Excuse my ramblings.....So, taking my trusty mark 1 nomad to the alps again this year (I had hoped to get a proper dh frame but nothing in my price range). This time all my buddies have big bikes so I want to beef up from its current AM build and feel.
I have managed to get some bargain coil 180 domains to swap my 36 talas out, hopefully slacken the head angle slightly and raise the bb. But I presume the front end will now be significantly higher, soooo
I am thinking of replacing the bar and stem I currently have a 65mm with mid rise 750 bar for a 50mm stem with low rise 750.
What do you think? Will this have the effect I want? Better down alps?
I also have a layback post hanging about somewhere which could be tempting to try and get my weight further back. I know you aren't supposed to be in the saddle but sometimes I get knackered and have to have a little sit down on the less severe sections...
I might have budget for another £100 or so which could be spent on an Angleset (standard head tube) or new slack mounts. I'll be on a reliable rp23 not enough cash to get a coil ;(
Have some dual plys and a chain device to fit too.
Any other suggestions?
Where are you going and what sort of trails ? If it's the bike park etc with lots of jumps and braking bumps then I can see the bigger forks working well but more natural and technical trails the Fox's (assuming 160) may be better. If you are going to make all those changes you definitely want some time getting used to the bike here in the uk. Have you got decent helmet armour etc, that may be more use than more money into the bike
4th trip to morzine on the same bike so want to try and change it a bit so it feels nicer on the downs. I crapped myself on the Swiss national last time I tried it. So armour and helmet is all there. Just tweaking the bike so it is better on steep technical stuff.
Some time will also be spent at chatel bike park but I am not a big air person. Too many broken bones, so no more than a couple of feet.
If you're aiming for steep the keep the mid-rise bars on but deploy the shorter stem, both will help with control.
Understood, the trails in Morzine are better on a DH bike as they are so rough ! I would try the forks then as you've bought them, I think the seat post idea is a bad one. Chain device yes, stem changes I don't know.
As usual the best £200 performance improvement in your "bike" will come by spending the £200 at UK Bike Skills.
Enjoy, the trails in Chatel are good I like the red you get to by riding down the road a bit. Organise a taxi back and do Les Gets/Bourgesoie/Samoens? I can confirm you can ride both with 150 forks and not die
What you are thinking makes sense. When you increase the A-C length of the forks, it can make the bars too high.
I've done the same thing with my reign x and had to run low rise bars to get the balance right.
Boxxers plus offset bushings = fun 😀
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Edit: the seatpost will make bugger all difference as you won't be sitting on it.
I was tempted to try triple crowns as well.
Is it possible to remove and fit the offset bushings without knackering the current ones? as after the trip I want to change back to AM mode.
I managed 3 weeks out there on 160 air forks, and didn't die but I got shaken to pieces. I'm hoping these domains will feel like a big version of my coil 454 pikes. They certainly weigh like they should....
Oh, and done a bike skills day in the past
I'll be taking all my existing bits with me so can swap if I'm unhappy
When you increase the A-C length of the forks, it can make the bars too high.
And increase the forces around the headtube beyond what the bike is designed for.
I have managed to get some bargain coil 180 domains to swap my 36 talas out, hopefully slacken the head angle slightly and raise the bb. But I presume the front end will now be significantly higher, soooo
You should run more sag, for all mountain they normally recommend 20-25%, for more downhill should probably be closer to 33%
When I fitted offset bushings on my Heckler, the old ones came out fine, and I've kept them as spares.
Is it possible to remove and fit the offset bushings without knackering the current ones? as after the trip I want to change back to AM mode.
Yes, no problem. Going from a 160 fork to a 180 IMO doesn't make a huge difference, it is more to do with the quality of the suspension.
Make sure you get the right spring for your weight. Err on the side of firmer rather than softer on the front, or you may find you get the feeling that you are going over the bars when it gets rough 😉
Err on the side of firmer rather than softer on the front, or you may find you get the feeling that you are going over the bars when it gets rough
Nah, unless your doing big jumps, more sag is better, as long as front and rear are matched it shouldn't pitch you forward, you want the wheels to track the ground when it gets rough not bounce you all over the place. Going firm also kills your arms.
Don't just take my word for it, these guys seem to know what they're talking about.
http://www.tftunedshox.com/info/spring_calculator.aspx
Rear shock is air so easy to set the right sag. domain has a medium spring fitted which I should be on the upper end of at 12 stone +kit.
Nomad is okay with 180 fork, plenty of folks using them.
Nah, unless your doing big jumps, more sag is better, as long as front and rear are matched it shouldn't pitch you forward, you want the wheels to track the ground when it gets rough not bounce you all over the place. Going firm also kills your arms.
Stop spouting nonsense. The travel is mismatched so you don't want it blowing through and steepening the head angle.
@DT78 I'd look at getting a firm spring and trying both. I always prefer to be on the lower end of a spring for the front than the rear. It is not that important if you bottom out the rear, but bottom out the front too often and with the mismatched travel you are going to notice the difference in head angle and may feel like you are going over the front.
😆