Best value forks

thedirge

Need some advice guys, building up a bike for my other half.

2005 17" orange P7 as the frame.

My other half likes the idea of a green frame and white everything else.

Light fork in white not going to be used for anything heavy, all mountain xc use only. 100-130 seems to be recommended by orange.

have a budget of 100 - 200 if the additional warrents the cost, would rather keep it as close to 100 as I can but if there's a bargin out there let me know guys, cheers.

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/rockshox ... 35526.html bargin, but wrong colour but price is nice, also don't like the v brake mounts.

If anyone is selling something they think may be suitable for me I would consider second hand.

The Northern Monkey

Think you should look more into what you NEED not what your WANT.

anyways... http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/rockshox ... 45548.html

edit: just realised the picture is white but the forks are black...

Buy the toras and get them powdercoated. you won't do any better for the money...

ride_whenever

Beware those toras are really heavy, I've got a set and they're lovely, but i weighed my inbred in at 28.5lbs yesterday which is the same as my 456!!!!

I'd get a set of second hand air revelations or recons with u-turn and have them powdercoated just because the OH will appreciate the lighter front end i'd imagine.

thedirge

Please tell me how to explain to a woman what she needs and what she wants are two different things and I'll conceed mate.

Powder coating would involve stripping down the forks, subjecting them to 400degree temps and reassembly. I'd worry that the heating and cooling could stress the metal quite a bit, also I haven't stripped forks not sure how difficult/costly that could be.

I take your point however, getting black and changing the colour may be the way to go if there isn't anything available, the toras are kicking around in white however and there are some Marzocchi forks out there in white.

If I'm changing the colour are Rockshox Recon better than the Toras by a significant amount? Is it worth the additional?

I've been looking for ages and I thought you guys may be able to link me something I hadn't managed to come by.

ride_whenever

It depends where the priorities lie. I've been looking for some forks that are white and good and a decent price and in the end settled for slate grey coil tora 318. But they weigh a LOT.

However, i'd keep and eye out for a SH pair of fox 32 TALAS because they come in white fairly often and usually go for around your budget.

thedirge

Cool thanks

I do worry about second hand, I guess because I have an untrained eye, never sure whether I'm buying a dog or not.

Marzocchi forks out of the question? Shame I missed the Chainreaction Recons at 167 the other week.

supersonic

Tora 318 solo air weigh 4.5lbs, good for a 120mm all mountain fork that is a tough as it is. In fact they are lighter than uturn recons!

I'd get the Tora, that is a superb price for a lot of fork.

thedirge

Got the link from your another from scratch budget build mate. Taking most of my advice from that thred actually. Appreciate how much advice you give around here mate, good on you

I do like to keep weight light however 4.5lbs is just over 2kg aint it. That sounds quite alright.

I guess my questions have been answered, stop looking Lee you're not going to find anything else out there. Doesn't seem to be any recons at reduced prices and the Tora 318 solo airs are the best value for performance per £ deal at the moment white or not.

supersonic

I think Merlin have some reduced Recons.

Basically they are toras with lighter alu stanchions. That is all the difference! But the steel tora legs add a lot of strength.

thedirge

Cool, I expec thats these

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=produ ... egoryId=18

Out of stock but due in soon. Air sprung the travel is within Orange's range.

or these

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/rockshox ... 35526.html

Both have dampening adjustment, they seem to be basically exactly the same fork as you've suggested.

I guess as they are only going to have light use and the snob in me see's the recons as the next model up from the Toras, I guess I'll give merlin a call tomorrow.

supersonic

They hav ebeen out of stock for weeks now. The Tora 318 is a better fork as it has the Motion Control damper - the base level Recon doesn't. MoCo provides compression adjustment with lockout, and a blowoff valve.

thedirge

Cool! sums up my day really round in circles lol.

Okay Tora 318 solo's as you say its the better fork And while it is available in white it currently aint available in white lol

supersonic

Yep, a better fork! I use one on my Carbon Zaskar.

Motion Control dampers are used in the higher end forks.

thedirge

cool thank you

my lass has changed her mind on colours already so the black is now not an issue!

blablablacksheep

sorry to hijck but sonic, if i was to upgrade my rockhopper tora 302 sl coil fork, to the 318 one is that worthwhile upgrade? or would difference be minimal and not worth it?

supersonic

It would be an upgrade. You would have lighter weigjht and a better damper. But the weight wouldn't be that much less.

blablablacksheep

would sticking a reba sl fork be overkill?

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=produ ... egoryId=18

supersonic

Not at all, for XC is a better bet

blablablacksheep

only issue i see with reba is that is disc only:( and i got v breaks on my rockhopper...even though my bike is disc ready ....anoying

thedirge

Purchased the fork online today, thanks for the help guys

Will keep asking build questions if thats okay