beeb
Dr. Beebenson, PhD HA, ST, Offset (hons)
Holy smokes, 3 degree slacker HA will have a big impact in how a bike handles. Typically a slacker HA will make rocks feel a little more controlled as the fork should be a little easier to move into it's travel - but that's assuming taking rocks at a good rolling pace and aiming relatively straight. Slackish HA's can feel awkward AF in the reach is too short though, but if the reach is good you might need to get into a more aggressive stance in the rocky bits.
If you're actually moving around in rocks though having to pick and choose different lines to make your way through the rocks you're riding, the steeper HA of the Honzo would likely allow quicker/more precise changes of direction and may feel easier to redirect even if there's a touch less bump absorbtion from the fork.
But to answer your question - in theory if the chainstay length and reach is the same on both bikes - yes, the front will be a little harder to weight. I normally notice this more in flat corners more than rocks though, but most of the "rock gardens" I ride are man-made and have safe-ish flow through them so wouldn't highlight the issue anyway...
I have asked for a 20mm longer chainstay length (428mm to 448mm) on my next Waltly to experiment with weight distribution in search of more weighting of the front wheel in a nuetral stance, but it'll probably be a couple of months until it arrives and I can see how true the theory holds.
So while this is all well and good in theory, riding style will have a huge impact on the fit and balance of the bike too. So without trailing you down a track it's hard to get a picture of what the actual issue is. I'm still learning about geo with every bike, so don't take what I say as gospel - it's just an opinion (that's still developing) based on what works for me.
How do you find the fit/handling/front-rear grip balance on the Waltly otherwise? Couldn't just be that the slacker front is allowing you to take rocks a bit faster than you realise, and the (lighter) back end is getting kicked around more accordingly?
And do you have a geo chart for the Honzo?
I'm curious but not claiming to have any answers here, sorry.
If you're actually moving around in rocks though having to pick and choose different lines to make your way through the rocks you're riding, the steeper HA of the Honzo would likely allow quicker/more precise changes of direction and may feel easier to redirect even if there's a touch less bump absorbtion from the fork.
But to answer your question - in theory if the chainstay length and reach is the same on both bikes - yes, the front will be a little harder to weight. I normally notice this more in flat corners more than rocks though, but most of the "rock gardens" I ride are man-made and have safe-ish flow through them so wouldn't highlight the issue anyway...
I have asked for a 20mm longer chainstay length (428mm to 448mm) on my next Waltly to experiment with weight distribution in search of more weighting of the front wheel in a nuetral stance, but it'll probably be a couple of months until it arrives and I can see how true the theory holds.
So while this is all well and good in theory, riding style will have a huge impact on the fit and balance of the bike too. So without trailing you down a track it's hard to get a picture of what the actual issue is. I'm still learning about geo with every bike, so don't take what I say as gospel - it's just an opinion (that's still developing) based on what works for me.
How do you find the fit/handling/front-rear grip balance on the Waltly otherwise? Couldn't just be that the slacker front is allowing you to take rocks a bit faster than you realise, and the (lighter) back end is getting kicked around more accordingly?
And do you have a geo chart for the Honzo?
I'm curious but not claiming to have any answers here, sorry.
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