98 Marin Wildcat Trail - frame strong enough for disk brakes
paulswilliams2
Posts: 137
I have a 98 Marin Wildcat Trail that's in fairly good nick. I have been looking to replace this on my return to mtbing but I am thinking of upgrading this bike instead. The name Wildcat Trail has been applied to several old Marins - but mine is the 6inch full suspension jobby that was originally specced with Manitou X-Vert R's (dual crown 4 inchers) with XT stuff including V-Brakes - I weighed it last night including the Manitou and it came out at 27.5lb - not a bad weight for a FS.
Currently, the problems with the bike are:
1) the forks are shagged - little suspension, and wobbly inners.
2) the brakes while decent aren't as good as the modern disks - doing moderate downhills like in the Peaks and Long Mynd had my hands aching!
The question is, do people think the frame is strong enough to cope with modern shorter travel (80 - 100mm) forks with disc brakes, considering the originally manitous do have disk mountings and are dual crowns. I know it should when young, but do the aluminium frames lose much if any strength with age as opposed to use - its only done about 1000 - 2000 miles. I have previously asked a question regarding fork length, but the Manitous measure 45cm from middle of dropout hole to bottom of fork brace. Are any forks similar to this length that offer 4inches of travel as again, I want to minimise or eliminate extra force on the frame.
Cheers.
Currently, the problems with the bike are:
1) the forks are shagged - little suspension, and wobbly inners.
2) the brakes while decent aren't as good as the modern disks - doing moderate downhills like in the Peaks and Long Mynd had my hands aching!
The question is, do people think the frame is strong enough to cope with modern shorter travel (80 - 100mm) forks with disc brakes, considering the originally manitous do have disk mountings and are dual crowns. I know it should when young, but do the aluminium frames lose much if any strength with age as opposed to use - its only done about 1000 - 2000 miles. I have previously asked a question regarding fork length, but the Manitous measure 45cm from middle of dropout hole to bottom of fork brace. Are any forks similar to this length that offer 4inches of travel as again, I want to minimise or eliminate extra force on the frame.
Cheers.
0
Comments
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right to sum up.
you want a 4" sc fork to go on your frame?
nothing to do with fitting a disc brake to your frame?
a typical 100mm fork will be about 460mm so thats ok and an SC fork will be fine."Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
Parktools :?:SheldonBrown0 -
Yeah, sorry, wasnt' very clear.
I would like to replace the forks and fit disc brakes. I thought the newer forks with even a similar travel to my old fork were physically longer, and therfore would add more stress to the front of my frame. I have seen the spec of a couple of 80 - 100mm forks with 47cm distance to bottom of headset race.
Secondly, I would also like to add disc brakes at the same time. The original bike's manitou forks had disc brakes, so I know the frame was designed with them in mind. However, that was 8 / 9 years ago, and I am not sure whether 1) the new disc brakes are more powerful nowadays and 2) whether aluminium frame strenght decreases over time (as opposed to use). If either of these are correct, then new disc brakes could be more powerful than the bikes designers had in mind.
If either or both of these are true, then I could be putting the frame under more pressure than it can take, and I obviously don't want that!!
Sorry for being a numpty, my head was in several places whilst writing the previous post.0
