Just received my new BFe frame! 
Got to do some work today, but hopefully get it built-up this evening.* I'm going to fit some Lyrik Solo Airs, but I've got the RockShox spacers to reduce the travel. So, BFe owners, should I go for 140, 150 or 160mm?
I live in the Alps, but I do also have an Orange Alpine for the big, fast stuff!
*On reflection, it's probably going to be more productive if I just start building it now, 'cos I'm not going to get any work done until I've fettled it...
Living in the Alps I'd run 160. I live in Norfolk, a stark contrast to the Alps and 140 feels about bang on for most things. Except for flat ol' xc - then I wind down to 120.
buy the u-turn kit for ~€60 and fit a spring.
then you can ride it at 115mm-160mm.... easy.
Agreed - the best thing about the BFe is how it rides at different lengths of fork. Having U-turn really lets you get the most out of it.
100mm (yes even in the alps)
U-turn is great for finding what geometry best suits you but changing again it after you've initially set-up your bike **** up bar height and weight distribution.
Agreed - the best thing about the BFe is how it rides at different lengths of fork. Having U-turn really lets you get the most out of it.This would only be true if you also had a U-turn stem
the best thing about the BFe is how it rides at different lengths of fork. Having U-turn really lets you get the most out of it.
agreed, i run my Bfe with u-turn pikes, i couldn't live with out u-turn
U-turn is great for finding what geometry best suits you but changing again it after you've initially set-up your bike **** up bar height and weight distribution.Agreed - the best thing about the BFe is how it rides at different lengths of fork. Having U-turn really lets you get the most out of it.
This would only be true if you also had a U-turn stem
Maybe for you - but I find I can ride my bike between 100 - 140 quite easily.
No, not just for me at all, you may not have noticed but your bars cannot possibly be at optimal height for both the 100 and 140mm setting.
I can ride my 2yr olds bike quite easily 
No, not just for me at all, you may not have noticed but your bars cannot possibly be at optimal height for both the 100 and 140mm setting.
Nerd - not everyone needs to set up their bars to the nearest 2mm of optimal perfection 
Each to their own and all. But I think the vast numbers of u-turns and floats sold may indicate some people like to ride on a variety of fork lengths.
Don't know what you're talking about, I always use a U-turn stem with my road drops so I keep my riding position identical at all times.
Where's that deacon smiley they had on cf? This one's a bit condescending: 
I think Uturn is OK. Dropping to 120 for example, this would be for extended steep climbing, so low bars give better climbability, upping to 160 highterens the bars, making bikes better for pushing up hills. Sweet.
Not fussed about U-turn to be honest. I have it on my Alpine 160 and very rarely use it - specced it because I wanted coil, not air.
Old Marzocchi ETA was the best travel adjust I ever used - slap it down for climbing, back up at all other times.
Leaning towards 140mm, I want it to feel pretty "tight". Not totally opposed to GW's 100m view, but I don't think the BFe's the right frame to go that short. Better with some wee 4X savage thing.
go 140. otherwise will be to much like a hardtail version of what you have.
my 140mm 456 was awesome fun when i came out. 
If you've got the option for 160mm i'd go for it... .
I've been running 160mm van 36's on my bfe for a few months and find it's brilliant (but I am biased as it was my only fork choice)
enjoy
Have 150mm U-turn Sektors on mine. Tend to run them at 130mm . But that's Southern UK not the
Sainte Foy!
changing again it after you've initially set-up your bike **** up bar height and weight distribution.
I thought that was the point.. so you can have the front end a bit lower and weight more forward for climbs, then wind out the travel for descending etc.
I had my BFe set up with 140mm Pikes and it felt pretty good to me. I dunno if I'd want more travel than that on a hardtail, but I don't live in the Alps.
I usually run my coil Lyriks from 115 to about 145 for UK stuff.
In the Alps I ran it longer though - 145-160.
If I had to run a single length on the BFe then 145 would be about spot on, but the U-turn is very handy
GW - MemberNo, not just for me at all, you may not have noticed but your bars cannot possibly be at optimal height for both the 100 and 140mm setting.
you really are quite shouty and opinionated, aren't you?
No. not shouty
Had Pikes on my BFe, and found that at full 140mm of travel, the bike felt a bit lazy and unresponsive. I rode it more often at 120-125mm of travel where it handled much better. That said, that was riding round UK trail centres predominantly, not the Alps!
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