Specialized Pitch help needed

Shallwee
Shallwee Posts: 4
edited January 2011 in MTB workshop & tech
Sorry i'm a complete novice when it comes to bikes, but story goes like this. Bought my son a second hand pitch for xmas, been out a couple of times with it and it was making a clunking noise from front forks, which are rockshox 327..

Called a local bike shop and they want to charge me £200 to remove forks and send them off to be serviced, but they also told me there is a chance they cant be repaired and they still have to charge me £200 because a service will still be done.

Now what i want to no is can i pick up a set of cheap forks to put on the bike as my son is only 12 so he's not using the bike as it should be, if so which forks will fit, or is there a easy fix for the forks i have.. thanks

Comments

  • MountainMonster
    MountainMonster Posts: 7,423
    The 327's are the recons right?

    You can get almost any fork you want for it as long as the forks have a steerer size of 1 1/8 inches, which is the standard size. As far as the forks, no idea what the problem is but you can buy new recons from 200pound so would be better to buy new ones than get those repaired.

    As far as new forks, just make sure to get forks that do not exceed the travel allotment for the bike. If they have 130 right now, 140mm would be the highest I would go.
    My London Road
  • Shallwee
    Shallwee Posts: 4
    They are pike forks, thanks for advise on buying a some, i'll have a look in the classified section.
  • mattv
    mattv Posts: 992
    Many bike shops are able to service forks. Where I work we service forks for 30 quid, which includes a basic stripdown and clean, with fresh oil. We do advise customers if a fork is likely to not benefit from a service due to excess wear. If we do a service on a fork it takes the time and consumables even if it is no better after. Most of that quote you have will be postage, as they cant do it in house. Try another shop!
  • twiggllett
    twiggllett Posts: 15
    You dont say if there is anything else except the noise, the thread below sounds similar though. You wont have a warranty but it should be fairly cheap to fix (less than £200 anyway)

    http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12661220&highlight=pike

    If you still want to try servicing, find another LBS, or try one of these (prices off their websites)

    Evans £75
    TFTuned £89
  • P-Jay
    P-Jay Posts: 1,478
    Try another shop, a mate and I stripped and fixed another mates coil Pikes using no more than some basic tools, a web how-to and a few cans of lager, they are really stupidly (if very nicely made) inside.

    £200 is way too much, even if you sent them to TF Tuned (best place in the UK for non-fox forks IMHO) the bill would be half that.*


    *95% of fork woes are usually fixed with a good service, if anything is actually broken there will be a charge for parts as well.
    Shocker Enduro
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    First of all, are you sure it's the forks themselves? Loose headset would cause a knock as well.

    Second, removing the forks from the bike is about as hard as adjusting the height of the saddle, so if you've got fingers do it yourself ;) You should also be able to give them a wobble once they're out of the bike to see if there's any obvious play.

    Third, if the forks are damaged internally it wouldn't usually take a full service to establish that. It's pretty common for a suspension tuner not to charge if they have to write the forks off.

    Fourth, this shop is taking the piss, seems they just don't want the business since they're doing their best to put you off. Find one that's less terrible.
    Uncompromising extremist
  • Shallwee
    Shallwee Posts: 4
    Thanks for some great advise, i'm going to attempt to remove them and send them off to be looked at, have also noticed that when i put all my weight on them they press down to 120 from the 140 marker.. So i'm hoping a service is all thats needed..
  • jairaj
    jairaj Posts: 3,009
    Give TF Tuned a call. They are very knowledgeable and helpful over the phone. They can give you a few things to try out to diagnose what's wrong.

    Also chances are that your LBS is sending forks to them anyway so cut out the middle man and send them to TF Tuned your self. Have a look on Park Tools website on in the FAQ here to find out how to remove forks if you're not sure. It is very easy.
  • jairaj
    jairaj Posts: 3,009
    Unless the forks have been set up to be very soft, they will not fully compress by just standing and pushing down on them. The forces you generate while riding and hitting big bumps are much more.
  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    i had the seals changed, stripped etc as well as a firmer spring put in my pikes by TF tuned and it was £140, 48 hour turnaround aswell and they even called me checking how i ride etc so they could set the forks up as they were working on them..

    great service from them

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