Which sus forks?

[chrisga]

I need to upgrade my forks. Currently run some old Judy's on my specialized stumpjumper full sus. I need 90-120mm travel. I am a pretty heavy handed rider that takes big hits occasionally (speed not height) but still only really ride cross country, I try to jump as little as possible but hammer any downs as fast as I can so they need to be pretty tough. I am a rockshox fan so am trying to decide between some rebas, recons or revelations. Currently trying to find some on a budget on ebay. Does anyone have any ideas which might be most suitable and anyone that has had any of the forks have you got any thoughts on them - are they reliable etc etc?

Should I consider any othr brands - I havent figured out how the fox series names works, i,e, i'm not sure which fork I am looking for.

[vwsurfbum]

personally i love my different Marzocchi's.
i use MX Comp Air's on the full Susser and Dirt Jam's on the hard tail. Dirt jams are unbreakable and the Comp airs are super light and once set up are butifully smooth only downside is mine dont have a lock out (Not that i would ever use it)

[R1 GTR]

I have a pair of Rockshox Recon 351s on my Hardrock. Fairly new but from what I've experienced so far, I'm impressed. 351s have 85-130mm travel adjust (U-turn) so would be ideal in that respect. They also have rebound adjust and compression adjust with lockout. I also have the pop-loc kit which is handy if you're going fast and want to keep your hands on the bars! They are the cheapest of the 3 RS forks you mention so maybe you have more money to play with than I did, in that case, I'm not sure but I would rate the brand highly.

Edit: http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?pro...

Edited by R1 GTR on Thursday 16th October 21:08

[Jimbo.]

Unless you can find some pre-2008 forks, don't bother with 'zocchis: since moving production to Taiwan, reliability has gone to st.

RS Rebas, or for a little less Recons if it were my money Fox are like-for-like expensive, yet don't seem to tolerate UK conditions/less-than inttensive maintenance...

Edited by Jimbo. on Thursday 16th October 21:47

[chrisga]

Thanks guys, I was thinking of some of these. They seem to be quite a good deal.

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=product&prod...

[thehappyotter]

Fox's are now mostly 140mm length unless you go for the adjustable TALAS or some of the lighter weight F Series.

That said, if you ever need a tough trail fork which is that long, I have nothing but praise for my Vanilla's.

[neil_bolton]

thehappyotter said:

Fox's are now mostly 140mm length unless you go for the adjustable TALAS or some of the lighter weight F Series.

That said, if you ever need a tough trail fork which is that long, I have nothing but praise for my Vanilla's.

I loved my Vannilla's too - excellent forks.

Now for sale too

[neil_bolton]

I'll add too: Before you jump, choose what format you want your forks to be:

Air or Coil.

Air is great, infintely adjustable, but not as happy on the big hits, and not as good at coping with jumping etc. Is lighter though...

Coil is utterly reliable, and able to handle multiple hits without ramping up so quickly, and can handle unlimited 'big hits. Also much more supple on the trail. Heavier as a result tho.

Based on what you were after, I'd personally go for Coil.

[levron73]

Revalations - swapped my old Rock Shox on my Cannondale Chase for these and are amazing....little bit more money but worth every penny!

[tom g]

+1 for fox vanillas (coil)

the plushest you will find

[ratbane]

Recently bought some REBAS to replace my Mazzs. They are superb, plush, tough and pretty light.

[PomBstard]

Not sure what your budget is, but a set of Fox Floats that are a year or so old would have 130mm travel, and as far as I've found to date have been fit and forget for rocky XC work. No idea how they get on in UK though - its all dry and dusty over here.

[Matt H]

neil_bolton said:

I'll add too: Before you jump, choose what format you want your forks to be:

Air or Coil.

Air is great, infintely adjustable, but not as happy on the big hits, and not as good at coping with jumping etc. Is lighter though...

Coil is utterly reliable, and able to handle multiple hits without ramping up so quickly, and can handle unlimited 'big hits. Also much more supple on the trail. Heavier as a result tho.

Based on what you were after, I'd personally go for Coil.

I assume air is ok for llandegla / coed brennin (beast)?

[chrisga]

Yes Matt an air fork will easily cope with anything llandegla or coed-y-brenin can throw at it.

[vz-r_dave]

We shouldnt generalise on the air front tho guys, Air will take any hit, coil will make easier on your wrists when forget to pop up that mountain drains tho lol

[mrmarkyb]

chrisga said:

Thanks guys, I was thinking of some of these. They seem to be quite a good deal.

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=product&prod...

Great fork... Would highly reccomend them...

Or any Rockshox Revelation/Recon/Reba/Pike as they all run the same damping system, and all can (in general) have their travel adjusted...

That Merlin Cycles deal on the Revelation though is about as good a deal as you'll find...

[Matt H]

Just when I think I am 90% sure what I am going to buy.........

I start thinking about spending £400 on a second hand hard tail to complement my mount vision & update one/other at a later date....................

[rhinochopig]

The best value vs performance short travel forks, have been, and are REBAS - a view supported by Tim at TFT. For the money they are simply superb. I've had a set fitted to my seldom cleaned winter bike for 2 years now and they've never needed servicing and they just don't seem to leak air at all. Compared to my BILs fox forks they are far plusher and about half the price.