After speaking to a friend who was at the Dirt Mag shoot/week for the Big Hit (and others) in Malaga, I fancy one, but feel the need to get rid of the Domain 180 fork and put a Boxxer (the 'cheapo' one) on it. I had a pair of Domain 115/160s and they were total crud.
The other bikes have manuals online explaining Max fork travel (Pitch is 160 for instance)
Does anyone know, for warranty's sake ?
PS I realize it is a stupid conical head tube!
Guess not then!
I imagine it will say in the manual which should be available on the specialized website.
Two key concepts there Badger... [i]imagine[/i] and [i]should[/i]
I'm by no means an authority on the subject, but I've recently built up an '07 Big Hit III.
As far as I've gathered: Many people use 200mm forks on these bikes, the rear travel is 200mm and if anything the 180mm Domain is a bit short for the bike.
I've put a 180mm Domain 318 on mine. Did you try the 318 previously or the 302? I think the 302 doesn't have motion control and so is probably a bit crap. The 318 obviously won't be as well damped as some more expensive rivals, but is a great fork for the money.
Go and ask on one of the DH forums if you want a proper and knowledgeable answer though.
The current Bighit is 7.5", so is probably okay with a 180 on it, I was thinking of some Totems, but really liked my old Boxxers.
I had the motion control Domains; they did this weird thing where the bushes heated up and they went all ridged on the most extreme parts of the trail. So much so that I was getting 130mm max travel on the top (rocky) part of the Megavalanche course, and then could get full travel on some of the swoopier bits... anyhoo..
I even asked Specialized themselves:
Customer (Flame Job) 06/12/2009 03:32 PM
I am about to order a BigHit 3 and want to fit Boxxers in place of the Domain. (Specialized UK does not bring in the Demo this year!)The frame manual seems to be missing from the SBC site; what is the Maximum fork travel the frame will be warranted for?
Response (SBC Employee1) 06/12/2009 04:01 PM
Hello,
Please contact our UK offices, listed below.SPECIALIZED UK, LTD.
29 Barwell Business Park
Leatherhead Road, Chessington Surrey
KT9 2NY
Great Britain
Tel: +44 (0)20 8391 3500
Fax: +44 (0)20 8391 3501
E-mail: customerservice@specializeduk.comRegards,
(SBC Employee)
Customer (Flame Job) 06/12/2009 04:05 PM
Hi (Employee), thanks for the rapid response!It's the weekend here now. Is there a PDF version of the frame manual anywhere?
Thanks
Jason
Response (SBC Employee) 06/12/2009 04:35 PM
Jason,
Unfortunately I do not have the Big Hit manuals; you will also want to clarify with the UK offices, as we all have different policies around the world.Thanks again,
(Employee)
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So that's Specialized's legendary customer service then? Passing the buck.
Nice PS job. Tasty looking fork isn't it? I almost crumbled and ordered one myself but thought I'd start out with a s/h Domain to see if I get a taste for this DH lark.
I'm thinking the same about the forks actually.
I would normally sell them as 'new' and slap some Retail boxed betterera ones on, but of course SBC had to put that [i]totally gay[/i] tapered head tube on, so the forks are neigh on useless to anyone except people with 1.5 bikes who wouldn't mind having a reducer cup in the top.
I really wouldn't worry about it - the diff in axle to crown height between a domain and boxxer is what, 10mm? It's not going to make a huge difference to the way the bike handles if at all.
Personally I'd go with a totem anyway.