RockShox vs Suntour

Greer_

Help! Trying to decide between two cheap pairs of forks. Any thoughts of which is better, Suntour XCM V3 or RockShox Dart 3? Or any forks around the same price range you'd recommend? Thanks

waby1234

I've ridden the RockShox Dart 3 and found that it didn't cope very well - it didn't soak up the bumps well. Can't compare to the Suntour XC forks though.

nicklouse

what price?

and neither really.

cavegiant

The cheapest good fork is the Rock Shox Tora 203, and it is worth spending the extra.

Don't get either of those, and extra £40 makes the difference here.

thelonegroover

I think the Rockshox is a bit lighter 2223g v 2650g although the Suntour may be cheaper.

Greer_

£99 for the RockShox and £79 for the Suntour

supersonic

You should be able to pick up a Tora SL or Recon TK for that. The dart 3 is a lot better than the xcm though.

cavegiant

The dart may be better but it is still not up to anything but cruising along fireroads. Tora or Recon are in a different league.

nozzac

You can pick up a new Epicon RLD on ebay for £140. LINK

it's air and weighs less than 1800g. Seems like good value given the mostly positive reviews.

stardude

get yourself one of these if your looking around £100:
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FORSRETK/rockshox-recon-silver-tk-coil-100mm-fork-with-lockout

end of

stardude

actually that epicon is a good buy too

unixnerd

Suntour XCM V3 or RockShox Dart 3?

I looked into this a year ago and got a Suntour XCR new for 40 quid on ebay. The Dart didn't seem to get very good reviews. I've found the XCR to be just the job for me. Only downside is that in really bad conditions the seals let gunk in, but it's a very easy fork to strip and service.

Darryl_1983

Might also want to factor in the cost of a heavier spring if you're over the optimum weight for the standard set up (about 65-70 kg i think).

I paid £50 for a x-firm spring from TF Tune for my recon (one linked above) fork .

Wish i'd had waited a little longer as the recon gold air was on sale a couple week later.

supersonic

cavegiant wrote:

The dart may be better but it is still not up to anything but cruising along fireroads. Tora or Recon are in a different league.

Depends on your weight - the Dart 3 uses the same internals as the basic Tora and Recon, and is better made than the Dart 2. So for a light rider, will work well. Though I'd still rather have the Tora SL ;-)

cavegiant

suppose for a light rider, I would still be concerned if you were riding them hard and they did their infamous twist and bind. I also like my fork to still point forwards when hitting a route.

They are still only 30mm like mine, but my fork is so much better designed and stiffer.

Greer_

Okay ive been looking at the RockShox Tora SL and like the look of it just trying to find the best place to get it -

' http://www.amazon.co.uk/RockShox-Tora-1 ... B003LQCFIU '
for £135

' http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/rockshox ... 66946.html '
for £95 however it has no poplocks. Not sure what it means ... do i need them?

I cant see it any cheaper anywhere else

supersonic

Poplock is not that good really - just a bar mounted lockout lever.

£95 is a steal.

Greer_

Okay great! Looks like thats the forks sorted! Im in the process of finding parts to do up my carrera vulcan

cooldad

As long as you read this bit:
"•Please note, this is a remote lockout specific fork. In order to lock them out, a remote poploc is required. We have set the price very low to enable the customer to purchase a poploc separately."
So budget another £20 or so.

Greer_

Oh lol should i just go for the £135 one then?

cavegiant

I do not like lockouts, one of those gimics that never gets used.

£95 and sod the lock out.

bennett_346

agreed with the lockout, really no need to ever use it and you'll find you never do.

Eranu

Agree I have poploc on my HT never use it.

jimexbox

I use my lockout.

andy46

i use lockout sometimes on the rear but never on the forks

Greer_

if i didnt get the poplock could i still make the fork stiffer? As i tend to do a bit of road cycling on it to work and to trails

Rushmore

jusy enjoy the comfier ride..

I never use the lock out.. it only makes a difference if your hammering it up a hill standing.. just sit on the roads...