what forks?

rupertthered
rupertthered Posts: 25
edited July 2009 in MTB buying advice
Hey guys (& Gals),
looking for a new pair of forks for my saracen trace 1: my old xcr's are retty awful and im slowly breaking them - barely any life left in them.
current forks are 100mm don't want to stray far from this (especially no lower) as i don't want to upset the geometary. Ido every thing from XC to AM, my favourite trail being the llandegla black run. Im looking at some 2008 revelations, 09 toras or maybe some recons ( although can't seem to find any for a good price)
ADVICE PLS!!!!!!!
ps. pls no comments telling me that you 'cannot' do all mountain on 100mm forks, that i have read on other forums....... cus i do: on cheepo xc forks thanks! :)
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Comments

  • xtreem
    xtreem Posts: 2,965
    ( although can't seem to find any for a good price)
    What price will be a good price?
  • ER..... good reduction i gues.
    30%?
    i don't want to spent any more than 300£, at absoloute max
  • lawman
    lawman Posts: 6,868
    what bike do you have???
  • Saracen trace 1 (HT)
  • to be honest i only really want to spend around 300 if its something like 40% saveing or something
  • lawman
    lawman Posts: 6,868
    for that bike id say a set of toras would suit it best

    little point shelling out loads on a fork worth half the price of the bike

    have a look at merlin and chainreaction to see who is ceapest
  • ( unless) its 40.....
    ( sorry )
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    This bike?

    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/sar ... e-ec001195

    Rebas would make a big difference - but splitting the money would make a bigger one.

    If you are planning many more upgrades, would be better to sell up and buy a new bike.
  • lawman
    lawman Posts: 6,868
    +1 for spreading the cost. you'd notice an even bigger difference. or just sell up and get somethin new
  • Bkes the 09 model.... i've been advised not to get XC forks, because alot of the money goes to weight loss insted of performance, and because their not as durable as other forks. :?
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    But it is an XC bike. Recons and Tora trail if you want more strength.
  • tora trail..... hmmmmm...... either of these?
    Rock Shox Tora SL Solo Air Forks - Turnkey 2009
    or

    Rock Shox Tora 318 U-Turn Forks 2009
    dont know which ones are trail and which are XC
  • Sorry, i know its an xc bike, but i do everything on it, and i don't have the cash to upgrade to a better bike, so i thought i'd just go for the forks :(
  • RS 08 revelations?
  • xtreem
    xtreem Posts: 2,965
    Rock Shox Revelation 426 Dual Air 2008
    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=13120
    They are all travel so you can lower it to what ever travel suits the frame, with a spacer.
    But that means you'll have to open the fork.

    Or:
    Rock Shox Recon 351 Coil U-Turn - Poploc 2009
    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=29874
    U-turn fork, so easy travel adjust.

    If your frame is in one piece I see no reason to put a fork on it that cost the same as the
    bike. And how many people know how much your bike had cost you before the new
    fork? 10 out of 100? And from I can see on the spec, you have decent brakes, good
    crankset, seat, the rest is nothing that important, but you probably have a bad wheels
    and shifters and derailleurs. Later:
    £200 (wheels) + £100 (shifters, derraileurs, cassete) = £300
    And you'll end up with a cracking bike.
    The rest like stem, handlebar, seatpost, pedals are a cheap upgrade.
  • thanks..... im not sure aout performing surgery on the revelations seems a bit risky, since i've only been properly into biking for a year or so.... but the recons look good. Also, i've heard alot about the reliability of manitou - horror stories almost! lol,.
    how much difference would spending 200 on wheels make? Also, why new shifters, derraileurs, cassete etc? current ones work OK, or is it all about weight? by da way, which toras would you recomend?

    Rock Shox Tora SL Solo Air Forks - Turnkey 2009
    or

    Rock Shox Tora 318 U-Turn Forks 2009

    318s are £200 quid more, while the sl are £180. not much difference, on chain reaction cycles. ps, am VERY low wieght.

    1 last thing, would getting longer travel forks mess up the geometary that much really, especially considering that i can lower the stem about an inch anyway.
    thax very much :)
  • lesz42
    lesz42 Posts: 690
    weight wise, xcr are about 5.5 pounds, my tora race are 4.5 or so, the tora's (09) are much stiffer and feel stronger then the xcr's no worries there i think?


    depending what pedals you have, the wellgo MG1 are very light and for £35 a bargin

    and again, a fair bit of weight can be saved from the crank ( my Alivio crank and BB weigh 2.6 pounds?)

    the SLX cranks or deore weigh a lot less!?


    after that, its hard work to lose much more ( as in ££££ for not a lot of return)

    please correct me, anyone!
    Giant Trance X0 (08) Reverb, Hope Hoops 5.1D, XT brakes, RQ BC, Works Components headset 1.5
  • xtreem
    xtreem Posts: 2,965
    how much difference would spending 200 on wheels make? Also, why new shifters, derraileurs, cassete etc? current ones work OK, or is it all about weight? by da way, which toras would you recomend?
    Well, new £200 wheels can make probably a big difference, will weight a lot less,
    will be stronger and roll better.

    About shifters, derailleurs, cassette, you have the basic from Shimano, so SLX or XT
    shifters/ derailleurs will give you better and more precise feel. And a 9 speed silver
    cassette will probably weight less and look better. 8)

    About Tora fork for £200 you can go for the Race one instead for the SL, it's lighter and
    you have the Motion control sticker on it.
    http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/rockshox ... c=shopwiki
    The Tora Race at JeJames looks like this:
    http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/images/prod_19061.jpg

    And if you go for the 318 you can run the fork in 85-120mm range, without messing up
    the geometry. Lowered at 85mm will make a big difference on the very steep uphills,
    and on the downhills you can raise to 120mm. But overall, take the 318 if you think you
    need a bit more travel, or if you think the U-turn will be a usefull tool.

    So upgrade fork, then wheels, then shifters, derailleurs. That would be me.
    You do what ever you think is best for you. :)
  • thanks so much.............. :idea:
    But, i've just found these manitou drakes (reliability issues? ;lots of people think manitou's do)
    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=36030

    Lastly, would buying longer forks, for example 120 or 130 travel effect the gemetory much - i can lower the stem about an inch anyway. also, i've heard tht you can just set the sag lower..... :?
  • or these
    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=28387
    (sorry about all the htp's, don't konw how to make hyperlink!) :oops:
  • xtreem
    xtreem Posts: 2,965
    I have no words about those forks, infact first time ever see those.

    About the geometry using 130mm fork, eventhough you can lower the stem by 1" and
    probably have the same sitting positoin, the feel and the steering can be different.
    The angle of the fork will be slacker which the frame might won't like it.

    Most frames designed for 100mm forks can take 120mm forks, because there is
    difference in the axle to crown lenght between different manufacturers, so sometimes
    a 100mm fork is only shorter by a few mm to a 120mm fork from different manufacturer.
    But going to 130mm fixed travel if the frame is not warrantied for, then that's not safe doing it.
  • Thanks laods..... but ANOTHER QUESTION! (sorry!lol) Any opinion on 'magura odur 100mm forks?

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=24978

    also, how versatile are RS rebas? could i do trails and AM on them?
    EG

    http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/marzocchi ... -2009.html
  • Sam1989
    Sam1989 Posts: 14
    This is worth a look. It is a XC fork though.

    http://www.bikeoutlet.co.uk/products/Ro ... 784-0.html
  • Hmmmm....... ta sam1989, but how are the race superior to the SL's?
  • scoob113
    scoob113 Posts: 80
    Hey guys (& Gals),
    looking for a new pair of forks for my saracen trace 1: my old xcr's are retty awful and im slowly breaking them - barely any life left in them.
    current forks are 100mm don't want to stray far from this (especially no lower) as i don't want to upset the geometary. Ido every thing from XC to AM, my favourite trail being the llandegla black run. Im looking at some 2008 revelations, 09 toras or maybe some recons ( although can't seem to find any for a good price)
    ADVICE PLS!!!!!!!
    ps. pls no comments telling me that you 'cannot' do all mountain on 100mm forks, that i have read on other forums....... cus i do: on cheepo xc forks thanks! :)

    I got a set of 2008 versions of these for my Kona Cindercone for the same reasons you mention above, old forks were virtually solid and wanted to be able to handle Glen Tress in Winter round the Black.
    http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/marzocchi ... -2009.html
    They were a revelation.
  • Actually, i was looking at those ( reba sl's ) myself, but i was not sure if they would be sutible for more agressive trail and all mountain. Would they? Also what is rhe difference between the reba SL'S and the reba RACE mentioned by Sam1989?

    Also, any one any views on manitou drakes, magura odurs, or these: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=28387

    Thx =)
  • By da way Xtreem, which of the upgrades you mentioned should be conidered priority :mrgreen:

    (sorry about the green face, couldn't resist!)
  • xtreem
    xtreem Posts: 2,965
    The Race has External Floodgate and the SL has Internal Floodgate.
    And that's it I think, plust the sticker Race on the arch.

    Maybe priority will be the fork, then wheels, and then upgrade what ever you don't like.

    So about the fork, this one will be my choice:
    Rock Shox Recon 351 Coil U-Turn 85-130mm Diffusion Black MC & Poplock
    It's U-turn so if you dont like it high you can always use it to 100mm.
    It's not as light as the Reba but it's light, and it can probably take more abuse than the
    Reba. And also it opens a possibility if you quite like it higher, next year to change the
    frame to some that supports 130-140mm forks.

    Btw, the double arch desigh on the Odur I always like it, it's probably a good fork but it
    doesn't have compression adjustement.
  • scoob113
    scoob113 Posts: 80
    Actually, i was looking at those ( reba sl's ) myself, but i was not sure if they would be sutible for more agressive trail and all mountain. Would they? Also what is rhe difference between the reba SL'S and the reba RACE mentioned by Sam1989?

    Also, any one any views on manitou drakes, magura odurs, or these: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=28387

    Thx =)

    Hi, they've been fine for me and they are also lighter than my old ones which was another good thing. I won't be hitting anything big with them though. Small drop offs only for me.
  • What is compression adjustment ( what does it actually do?)
    Also what is the difference between external and internal floodgate?

    Lastly, dos anyone know where i could find a pair of RS 08 revelations U - TURN
    Thx =)