Fork travel? 80 vs 100

bailsofhay
bailsofhay Posts: 191
edited March 2013 in MTB workshop & tech
I am sure this question has been asked before "several times" but I recently started a build with a 1999-2000 Ridgeback MX50 21" frame. completely stripped it and polished the ally till it gleamed. Now comes the decisions. I can't find specs for this bike/ frame anywhere. Tried the ridgeback website, no archives and they don't seem to want to respond to my emails. Does anyone fancy venturing a guess if it will take a 100mm travel fork. The original forks it came with were some pretty crappy rst 281 r which were 80mm if my friend google is right.
If anyone has some experience with this bike of fancies making a (educated)guess I would very much appreciate it. I only worry that as its a bit of a weird length headtube that the geometry may be unable to take 100mm forks.
here is some pics: Cheers!
StrippedRidgebackMX50.jpg

and the gigantic heatube:
MX50GargantuanHeadtube.jpg

Comments

  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    it should be fine - will raise the front a little, and slacken the head angle a bit, but should be ok.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • bailsofhay
    bailsofhay Posts: 191
    Thanks supersonic, I'm planning on putting some xc32 100mm forks on so I think if it didn't work there may be a way to reduce the travel down to 80mm though that would be a LBS job as I am pretty clueless when it comes to servicing forks.
  • 97th choice
    97th choice Posts: 2,222
    100mm isn't a lot of travel nowadays, and I can't immediately think of an 80mm fork that isn't old, shite or both so I would go for 100mm and not worry.
    Too-ra-loo-ra, too-ra-loo-rye, aye

    Giant Trance
    Radon ZR 27.5 Race
    Btwin Alur700
    Merida CX500
  • bailsofhay
    bailsofhay Posts: 191
    I have a pair of 80mm xc32s on my giant commuter. They are perfect as I live in the fen and it's ever so slightly flat around here. They just mellow the bumps on the green lanes and didn't brake the bank doing so, even got a handlebar poploc for when I'm on the road all for £110.

Categories