The kraken upgrade thread

jfry94

Hi guys after a year out I've rekindled my love for biking. Over the coming months I plan to completely upgrade my 2007 carrera kraken. http://www.bikeradar.com/gallery/article/carrera-kraken-review-11732/5 to a med-high spec.

I weight about 80-85kg so not exactly light.
My local trail is queen Elizabeth country park in Hampshire. I believe it's a red route.

First upgrade will be the forks. My budget is £250-£275
Winstanley's currently have three different models of rockshox sid forks.
The xx http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/44693/RockShox_SID_XX_Dual_Air_XLoc_Forks_2012
The Rct3 http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/44689/RockShox_SID_RCT3_Dual_Air_Forks_2012
The rlt http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/44687/RockShox_SID_RLT_Dual_Air_PushLoc_Forks_2012

I'm not going to lie I really like the idea of having the xx forks on my bike. A bit of bling and all that.

Which forks will be best for me?

supersonic

The RCT3.

jfry94

Why is that supersonic?

supersonic

The XX is heavier and has an inferior, much less adjustable damper.

jfry94

rct3 it is then i thought xx would be the best and the lightest.

can i get a poploc remote for the rct3?

supersonic

No, is not compatible. And if it was, would just make the fork worse, like the XX.

paulneenan76

Is your Kraken completely standard?

The forks supersonic suggested seem the safest bet and a total bargain. They will be a giant step up in performance over your consumable coil forks.

If you are running the standard Hydro's then get some M596 Deore brakes, or the SLX if you can find them well priced. I did this and it was the greatest performance gain I could ever have made.

Wheelset will be needed if you go for those forks as your current front wheel is set for 9mm qr.

New oversize and shorter stem with oversize and wider bars made the geometry so much better for me - stopped going OTB every time a steep bit came along.

Paul

The Rookie

Check out the link in my sig to my bike for some ideas on what you can do to Carrera hardtails, also the link to the Carrera hardtails thread (which you could post in.....) Greers is about as modified as mine. My bike has cost a grand total of £650 as it stands at the moment, although the bits on it as it stands only cost £460.

jfry94

As for the axel type on the fork the item description said 9mm qr but i will email them to make sure. but i will be updrading the wheels anyway and for the brakes i plan on some xt's or x0.

As for the carrera thread i will post my bike in that when i get some time between work and college. I've seen both of your bike's( beginnner's and greer's they look amazing ) as i was around on here alot about a year ago, looking at upgrade but the money side of things just didnt work out then.

The Rookie

Brake wise, XT.....All Shimano brakes feel like XTR, all Avid's like Juicy 3's! (Just my opinion)....