Oh for Forks sake! - 120mm Question

Johnnyvee

Been trying to decide what forks to get - as per previous thread and seem to be tying myself up in a right pickle.

The ones that i like the look of are :

Marzocchi - Marathon R at http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/f ... -grey.html

Marzocchi - 44 RLO at
http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/f ... black.html

Rockshox Sector turnkey coil - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/rockshox-sektor ... -140mm-qr/

purely because they have 120mm travle though what i'm repalcing them with only has 105mm - i figure that the extra will be useful and not mess up the geometry too much - especially if i fit a new rear shock which will raise the bottom bracket height slightly.

There are plenty of 100mm forks out there and i didn't manage to take the forums advice the other week when i asked this so the deal shave moved on.

What are peoples opinions on this and does anyone know of any killer deals? These are to go on 2000 Marin Wolf Ridge and i'm looking to spend maximum £250/300 though obviously being from Yorkshire i'd prefer £9.99 but i don't fancy having any Zokes on the front... :O)

Cheers to all/any for advice.

386ka

I can't comment on the Mazzrochi, have no experience in them, but I think there was a review on bikeradar. 2 of the suggested are 140mm of travel. I wouldn't consider them.
Consider a RockShox Reba if you can. The difference would be like night and day to whatever you had there before. But, would you upgrade such an old bike? IE, are the other parts in good condition?

If you are replacing the rear shock, take a note on the Eye-to-eye and stroke lenght - they should be the same for the old and the new shock!

Johnnyvee

Thanks 386ka, the rest of the bike is sound - or at least will be once I've serviced the brakes. The chainset, chain and cassette are fairly new and the wheels i had built for me to be pretty strong and touch wood, they still runnig true. Frame also in good condition - worn but no cracks. Funds dictate that I cannot afford a new bike so have to mend and make do (we have two children).

One of the 140mm forks can be made into 120mm by changing an internal spacer I think.

I suppose anything modern will be a vast improvement on an 11 year old fork.... :O) ha ha ha

Not sure if at this price point Marzocchi are as good as they once were.

supersonic

The Marathon R is an excellent fork - one of the best budget forks about.

386ka

Okay, so there is sense upgrading stuff!
Anyway, here is the review. http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/categ ... r-12-46063
If you can afford the Reba (http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FORSRERL-SI ... qr___1_1_8), the difference between the two would be noticeable. I think they can be converted internally to 120mm by removing a spacer, but email them to be sure.

And, I would not recommend the other two forks - you will be carrying unnecessary weight for the price, although the Marzocchi Marathon R is no lighter, but far cheaper!

Consider if you need to upgrade other stuff as well, lighter wheels ect, and do the maths!

Johnnyvee

Thanks Supersonic and 386ka. The thing with the Reba is that I am over the 100 kg weight limit - but only by a few kilos.

As a result of that I'm not bothered that much about saving weight on the bike and would rather have stuff that will last without me wondering if it may break or fail..

Also if I take one of the girls on the bike seat that's another very cute 12 kg.

It may well come down to the Marzzochi...