Fork Upgrade
- Thread starter jude3223
- Start date
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fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
What's the fork you have now, and what are you thinking of upgrading to ?
Yes it will affect the geometry ! How much depends. If you have a basic sprung fork that's at 80mm travel, and upgrade to an air fork with adjustable sag, then you'll probably get away with it, as an air fork, you set sag to 20-30% (which is 20-30cm on a 100mm fork). Your sprung fork might not 'sag' the same.
Yes it will affect the geometry ! How much depends. If you have a basic sprung fork that's at 80mm travel, and upgrade to an air fork with adjustable sag, then you'll probably get away with it, as an air fork, you set sag to 20-30% (which is 20-30cm on a 100mm fork). Your sprung fork might not 'sag' the same.
Currently i have All Terra CH-565 forks, im thinking of upgrading to RockShox 30 Gold RL Solo Air Forks
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
A fair upgrade. Check how much sag you get when on the bike now. Rubber band on stanchion, and see how much it moves when you sit on the bike.
You'll probably get away with it moving from spring to air. It's not usually recommended.
You'll notice the upgrade just to air, but do bear in mind the additional maintenance.
Also double check the headset size - your GT is 1-1/18 and doesn't mention tapered, so ensure the new forks aren't tapered (usually 1-1/18 top and 1-1/4 lower bearing if tapered)
My son's SR Suntour spring 100mm forks don't sag much when you sit on the bike, but my RS Revelations are set to sag about 25%, so being 130mm they compress about 33mm. So you could get away with an air fork at 20mm more.
You'll probably get away with it moving from spring to air. It's not usually recommended.
You'll notice the upgrade just to air, but do bear in mind the additional maintenance.
Also double check the headset size - your GT is 1-1/18 and doesn't mention tapered, so ensure the new forks aren't tapered (usually 1-1/18 top and 1-1/4 lower bearing if tapered)
My son's SR Suntour spring 100mm forks don't sag much when you sit on the bike, but my RS Revelations are set to sag about 25%, so being 130mm they compress about 33mm. So you could get away with an air fork at 20mm more.
The fork im looking at says its 1.1/8, is that the same as my gt's 1-1/18? Sorry i only started mountain biking recently
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fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Forks aren't cheap are they....
Sorry if i had caused confusion i have edited my response
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fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
You didn't, I was just saying it's a good upgrade. My suspension forks, rear shock and brakes cost more that the whole bike I bought. If I bought them in bits, as cheap as possible, I still would not have had a bike.
keithmac
Guru
I can rember a workmate coming back from Leeds after spending £2000 on his down hill bike (San Andreas?) nearly 20 years ago.
Looked in his car and there was just a frame and some forks, not even a whole bike!.
Ok thanks for clarifying, i think im going to take the same approach as you and keep upgrading parts
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
I bought a Boardman FS Pro for less than £1k, and I couldn't have bought the parts.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
PS what sort of riding are you doing ?
I just ride at my local trail in hadleigh
HarryTheDog
Guru
- Location
- Basildon Essex
By local trail in hadleigh do you mean the trail centre ie ex olympic track, black runs etc?. Doable on the 80mm fork, lot easier on a full susser I am told, I just put up with my hardtail with 80mm of suspension though. If you are a member of Hadleigh MTB club there is lots of knowledge there with the coaches etc. NB there is a nice local MTB race going on at Potash woods tomorrow at 11:40 post code SS4 1PL good place to make contacts and speak to some experienced MTBers and have a go.( there will be some semi clueless people like me there as well)
Yeah the ex Olympic track, i have a friend in Hadleigh MTB club so i guess ill ask him about it and check it out
