Fork buying, replacement for XCR 80mm

thelawnet

So right now I have a Suntour XCR 80mm on my 29"x2.1" (but I may fit larger tyres) xc hardtail bike, I'm looking at an upgrade, question is what kind of fork I should be looking at? Current head angle is 71 degrees.

My choices are possibly a 2018my Suntour Epixon, 2018 Rockshox Reba RL, or possibly Recon RL.

Is there much difference between the Reba and the Recon aside from around 300g? The Epixon is 1700g, how does it compare?

How about travel? 80mm doesn't seem very much, should I be looking at 100mm or even a 27.5" 120mm? How would a 27.5" 120mm fit with the tyres? How about a 15mm hub/fork over the current 9mm?

thelawnet

apparently the Epixon has these specs:

1810 grams, 100mm or 120mm travel, air spring, speed lockout, rebound adjustment, 32mm stanchions, aluminium crown + stanchion, magnesium lower. no compression adjustment.

and the rockshox

reba rl 100mm-150mm ~1575g air spring, speed lockout, rebound adjustment, lowspeed compression adjustment, 32mm alu stanchions, alu crown, mg lower

recon rl 100mm, 32mm steel stanchions, alu crown, mg lower, speed lockout, rebound adjustment, lowspeed compression adjustment, ~1960g

mattyfez

I'd be vary careful about putting forks designed 27.5 wheels on a 29 inch wheel. You would be very limited to what tyres you can use.

So I'd stick with a 29er fork. A 100mm fork or 120mm fork would probably be best, I wouldn't go more than 120mm.

supersonic

What bike do you have? Do you know if it is a straight or tapered steerer? I imagine straight - this could limit fork choice, though it does depend on the frame.