modern forks on a retro bike

[skibum]

I'm in the process of rebuilding a Kona Hot, a 1994 model that I picked up off ebay a month or so ago. So far I have bought all the parts I need apart from the forks, and I'm stuck on what to get.

So far I have opted for XTR M950 for the drive train, Magura HS33 rim brakes (frame is not compatible for discs and not looking to alter it), thomson seatpost and stem and some XTR/Mavic wheels that are roughly period correct.

But, what to put up front? Geometry wise I don't think anymore than 80mm is feasible without seriously altering the ride. It needs to have bosses for the Magura's and ultimately be fairly lightweight/top end to fit with the rest of the bike. Ideally I'm looking at second hand to keep costs down.

Last pair of forks I bought were Marzocchi XCR's in 1995, so I'm a little out of date on what is good.

What would the PH collective suggest?

[snotrag]

If your buying new, Not Marzocchi, they've gone completely to st in the past 2 years.

I'd see if you can find a 2nd hand Fox F80 with Canti studs, I'm sure they used to do them.


If not -

http://www.sram.com/en/rockshox/crosscountry/recon...

is all I can think of. Magura possibly do something to suit, and I'm sure DT swiss will aswell. DT will be mega bucks though.

[MATRS]

Get yourself some Pace RC35/36 Forks of eBay, and sign up to www.retrobike.co.uk

[skibum]

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

I'm already on retrobike.co.uk - but thought I would sound out opinions here as was looking for something a bit more modern and putting non year/period correct stuff on a bike can be seen as almost heretic on rb sometimes (Though most of the people on there are great and appreciate everyones taste/decisions!)

I had a look at the Pace forks but read a few reviews which didnt rate the internals that well. Also, I'm now in the US so they are rare as hens teeth and when you add shipping from the UK, the price goes up a bit too much. I'm there to be persauded though - does the performance match the looks?

[Beyond Rational]

Older Fox Vanilla and Float forks can be set to 80mm and often have brake bosses

[LRdriver II]

You'll find that despite it only being 80mm, the axle to bottom race distance is too long for an old bike like that.

You will still end with too high a front end, resulting in crap sluggish handling.
Suggest you plow around retro bike and ebay to sourse a period correct fork (likely 60mm travel at most)

You could trick it by running alot of sag to drop the height, but then you could blow the seals by bottoming out.

I went thru this with my old klein, a Pulse II, and couldnt find anything so refitted the Judy TT forks on it again. (Really want a set of Judy Mag21's though..)

[skibum]

As far as I am aware, Kona have used the same geometry on their frames from 94 onwards, so it is already suspension adjusted and could take 80mm travel without much issue. 100mm+ would cause problems though.

[skibum]

Just managed to pick up a set of 2000 RockShox SID XC's for $55 on ebay - bargain me thinks! Even if they need a service, at that price they should do the job. Thanks for the suggestions everyone.