How capable is 120mm travel?

[Rock84]

Hey Gang,
Hoping to get some expertise around buying a new mountain bike.
A bit of background: I've been riding a 2014 Giant Trance 3 since (27.5' wheels, 140mm travel front and rear), well, 2014 until it got stolen a few months ago (along with my Giant Fastroad SLR2 )
Anyway, I'm now looking at replacing upgrading my mountain bike.

Most of my riding is at Lysterfield, for those unfamiliar, Lysty comprises of pretty well maintained single track of the XC variety, lots of flow, lots of tree roots, a bit of up, a lot of down, berms, drops, single and double jumps. Occasionally I'll venture to Buxton, Wombat or Bright, and I'd basically like to not be limited by my hardware if I choose to ride somewhere.

The two bikes that I've narrowed down are:
1. 2021 Norco Fluid FS1 (29' wheels, 130mm / 120mm front and rear travel respectively)
2. 2021 Merida One-twenty 700 (29' wheels, 130mm / 120mm front and rear travel respectively)

I test rode the Norco on the weekend around some parkland gravel tracks near the bike shop and really loved the 29' wheels, I found the bike quite fast, a great climber and overall really enjoyable. The front 130mm Rockshox Pike felt quite nice and very sufficient, but I was a bit hesitant about the 120mm rear travel given that I was almost bottoming out on it, without riding anything close to what I'd find at Lystefield, let alone more gnarly trails.

From my research the 29' 130mm / 120mm seems like a pretty common standard for most trail bikes these days, and I guess if I need something bigger, I'm going to be in the next price bracket, so I'm wondering whether my concern is legitimate? This is a pretty big decision for me, as the bike I get now I will want to last me up to 10 years of casual mountain biking.

I'd love to hear from peeps who have these bikes or similar, and ride a variety of trals, sometimes stepping beyond the strict "Trail" variety.

Thanks

[Duck!]

120mm will be plenty for where you're riding. Not sure about the 29-foot wheels though.....

[Rock84]

120mm will be plenty for where you're riding. Not sure about the 29-foot wheels though.....

Wheels a bit overkill? I was thinking they might compensate for the tiny shock...

[open roader]

I ride old rutted bush tracks to 'moderately difficult' prepared trails at Forrest *

I have an old 26" Trance with the Maestro 127mm rear suspension and a Yeti SB6 with 152mm suspension up back.

For me both have more than enough rear suspension travel for what I do, even landing some small 2 foot hops, I don't use all the travel I have at my disposal.

To me the best confidence inspiring tech was getting wider rims and fitting decent 2.5" tubless tyres and daring to run them nice and soft. Often I ride both with the rear locked out as it's simply not required until the trail goes up and down in 5 inch or more steps.

I'm no MTB tech head but I say get the widest tyres you can fit and buy your frame accordingly.

* moderately difficult to me - a relative green behind the ears trail rider @t 50 years of age and reasonable fitness..............

[Bentnose]

I only have a hardtail 29er with 100mm travel and 2.1” rubber, never had a problem at Lysterfield, I even ride all over Plenty Gorge on it which is mostly noted a being on the difficult side. Enough travel for some won’t necessarily be enough for you or vice versa.

[4xsama]

I have a Pivot Trail with 100mm both ends on 29" wheels. Its fine for what I ride (including Lysterfield and Plenty). Biggest issue I have is I cant run very wide tyres on the rear due to clearance. With decent tyres and tubeless the bike would be much better. I know it's not an Enduro or DH bike so don't go mad on downhill sections but TBH I prefer the climbing ability over the option to bomb down trails.

I ride the Yarra most though. It's great for that. Quite fast/semi XC.

[4xsama]

This is worth a watch.

Travel is 130mm from memory

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLhmtLWEPsM