Why suspension and tire trends are moving away from “big & soft” toward efficiency again
Published by Radical Life Studios / MTB Report
For years, mountain biking followed a simple trajectory: more travel, more damping, more volume, more grip. Tires became heavier, casings thicker, inserts stiffer. Suspension settings drifted toward plush, open and forgiving. Riders asked for grip everywhere, all the time — and the industry delivered.
But the tide is turning. Quietly at first, then unmistakably.
Across forums, race circuits and tech briefings, a new consensus is forming:
too much softness slows you down.
It numbs feedback. It eats energy. It turns every climb into a slog and every long ride into an effort you feel the next day. What once felt like security now feels like drag.
https://radicallifestudios.dehttps://mtb-report.com🎧 think radical – live radical.
