Some advice for an upgrade

yiannism

Hello from Cyprus. I am relative new on the sport like 6-7 months but i really love it. I own for the last 4 months the http://www.ghost-bikes.com/bikes-2015/bike-detail/panamao-x-4/

Really good bike for its price 480 euros. I am doing like 60-90 miles per week. I am driving around 75-80% on the road, and 20-25% off road and the bike responds very well, i am not trying to be a champ, i just like to challenge my limits. I like off road more than road, and i have some issues with back discs.

I was thinking to upgrade the front fork, and i found those 2 options that i can afford. For the time being i cant afford to buy 2 bikes, one road and one MTB

http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/suntour-nrx-e-rl-tapered-28-fork-75mm-matt-white-black-497576/wg_id-8729

http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/rock-shox-paragon-gold-tk-28-solo-air-65-tapered-disc-matt-black-461905/wg_id-8729

Do you think that it worth to change it? and if yes which one? If not what do you suggest as an upgrade given my needs?

The Rookie

The Suntour isn't much of an upgrade, pretty much as good (not sure if the RST you have is hydraulic or not?), the paragon though is a significantly better, it has a air spring (more tuneable) and a decent damper, however as both are a tapered steerer it won't fit your bike without a new headset (assuming yours is a 44mm which it looks like).
http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/sunt ... lack-33965
Plain steerer, air and proper damper!

yiannism

The Rookie wrote:

The Suntour isn't much of an upgrade, pretty much as good (not sure if the RST you have is hydraulic or not?), the paragon though is a significantly better, it has a air spring (more tuneable) and a decent damper, however as both are a tapered steerer it won't fit your bike without a new headset (assuming yours is a 44mm which it looks like).
http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/sunt ... lack-33965
Plain steerer, air and proper damper!

Isnt the Santour that i showed an air suspension too? and my RST has a Mechanical Lock-Out, and thats why i am thinking to change it.

And my question, does really worth my investment?

The Rookie

Sorry, yes it is, it's nit in the title so I missed it, but you still have the tapered or plain steerer decision to make.

yiannism

The Rookie wrote:

Sorry, yes it is, it's nit in the title so I missed it, but you still have the tapered or plain steerer decision to make.

Excuse my ignorance but i dont know the deference, can you please explain to me?

The Rookie

The piece of metal that goes up through the frame on top of the forks to the stem is called the steerer, there are two (modern) common sizes, plain 1 1/8" (which isn't quite plain) and tapered, the tapered has a larger diameter at the bottom and requires a different headset to cope, it will also not fit in some frames.

yiannism

The Rookie wrote:

The piece of metal that goes up through the frame on top of the forks to the stem is called the steerer, there are two (modern) common sizes, plain 1 1/8" (which isn't quite plain) and tapered, the tapered has a larger diameter at the bottom and requires a different headset to cope, it will also not fit in some frames.

Can a tapered fit on my bike? is 2015 model. Thanks so much for your help.

The Rookie

I'm afraid its impossible to say, it looks like it uses a Zero stack/Semi integrated/Zs44 headset (3 names, same thing), in which case you can change the lower half of the headset to an external bearing to take a tapered steerer, HOWEVER it s still no guarantee as some headtubes are too narrow (internally) to take the tapered steerer, the only way to find out is to remove the current fork and lower headset and measure it.