Taper forks, what's available?

ftwizard

So, I've finally ordered my 2011 Orange Five frame. As you know, this now comes with a tapered headtube, so I need to select a suitable 140mm fork. My preference at the moment is for Rockshox Rev Teams.
It seems both Rockshox and Fox have their 2011 range out, so what's the opinion on the latest specs and based on them, which would you choose?

Anonymous

Both good manufacturers, mostly down to personal preference and price, unless one particular fork has everything you need.

cat_with_no_tail

Of course, you don't need to go for a tapered steerered fork, you could just fit a step-down headset, then pick any regular 1 1/8" fork you like.

ftwizard

If they've gone to the trouble of adding the tapered tube, I think it's only fair that I do my part

Seriously, does anyone have an opinion on the new specs of the 2011 forks.
Fox have a new coating and Rockshox have a new U turn set up. Does either make any difference?

Northwind

ftwizard wrote:

Fox have a new coating and Rockshox have a new U turn set up. Does either make any difference?

Personally I'd wait a year before trying the kashima coated Foxes, it's not the first time they've launched a new coating/finishing for their forks which will definately improve reliability, and if it turns out to be rubbish it won't be the first time for that either. Hopefully it'll be great but they've got previous for this, and the comments they've made about testing "We've tested it on DH forks so it'll be fine for trail bikes" doesn't fill me with confidence either...

Anonymous

Actually, Kashima has been used for quite a while on motorcycles and very high end car suspension, so it's pretty well tested tech.
Why do you think it could work on DH forks, but not on trail ones?

Shaggy_Dog

From my experience of riding the 2010 Orange Five, they climb fine without any travel adjustment so I'd go for Dual Air Revelations with Maxle lite or FLOAT RL with 15QR. I don't really rate the FIT damper so I wouldn't waste you're money on the RLC. Revelations are torsionally stiffer too, and have better damping when you push the fork hard. If you fancy building a bruiser then the Five will take a 160mm fork, in which case I'd go for a Fox 36 FLOAT RC2, it's much better than the Lyrik IMO. If it was me it would be the Revelations hands down.

Northwind

yeehaamcgee wrote:

Why do you think it could work on DH forks, but not on trail ones?

Duration obviously. It can survive a 5 minute downhill race run in the mud then get cleaned, but that tells you nothing about how it'll last in other applications. Trail and XC bikes get used for longer periods and generally with less servicing. I'm interested to see how it works out but like I say, Fox have been here before.

I'm also skeptical on kashima in motorbikes because in aftermarket tuning it's been a popular brand of snake oil for years- loads of suspension tuners offer it as a performance upgrade but on shock bodies and fork outers- ie, nonfriction parts! It's been used well on some production bikes but even the companies that use it, don't use it universally. Showa use it on race components but not on any of their general use components as far as I know. Yamaha use it on a limited range of their performance offroaders but not on their enduros (again AFAIK, could be wrong). Nobody uses it for road parts that I've ever seen.

Pudseyp

If you can push the boat out a set of Talas...to be honest I would try and pich put a 2010 set as these came with the new FIT cartridge and should save you a few quid over the new 2011 range when released

Anonymous

Northwind, that's quite interesting, man. I never knew it's longevity had been questioned.
I guess we'll have to wait and see the long term reports from early adopters then.

Gazlar

I have Tapered Talas 140's rlc's on my Focus Thunder and they are buttery smooth

seriously worth the money, and esp this time of year if you can drop on a 2010 or even an 09 set for the right price you won't be disappointed

Northwind

yeehaamcgee wrote:

Northwind, that's quite interesting, man. I never knew it's longevity had been questioned.
I guess we'll have to wait and see the long term reports from early adopters then.

Well, it's mainly being questioned by people who don't trust Fox It'll hopefully be fine but a little paranoia goes a long way and there's a few bum notes about this stuff. (and if Fox are confident that it'll last, why aren't they increasing their ridiculous warranty-evading servicing regime?)

We'll see I guess.

Anonymous

warranty evading service? You mean the warranty that gets extended by a year if they get serviced by Mojo?

peter413

I'm pretty sure that Fox team riders have had the Kashima coating on their trail/XC forks since the DH guys have had them.

So thats the XC racers have had them and the DH guys on their DH biikes and training bikes.

I could be wrong about this but I thought I would say it anyway

Northwind

No, I mean the "service wiper seals every 15 hours" thing.

http://www.foxracingshox.com/fox_tech_c ... index.html

peter413

RS is every 20 hours though isn't it

BTW, I don't bother with it, just wipe the seals when they are mucky

Anonymous

Northwind wrote:

No, I mean the "service wiper seals every 15 hours" thing.

http://www.foxracingshox.com/fox_tech_c ... index.html

Oh, didn't see that! :shock:

Northwind

peter413 wrote:

BTW, I don't bother with it, just wipe the seals when they are mucky

Which is exactly why it's just a warranty evasion clause They don't need it, but if you don't do it they can (and have) say "It's not been serviced right".

50 hours for Rockshox. But you've got to bear in mind that Rockshox have never had an epidemic of forks with the coatings wearing off

peter413

Nither has Fox with their main coatings.

It was just that nitro whatsit they did on the 40's a few years back that got them a bad name for that in the bike world

Northwind

Nah, that's not true at all, it's been a problem with the whole range. Some 32s...



Course other brands can wear as well but I don't think there's any serious doubt that Fox have been bad for it. Your old ones are from before it was an issue, and your new ones hopefully after.

Anyway, we're kind of drastically offtopic now Personally I'd happily buy any of the current Foxes, they're great, but the kashima ones aren't proven with mass testing yet, which is a good idea with any new product regardless of who's making it. Very rarely a good idea to be an early innovator.

But then, I'd be hanging fire on a tapered fork too since there's so little objective info on them out there, no a/b testing that I've seen, just lots of manufacturer excitement and MBR journalism. Right now you still get the most choice from standard steerers, not to mention that they're easier to resell and to move to other bikes.

Anonymous

I'd be more worried about the stanchion being outside of the slider - something's gone awesomely wrong there

hbrashaw

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=53144

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=53075

a few fox's, can't find any rockshox though

Dick Scruttock

Merlin have RS tapers in.

ftwizard

Can the 150mm travel of the non U turn Teams, be reduced to 140mm, or will 10mm make no real difference?
Has anyone used TF Tuned, is it worth the extra cost?

hbrashaw

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/marzocchi ... -lite.html
expensive though