awesome!. Im glade it helped you out. Thanks for the feedback! :)

[@salvaged_title]

Thanks Ben. Good info. I have a 2022 Giant Fathom with 150mm RockShox Pike (OE fork is 130mm), and will give your setup suggestions a try.

[@dkcycles757]

My fat bike was designed to have an 80mm fork. I put a 120mm for on there. I think I over-forked that one for sure 😂

[@danfarmer_photo]

Yo Ben, I was just thinking about another video you could do for us. I think it would be great to have a video dedicated to jumps and drops on a hardtail. I’m from Australia, and some of our trails have brutal drops to flat, and jumps to flat, and landing those on a hardtail is hell on the knees. I’ve watched a few videos and almost all of them say land with the front wheel slightly first to absorb some of the impact (which makes sense), but I’d be keen to see your technique and hear your opinions on it. Thanks bro. ✌️

[@Willdrknght]

I’ve got a lyric with dual air spring and love it ! I’m going to try your sag method this weekend 👍🏻

[@clydesdalemountainbiking7393]

When I rode ht's, I overforked all of my bikes. I always preferred longer travel. Then again, I bought my bikes for that reason. Little old school though .243 and Transition TOP first gen. Love your content

[@gusgonzalez1338]

I usually run 30%-32% sag with the standard method and 1 click of LSC, my suspension is a RS 35 Gold so it doesn't have a lot of adjustments but in this way i can use almost all the travel, I'm gonna try this method and see what happens

[@abmvt]

Hey how did it work for your you ? I did it on my 35 160mm I’m 190 pounds and got psi to 70 1 token fast rebound and 2 LSC clicks about 30% sag As long as I clean and lube the fork every few rides it’s pretty plush lol

[@valeraanovsk1468]

@@abmvt clean and lube every few rides? That’s sounds like too much work lol

[@abmvt]

@@valeraanovsk1468 it was I have a lyrik now lol

[@tylorwyatt4982]

Fantastic hard tail video! With coil forks making a come back, I was curious to get your opinion, specifically for a hardcore ht. I ride a Honzo ESD. Thanks!!

[@Jobbazz]

Just added some volume tokens and am back again with the set up video

[@Pcgdean]

Helpfull video thanks going to try these on my Orange Crush

[@MartinTeerly]

20mm + on hard tail is like normal. My frame should have 130mm and run 150 and I will upgrade my fork to 160mm at next service

[@enrikitto6948]

13:20 Yes let's get into that crazy nitty gritty 👌

[@pepeanza6187]

I been running the same set up as my full suspension which is like 20% sag and rebound in the lowest setting and feel hard but like that the bike keeps the geometry, so whit your technique I go whit more sag and fastest rebound I gona try , I never like the fork to work to quickly let's see I report back.my bike is 2021 giant fathom 29 whit the rock shox 35 130mm travel 66 degree HTA.

[@Whyusadd]

I’ve got a fuse which came with 130 and went to a 150 and climbing is still good but defending is way faster, smoother and feel more confident

[@HulaBoy75]

Nice video mate, thanks for sharing it. Using the technique you showed to get the sag my fork feels a whole lot stiffer now- it was 30% sag at 55psi using the ‘standard’ method but using your method it’s 35% sag with 80psi- does this sound about right? Gonna try it out tomorrow and I’m hoping it doesn’t feel rock solid on the trails. Always keen to learn so looking forward to seeing how it is!

[@BenYorkeMrHardtail]

Hmm interesting... Well were you blowing through your travel on your fork before?? also do you know if you'r running any volume spacers? keep in touch and let me know how she feels! I will do my best to help you get dialled! :)

[@marktribe8438]

Hey Mr Yorke! Love the videos, your channel is so underrated! Fox doesn’t run 170 on their 36 anymore, so I’m going to grab a 38 with 170 and go for a 29, so I can try my 2020 meta as a mullet setup. How do you like the fork after riding it for a few months now?? Keep up the good work dude, keep sending it!

[@BenYorkeMrHardtail]

Hey! Thanks for the kind words! I thought the 36 could still be bumped up to 170mm no? I could be wrong. I am going to try mullet next season for sure! 170mm with 29er is huge!!!! haha!! I may run 160mm with 29er myself. but hardtails are all about having fun and experimenting! bet your bike will look sick mullet with a 38!!!

[@marktribe8438]

Looking at the fox site the 2021 36 only comes in 150 and 160. So looking at the math of it, running your current 170 with a 29er should only be an increase of 10mm. You think that would be asking for trouble?

[@marktribe8438]

I lied it’s an extra 20mm! Yikes that is quite a jump haha that might do screwy things with geo huh?

[@michaelsernst]

PS I wanna see the hour long video of suspension tuning.

[@POCKETLUNG]

I gonna run a 170 fox 36 on this frame too!!

[@BenYorkeMrHardtail]

Its such a good combo!

[@Jyeriksson]

Great video Mr Yorke, thank you! Have you ever tried/considered a coil fork for your hardtail?

[@justgo4033]

Im thinking of getting a yari or Marzocchi,my bike came with a 35 gold and it’s pretty rough . I’m just wondering if i go 170mm travel if the front end will be to high with 29 inch wheels. The current travel is 150mm .

[@BenYorkeMrHardtail]

I think 150-160mm would be more then enough with 29er :)

[@justgo4033]

I contacted commencal and they recommend not going over 160 mm if you’re 29 inch wheel on the meta ht but at the same time they have a fox 36 170mm for sale on their website , best deal i can find online . I think ill pull the trigger and get it , i run 15mm of spacers under my stem so i think ill be ok if i slam my stem all the way down .

[@rjeffmaliwanag2738]

Uhh, how do you measure your 30-35% SAG? I mean on a ruler 30mm=30% spot on or do you use this formula, Travel ÷ 100 x 30(%) = Sag(mm) Tnx!

[@iliastsolis4803]

@Ben Yorke. Hi Ben what travel does your seatpost have as it seems extremely long. If you don't mind how tall are you. Many thanks

[@BenYorkeMrHardtail]

Hey I just recently installed the one up 210mm dropper! And it works amazingly well! I’m 6’2 with a 34 pant length. And it allows me to slam my seat while being able to have it rise to a perfect peddling position. Highly recommend!

[@iliastsolis4803]

@@BenYorkeMrHardtail Much appreciated. I have my eyes on a brand x 200mm

[@unzulaessig]

The Meta HT is a awesome hardtail! What for a bar did you ride? I wanna try it out, my actuAlly is a flat Descendant DH bar with the original 160mm fork and its ok so far but maybe it getting better with a higher one.

[@BenYorkeMrHardtail]

I’m rocking the FU40 bars at 780mm wide. Only riding them as I had them already. Great bars! But even the stock 30mm rise bars seem pretty good. :)

[@Marco-vp8wl]

Great video, thanks ^^

[@oscarwitvliet9139]

Good video thanks.

[@mahennaiker5072]

Awesome baabyy What bike is that

[@BenYorkeMrHardtail]

2021 commencal meta HT!

[@trx250rpuma4]

Nice what bars and stem are on it

[@bobsoon666]

Hi Ben,when u compress on your fork to set the sag,the rebound,hsc,lsc should be set to fully open right?

[@BenYorkeMrHardtail]

It can’t hurt to have them fully open but in my opinion is should not matter to much. As long as your not running some insane amount of compression it should not effect sag much. As compression damping is there just to help slow the travel speed not to limit the travel. If that makes sense.

[@bobsoon666]

@@BenYorkeMrHardtail will try with all the settings fully open and half way open and see can get the same sag or not...if its the same,then your theory is proven...hehehe

[@da5ke]

Nice video. perhaps some more light and better mic is a option

[@BenYorkeMrHardtail]

What are you going to do! As long as the info gets out. :)

[@macoly]

do you recommend me mounting a 170mm fox 38 fork on a meta ht?

[@macoly]

29er...

[@BenYorkeMrHardtail]

100% I loved the one I had on mine!

[@vasekvasin2184]

Hi dude. Can you please help me?! Can 38t chainring fit this frame, and can i use the front derailleur with 38/28 crankset?

[@BenYorkeMrHardtail]

Hey So I think the biggest you can go I a single 34t up front. Im not to sure about the 2 by system up front my friend. :)

[@vasekvasin2184]

Thank you so much :-)

[@casual_biker]

How many fork tokens are you running with your 78 psi?

[@BenYorkeMrHardtail]

So with the 36 at 170mm i was running 2 spacers. with the new 38 at 170mm I run 4 spacers with basically the same settings. :)

[@everywherelocal]

yeah! 🙃

[@corybrown9144]

How many volume spacers where you running in your yari?

[@BenYorkeMrHardtail]

I ran 2 in mine.

[@corybrown9144]

Ben Yorke - Mr. Hardtail that’s what I have. And I run my damper about in the middle as well as the rebound. I haven’t felt the need to really upgrade it yet. It’s actually be a decent fork. Any tips on that specific fork?

[@FrANTiXzz]

How much rise your bars got? :(

[@BenYorkeMrHardtail]

40mm! Haha

[@maxkunau7143]

Personally I get a bad experience with commencal , For my birthday, my parents bought a commencal meta ht am ride, and people from FedEx stole the bike , so now we don’t know what will happen normally I will have a bike for December :/

[@animofb8434]

Overforking from 160 to 170 its nothing. From 100 to 140 or 160is