[Closed] Do I NEED a chain device on a 160mm+travel bike?

i use a blackpsire stinger

me too.

plus, 22/32, nine speed rear and I've never been short of gears.

Stinger here too

I think it's more about what you intend to do on the bike that determines what kind of gearing you go with rather than how much travel it has.

What I would say is that I can't see you needing anything bigger than a 36t on the front (actually I will argue with anyone running a 160mm bike needing more than 32t front unless they're in the top echelons of the DH racing set) so a triple would be somewhat redundant but there's nothing to stop you using one.

exactly - have a little gear to winch you up, and if you're spinning out 32/11 a lot, you'd probably be better off with less than 160mm of travel for the trails you're riding. But if that's what you've got, do what you like to best suit your riding.

Depends where you're riding I suppose. I wouldn't want to ride rough trails without a chain guide. Dropped chains are annoying.

Giant Reign, 32t single up front avec Blackspire DSX chaindevice, 11-34 out back, but hanging on for an 11-36..

I used to use a stinger when I had a front mech with double rings..Worked pretty flawlessly.

+1 for Blackspire Stinger, it's cheap and does the job. Fit and forget. Not the Superstar version though, it's cack.

Agree with kayak23. 32 up front and 11-36 on the back. If you can't get up then push, it's not much slower and if you often spin out, you are probably running too much travel. However whether you need a chain device will surely be determined by whether you often drop the chain. If you intend to use 160 travel then probably yes.

Not the Superstar version though, it's cack.

I've had a secondhand one of them for about a year, on two bikes, and it's been faultless.

Just for balance like.

OP - A lot of new 160mm bikes come with XC double chainsets (assumign you mean the ones with with no bash). Depends how low your BB is and if you ride rocky stuff as to whether it's a good idea.

I took the X9 double straight off my Dune and replaced it with a SLX double and bash. The bash sees plenty of action.

I have a Shimano LX with 22/32 rings + bash, or a newer FSA 27/39. The BB for the Shimano is on the way out, but I have a new bb for the FSA, so was thinking about fitting the FSA cranks.

If I replace the Shimano BB, I was going to ditch the 22t inner as I barely use it. Just wondered if the 27t of the FSA would see more use, or whether I'd just be wanting a 32t because 27t is still too low and 39t would be too high.

I've happily run 1x9 with a 32 x 32 lowest gear on the hardtail before now but not having had this bike long, I'm worried about having to thrutch up some nasty climb with 160mm squidging beneath me or end up pushing.

I've always found 22t too low for 95% of everything I've ridden, including Peaks, Lakes, Spain, Alps, 7 Stanes, local stuff etc etc.

Have I pretty much answered my own question?....

22/36 x9 with Gammut dual guide on the occasions I ride anywhere that 140mm or more is worth having. Which isn't often tbh. If it's that rough and fast a triple and FD only isn't great.

MBR says yes.

Reality says no.

(though really if you've got 10 speed and are reasonably fit you should have only 1 chainring, in which case you'll need something)

No, you don't. I run a turner 6 pack with an xtr triple up front and an 11 34 at the back with a long cage mech around the peaks and alps and never had a problem. Often use the big ring going down to tension the chain and protect the ring.

Stinger, 22/36, bashguard (might go 1x10)

I've changed my Remedy quite a bit since I bought it (and since the photo). It had a triple as standard, I find a triple overkill personally and I can't stand the chain slapping all over the place either. A double with device gives me the gearing to go up and enough for faster downs (spin out at 40mph on fire road downs).

You have to ask yourself do you need a device and double really, depends what bike it is, where you ride, how you ride and your preference.

You asked for a pic of it fitted...
[IMG] [/IMG]

They do help stop the chain slapping around as well of course, which is a big plus for me.