RST f1rst Vs Rockshox Reba/Recon

jairaj
jairaj Posts: 3,009
edited August 2010 in MTB buying advice
Hi guys looking to get a cheapish 100mm fork for a XC hardtail. Budget is around £250.

If buying brand new, so far I've found Rock Shox Reba with motion control for around £300 mark and Recon with motion control for around the £280 mark. I've also found the RST f1rst fork too. This is closer to around £200. The RST is much lighter than the two and offers more adjustability than the Rockshox.

Form what I understand RST premium forks are used on a few european bikes and get good reviews. Would this fork be a match for the RS forks listed here? Or should I spend a little bit more for the RS forks?

Which would you go for?

thanks all, Jai

Comments

  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    RS all the way
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • Pudseyp
    Pudseyp Posts: 3,514
    Rockshox over RST..check Merlin Cycles and On One as they usually have good deals
    Tomac Synper 140 Giant XTC Alliance 1
    If the world was flat, I wouldn't be riding !
  • Phill34
    Phill34 Posts: 20
    rs reba
  • The Northern Monkey
    The Northern Monkey Posts: 19,136
    RE: RST Forks..

    http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12621882
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • jairaj
    jairaj Posts: 3,009
    The guys that have said RS. Can you give some reasons as to why? Are you just saying because its tried and tested? or have you had experience with RST mid price forks?

    I've had a look on Merlin and On-one. For a air spring fork with good damping ie the motion control im looking to pay about £300 and they are out of stock. If going for in stock items I'd be looking to pay £350+ The RST forks have the similar features, air spring, rebound and compression damping, remote lockout etc for around £200.
  • FunBus
    FunBus Posts: 394
    I had a set of RST F1rst forks to test and didnt really think that much of them. They perform ok and are reasonably light, but i wouldnt hand over more than about £100 for them. RS are a more mainstream fork, so yes, more tried and tested, but that's not necessarily a bad thing!

    The RST's are now on my girlfriends bike - nuff said!
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    The F1rst is a good fork for the money.The Reba is a good fork for the money. But there is a difference in price, which is reflected in the perfromance. The Reba will out perform it, but if you can't afford that, the RST is a good buy.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

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  • xtreem
    xtreem Posts: 2,965
    Want a light air fork with compression and rebound adjust for £200?
    Then you've missed this one: Recon Gold RL 2011 - £189 for 1805g fork.

    EDIT// oops they were coil, so 1964g.
    NS Bikes Eccentric Alu custom - 2016
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Saying that, the standard First is also heavier than the Reba at 1700g
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • jairaj
    jairaj Posts: 3,009
    I've only ever had relatively decent forks so I think I'm probably used to the good performance they offer and be expecting something on par with them. Think I might have to save up till I can afford some Rebas or have a look around for some 2nd hand ones.

    Thanks all for the input, much appreciated.

    (ps sorry if the above sounds a bit snobbish but I'm not really. My main bike is a Saracen, Im just used to a certain level of performance)
  • jairaj
    jairaj Posts: 3,009
    supersonic wrote:
    Saying that, the standard First is also heavier than the Reba at 1700g

    The one I was looking at was the platinum with remote lock. RST website says it weights 1.5kg which is what caught my attention to this fork.

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