What fork

J

Jerseysingletracker

New Member
So I'm thinking about getting a frame that requires a 140mm-160mm fork. anyone have recommendations that have worked great for them? Optimally I'd like to have one with a lever to toggle between 140 and 160 but I'm not sure if it even exists without going outside that 20mm range.
 
Don't think that you can go wrong with the Fox 36 TALAS, although its $$$, but I think they're pretty much the best right now. Switches between 120-160mm. I'm more of a coil man myself. Even though air has gotten really good, coil still rides the best, so I would go with the 36 Vanilla (which I eventually will).

What kind of frame are you getting?
 
well as of right now I'm lookin at the Santa Cruz LT. The Vanilla has a bit too much travel. I'm really lookin to stay between 140 and 160 but i have already considered the 36 TALAS that you mentioned. I do like that 1. it is expensive though
 
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You could try to find a Vanilla 32 left over somewhere, I've got someone doing that for me. I guess they didn't sell enough of them at that travel. Not everyone enjoys the pureness and subtleties of coil. People are too obsessed with weight. Take a dump before you ride, fastest way to lose a couple of pounds. Plus riding a heavier bike makes you stronger.
 
I have ridden both Air and Coil shocks. The reason I like Coil shocks is due to the fact that they are user serviceable and rather straight forward. On the other hand, the air shocks are more responsive and easy to adjust based on rider-weight and air pressure.

From my experience with Halters Cycles and their relationship with SRAM (Rock Shox) group, their customer Service is outstanding. I have a 100mm travel Reba SL on my trail bike and when I had to service the fork, Halters was there with SRAM to help me get it all done. Mind you, I did not buy my bike there and neither do they sell that brand at their Shop. I like the performance of the Fox better. Longer lasting than Rock Shox, and deliver accurate and satisfying performance. I now ride a 150mm Future shock, which is basically built by guys from Fox Racing and with its 110/150mm adjustment, climbing and descending is not a problem.


That said, here are a few to consider.

Rock Shox Lyrik U-Turn 160mm >>> http://www.bikewagon.com/Rock-Shox-...nsion/Suspension-Forks/26-Forks-p8796264.html

RockShox Domain 318IS Coil U-Turn 115-160mm >>>> http://greenfishsports.com/product/...kshox-domain-318is-coil-u-turn-115-160mm.html

Marzocchi 55-RV TA-D (NON ADJUSTABLE) >>>> http://www.adrenalinebikes.com/storeg.cfm?do=DetailProduct&productid=115872
 
26"?

I have a Marzzochi for sale. 140mm 8" cut on the steer tube. I think I posted it for $150.00. Its in the "bits and pieces" area.
 
Thanks for the input keep it coming. 2 of the forks you mentioned i have in my favorites already. hahaha yes 26" is what I'm going for. I'm not opposed to spring or air. I feel they both ride well. as for the vanilla 32, I just read up about it and it seems to be a decent for. One feature i would like is the quick adjustable travel. I guess i have to worry about the through axles now. all i have wheel wise are the "regular" QR skewer type.
 
Monkey Soup said:
Take a dump before you ride, fastest way to lose a couple of pounds. Plus riding a heavier bike makes you stronger.
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Hey Monkey Poop -

If you want to be faster you should dump in the woods during your ride therefore reducing your weight...although you may then get weaker as you/your bike are lighter.

This is like one of those time-travel paradoxes:hmmm:

To be serious though coil spring is the way to go even over the Fox TALAS line. Have TALAS 32 and still prefer feel of old Marzocchi bomber. Air is air.
 
vanilla 32, set and forget

Have an 09 Van. 32, coil spring, R model. That thing is bullet proof. Set it once when I got it and didn't touch it again for a year. Not much to go wrong with coil forks and they feel great.
 
I have a rock shock revelation and I am very happy with the performance, it was a great price too and air shocks are not more responsive
 
stb222 said:
I would recommend a talas 32, air forks are lighter and more responsive.
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Everyone is trying to make air feel like coil, thats the holy-grail that everyone is after, so how is air more responsive? Air is lighter, thats it. Unfortunately, in the 140mm market, looks like you may have no choice but to go with air unless you buy used.
 
BigDogDaddy said:
Hey Monkey Poop -

If you want to be faster you should dump in the woods during your ride therefore reducing your weight...although you may then get weaker as you/your bike are lighter.

This is like one of those time-travel paradoxes:hmmm:

To be serious though coil spring is the way to go even over the Fox TALAS line. Have TALAS 32 and still prefer feel of old Marzocchi bomber. Air is air.
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Taking a dump in the woods relieves tension, makes you lighter, marks your territory like a wolf, and increases your strength to weight ratio. Now puking in the woods, thats the kiss of death. Nothing makes me happier in a race than seeing the guy in front of me puke.

How's that TALAS been maintenance wise, and how often do you need to fill it with air?
 
Monkey Soup said:
Taking a dump in the woods relieves tension, makes you lighter, marks your territory like a wolf, and increases your strength to weight ratio. Now puking in the woods, thats the kiss of death. Nothing makes me happier in a race than seeing the guy in front of me puke.

How's that TALAS been maintenance wise, and how often do you need to fill it with air?
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Monkey Poop - disturbing to say the least ... I don't even want to ask what sort of kicks you get if you if see a guy in a race poop in front of you.:drooling:

Please, that is a rhetorical question not meant for you to answer and neither I nor MTBNJ (taking liberty to speak for forum) care to know.

TALAS so far has not needed any maintenance and no need to add much air. Just check it now and then.

As I said would prefer coil springs as if you're pushing 140mm the wt savings of air is negligible vs performance. Forks came with bike and until they fail or I can't fix them they're on the starting line-up.

Please enlighten us at to what the Monkey Poop sports...bet you have air forks that came with bike...probably too cheap (like me) to upgrade as it's still a nice ride. Nothing wrong with the TALAS when a new Marzocchi or equivalent will run you at least $500
 
I've ridden a RS Pike, a 32 TALAS and currently a 36 TALAS. I didn't like the Pike at all but it was a lower model with not a whole lot of adjustments and it was coil. The 32 was a great fork, required little maintenance and was super plush when set up right. However, I did not use the travel adjustment very often. The 36 is really overkill for everyday trail riding unless you're going to be plowing through super gnarly rock gardens at killer speeds whilst jumping and dropping everything in sight. The Fox 32 series is tough to beat but I would pass on the TALAS option and just go with the vanilla or float.
 
BigDogDaddy said:
Monkey Poop - disturbing to say the least ... I don't even want to ask what sort of kicks you get if you if see a guy in a race poop in front of you.:drooling:

Please, that is a rhetorical question not meant for you to answer and neither I nor MTBNJ (taking liberty to speak for forum) care to know.

TALAS so far has not needed any maintenance and no need to add much air. Just check it now and then.

As I said would prefer coil springs as if you're pushing 140mm the wt savings of air is negligible vs performance. Forks came with bike and until they fail or I can't fix them they're on the starting line-up.

Please enlighten us at to what the Monkey Poop sports...bet you have air forks that came with bike...probably too cheap (like me) to upgrade as it's still a nice ride. Nothing wrong with the TALAS when a new Marzocchi or equivalent will run you at least $500
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Fat Dog Poop - I'm sensing a recurring theme here, but don't worry, I'm not a scat man, not into those crazy Japanese web sites. Someone puking though = defeat for them, no way to replace those nutrients lost during a race, bonking is soon to follow.

I didn't settle for shite my friend, I built my bike up, so I chose the fork. I have an older Manitou Sherman on the bike with a titanium coil and magnesium legs, with the old TPC+ damping system, very light. It was at the time their free-ride/jumping fork. Manitou had better products back then, they seem to be off the ball nowadays, but as I understand it its a different company now than it was then. Its one of the best forks I've ever ridden though. Only issue is I've replaced the damping cartridges, and according to Manitou, the ones they gave me are the last they had in inventory, so when they go, thats it, wall hanger.

I'll probably get a new bike before they go though, either a Turner RFX, Titus El Guapo, or a Rocky Mountain Slayer, in which case I'm going with a Vanilla 36.
 
Monkey Soup said:
I built my bike up, so I chose the fork. I have an older Manitou Sherman on the bike with a titanium coil and magnesium legs, with the old TPC+ damping system, very light.
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FWIW, that fork is a cheap POS. The adjustments are minimal, the knobs break and the fork rides like hell. Please tell me you have more experience with suspension before you dump more useless dribble into this thread. 😕
 
FFT said:
FWIW, that fork is a cheap POS. The adjustments are minimal, the knobs break and the fork rides like hell. Please tell me you have more experience with suspension before you dump more useless dribble into this thread. 😕
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Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one. I set it up once and didn't need to adjust it much. The fork is still super plush after 5 years of very hard riding, bottoms out very softly, and doesn't make a sound. The knobs will break on any fork when you hit something hard, but I've never broken one. Show me a fork with unbreakable knobs. Perhaps when I have the scary skills that you have, I can move up to something with more knobs to twiddle, pretty stickers, and travel that I don't have the nuts to use.
 
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