a topic that doesn't come up alot...
chorus of ruin
Posts: 12
That’s right, Suspension!!! Sorry! I just really need some help!
Apologies for the long post and for the n00b questions!
Last week I brought a new Pinnacle Peak 3.0 from Evans (reduced to 420 from 500). I love the bike and am extremely impressed (was a bit apprehensive regarding the brand pedigree but there was no need!)
I do have one issue though. The bike came with a Rock Shox Dart 2 fork, which seems to be a common budget fork to slap on bikes such as this. So far i have been quite unhappy with it. Basically, Im really struggling to get any movement from it. I'm 5'10 and weigh about 9 and a half stone. I've fiddled with the preload and the rebound adjuster on the bottom of the fork and made the suspension as "light" as I can and even when I lift the front end up and slam it in to the ground when riding, i can only seem to get about 50 of the advertised 100ml travel out of it. While riding over not (unsubstantial bumps) and potholes it just doesn’t move. When I get on the bike, it doesn't “sag” at all. It’s like riding something with a rigid fork!
Does this sound normal for a fork like this considering my weight? Do forks take a while to "bed in" and will this stiffness dissipate?
Now, I know that its a entry level shock and its not going to be ultra smooth over bumps or anything, Id just like it to be less stiff! My friend has a Judy J2 fork on his Mongoose, I think its (was) the same kind of price band and it feels lovely.
I've been told changing the oil and/or changing the spring will help? How much would this cost? How easy/expensive/worth it would it be?
Another alternative I've found would be to invest in these? Will these be adjustable to my weight?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2008-MARZOCCHI-MX-REMOTE-LO-SUSPENSION-MTB-FORK-RRP-175_W0QQitemZ330239043684QQihZ014QQcategoryZ36135QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I am very, very reluctant to pay anything else though, i spent more than i wanted to on the actual bike!
any help with any of these would be fantastic, thank you!
Apologies for the long post and for the n00b questions!
Last week I brought a new Pinnacle Peak 3.0 from Evans (reduced to 420 from 500). I love the bike and am extremely impressed (was a bit apprehensive regarding the brand pedigree but there was no need!)
I do have one issue though. The bike came with a Rock Shox Dart 2 fork, which seems to be a common budget fork to slap on bikes such as this. So far i have been quite unhappy with it. Basically, Im really struggling to get any movement from it. I'm 5'10 and weigh about 9 and a half stone. I've fiddled with the preload and the rebound adjuster on the bottom of the fork and made the suspension as "light" as I can and even when I lift the front end up and slam it in to the ground when riding, i can only seem to get about 50 of the advertised 100ml travel out of it. While riding over not (unsubstantial bumps) and potholes it just doesn’t move. When I get on the bike, it doesn't “sag” at all. It’s like riding something with a rigid fork!
Does this sound normal for a fork like this considering my weight? Do forks take a while to "bed in" and will this stiffness dissipate?
Now, I know that its a entry level shock and its not going to be ultra smooth over bumps or anything, Id just like it to be less stiff! My friend has a Judy J2 fork on his Mongoose, I think its (was) the same kind of price band and it feels lovely.
I've been told changing the oil and/or changing the spring will help? How much would this cost? How easy/expensive/worth it would it be?
Another alternative I've found would be to invest in these? Will these be adjustable to my weight?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2008-MARZOCCHI-MX-REMOTE-LO-SUSPENSION-MTB-FORK-RRP-175_W0QQitemZ330239043684QQihZ014QQcategoryZ36135QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I am very, very reluctant to pay anything else though, i spent more than i wanted to on the actual bike!
any help with any of these would be fantastic, thank you!
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Comments
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Darts can vary out of the factory - some are smooth, some are really stubborn. Looks like you have one of the latter, though they usually do free up over time. You are a little under the weight for a medium spring, so maybe a lighter one will be a good idea. Prob is they cost nearly as much as a new Dart... Contact Evans,see what they say, you may just have a bad one.
However the fork you mention will be a LOT better - lighter, stiffer steering, more adjustable (air pressure too!), smoother. It is worth doing!0 -
bump0
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My mate has a set of brand new darts that he got to replace some Suntours that came with his Vulcan. We were setting them up the other day (he's about 10 1/2 stone) and found he had about 15mm of sag and they compressed to a maximum of about 65mm. Maybe that helps?
I have to admit, if I had bought them I would be terribly disappointed. They feel very rough compared to the Suntours that came on my Avalanche 1.0 and I was under the impression they were both supposed to be in the same 'league'.0 -
Hi there,
I have the same fork (Dart 2) on my Scott reflex 30. The specs quoted 100mm travel when I bought the bike, however I only seem to get 50-65mm (measured using a cable tie on the fork and pumping it hard). How can I tell if my fork is a 80 or 100mm of travel? Also, with the preload at a minimum (i.e. ready to pop out) I only get 13mm of sag (I am 75 kg - ~11 st). Any idea why? Did I just get a bad one?
Thank guys 8)0 -
Got a Dart2 100mm on my Scott Aspect 20. It does take a little time to bed in as i found it didnt really do anything on the 1st few rides.
Bike is currently at the LBS getting a Reba Race fitted though - expecting a much better ride, can't wait! [and a big weight save].0 -
A lot of people seem to think the darts are shit yet my old Mongoose tyax super came with J2's (really j4's) and i managed to get about 85mm travel out of them without going off road, and i am only 10 stone and 6'1.
is it just me or are the new forks getting worse? Dart's, Marzocchi DJ's, whatever happened to manitou? :?0 -
Mate, I'm the same weight as you, but 6ft tall. I have the same problem as you, well not of a problem but...[b]chorus of ruin[/b] wrote:So far i have been quite unhappy with it. Basically, Im really struggling to get any movement from it. I'm 5'10 and weigh about 9 and a half stone.
On min preload I get 5mm of sag, and so far I've pulled 63mm of travel. I think I can pull 80mm on 2ft jump.
The problem is in the spring, mine and yours is too stiff.
I've seen some fat guys with Trek 4500, and as soon as they get on the bike they instantly get probably 80mm of the travel.
But I'm happy with the fork for now, because it reacts as it has a lockout on road.0
