Increased fork length 10-20mm Scott Spark 40

Cjmc

Folks

I have a heavily component upgraded Scott Spark 40 and I'd appreciate any input into my plans to change my Rock Shox Reba RL fork 120mm twin lock out to a Fox 32 float RL 130mm or a DT Swiss XMM 140mm. I use the bike for XC 40% / Trail 40% / AM 20%!

I was considering buying a Scott Genius LT 30 but I love the lightness of the spark. I don't seem to have the confidence with the short travel on some of the trickier and steeper sections of trails / mountains and was thinking an easy solution might be to increase slight the travel.

I'm aware of the issues this might cause to the set up and dynamics of the bike but I have an adjustable bottom bracket that can partially compensate this and I plan to get a shorter stem (60-80mm from current 110m) as well as a wider riser bar (680mm to 710mm and 15 degrees to 30 degrees)!

Does any know if this will work ok. I don't plan to change rear shock. Geometry for the bike is as below for my size large

http://www.scott-sports.com/us/en/products/221693/

Many thanks in advance
Chris

supersonic

It will work, but might invalidate your warranty. I'd contact Scott.

Cjmc

Yeah you're right. Scott says invalidates warranty. I'll have a think about it. 130mm fox float might make very little difference anyway

cooldad

Rather have the RS anyway.

YeehaaMcgee

Cjmc wrote:

I don't seem to have the confidence with the short travel on some of the trickier and steeper sections of trails / mountains and was thinking an easy solution might be to increase slight the travel.

I'd wager it's not the short travel that's causing a lack of confidence, but the overall geometry of the bike. Longer travel bikes (well, bikes intended for more freeridey kind of riding, anyway) don't just have longer legs, they are arranged differently as well.

The Rookie

True, but freeridey type bikes tend to be longer/lower/slacker, fitting a longer travel fork ticks 2 of those boxes.

YeehaaMcgee

Not really. Sure, it slackens the head angle, but also raises the BB, changes the weight distribution, and lengthens the front centre, without increasing rear "chainstay" length.
It's not really the same thing.

The Rookie

Not quite, but then some FR bikes keep a shorter rear length to make the bike easier to pop anyway, I do accept the BB height will increase though.