Forks, Coil or air Options

[huw]

I’m putting my patriot on a crash diet and i need to make a choice on what forks to use. It’s going to be used mostly for Swinley and Welsh trail centres, but also needs to cope with a week or so of gravity assited fun in the alps each year.

The original plan was to go with Pike 454 coil u-turns but I’m seriously tempted by the new bolt through revelations like this for the weight saving of almost a pound. I’ve heard very good things about them but does anyone know if they are up to being thrashed in the alps.

So my question is would you trust/recommend a fairly lightweight air sprung fork in and around Morzine?

Cheers all.

[Dolbe]

mmmmmm those are the forks I'm planning on getting for my goose. Ive seen them for £399 though, I will see if I can rember where.
Ive sen some good reviews about them though


correction: the ones I saw where these which are not the dual air but the RockShox Revalation 426 Air U-Turn 110-140 MC 09 forks

I think I like the ones you found better though, they are a bit lighter

[Gareth]

So my question is would you trust/recommend a fairly lightweight air sprung fork in and around Morzine?

I'm tempted to say simply: no.

Coil sprung forks are superior for that kind of riding and lightweight forks can't always take bad landings. I wish I had the coil sprung version of the Fox 36 rather than the RC2.

Why do you feel the need to put the Patriot on a diet? Changing wheels/tyres is usually the best way saving your heavier wheels for the less XC type rides.

[Jarl]

I’m putting my patriot on a crash diet and i need to make a choice on what forks to use. It’s going to be used mostly for Swinley and Welsh trail centres, but also needs to cope with a week or so of gravity assited fun in the alps each year.

The original plan was to go with Pike 454 coil u-turns but I’m seriously tempted by the new bolt through revelations like this for the weight saving of almost a pound. I’ve heard very good things about them but does anyone know if they are up to being thrashed in the alps.

So my question is would you trust/recommend a fairly lightweight air sprung fork in and around Morzine?

Cheers all.

The pike's won't have been built to have been heavy. They'll have been built to be pretty tough and thrashable, then as light as possible. So it's fair to say, that they're about as light as you can get without sacrificing on the toughness and thrashability. I don't care what they've done, but no way RS have been able to shave 1lb off the weight of the forks, whilst maintaining a similar price point, and keep the same toughness as the pikes.

While I'd have no problems thinking that the revelations would be dandy for people on the more aggressive end of XC, I doubt they're up to full on morzine uplifts. Of course, YMMV

[Dolbe]

The pike's won't have been built to have been heavy. They'll have been built to be pretty tough and thrashable, then as light as possible. So it's fair to say, that they're about as light as you can get without sacrificing on the toughness and thrashability. I don't care what they've done, but no way RS have been able to shave 1lb off the weight of the forks, whilst maintaining a similar price point, and keep the same toughness as the pikes.

While I'd have no problems thinking that the revelations would be dandy for people on the more aggressive end of XC, I doubt they're up to full on morzine uplifts. Of course, YMMV

So are you saying they would still be ok for me that doesnt plan on doing anything extreme but maybe a bit aggressive xc? also would I have to change my hub/wheel with those forks? if so i will be looking for a set of new wheels also. I think the goose could do with a diet with its 36lbs

[huw]

Why do you feel the need to put the Patriot on a diet? Changing wheels/tyres is usually the best way saving your heavier wheels for the less XC type rides.

It's currently 39lbs with triple crown forks, hope big 'un hubs and mavic d321 rims and just too heavy and slack to be fun over any extended distance.

I took delivery of some 5.1 hope hoops yesterday which should save 2 or 3lbs and the forks and stem should save another 3lbs. 33lbs should be acceptable for trail duties and i can keep the tough wheels for alpine fun.

The pike's won't have been built to have been heavy. They'll have been built to be pretty tough and thrashable, then as light as possible. So it's fair to say, that they're about as light as you can get without sacrificing on the toughness and thrashability. I don't care what they've done, but no way RS have been able to shave 1lb off the weight of the forks, whilst maintaining a similar price point, and keep the same toughness as the pikes.

I suppose the old adage is still true. "strength, cheapness, lightweight. pick two"

Looks like the pikes are coming out top but is there anything else i should be considering?

So are you saying they would still be ok for me that doesnt plan on doing anything extreme but maybe a bit aggressive xc? also would I have to change my hub/wheel with those forks? if so i will be looking for a set of new wheels also. I think the goose could do with a diet with its 36lbs

You would need a new hub for the bolt through ones but they also do QR ones. If you can get the bolt through ones, as they will be much stiffer.

I've got 2008 426 air u-turn revelations on my hardtail and i couldn't recommend them enough. They are an excellent fork and perfect for most things the uk can throw at you.

[Mad Pierre]

If you fancy Pikes but want to save weight then why don't you go for air Pikes?

[Fireman Sam]

Some of us call them 'Racing Pikes'. Sweet fork once they are set up right.

[Nik]

It's currently 39lbs with triple crown forks, hope big 'un hubs and mavic d321 rims and just too heavy and slack to be fun over any extended distance.

I took delivery of some 5.1 hope hoops yesterday which should save 2 or 3lbs and the forks and stem should save another 3lbs. 33lbs should be acceptable for trail duties and i can keep the tough wheels for alpine fun.
I suppose the old adage is still true. "strength, cheapness, lightweight. pick two"

Looks like the pikes are coming out top but is there anything else i should be considering?
You would need a new hub for the bolt through ones but they also do QR ones. If you can get the bolt through ones, as they will be much stiffer.

I've got 2008 426 air u-turn revelations on my hardtail and i couldn't recommend them enough. They are an excellent fork and perfect for most things the uk can throw at you.

I run Revs on my XC bike. Before that i had a crappy set of Manitous. I have been well impressed with the revs todate. Really lightweight and strong enough to take an XC hamering. Really increased my confidence in my bike and what it was capable of.

I had a choice now, i will still go with the Revs, but i would get the 09 version with the 20 mil bolt through axle as they will be alot tougher then previous versions.

[huw]

Oh well I've made a snap decision i went out at lunch and accidentally ordered a set of coil pikes. Should be getting them fitted on monday.

[littlegirlbunny]

Oh well I've made a snap decision i went out at lunch and accidentally ordered a set of coil pikes. Should be getting them fitted on monday.

ooh new bike bling

hope you like them!

[Gareth]

Oh well I've made a snap decision i went out at lunch and accidentally ordered a set of coil pikes.

You see, not all accidents have unhappy consequences!

[Orange Al]

I was going to say WOTANS as I'm loving mine more and more each ride, plus with the discovery of finding with a bit of practice you can get them to set at 140mm as well as 120 and 160mm.

[Nik]

Pikes are a solid buy!

[Tony F]

Just got the latest newsletter from Merlin - you might want to check them out 'cos they're selling off their remaining stock of 08 Rockshox, Fox and Marzocchi forks. Half price some them...

Tony