new forks on my Pitch...

grumsta
grumsta Posts: 994
edited August 2009 in MTB general
18082009002.jpg

And feck me they are good - so smooth and stiff. Bloody amazing - different league to the Pikes they replaced. Instantly gave me more confidence to push it on the descents and I was launching happily off drops I would have previously rolled. Woo!!

Comments

  • pirwin1
    pirwin1 Posts: 248
    That is one nice looking bike!
    My Ride
  • bomberesque
    bomberesque Posts: 1,701
    what's the fork, 32 Vanilla 140 or 36? ... Talas? Mrs B has the 32 Vanilla 140 RL, nice fork. What pike does it replace, coil or air and how would you categorise the differences?

    I have a pike coil uturn 426 and have been considering alternatives. I'm surprised to hear that your new fork is in "a different league" to the pike but as you have side by side experience, I'm interested to hear your opinion on it.

    nice bike btw
    Everything in moderation ... except beer
    Beer in moderation ... is a waste of beer

    If riding an XC race bike is like touching the trail,
    then riding a rigid singlespeed is like licking it
    ... or being punched by it, depending on the day
  • grumsta
    grumsta Posts: 994
    Cheers folks.

    The forks are Fox Vanilla 36 RC2 09 - got a sweet deal on em for £449 brand new.

    My Pikes were the Coil U-Turn ones that come with the Pitch Pro - a 351. Not sure how they compare to the 426.

    They just feel plusher, the front wheel seems to track better, espeically when cornering hard - it may also partly be that it slackens the head angle more but I just instantly felt more confident descending and went faster than ever before in sections I have ridden many times.
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    ah, that makes sense... slackening off the head angle will make it feel much more surefooted...
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • bomberesque
    bomberesque Posts: 1,701
    ah, I see, the 36 Van is 160mm rather than the 140 of the pike so the head angle will be slacker as you say. Also, the stantions on your Fox are 36mm instead of the pike's 32 so yeah, a different league as you say.

    I'm sure it is, but have you checked that the pitch is up to a 160mm fork? A longer fork puts more load on the headtube so most frame makers put a limit on the fork length. The pitch is a pretty beefy bike so I'm fairly confident that you're OK with it, but maybe worth a trawl of the specialized site to make sure that you're not ovberstepping your warranty or anything
    Everything in moderation ... except beer
    Beer in moderation ... is a waste of beer

    If riding an XC race bike is like touching the trail,
    then riding a rigid singlespeed is like licking it
    ... or being punched by it, depending on the day
  • grumsta
    grumsta Posts: 994
    Thanks yup - it says in the manual that it can take a maximum 160mm fork.
  • RealMan
    RealMan Posts: 2,166
    +1 for the neoguard.
  • landerson61
    landerson61 Posts: 15
    how strange, i have the EXACT same bike, including forks!!!

    though my pedals are different, some nice flushed metal gold pedals to match the handlebar grips....

    to sum up.....AWESOME BIKE. how are you finding it?
    Luke
  • grumsta
    grumsta Posts: 994
    Yeah it's an amazing bike - so capable and really encourages you to push it going downhill. :P

    Pics of your bike? :)
  • P-Jay
    P-Jay Posts: 1,478
    That's a sweet upgrade, I've been rocking 36's on my Endruo for 3 years now and they're gucking freat! So many times I've ballsed up a jump or drop and landed really nose heavy thinking "oops, this is gonna hurt" and they've saved me everytime, they also eat up the rough stuff like no Pike could.
    Shocker Enduro
  • Steve_b77
    Steve_b77 Posts: 1,680
    Did that to mine earlier in the year, with teh addition of a Fox DHX 5.0 Air as well.

    Then I broke it up and sold it, he hee. Loved while I had it but I was over-biked ot be fair :D
  • grumsta
    grumsta Posts: 994
    Yeah I'm probably overbiked too but never mind. Will be perfect for the Alps/Megavalanche though!
  • yoohoo999
    yoohoo999 Posts: 940
    i've got 36's on the front of my Pitch too (thanks Steve :wink:) . they blow the pikes out of the water.

    fox 36's are my favourite ever MTB product
  • jackman96
    jackman96 Posts: 29
    nice forks. nice bike. nice garden chair.
    The dogs bollocks!

    BH Over-X 5.7 09
    Barraccuda slum 07
  • grumsta
    grumsta Posts: 994
    Can't take credit for the garden chairs I'm afraid - that's my mate's pub's beer garden. :)

    Went for another ride yesterday, the forks are incredible - I gave myself a bit of a scare by going silly fast down the steep side of Garburn Pass and having a bit of a wobble! Feels kind of like a dh bike now (but I still managed to ride almost all the climb).
  • schmako
    schmako Posts: 1,982
    Good choice in forks, i've been using 32's and 36's for some time and they are super plush.
    Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt 750
    Orange Patriot 66 FR
    Clubroost XC-4 (retired)
    Pinkbike
    My Biking Videos
  • Broonster
    Broonster Posts: 440
    What tyres are you running on your bike Grumsta?
    Winter: Moda Nocturne
    Road: Cervelo R3
    'Cross: Ridley X-Night
    Commuter: Genesis Day One
  • grumsta
    grumsta Posts: 994
    The front one is a Bontrager Big Earl 2.5 wet - back is a 2.5 dual-ply Silkworm High Roller.

    They are the tires I used for the alps, will probably swap the back for something lighter but not got round to it yet.

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