Calling all MTBers - advice on front forks needed

A snowHead

I know that there are lots of MTBers on Snowheads, so I wanted to pick your collective brains

My Specialized Rockhopper is getting a little long in the tooth (10+ years) and I found a crack in the frame a while back. Via the local bike shop I have been able to lay my hands on a brand new, unbranded (but so I’m told, good quality) frame. For a few quid they are going to swap over the components from my old bike, replacing bearings, etc. The forks I have on my Rockhopper are Manitou Magnums and like the bike, over 10 years old. I was think about updating the forks at the same time, but which ones?

To be honest with you I don’t want to spend a fortune on new forks as the amount of biking I do just doesn't warrant it. Also having an ‘all singing and dancing’ set of forks is just over the top – most of my biking is on the road and very mild off road. Saying that, having something that locks out would be useful because of the road work. Also I still have v-brakes.

I’ve been having a poke around on the net to see what’s what. As well as Manitou, the only other name I know is Rock Shox. I see that I can pick up something like a Rock Shox Dart 3 or Recon for between £100-130 (new) or something a bit better second hand. I appreciate that for this money, these are pretty much entry level but I’m guessing that for what I need they will be more than enough

Has anyone any recommendations as to good brands/models. Even happy to consider good quality second hand if anyone has anything

No real rush as here in Austria it’s too dammed cold to MTB and whilst there’s snow on the ground, there’s other things, like throwing myself down ski slopes, that’ll keep me occupied wink

Cheers folks!!

A snowHead

gl finding forks with v-brake mounts. Dart probably has them. Recons... might be an old 2007 model, but they'd still be a good buy if the price is OK. Rockshok Tora also (think they're a bit like Recon but with coil rather than air shock - not sure). I'd go for the Recons if they're in that price range and have the right brake mounts.

I have no idea how those Manitou compare.

May need a few more new bits, so watch the price doesn't spiral out of control (eg seatpin/seatclamp, front derailleur, if seat tube diameter is different). When I started pricing up a frame change on mine, with a swap to disc brakes, the price got so stupid that it was cheaper to buy a new bike.

Which "no name" frame? I'm guessing a (possibly rebranded) Droessiger, Quantec, etc.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Avoid the Dart at all costs, it's awful - the Recon is much, much better.

As well as Manitou and RockShox, the 2 big players in the fork game are Marzocchi and Fox. Fox probably out of your budget, but you might find some Marzochhi 44's or MX's - avoid the Marzocchi MZ if it's still around.

As above, good luck finding forks with v-brake mounts these days - maybe you could upgrade to a disc brake on your front wheel? With a cable disc, you could still use your existing lever, but a full hydraulic brake would be better. You would probably need a new front hub/wheel too.

Again, as above, RockShox Tora's are fairly competent for the money.

If I'm being really honest though, I'd say get a new bike. New frame, forks and getting the bike shop to swap the components over is going to cost you £300+. If you hunt around the sales or go second-hand, you'd get a new (and probably much better) bike for that. Try www.paulscycles.co.uk for starters - they always have good days on last-season's bikes (had a quick glance and there's quite a few possibilities in the £300-£400 price range).

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if buying second hand forks..

FOX
Rock Shox (the upper models)

don't touch marzocchi.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Not reccomended for everyone but second hand purchase is sometimes a good deal.... I would only buy from ebay if I could view first or sometimes bike shops have ex-demo or customer used on display.

Picked up a bike for the other half - £300 off for being a bit dusty and last years model... probably lent on demo but no scratches and tyres still had the little rubber threads as new

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Thanks for your thoughts chaps

I know what you mean about the price spiralling out of control, especially if I tell you that I am effectively getting the frame grattis. As to which frame it is, I'm not sure. However, the bike shop told me that it would retail for over 500 euros. What I believe has happened is that they have been offered a job lot of old(er) stock and they are breaking them down selling the components seperately. As the frames are quite small, I'm only 5ft 7" tall, they said that they'd probably have trouble shifting them, plus it's winter and everyone in Austria is more concerned about skiing

Why am I getting a free frame? Well, I asked them to replace the headset bearings and a crack appeared in the frame after they has pressed the new one in. They tried to get a free replacement from Specialised, but as the bike was so old, all that they could offer me was a 2010 frame at half price. To be honest with you the crack has probably been there for a while (as the bike shop suggested) and it was only the case that the paint flaked off to expose it. But they said that they would keep their eyes open for a good deal for me

The bike shop is a local one and has a very good reputation in the town, plus my mates have lots of dealings with them - the last Specialised bike my mate bought last year made my eyes water when he told me the price - think it was something like 3000 euros. So, it's very much a keep the customer happy deal

I've had a look on fleabay and there are a few forks that still can accomodate v-brakes, but as you said they are few and far between. This for example - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2011-Marzocchi-22-RLO-MTB-Suspension-Forks-100mm-/360316201641?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item53e484eaa9

If I have to update this that and the other for the sake of some newer forks, I'll just throw in my old forks. A free frame, but 300 euros to update all of the components all of a sudden doesn't look like a great deal Shocked

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

After all it is free

Hardtail? or Fully? I would not be complaining at all if a shop gave me a €500 hardtail frame for free, since that's at the pricey end of the range, at least for off the shelf (think mine was £420, and now goes for £480, frame only). Actually, I wouldn't complain if a shop replaced my 10+ yr old Scott frame with a €500 fully frame either, even though that's pretty much at the budget end (but not rubbish bike-shaped object territory).

I'm assuming the old rockhopper and new frame are both designed for ca. 100mm travel forks, and the Recons are the same (iirc), and also sounds about right for the type of terrain you mentioned.

Oh and you could buy a new bike for less than a new pair of Fox forks!

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

I think the Rock Shox SIDs still had V-brake mounts until a year or so ago - I'm sure someone will correct me. Another vote for the Recons: I had them on a Spesh FSR and they are a 'proper' fork for not a lot of money. The spring is buttery smooth for such a good value fork and the damping ain't terrible, either. As with all cheaper forks, there is a weight penalty but I guess you won't be racing so that won't be much of an issue.

andy, even Rock Shox are now in premier league pricing: was eyeing up a pair of world cup Revs - £1k+. That's the same as a Fox 40 DH fork. Ouch.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

Fox. Period

snow reports

Maersk, I agree that Fox forks have more adaptable compression damping and they're generally plusher without tuning but in the past few years, Rock Shox have really upped their game. Their trail forks (old Pike, new Revs) have the edge over the Fox trail forks IMHO snowHead

and then there is the ridiculous servicing interval on fox shocks to maintain the warranty...

You know it makes sense.

stoatsbrother, spammer! You don't ride! wink

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Sharkymark, I glide smoothly by... Anyway I thought it was your bike that was bust. Wink

Actually off the bike for the last week and next few because so much skiing to be done Toofy Grin

Mostly on the singlespeed at this time of the year and I had thought about putting the rigid forks back on the front as it is so muddy.

Sleipnir, there must be an Austrian/German MTB forum like STW over here where you could post a "wanted" ad?

A snowHead

stoatsbrother, walking down a set of steps ain't riding wink

Yes, the bike has past it's 25th day of a '2 day' repair and I've barely seen it let alone ridden it in 2011. Looking at the weather forecast, I think I'll be taking it to Arabba Shocked

Was drier today actually, although pedalling a Spesh Enduro through tame singletrack was over doing it Toofy Grin

A snowHead

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Sleipnir,

Don't get the Dart 3s. They will be weeping oil in no time. I have some on my Kona and whilst they work well they don't last very long before needing new seals. A better bet are Rock Shox Toras. They have 32mm stanchions rather than 28mm like the dart 3s.

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see if you can find a set of Rock Shox Reba SL forks. Had them on my old Gary Fisher Big Sur (some barsteward nicked it) and they were fantastic forks.

Help!!

Calling all MTBers - advice on front forks needed

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