Suntour XCT vs RockShox Reba RL

povilasand

Today I have rented a bike close to my local trail to find out if I will like this sport.
It was really great experience and I think I am ready to buy a bike I was looking into.
However, now I am wondering how better a higher end bike feels like?

I have rented a Cannodale Trail 6 which I assume has very entry level components. Especially the fork: Suntour XCT.
I am planning to buy Radon ZR Team 8.0 which has RS Reba RL. So my question is how much BETTER I will feel riding a bike with the components of Radon compared to given Cannodale?

While I was going declines this bike handlebars were jumping a lot and it was very uncomfortable to pedal faster thus I had to slow down. Does better fork makes it more pleasant and comfortable?
How about other components?

Thanks!

kyle17290

The fork will make a massive difference in the way the bike rides afterall its job is to absorb the impacts of the terrain. How effectively will depend on which fork you choose, the reba is miles ahead compared to the xct.

cooldad

The XCT is a travesty of a fork, the Reba a very good one.

buddy_club

Great spec on the Raidon.

rockmonkeysc

The Suntour XCT is an awful piece of ultra heavy crap. The Rockshox Reba is really very good.
The Rockshox fork is far more adjustable, much more controlled, much lighter and much more reliable. Even a complete beginner would notice a HUGE difference. It's not the sort of thing you would have to be a pro rider to notice.

The Rookie

The XCT is heavy, many have no damping at all (a few do), they suffer a lot of stiction as well meaning they need a good jolt before they do anything at all, the Reba is roughly equivalent to the Suntour Epicon, which is 4 models better than the XCT (XCT -> XCM -> XCR -> Raidon -> Epicon), you have proper damping for both bump and rebound and it is independently adjustable, you can adjust spring rate (as it's an air spring) rather than just preload, its not only lighter (by about 0.5-0.75Kg) but more importantly the unsprung mass is reduced giving the suspension less to control so it can keep the tyre in contact with the ground better. You'd have to be riding on a velodrome to not notice an improvement!

Caveman_Chris

I have a reba on my +£2k bike and it doesn't feel out of place. When you progress in your riding it can be fitted with 'bottomless tokens' which will bring out its true potential.

m00nbadger

^ caveman can you expand on the use of bottomless tokens - have read bits about it but not quite sure how it works and what the advantage is - got a 100mm Reba onmy bike and would like to know if its likely worthwhile looking into in the future if theres a performance gain

Antm81

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19661010#p19661010]m00nbadger[/url] wrote:

^ caveman can you expand on the use of bottomless tokens - have read bits about it but not quite sure how it works and what the advantage is - got a 100mm Reba onmy bike and would like to know if its likely worthwhile looking into in the future if theres a performance gain

They essentially allow you to run lower pressure to improve small bump compliance whilst reducing brake dive and bottoming out by reducing air volume. They only work on the solo air forks and unless you have a 2015 fork you'll need a new top cap too. Biggest problem is availability, I spoke to TF Tuned yesterday and the UK distributor doesn't have any plus currently no date on when they will.

The Rookie

They work by reducing the volume of the air spring, so that as the forks compress the air pressure rises faster, so you get the same sag for a lower initial pressure. I understand they can be used on the older Dual air forks as well.

You could get the same effect by putting anything in the air spring side that took out a load of volume, or by fitting a longer air spring shaft.

Antm81

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19661305#p19661305]The Rookie[/url] wrote:

Or by fitting a longer air spring shaft.

Not sure how well that would work with the new solo air system, as a minimum it would increase the travel.

The Rookie

Not with the right rebound stops it wouldn't....

Caveman_Chris

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19661211#p19661211]Antm81[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19661010#p19661010]m00nbadger[/url] wrote:

^ caveman can you expand on the use of bottomless tokens - have read bits about it but not quite sure how it works and what the advantage is - got a 100mm Reba onmy bike and would like to know if its likely worthwhile looking into in the future if theres a performance gain

They essentially allow you to run lower pressure to improve small bump compliance whilst reducing brake dive and bottoming out by reducing air volume. They only work on the solo air forks and unless you have a 2015 fork you'll need a new top cap too. Biggest problem is availability, I spoke to TF Tuned yesterday and the UK distributor doesn't have any plus currently no date on when they will.

I got mine from ebay (topcap included) via the U.S. Delivery was almost as much as the parts. I have a '14 reba and it came with a threaded topcap, so it's worth checking.

m00nbadger

ive got the same ('14 reba w/threaded topcap) so will definitely be looking into doing this - thanks guys

larkim

How can you tell the difference between a 14 Reba and a 15 Reba? Fork came with a 2015 (January) Canyon Nerve.

Antm81

Let the pressure out and using a 24mm socket unscrew the top cap on the ring side, if it's a 2015 fork it will either have bottomless tokens already installed or the bottom of the top cap will be threaded to accept them (seoerate thread to the one to screw the cap to the crown)

The Rookie

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19673022#p19673022]Antm81[/url] wrote:

bottomless teens already installed

Is that human trafficking?

Antm81

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19673026#p19673026]The Rookie[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19673022#p19673022]Antm81[/url] wrote:

bottomless teens already installed

Is that human trafficking?

Just the joys of fat thumbs and apples predictive text

larkim

Ta!

slc123

I've actually just made this exact same upgrade. Definitely a big improvement. Bike feels lighter and front end handles better. The forks themselves absorb impact extremely well - A bit like riding a different bike..

I'd heard mixed reviews about the remote lockout, but it seems to be pretty good. Makes climbing on the flat far more stable...

I would highly recommended anyone running one of the low end Suntour's to upgrade!