Forks rant / recommendations
Discussion
Took my mountain bike to rude some trails in wales.
Forks made a clunk going over a tree root. I have taken them apart and found this:
Not particularly impressed as these forks have had an easy life with probably less than 30 days riding on them. Anyway I though I'd just source a spare tube. I've been told I can only buy the complete cartridge and it's £170!!!
I have tried to email the manufacturer in Italy but it looks like a non starter. Not impressed.
I'm not going to waste time chasing people. NEW FORKS REQUIRED.
So for trail riding with reasonable travel 120mm + what make should I go for? They will be fitted to a full sus Kona. Are there any British manufacturers I can use? With a decent spares backup?!
Cheers
TB
Forks made a clunk going over a tree root. I have taken them apart and found this:
Not particularly impressed as these forks have had an easy life with probably less than 30 days riding on them. Anyway I though I'd just source a spare tube. I've been told I can only buy the complete cartridge and it's £170!!!
I have tried to email the manufacturer in Italy but it looks like a non starter. Not impressed.
I'm not going to waste time chasing people. NEW FORKS REQUIRED.
So for trail riding with reasonable travel 120mm + what make should I go for? They will be fitted to a full sus Kona. Are there any British manufacturers I can use? With a decent spares backup?!
Cheers
TB
did you say "forks?"
Ive been there and done that
Pragmatically you need Fox or Rockshox primarily as they are easy to home service
The UK trail conditions really arent what the designers had in mind when forks were invented and Ive earned the hard way what neglect does
Both of the above are easy to work on in the kitchen with a beer
After buying a few bits eg appropriate oil and grease you can give them a quick lube in no time and a more thorough seal and wiper tart once a year or so
Rockshox get my nod purely as their schedules are more sensible - IIRC Fox suggest you strip them something stupid like once a fortnight
Cheers
OP: those are Marazochi forks , which model?
Are the forks still suitable for the type of riding you do? I know the likes of Afan and FOD and they can be tough on bikes, I wouldn't be happy taking a cross country <4inch travel air fork down some trails! It looks like you might be better suited to a tougher coil/oil based fork.
I also assume you have a Kona Coiler with 5inch travel as opposed to a Stinky or more downhill orientated frame in which case you need to think about the geometry too if you are increasing the front fork travel.
Are the forks still suitable for the type of riding you do? I know the likes of Afan and FOD and they can be tough on bikes, I wouldn't be happy taking a cross country <4inch travel air fork down some trails! It looks like you might be better suited to a tougher coil/oil based fork.
I also assume you have a Kona Coiler with 5inch travel as opposed to a Stinky or more downhill orientated frame in which case you need to think about the geometry too if you are increasing the front fork travel.
I'm running a kona dawg at the mo. I'll stick the forks on and see how it rides. An extra 20mm of travel can't have too drastic an effect on the ride can it?
I know some of the trails are more DH orientated at FOD but I only really ride the easier trails I.e blue/red routes.
The forks failed going over a tree root!!
ETA model is xc600 tst2. A quick google suggests that the tst2 cartridge is made of toffee and many people report failures.
I know some of the trails are more DH orientated at FOD but I only really ride the easier trails I.e blue/red routes.
The forks failed going over a tree root!!
ETA model is xc600 tst2. A quick google suggests that the tst2 cartridge is made of toffee and many people report failures.
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