Confused about suspension forks

BG2000

I'd like some help choosing some new forks, but I'm a bit bewildered with all the models out there.

I tend to do hard/fast trail riding on a Cove Stiffee with DH grade wheels (and my front hub has adaptors to change to 20mm thru-axle). Despite riding a hardtail, I actually like rough conditions, and everyone I ride with has full-sus, so I certainly need good forks.

I'm currently running Marzocchi MX Comp ETAs (105mm travel) which are still in very nice condition, so probably working fine. But I'm hoping to upgrade them to something more expensive simply to make the bike handle better on bumpy ground, and hopefully more comfortable (plush ride).

I know this may seem a vague question, but will I actually notice much difference between my MX Comps and, say, a £600 fork (assuming my MX Comps are running fine) ? My MX Comps were only about £250 so what will an extra £400 get me ?

Almost everyone I've spoken to with Fox forks says they're had service issues, leaking oil, all sorts of problems. And Fox forks seem very popular and get good reviews. My MX Comps have never leaked oil or exhibited any problem whatsoever.

Is it the case that to get really nice plush forks you have to compromise by needing regular servicing ? In other words, my Marzocchis haven't needed any servicing - is that because they're a basic model and therefore not particularly good ?

I like the look of the RockShox Revelation forks. There seem to be loads of different RockShox Revelation models, all different prices. I like the Team U-Turn, although I guess as it's the most expensive (£649) it must be the best ?

I'm not too worried overall, and will enjoy my riding whatever I use. But as I'm getting older, I just seem to get shaken about more on the bike, so want to invest in the nicest possible forks for comfort and stability.

nicklouse

Ahh the MX comps a good Marz fork.

I would look at a RS Rev or Pike with 20mm axel and U turn.
Maybe the coil over the Dual air. but the dual air when set right is fine.

BG2000

I've just thought I should have posted this in the 'buying advice' section - is it possible to get it moved ?

Thanks for any advice so far.

I know very little about suspension forks, so any links info that explains what to look for, what features are best for good handling etc.. would be most appreciated.

Overall, I'd like to know if it's really the case that the more you pay, the better it'll be.

Ideally, I'd 'hire' a decent fork, install it and I'd then find out the difference. I'd like to be convinced before shelling out £600 on some forks, especially when there's nothing wrong with my current ones.

Shaggy_Dog

Basically a more expensive fork should have better damping (so it keeps the wheel in contact with the ground more) be stiffer and/or be lighter.

For example a rockshox dart will have very basic damping, be noticeably twangy and be fairly hefty, a rockshox reba will be stiff, light and superbly controlled. a rockshox tora will be just as stiff, if it has motion control it will be as well damped but it will be as heavy as a dart.

Believe me, you will notice the difference in a well damped and stiff fork

You pays your money you takes your choices.

BG2000

Thanks Shaggydog,

I'd certainly describe my current forks as 'twangy'. If I lower the air pressure, they just dive too much. But they certainly do the job to some extent.

I'm interested in the Rockshox Revelation Team Air U-Turn. I'm sure I'll be happy with them. My frame is designed for anything between 110mm and 150mm so these will be spot on.

I would consider Fox, but

1) The equivalent seems to cost more that RockShox
2) Everyone I know with Fox forks has had problems and spent £100s on maintenance
3) They only come in silver. My bike is black with red bits - RockShox will match nicely

Shaggy_Dog

When I say twangy, I mean that the front wheel doesn't go exactly where you point it, terrain deflects the fork (and therefore the wheel) so it makes it hard to hold your line in rough stuff, it's particularly noticeable when negotiating ruts or off-camber roots. If you get caught in a rut with a stiff fork you will have a better chance of steering out of it, you'll also be able to maintain your line more easily when descending steep, rough, off-camber sections.

I would definitely recommend RockShox below 160mm travel, they seem to be stiffer, especially if you get a maxle version. I would personally opt for the dual air version, which can be dropped to 130mm with the included spacer, the Stiffy was designed with 125-130mm forks in mind and doesn't really work much better downhill with longer forks or climb much better with shorter forks. One of my riding buddies had one with 100-130-160mm Fox 36 TALAS's and he found it worked best everywhere at 130mm. There's nothing wrong with the U-turn version, it's just heavier, more expensive and rather unnecessary. If you go for the Revelation, make sure it's the team as it gets the far superior Blackbox damping with twin rebound circuits and lets you ride a lot harder. If you fancy a bargain, pick up the new Sektor RL with motion control and a coil spring. Basically last years' recon coil and an absolute winner!

supersonic

I think the basic revs might be a better bet than the Sektor, as they seem to get reduced heavily.

Good thing about the Rev RL and RLT is that it may not be blackbox, but it gets the dual flow rebound circuit.

Mickey Eye

How do DT Swiss fit into the fork world?

I'm only asking because I borrowed a bike last week that had a DT Swiss EXC150 on it and I thought it was superb. But I'm discounting my experience based on the fact its the one and only long travel fork I've actually tried and the one and only fork with a 15mm axle that I've tried. How are they regarded around reliability etc?

I was all set (well not quite all set but I had it set in my mind) that next years long travel bike I'm building would have a rev on it, now I'm not so sure.

supersonic

Many fans of this fork. Is light, stiff, adjustable and long service intervals. But the standard Rev is nearly as light, and the new World Cup even lighter!

ride_whenever

i'd stick a dual position air 2011 rev on if you're adventurous (it is pretty untested as it isn't out for another month yet) but from the looks of things it'll have a good TA system and excellent damping.

Mickey Eye

Thanks for the info, I'll see if I can't get to try a few more bikes with a few more forks.

BG2000

Shaggy_Dog wrote:

When I say twangy, I mean that the front wheel doesn't go exactly where you point it, terrain deflects the fork (and therefore the wheel) so it makes it hard to hold your line in rough stuff, it's particularly noticeable when negotiating ruts or off-camber roots. If you get caught in a rut with a stiff fork you will have a better chance of steering out of it, you'll also be able to maintain your line more easily when descending steep, rough, off-camber sections.

I would definitely recommend RockShox below 160mm travel, they seem to be stiffer, especially if you get a maxle version. I would personally opt for the dual air version, which can be dropped to 130mm with the included spacer, the Stiffy was designed with 125-130mm forks in mind and doesn't really work much better downhill with longer forks or climb much better with shorter forks. One of my riding buddies had one with 100-130-160mm Fox 36 TALAS's and he found it worked best everywhere at 130mm. There's nothing wrong with the U-turn version, it's just heavier, more expensive and rather unnecessary. If you go for the Revelation, make sure it's the team as it gets the far superior Blackbox damping with twin rebound circuits and lets you ride a lot harder. If you fancy a bargain, pick up the new Sektor RL with motion control and a coil spring. Basically last years' recon coil and an absolute winner!

Thanks very much for this info. I can definately associate with the 'twangy' you're defining here too ! I've always felt unstable when it's rutted. So it'll be great if a high-end fork helps with this too.

Your suggestion about travel length is very interesting, and I think I agree totally - am I really going to bother changing travel height to match the terrain ? No, when I think about this, I'm not sure I'd want to fettle with the forks. I prefer to have everything set in place so that I'm totally used to the bike, how it feels and know that it'll work every time. So I'll consider a 'fixed travel' 130 or 140mm fork.

One issue is that half the forks I like the look of (and the price) have a tapered steering tube, which is no use to me. I guess this tells me they're designed for downhill bikes, and not a hardtail, in which case they're too big anyhow ?

Anonymous

Not quite. Tapered steerer tubes are the latest "must have" trend. But the majority of bikes already out there don't have tapered head tubes. It's mostly only new bikes that came out within the last two years that have them, but it seems to be becoming prolific this year.

ride_whenever

I'd have a look at the dual position air revs i mentioned above, one twist of the top cap and they drop enough for it to be a decent uphill riding bike.

BG2000

ride_whenever wrote:

I'd have a look at the dual position air revs i mentioned above, one twist of the top cap and they drop enough for it to be a decent uphill riding bike.

That sounds like a nice feature. However, my Marzocchis have 'ETA' which drops from 105mm to 80mm. While it's useful, it's not easy to reach down and move the lever while riding, especially over bumpy terrain. If such a feature allowed a remote lever, then I'd certainly consider it. My guess is that RockShox will only feature levers for remote lockout ?

I take it with U-Turn forks you can't drop down from 150mm to 120mm 'on the fly' ? In other words, what's different about dual position air ?

I guess I've got to decide to wait for 2011 stock, or get 2010 cheaper and miss out on dual position air.

Shaggy_Dog

supersonic wrote:

I think the basic revs might be a better bet than the Sektor, as they seem to get reduced heavily.

Good thing about the Rev RL and RLT is that it may not be blackbox, but it gets the dual flow rebound circuit.

I didn't know that.