Looking to build up another steel HT winter bike, got a few bits spare to throw at it and was about to pick up a Blizzard LT frame, but as there's lots of positive stuff surrounding the V3 Soul with 853 tubing and, most importantly, dropper post compatability I figured it worth a look.
I had a regular blizzard running 100mm forks a few years back and loved it. So that's why a Blizzard LT was/is on the cards.
However, the forks I have are 120-150mm Talas and the Cotic is only rated for 140mm. Also pointed out to me by Cotic when I asked about the frame
IF I run these forks, am I in trouble? not just from a warranty perspective, but missing front teeth point of view.
The 120-150 talas are off my Genius and I rarely run them at 150 but sometimes its a nice option as a 'safety gate' when it gets into silly steep tech.
Being that the fork is what I have and I'm making the frame choice around.. do I need to scratch off the Cotic and just suffer the no dropper post limitations with the Blizzard?
Alternatively I swap the air shaft to run 120-140mm, but is the Soul likely worth the extra frame price and fork service cost over a blizzard LT? Probably close to 300 quid more..
Thanks for any insights!
I ran my mk2 @ 140mm when they were warrantied fot 120mm with no probs at all
I'm running my mk3 @ fixed 130mm.
Cy tbh although more travel for going dh is good i would not have wanted more than 140mm.
And yes i think they are very good and well worth the dosh
If memory serves, the damage caused by running forks longer than warrantied is dead obvious to spot (should the frame fail that is).
If you want to run those 150mm forks why not go for the BFe instead, still dropper compatible and cheaper?
Personally I'm a 120mm fork man myself. There seems to be a large body of consensus out there that reckons this is the Cotic HT optimum setting...
I'd also stick my neck out and say that if you are in the top end of height for the frame size then you'll want to run shorter fork length as the front wanders more when you are going for as much stretch as you can.... All IMO/IMOPE. Obviously.
Whoa where can you buy the LT?
A BFe would be fine with the longer forks and has the same geometry as the Soul. However, isn't a Fox 32 150mm fork only a few mm longer than a Revelation 140mm?
However, isn't a Fox 32 150mm fork only a few mm longer than a Revelation 140mm?
That's as maybe but when I asked a similar question re running a set of 140 vans with heaps of sag Cy responded with a pretty emphatic NO.
My own personal opinion is that you'd probably be okay running it 150mm and you'd be pretty unlucky if it failed. However Cy is pretty adamant that 140mm is a maximum, and he's probably got a proper and sound engineering reason for that. So I'd trust him on that count. Plus I can't but think a Soul at 150 would be a wandery beast that I personally would hate.... I only recently went up to 120, used to think 100 rocked....
Started at 100mm, went slowly up to 140mm, and coming back down again. 😀
I run my Soul with 110-140 Talas forks. It's grand.
Most of the time I keep it at 110 and it'd be ace just at that, but it's great to have that little bit of extra travel for steeper, more rocky stuff when you need it.
Can you change the 150-120s to 140-110? (I'm genuinely interested if you can, I've got 150-120s on another bike.)
I have 120/150 on my BFe which work really well (same geo as Soul but a little beefier). My BFe is my do it all bike, works brilliantly.
TBH it's not like the Soul is going to fall apart at 150 is it ? Just ride it at 120 until you are brave enough to up the travel, live on the edge man 😉
@BearBack - if you have Talas just don't wind the travel out beyond 140 .. I'd say the frame is definitely worth giving up 10mm of travel for, I suspect you'll not want to keep it as a winter only ride.
just run more sag on the forks (I find talas feels/works better that way) and don't worry about it. As above I've run 140 on the 130 "max" soul frame for nearly five years with no issues.
Blizzard LTs on ebay. Band new old stock.
Turns out they weigh 6.35lbs in a 19" so almost 2lbs more than a cotic soul.
I guess I'd really be wanting a 36 out front to justify that frame weight, so I guess Soul is the way.
As BFE's aren't available.. I better get my 120-150 talas dialled down and my order in 🙂
Thanks for the help 🙂
Rocky were blowing the LTs out on clearance a few months ago. Something like half price. I was tempted but the large was massive so spent more money on a Chromag Aperture. I had a large Soul years ago and didn't get on with it with a 130mm fork and short stem but maybe a medium would have been better. The original Soul was really designed for a fork closer to 100mm though, Although maybe that has now changed.
Change the spring to a 130mm Float. Lighter, the oil lasts longer, more sensitive etc. Talas is a bag of arse.
Blizzard LTs on ebay. Band new old stock.
I was keenly looking at the LT last night until I also hit on the weight. WTF- ruined a good frame IMO. No wonder they didn't sell.
I've had a deep-think and remember years ago I bought a Soul from cotic. I hated it- the reason why I hated it was it was TOO lively for me. Hard to explain? Not in the sameway that Brant designed the Ti456 which was awfully flexy and noodley- just springy- too much spring! It irritated me. Weird- so maybe I am going the way of the Bfe afterall...
Can you change the 150-120s to 140-110? (I'm genuinely interested if you can, I've got 150-120s on another bike.)
Looks as though (for 2013) the crown stanction assembly is the same for 140 or 150mm 32 forks.. Talas or Float.
Presumably all you need to is to change the left leg air cartridge to change from 150 - 140, or from talas to float.