'Handling' - what influences our sense of - a discussion

[mikee]

I think you need to define handling first , the ability to be ridden very quickly down your favorite trail ?

contentious, but i think any standard framed rigid mtb can be made to handle well ,just fit some decent tyres and make the bike fit you
so tyres are the biggest influence on handling ?

the feel or ride quality is a different matter tho , butted tubes make a bike
feel more alive and more comfortable
so frame material is the biggest influence on a bike's feel /handling

best just judging them by colour , i like polished ones best

 

[mechagouki]

Whilst individual body morphology will always be the deciding factor in the way a bike feels to any given rider, for me tires, grips, control position, seat height and seat type are for me personally the most important considerations.

 

[BoyBurning]

One must not forget that all bikes handle equal after a few Guinness.

And the descriptions too...

BB

 

[suburbanreuben]

Whilst individual body morphology will always be the deciding factor in the way a bike feels to any given rider, for me tires, grips, control position, seat height and seat type are for me personally the most important considerations.

These are the biggest influences on handling?
Comfort, maybe...

 

[jax13]

i think most frames could be made to fit most riders properly given proper components.

there will be exceptions, however assuming the frame is of a decent size for the rider, the combination of stem height from headset, stem angle, stem length, bar type, position, rake / rise angle & width, lever / shifter positioning, grip type, seat height, seat position & seat type along with crank length & pedal type will all affect how the bike fits the rider & ultimately, how it feels or handles to that individual. If you wanted to try and quantify the handling, ride a bike once it fits the rider properly, you can start comparing it against other bikes that fit the same rider properly then ask for opinions.

its the exact same in cars, you can get in & drive pretty much anything but in your own car you set the seat height, distance & rake, along with the steering wheel rake & distance to make it a comfortable driving position. from there, and there alone you can judge the handling of one car compared to another.

 

[mechagouki]

Whilst individual body morphology will always be the deciding factor in the way a bike feels to any given rider, for me tires, grips, control position, seat height and seat type are for me personally the most important considerations.

These are the biggest influences on handling?
Comfort, maybe...

The way the bar feels in your hands, your reach to levers and shifters and the way you can use the seat and post to move the bike underneath you are important handling considerations for me. A bike set up to my liking becomes an extension of me on the trail - a bike that doesn't feel right will be a hindrance.

 

[suburbanreuben]

You can make yourself comfy on a rollerskating pig, but it'still going to be a pig on rllerskates.
Surely a well designed frame is more important than grips or even the saddle. These are just the finishing touches.

 

[mikee]

You can make yourself comfy on a rollerskating pig, but it'still going to be a pig on rllerskates.
Surely a well designed frame is more important than grips or even the saddle. These are just the finishing touches.

but it might be a fast sweet handling pig after getting comfy with it

remember comfort is just setting it up for you to operate it efficently ,
one less thing to distract you

bikes with suspension ,now thats a different thing

 

[mechagouki]

You can make yourself comfy on a rollerskating pig, but it'still going to be a pig on rllerskates.
Surely a well designed frame is more important than grips or even the saddle. These are just the finishing touches.

Well, I will admit pretty much every bike I've ever owned and liked had a reputation that preceded it - I've never tried to make do with a POC.

 

[petitpal]

Personally I'm with mechagouki for the main.

I think that tyres have to up the top, along with feeling comfortable; I don't care what the bike is but if I feel like I'm stretching to get to the bottom of the crank sweep, I can't get my fingers to the brake levers or shifters properly or I don't feel like I'm balanced nicely on the bike then I'll hate it - regardless of if it's a £50 argos BSO or a £3K best of breed.

Given those basics tyres are vital - ultimatley they are the contact point between your bike and the ground; if they don't work you can forget it, again regardless of what you ride. I've had so many tyres in the past that have just killed my bike and ability to ride it. Raptors used to suck the bike through the ground to the point where it felt like it was a heavy, metal slug, Z-Max's (I think they were called) had zero grip and conti cross country's used to make it feel skippy, light and dangerous (although personally I always enjoyed that ).

As someone else said - once the bike's set-up right for me I forget it's there - just an extension of me and that's the way it needs to be.

Head angles, frame geometery, etc are important, of course, but without the basics (comfort, good tyres) in place you'll never notice the difference. That's all my opinion, anyway.