Taming a twitchy bike

[Bodhbh]

I'm currently using an 2003 Rockhopper as a tourer with a pair of Kona P2 forks. Axle to crown on the forks is 413nm, which afaik is right to correct for the 80mm travel sus forks they replaced.

Anyhow the handling feels very twitchy which is not what I really want. Annoying my frame of reference is another, 2005 Rockhopper I'm using just as a commute/hack bike which, to me at least, feels spot on, really enjoy riding it (100mm travel forks replaced with 447mm A-C Orange P8 forks). Both are 19" frames.

Suppose my question is, is it worth considering alternative forks to the P2s with slightly longer A-C or longer rake? Or would this either not help much or cause other issues?

Other point, jury is still out, but I just put flatter stem on the tourer. It was 90mm, 35degree; now it's 120mm, 15 degree. This seems to already have made the bike feel much less lively, although it's slightly too long for me, didn't realise this made such a difference to handling (as opposed to comfort).

 

[Mr Pig]

Personally, I don't like a long stem. Fine off road but too direct on it. You could try a shorter stem, raised up with spacers if you've got the stack hight left on your fork.

 

[bonj2]

i've got a 65mm stem on my mtb which makes it tricky on technical climbs sometimes and a feisty little mistress to handle but definitely very rewarding to get right. bit like driving a tvr

 

[Globalti]

Project 2 forks are very direct in comparison with a supension fork.

 

[Bodhbh]

Okay, not sure I've got this right - a longer stem makes the steering less twitchy in general? It felt so at least just on the basis of the 5mile run I did this morning into work.

And 'direct' means there's less rake on the P2s than suspension forks?

All this subtle geometry stuff makes my head hurt.

(and as a side-issue on techical climbs, I notice the bike with twitchy handling and P2s goes up hills very nicely despite it's other shortfalls - there's a hill around here I routinely have a pop at the side of the end of most runs).

 

[Baggy]

Okay, not sure I've got this right - a longer stem makes the steering less twitchy in general? It felt so at least just on the basis of the 5mile run I did this morning into work.

Yes, longer = less twitchy.