Can anyone recommend good all mountain forks

gaggsy
gaggsy Posts: 2
edited October 2008 in MTB buying advice
I am considering buying a giant reign 2 2007 (which is very cheap) but would like to upgrade the forks if I do buy it. it currently will comes with 130 mm toras but i was looking for something a bit beefier and airsprung as im not the smallest of lads (about 16st) and like to chuck my bike about a bit. I do a bit of cross country but am looking for a sturdier all mountain fork. Has anyone got any recommendations? The bike is only going to cost me £850 so I dont mind spending some of the saving on a decent set of forks.
any help would be appreciated.[/b]

Comments

  • dave_hill
    dave_hill Posts: 3,877
    Pike 454 Air U-turn every time. OK, so you will need a new front wheel as they have a through-axle, but believe me it's worth it.

    So they may not be the plushest forks on the market but for range of adjustability, value for money and out-and-out reliability they'll more than suit your needs.
    Give a home to a retired Greyhound. Tia Greyhound Rescue
    Help for Heroes
    JayPic
  • GT Destroyer
    GT Destroyer Posts: 1,719
    +1 for Pikes. You won't look back after you get them. Fit and forget. Very reliable. Strong. etc etc....
    500 Miles in 5 days
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    Pikes are great forks - I had them on my 2006 Reign 3 and they were very reliable and strong performers. However felt that 140mm wasn't enough on the Reign, especially as the rear suspension was a seemingly bottomless 152mm. It was obvious that more was needed up front. You could get 160mm on your Reign but I'd say 150mm would be absolutely perfect. Marzocchi (excuse unsure spelling)? There was a thread ages ago saying the same as the above.

    The Reign frames are great. I'm just under 5'9'' and needed the medium (not the small as I first thought) because the top tube is a little on the short side for me. If in doubt size up rather than down - especially as they could do with a shorter stem too. Great value bikes - confidence inspiring downhill and suprisingly good climbers for bikes with this much rear travel.

    Hope that helps.
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • dgould
    dgould Posts: 66
    As i found from my 'Spec My heckler' post the forum seems to love the Fox Float RLC 36s at 160mm.

    I've got a 140mm set of 08 floats on my Orange 5 and they're good but I'd go for the through axle.

    a 150mm Talas may suit but they're very very expensive.

    Ta
    It\'s a bit steep for my liking
  • salsarider79
    salsarider79 Posts: 828
    +1 Pikes
    If you want more confidence downhill, go 160mm tho....
    jedster wrote:
    Just off to contemplate my own mortality and inevitable descent into decrepedness.
    FCN 3 or 4 on road depending on clothing
    FCN 8 off road because I'm too old to go racing around.
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    I do love my pikes, but if you think you might want 160mm in the future, '08 36 talas are the way to go.
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • dgould
    dgould Posts: 66
    dgould wrote:
    As i found from my 'Spec My heckler' post the forum seems to love the Fox Float RLC 36s at 160mm.

    Told you - I'm all won round on the subject!!
    It\'s a bit steep for my liking
  • nferrar
    nferrar Posts: 2,511
    I'm getting some 09 Revelations (maxle-lite, 140-100mm U-turn) for my new hardtail which I'm intending giving a hammering (if not just from my 15st :p ). Pikes and Fox 36's seemed a bit overkill but I guess depends on what travel your bike's designed around, how gnarly the downhills are you'll be doing and what the ratio of XC to AM/DH is you'll be doing.
  • dave_hill
    dave_hill Posts: 3,877
    nferrar wrote:
    I'm getting some 09 Revelations (maxle-lite, 140-100mm U-turn) for my new hardtail which I'm intending giving a hammering (if not just from my 15st :p ). Pikes and Fox 36's seemed a bit overkill but I guess depends on what travel your bike's designed around, how gnarly the downhills are you'll be doing and what the ratio of XC to AM/DH is you'll be doing.

    Pikes and Revelations are virtually the same fork! The only difference is the through axle on the Pikes (at least they were up to the 2008 model year) - the '09 Revelations are a Pike in all but name!

    I like my Fox 36s on my Orange, but I honestly think that Foxes are WAY overpriced for what you get, and if the bike hadn't come with them as standard I would have specced Lyriks. Having said that Pikes/Revelations are only a 32mm stanchion so Fox 32s might be a viable alternative and a bit cheaper than 36s too. Plus if you go for the standard dropout type you won't need a new front wheel.

    Marzocchi's alternative offering is the 55 and to be honest there seems to be a lot of negative press about them. Marzocchi shifted the bulk of their production to Taiwan for 2008 and their quality control seems to have taken a serious nosedive. I haven't seen one good magazine review of 55s yet (cue torrent of abuse and threats of violence from all the Marzocchi tarts...!)
    Give a home to a retired Greyhound. Tia Greyhound Rescue
    Help for Heroes
    JayPic
  • Steve_b77
    Steve_b77 Posts: 1,680
    Another vote for Pikes, they are fantastic
  • joe1890
    joe1890 Posts: 56
    try marzocchi all mountail - the sl's are the don, although the 2 and the 1 are decent too. you dont want pikes though, every other bugger has them!
  • dgould
    dgould Posts: 66
    So - fox 36 or Lyrics then????

    Sorry to hijack the thread :wink:
    It\'s a bit steep for my liking

Categories