[Closed] 140-150mm 29er forks.. any better than fox 34.

No

Well maybe the new 2016 34 if that is not what you have

Forget the forks. Light Bicycle Carbon Rims, 30mm external, built on some hope pro2 hubs. And some lighter Tyres.

If the front end is heavier, look at the front tyre, stem and bars. What you running at the moment?

Also, if you're thinking of ways to make a Five29 lighter, you've bought the wrong bike.

Is this one a joke too?

It's never going to be a light bike, but you haven't got a long stem on it have you?

do some press ups

Stem is 65mm

Its not a joke no? was looking at ways of keeping same level of performance with a lighter but as stiff fork?

Rickon.... so by changing the wheels thats ok but if I want to change the fork Ive bought the wrong bike ???

It was only pie in the sky wondering anyway !!

36's? If you want stiffer, then there isn't really anything much better .

2015 (or is 2016 anyways the current ones) Fox 34's are the lightest available of the current long travel 29er forks...IIRC then the MRP stage's..then RS Pikes (100 maybe 200 grams between them). Doubtful that anyone can really feel much difference in stiffness between them TBH. So no cheap option & if you already have earlier Fox 34's it seems almost pointless changing them. Get some (properly) lighter wheels, as suggested, they make a bigger impact on the feel of the bike (or did for me)

Mine Fox 34 are the 2013/14 kashima coated factory versions. There is absolutely nowt wrong with then at all. I do have a bit of twist at the front but that is more likely to be the wheel/tyre combo flexing.

Mine Fox 34 are the 2013/14 kashima coated factory versions. There is absolutely nowt wrong with then at all. I do have a bit of twist at the front but that is more likely to be the wheel/tyre combo flexing.

Apart from the fact they weigh too much and flex. And they're from when the 34's were rubbish. You should change them really, you'd be doing yourself a favour.

I suggest a Pike running 160mm travel. As many bottomless tokens in them as you can get as you're a big lad. In fact, just replace the whole stack with spacers. Much lighter.

Would the pikes be much stiffer ?

Can they also be dropped to 140mm as the front end is at a perfect height as it is.

My front end set up is this .....

Fox 34 140mm
Easton havoc stem 65 mm
renthal fstbar 780mm.
Spesh purgatory 2.3 control tyre
standard Orange wheel.

I was actually taking the rise - your current forks are fine.

Issue if anything will be the Pov spec Orange front wheel. That'll flex way more than the forks - wheels make or break a 29er.

For wheels, get something light but more importantly stiff. Go tubeless. That'll make more difference than changing the fork.

Sorry Renton, what I meant was if you're worried about weight, then the five29 isn't the right bike for you.

I've got mine down to just over 30lb, its bloody heavy, but has:

Carbon wheels on dt240 hubs
Carbon bar
Apex stem (which is bonkers light)
Dropper post off (as its up or down around here)
1x10
Xpedo flats (~250g per pedal)
XTR Crank arms

There's not much else to reduce the weight, without compromising what its intended use is.

And I've only done that because of Enduro racing this year.

I'm running a Fox 34 150mm fork too, and its perfectly good. Swapping to a Pike or 36 shouldn't be driven by weight, as there's barely any saving to be had on a 32lb bike, percentage wise.

However, the Pike is a better fork as is the 36. Is it worth £500 or £900 though?

Unless you're hitting uplift days all the time, I can't see you'd really notice the difference. (Having ridden all said forks).

Its not a joke no?

You did a wind-up last week about this bike.

Anyway I agree with Rickon, if you're not a rim dinger then consider replacing the wheels with carbon ones.

Also maybe try a 50mm stem - that might make the front feel lighter.

Pike is what, 150g-200g lighter? And a wee bit stiffer. but too expensive to make the swap imo, and no guarantee you'd like the different damping style. Not a swap I'd make if I was happy with the fork damping

I'm very happy with the bike as it is to be honest. Although wouldn't everyone like their bikes to be lighter without sacrificing performance.

You are more than likely right about the wheels being most of the weight however I just don't have the money to make such a big swap in one go. Perhaps front first and then rear a month or so after.

I could proably lose some weight from the drive train as well but as it all works perfectly well now I'm reluctant to spend money until it needs changing.

As I've got more use to the bike I can start to feel the flex in the wheels. Steering wise it almost feels like a slight delay between input and output. Could that just be down to it being a 29 er.

EDIT.. I agree northwind it isn't worth the outlay especially as I've got the forks and shock dialled in nicely now.

Chakaping..... That wind up was aimed at a certain other serial bike swapper on here.

Are carbon wheels expensive?

would you buy secondhand ones?

Carbon rims from Lightbicycle are about £180 an end, if they fit your hubs, then you're sorted, just the build cost.

By far the best and most worthwhile upgrade on the Five29.

Nothing else comes close.

I'd recommend the 30mm hookless bead ones. Forget the 35mm, they're too stiff for most people imo. (I've got them, the tyre profile is nice, but my hands do take a battering).

It's not a trivial amount to spend but compared to a quality alu wheelset, it's not really that much- I built my 26ers onto used DT240 hubs and IIRC spent about £450, which is a lot but compared to £325 for a set of hope hoops, it's pretty awesome (and would pay for the difference in bearings pretty fast!)

I'm still seeing if I gel with my 29er mincetank but if I do, it's getting LB rims on another set of used DT hubs. Probably the 35s.

And yep I'd happilly buy used, though carefully- I have 3 26er ones, they're damn tough. But used 29er ones are scarce

Would I notice a difference between my wheels and say a nice set of alloy rimmed wheels like arches or flows.

Possibly. No where near as noticeable as a set of carbon rims though.

I'd save my pennies for some LB rims or wheels

renton how much do your wheels weigh? even on the kitchen scales or something. 29er wheels are so huge that if they are cheap and nasty they could be well heavy. I've got WTB KOM rims on both my 29ers, just a little heavier and narrower than carbon but a fraction of the price. They build up into a good weight wheel and seem to be relatively water bar proof, I've smacked the rear into a few at 100kg between me and the bike and they have a few dents but have held up well.

Having said that I've lost the piece of paper with the weight of my wheels as a comparison.

not sure on the front but the rear with cassette, tyre and disc is 3 kgs