Voodoo Hoodoo - max travel?

charliebinder1
charliebinder1 Posts: 4
edited November 2012 in MTB buying advice
Hi Guys,

Having bought a Hoodoo about a year ago while getting back into mountain biking - am looking to make it into a bit more of a hardcore hardtail after riding the hell out of it (current fork is 120mm) While I may well end up swapping the frame for a steel variant with a slacker head angle in the not too distant future, for the time being I want to upgrade the fork to something a bit more sophisticated. Would also say I don't mind slackening the voodoo's head angle a bit. I ride South and North Downs and like to get airborne on occasion - the frame has handled everything so far!

There are a few deals on sektors and revelations floating around atm and so was thinking of going for something like that but I just want to check it isn't going to damage the frame or the fork? I have searched on a few forums and have heard about someone using a manitou nixon (145mm travel) on their hoodoo with no problems but this is only one opinion.

Not that keen on taking forks apart myself and fitting spacers etc so would probably end up with a 150mm up front for the moment as anything in between this and 120mm seems to have gone out of fashion...

Anyway - would appreciate any advice! Cheers.

Comments

  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    I wouldn't, fair chance it will break, and you will die.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    150mm will be too much, it doesn't just slacken head angle, it raises the BB, tips the seatpost back and puts more load on the frame.

    Learn to service forks and space some down for now, not hard! Get something like some Revs and space to 130mm to gain a bit.
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • Ok - not keen on dying so I reckon learning to how to fit spacers seems like the best bet right now. Have seen some 2013 Sektor RL's for 270 but also some Revelation RL's for 320. Worth the extra 50 quid or will the performance differences be minimal? Don't know if anyone has ridden either yet? Cheers.
  • Revs every time.

    By the way it is not the travel you need to reduce per se, it is the a2c, similar or within an inch ish of your current a2c.
  • LJ.
    LJ. Posts: 149
    I think 140mm would be good at least, the Bokor has that and it's the same frame
  • anj132
    anj132 Posts: 299
    LJ. wrote:
    I think 140mm would be good at least, the Bokor has that and it's the same frame

    IIRC the Bokor is double butted whilst the Hoodoo/Bantu isn't. Correct me if I'm wrong!
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    How about a 140mm u-turn fork? You will loose some climbing ability with a longer fork, the front end will go very light. I run a Rockshox Pike dual air on my On-One 456SS which is 110mm - 140mm u-turn but to be honest I rarely move it from 120mm. A longer fork will make your head angle slacker which makes it more stable but it will raise the bottom bracket which makes it less stable so it's not all good.
    A double butted frame will be lighter, not necessarily stronger.
  • Cheers gents - much appreciated. Yeah, think the frame could handle 140 but am probably going to get some rev rl's and run them at 130mm for the time being. Will keep you posted.