Getting back into MTB but slight problem....

[CooperS]

So 5 years ago i left Edinburgh, a part of my life which enable me to rock climb, hike and MTB whenever i liked (worked away from home... which helped).

I moved back down south and with getting married, work getting in the way other than road cycling i all but stopped getting out into the hills.....

Anyway after doing the 24hrs Three Peaks challenge for my 33rd birthday (yer what a treat hey... lol) there's a guy happy to get my back into some trial riding.

So out came my 2009 Orange Five this weekend (middle of the road XT / Hope / Fox spec at the time) however due to standing in the shed for those 5 years the rear Fox RP23 shock is squelching which probably means it needs a service(£109).

So the question isn't do i buy a whole new bike... that is slightly overkill but are the shocks worth servicing and is Mojo still the only place to go to..... i'm slightly concerned that its maybe cheaper to buy a whole new shock from someone else or after servicing i'll get out riding and realise my old ass doesnt like to hurtle down hills.... something you guys obviously cant help with

As the shocks dont hit the bumps can i do some mild riding just to get out there and try it out or am i in danger of buggering the rear shock and looking online the latest Fox shocks are not cheap to replace!

My other idea is to rent a bike... Glentress which was my old trial ride had a shop which would hire out Oranges and Giants... is there anywhere on the south coast which does something similar.... i know it wont fix my leaky shock but it would either give me the bug or make me stop and rethink moving ahead with MTB.....

[LasseV]

Service your rear shock, send it to tftuned. After that it is better than when it was new. If you don't like trail riding, sell your bike. Your Orange is a still good bike and easy to sell if it is in good nick.

[CooperS]

Thanks for the advice, i'll check those guys out.

Btw is it worth getting the front fork looked at the same time.... it seemed a little soft but i am 3 stone heavier than i once was!

Edited by CooperS on Sunday 17th September 22:30

[Greendubber]

CooperS said:

Thanks for the advice, i'll check those guys out.

Btw is it worth getting the front fork looked at the same time.... it seemed a little soft but i am 3 stone heavier than i once was!

Edited by CooperS on Sunday 17th September 22:30

I would, as long as it's not too expensive.

Are your brakes hydraulic? I tried to recommission my old Santa Cruz not long ago and the first good squeeze on the brakes sent fluid shooting out of the levers as the seals had perished so just something else to consider. Luckily I was only riding around on my front drive at the time!

[Ian_sUK]

You have checked the air pressures in the shocks/forks haven't you? If you've put on weight you'll have to up the pressure in the shock, that and I'm sure some will have leaked out in 5 years.

[LordHaveMurci]

Just had my Cannondale Scalpel suspension serviced as it's not been ridden for years, luckily I know a man so it was a good job & not too expensive!
He did point out the rear shocks are hard to find now & very expensive, about £350 he thought

Just gotta get out & use it now...

[joshleb]

Maybe think of dropping some oil or something into your gear outers, they must be pretty dry in there now!

Time to catch up withe the new goodies, sure a nice adjustable seatpost on your Five would be perfect!

[CooperS]

Afternoon all,

I've checked over the brakes they seems fine, might change the pads as I think I out organic ones on last and I don't know how well they hold up.

As for pressures... Yer I got my old shock pump out and out the pressure up to match my weight but it still)) felt soft. I'll go higher and see where that take me.

As for the other stuff I think if the rear is going off I'll strip the bike down and re-greese.

And fyi fox rear shocks are shockingly expensive!

[Agent XXX]

If you're on Facebook look up 'Southcoast Suspension'

[Craikeybaby]

Agent XXX said:

If you're on Facebook look up 'Southcoast Suspension'

And the Orange Riders group, there are still loads of people using older Fives.

[missing the VR6]

Agent XXX said:

If you're on Facebook look up 'Southcoast Suspension'

Just taken my Alpine 6 to have it's Fox suspension serviced by them, very impressed with the service, price and the suspension seem great too. I'm going to get him to reduce the travel on my other bike's 36's.

[CooperS]

Ok I'll check them out.

Haven't had a chance to do anything yet.

Would I be completely screwing my suspension I'd I did a light ride this week (xc single track - no jumps)?

Also I remember a time when the old 26" wheel stuff was in mega sale. Looking at it now there is a limited choice and it's blinken expensive!

Thoughts had turned to a one by system but tbh I think is was getting carried away with my self.

[missing the VR6]

CooperS said:

Ok I'll check them out.

Haven't had a chance to do anything yet.

Would I be completely screwing my suspension I'd I did a light ride this week (xc single track - no jumps)?

Also I remember a time when the old 26" wheel stuff was in mega sale. Looking at it now there is a limited choice and it's blinken expensive!

Thoughts had turned to a one by system but tbh I think is was getting carried away with my self.

I rode my 2012 5 for about 4 years before I serviced the Fox RP23 shock, and it was fine after the service, just made lots of noise before! haha.

Mine is converted to 1X10, just used the standard XT mech and shifter ditched the front lot and played with the screws on the mech to get it running right. So all I bought was a front chain ring ( I also bought a new XT mech with clutch but that was due to the current one being broke), had to use a washer or two on the front to gt the alignment alright. It had a year of riding and has been fine.