Duke forks - service or replace?

tjm

My forks - Rockshox Duke SL (coil U turn) - are showing signs they need a service. There is also noticable slack in the LH leg bushes.
I'm tempted to replace them but the bike will probably be replaced in 6 months to a year and then be used as a hack/spare. So there is no point spending more than I have to.

So, what to do?......

1) Leave them along. PUt up with the slack and accept they will slowly wear out due to lack of servicing. But by then I will probably have a new bike.

2) Service them myself. Probably cost me about £30? But what about the bush replacement? Is that really a DIY job?

3) Send them to someone like TF tuned. Cost looks to be around £100. Is this worth it on old forks like these?

5) Replace with something like rebas. £200 to £250. I rather not spend the money unless I have to. This bike is likely to replaced in 6 months to a year and then be used as a spare/hack. But there again there is no point trying to keep the Dukes if it is good money after bad.
Will I notice a real difference in performance between my old Dukes and Rebas?

What would you do?

BR,
Toby

Andy B

you will notice a massive difference with Reba's

TFTuned could service the Duke's cost about £70 (+£10 for new bushes) +£8 for return delivery.

If you are confident enough you could service them yourself, if you can get the parts, TFTuned will be able to give you advice on this, as well as whether or not a service is worthwhile.

You could always transfer the Reba's to another bike if you got them & didn't cut the steerer too short.

tjm

Well, I am totally confident I could service them myself. Bush replacement I am not sure about. Theoretically I am sure I could as I have access to a workshop so I can make tools etc (or even bushes if it comes to it) but that sort of hassle I can do without.

I had thought about getting rebas and keeping the steerer long so I can reuse them. Trouble is I can see that leading to me getting a new HT frame to keep this bike going. So I would be more like £500 down and probably still want to buy something different in a years time

So that sounds like one vote for the Rebas.

Anyone know how difficult it is to replace bushes in the Duke?

tjm

Anyone know how difficult it is to replace bushes in the Duke?

hmm.. I think I have just answered my own question by reading this

Possible but I think I would have the make the tools which isn't worth it.

Perhaps I should talk to tftuned and see if they will do the bushes if I strip them and just send the lowers.

thefartingcockeral

Always thought Dukes were great fork. Still have a set of Duke race on my Scott pro Racing. had them serviced bi-yearly and just ace.

supersonic

is a good light short travel fork, very smooth. You can bodge the bushes with a suitable sized socket drift or pipe. Using 7.5 or 10wt oil improves them, and increases the range of rebound. Extra 5mm of oil makes them a little more progressive. Plusher than a reba ;-)

tjm

Ok. Now we are getting some votes for the Dukes. That I like!

Supersonic: I can imagine using a bit of pipe or socket to fit the bushes, In fact I could probably turn up the right size spacer fairly quickly.
But how would I remove them? From what I can tell they need pulling out. A slide hammer perhaps?

Interesting comments about increasing the range of rebound. Does this mean that the rebound adjuster is less sensitive with more turns needed to get the same affect or the other way round?
I have noticed that it only takes a fairly small adjustment to go from almost no rebound to way too slow. I've also not really been able to find a huge difference when playing with the pure delight air pressure but I haven't a clue what oil (or how much) is in them at the moment which might affect things.
They are certainly nice a plush on large compressions but I am not overly impressed with how they deal with small bumps.
Part of my problem here is that I got them secondhand and I have never had them serviced :oops: so I don't really know how good they should feel when properly sorted.

supersonic

ah, you have the pure damper, i was referring to the hydrocoil. So just new oil at the correct weight and amount. Pretty sure you can punch the bushes out by inserting a rod through the bolt holes on the lowers, but dont quote me, i have never done it!

tjm

Sounds like I need to take them apart and have a look.

Thanks.
Toby

supersonic

manuals available at sram.

tjm

yes, I found the bush replacement instructions there (linked above) but of course that assumes you have the correct rockshox tools for the job......

supersonic

should be stuff on oil levels somewhere.