Decent XC fork fro around £150 - £200ish

daniel_b

Chaps,

after aborting on the idea of getting a full susser, I would like to improve my Marin a bit.

The Manitou Axel Elite forks are not ideal me thinks.

Am I best to go for lightness, or a good quality of ride?

I rode a friends Giant with these on the front on Saturday: http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=product&productId=1070&categoryId=18
They cetainly felt 'plush' and seemed to absorb the bumps/roots really well, and much better than my Manitou's.

Good buy, good price?

Any other recommendations for me?

I know nothing about the various different type of fork fillings that there are, ie spring/oil/air, so if anyone can enlighten me, twould be much appreciated!

I assume a lockout would be useful, maybe with a remote on the bars?

Cheers

Dan

Andy B

No contest, RS Reba, the ones in your Merlin link.

They're an air fork, so you'll need a shock pump (£20).

Lockout is a useful thing on climbs & roads, you still get a little bit of movement so it's not completely rigid.

Remote lock out means you don't have to reach down to the forks to lock the fork, not an easy thing to do hurtling down the trails upto a climb where you want the lockout.

supersonic

You wont find a better fork for 200 quid or so than that. Simply nothing else worth considering in my book!

dhxcme

to be honest there are alot of good deals on CRC

i had a set of these

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=10247

which i swopped for a 130mm set of these

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=11776

just to get a higher front end on my hard tail freeride rig.

Splasher

I got a second hand F100 for £175. That's worth considering!

zero303

Rebas...

teacherman

Go with Rebas from Merlin - I did and they have transformed the way the front of my bike handles - £206 in the end and a shock pump for £20. At that money there isn't anything better (or even close)

littleandy0410

Another vote for the Reba's here - I had Manitou Axel Comp's on my Trance, which I changed for Tora 318's, as I found them for £88 on wiggle, but a friend got Reba's at the same time, they're SO much nicer. Lighter too.

pdid

Reba`s for me too, can`t go wrong at that price.

P

supersonic

Did I say Rebas?!

spongtastic

Yes Rebas.

zero303

Did someone just say Rebas?

daniel_b

:!:

How do these ones compare for another £20?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=13109

I'm a little confused, as I was led to believe 3.5lbs was pretty light for a suspension fork, but one of the reviews says it 'isn't the lightest of forks'

Also, what is IS mount, and what is a post mount?

I had seen Disc brake and V brake mount forks before.

Cheers

Dan

The Spiderman

3.5 lbs is reasonably light and certainly lighter ,than the equivalenty priced Marzocchi,or Manitou.

RS SIDs are lighter still,but then they are nowhere as stiff ,which compromises tracking.Stick with the Rebas.

I swapped from Manitou Splice on my,Giant XTC and they transformed the bike.

Not only did plushness improve,but also front end traction,adjustability,reliability,tracking and the whole front end just feels so much more planted ,giving you more confidence toi turn faster,and ride faster.

littleandy0410

Daniel B wrote:

:!:

Also, what is IS mount, and what is a post mount?

IS or International Standard mount, and post mount, are 2 different methods of mounting the brake calipers to the fork. Basically the holes on the forks for each mount type are 90 degrees opposed for each fitting. It's not a problem, you can just buy a convertor bracket:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/SearchResults.aspx?Search=IS+to+post+mount for about a tenner tops, if your old fork and new fork aren't the same fitting.

daniel_b

Just thought I would update this,

as mentioned on the general forum, these are now (With disc & V brake mount) down to £195, so I folded at that, and placed the order.

Might have them on by this weekend if they arrive in time, maybe....

daniel_b

Wahey, my forks are currently at Preston, so I should have them either tomorrow or Thursday at latest.

Also ordered a new bottom bracket, chain etc, an that has all been despatched today as well.

A friend of mine is coming over Thursday night with the relevant bottom bracket tools, so we might try and do everything in the same evening.

I'm all excited now!

Dan