Rubbish Suspension Technology?

Nifkin

Having noticed that every mention of RST suspension forks on nearly every bike forum reaches the same conclusion, namely they should all be binned immediately, I was just wondering how it is RST manage to remain in business if their products are so crap? I mean, I know they're at the budget end, and are no match for stuff by Rockshox and Fox, etc., but are they really that bad??? And if they are, what do they get so wrong? I only ask coz I'm wondering if it would really be wise to write them off completely as a budget option; has anybody out there had any middling-to-good experiences with them???

Nif :roll:

Chaz.Harding

They lack refinement.

If they even have rebound and compression adjustment (and even just damping at the lower end still) the adjustment will proabably be poor. And almost certainly no High/Low speed damping options.

The finish will be lower, and the general feel will be of a less well made product. And again, chances are they'll be heavier than other similar products.

They survive, because they get fitted as OEM products to bikes, to be sold as entry level.

I could be wrong about any of this, possibly all, but it's my take on them.

Get some Fox Forx

8)

P-Jay

Nope, as far as I know they're all pretty shit.

I'm sure they also make some better forks, but they badged up as the low end of "better" makes.

The thing is, everyones first MTB is usualy a hardtail for around or sub £500, and they all come with RST's (or the like) so the manufacurer get a decent frame out built for the money. If the rider sticks to riding around the park, or up and down canal paths etc they'll be fine. But if the bug bites and they start riding more tech terrain they'll not last long.

supersonic

RST lost the disrtibutor to the UK a couple of years ago, and what we see are usually the low end stuff.

But the top end stuff seems to be very good! Remember most bikes you see an RST fork on cost less than the just a Fox fork...

Nifkin

Thanks for your replies; seem pretty unanimous then!

Well then, can anybody recommend a good 29er XC fork with about 70-80mm of travel???

Much love,

Niffy :twisted:

dav1

the range of bikes they come on are usually bought by beginners who wont notice the dofference, and people who wasnt a stylish bike to ride about on (and will never notice the dofference).

In the end most beginners will probably upgrade the bike or fork before long anyway.

xtreem

Rock Shox Tora Race 29er Solo Air 2009
This one is the cheapest.

supersonic

Have a read of this:

http://twentynineinches.com/2007/08/06/ ... rk-update/

cee

I had an RST Gila on my hardrock when I got it. I upgraded it to a Tora after about a year.

I must say that my experience of it wasn't terrible. Don't get me wrong the difference between that and the Tora is huge, but it worked pretty well. Maybe I got lucky with the preloading adjustment????

That fork has done most of the 7Stanes.

BigChazRocks wrote:

If they even have rebound and compression adjustment (and even just damping at the lower end still) the adjustment will proabably be poor. And almost certainly no High/Low speed damping options.

How many low to middle RockShox, Marzocchi, Manitou etc forks have all that? Sure rebound adjustment is a must in an upgrade, but high and low speed compression? Most folks wouldn't know what to do with it, and you have to spend more than a lot of bikes to get that kind of adjustment.

supersonic

Gila is a classic example - an undamped budget fork, comparable with a RS Dart 1 or Zocchi MZ Comp.

RST used to do some forks that cost £1000 and some very light XC forks.

Low speed compression damping is useful to tune out brake dive and bob and is easy to use.

Chaz.Harding

supersonic wrote:

RST used to do some forks that cost £1000 and some very light XC forks

:shock: :shock: :!:

supersonic

supersonic

Also see this:

http://www.rst.com.tw/firstplatinum.asp

Is a real pity we just see the ultra low end crap.

ratty2k

Yer, the RST 29er fork is pretty well regarded on MTBR forums as well, the Manitou fork is quite well thought of, although the early ones click- sommat inside... fixed on the new ones.
The Reba aint bad, early ones a bit flexy, latter ones much improved apparently- aint ridden one tho. I have a USE SUB mono fork on my 29er- fantastic, but expensive and now sadly discontinued.

Nifkin

supersonic wrote:

Is a real pity we just see the ultra low end crap.

Hmmmm... I guess it must be all to do with RST not having a distributor in the UK, or much going on in the US for that matter (from what I can find), so the only time we get to see their stuff is on OEM bikes, with their top end components only seeming to crop up in the markets outside these regions. I did a search to find a retailer selling an M-29 fork in the UK and couldn't find diddly squat. Read somewhere that it is poss to order stuff direct from their website, www.rst.com.tw; would be interested to see whether bargains could be had once shipping and customs duty is taken into account.... :idea: :?:

Niffy :evil:

supersonic

This is interesting:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RST-First-Air-RL- ... 7C294%3A50

I'd give rutland a call, see if they can get other models in.

Chaz.Harding

Hmm... I'm aware of the huge price difference, but I'm still gonna stick to Fox and RS I think.

They need a good UK distributor, and some good write ups for the not-budget shite forks.

clarkson

i knew rst used to make decent XC forks ages ago, didnt know thye still had a high end! i thought they just made budget pogo sticks! well you live and learn! as the old adage says.

stu8975

My mate has a set of the RST First Platinums (rl version) on his new kinesis build, apart from being a bit flexy (30mm stanchions), and he only paid £180 delivered (from asia) from fleabay, they not a bad fork, for the money, no other manufacturer can touch them.

Feldmarshall

Here is review of RST M29 fork, that says it is good fork. It is suposed to be working more less like Rock Shox Reba.

http://reviews.mtbr.com/blog/rst-m-29-f ... air-forks/

Other top XC RST forks use same technology.

nwmlarge

mozo pro's used to be wicked forks but as many have said they have all gone downhill and not in a good way

supersonic

All?

whyamihere

nwmlarge wrote:

mozo pro's used to be wicked forks but as many have said they have all gone downhill and not in a good way

Not so sure about that... I'm sure I remember an interview with Warner and Peat where they said they had been sponsored by RST, and that the Mozos they had to use were the worst forks they'd used...

supertwisted

Apparently their 20mm axel SpaceJump forks are fairly good and compare well to Society Xenos.

Obviously it's not outside their ability to make a good fork, but it seems their market is in supplying cheaper 'decorative' forks to the OEM market.

supersonic

Mozos were one of the first budget long travel single crown forks - a whopping 4.5 inches on some models! The Pro was air damped, the comp no damping.

stumpyjon

I've got two pairs of Mozo Pros, trouble is the elastomers are too stiff and get stiffer with age. Rubbish spring technology.