Hello there,
got a 1999 Rocy Mountain Race xc frame, thinking of fitting a new fork.
It is approx 20 mm greater a-c. Will this snap the frame like a twig and lead me to die horribly?
I mostly ride "aggressive xc" in the Dark Peak.
Any advice appreciated,
APF
What fork you thinking of fitting?
Doubtful it'll suddenly just snap like a twig, but depending on the condition its in already, and the geometry, it could be a bad idea or an ok one depending...
Remember my old 97 S Works M2 frame was proper twitchy as it had such a steep head angle, that fitting a 20mm longer fork actually helped!
Yeah it will surely help the head angle, they made 'em steep back then.
As to condition, how can you know? I've surely crashed it a number of times over the years, can't remember any bad 'uns, but maybe there were.
The fork is a Manitou Black 'Platinum' dialled all the way in.
Any more comments?
APF
It should be less than 1 degree difference in head angle, especially when you factor in the extra sag, I would think you will notice how much better the fork is about a million times more than the geometry change.
Wouldnt mind you reporting back on it though with your findings.
+1 for it making things better
No idea about snapping the frame but no harm in a good visual inspection. The only catastrophic failure I've ver had could have been spotted....
Too tell the truth it's time-serving as a rigid-fork commuter at the moment, it's been a long time since I rode it with the original 65mm coil fork!
My real concern is with frame strength. There was a photo on here of a bent Handjob the other day, this is a 10 year old alu xc bike. Really worried that a nasty break could happen.
Anyone have thoughts on frame strength?
If I decide to go with it will be happy to follow up with findings,
APF
No one could tell you for sure as no way of knowing the integrety of your frame, it will be try it and see.
FWIW it would not worry me in the slightest and I would give it a go if I was in your position, if you really worried just keep an eye on it, its not like your increasing the forces by that much.
Another way to look at is maybe its not changing the forces at all given the better bump absorbtion etc and if you take a massive drop and bottom the forks out then the stress on the frame is the same as it was with the 60mm forks on it bottomed out, the AC height would be very similar bottomed out, and less leverage than landing hard on rigid travel adjusted forks.