[Closed] DH fork options

Cane Creek do an adjustable headset too.

Headset would be my choice that way you maintain the option to easily revert to a more Trail friendly set-up.

why not run Domains instead of Totums? I got some from wiggle for £260 last week, 180mm, nice and smooth.

This is true, but the Cane Creek Angleset costs £190, whereas the Works one is £73.

I was thinking about the CC one, but honestly, how many times am I really going to change the HA before I go out riding? I would guess, not very often.

why not run Domains instead of Totums? I got some from wiggle for £260 last week, 180mm, nice and smooth.

I did think about Domains, but I haven't heard particularly good things about the damping on them. I am happy to be proved wrong though.

Motion Control Domain is OK, they get a bit of a bad rep because so many are the 302 version. I had a 302 Tora and the damping could [i]just about[/i] control 130mm of travel. It's ages since I rode the motion control ones but I suspect I'd be happier with 170mm mision control'd Lyriks than with 180mm motion control'd Domains.

I'm dead pleased with the Works Components reducer in my Hemlock, amazing the difference it made for the price. But not terribly resellable, is the downside. Remember it'll lower your BB a bit and steepen the seat tube as well by swinging the fork forward.

(The Angleset doesn't do anything more clever, tbh it's a bit annoying how excited people have got over it when there's been K9 and Works and no doubt others doing the exact same thing for ages and nobody's ever noticed. Now if i tell people I've got a reducer headset thing they call it an Angleset. Loads of people think it's easily adjusted but you still need to knock out the cups to change the angle)

As another option, there's also those eccentric shock mounts that everyone's getting excited about over on SDH, quite clever but potentially does odd things to your bike. So far everyone's ignoring that but it's exactly hte same as putting a shorter shock in, and most people would have an um and an arr before they did that.

I do not know the answer 😉 It's always going to be a bit of a gamble. Lengthening your fork is the most reversible though, and it should be easy enough to sell the parts on.

Couple of other things to consider that would improve the bike's handling downhill.

The ubiquitous wider bar, say around 750mm, will make a big difference if you're not already running one. As will a 50mm stem.

Although I suspect you will already have done. Both these changes would give a similar result to the way the bike 'feels' to reducing the head angle – steering will feel more stable and less nervous, your weight will be shifted back a bit etc, but you'll also feel more benefit in the turns.

Changing forks is an expensive option and the Lyriks are already a great fork; but the Totem is awesome and so much stiffer that for pure DH use, you’ll really notice the greater control that the bigger, stiffer and altogether more confidence inspiring fork would give.

er.. wider bars move your weight forward and down, not back.

don't know what bike you have but I'd get the HA to around 65 using whichever method drops the BB lowest (within reason) and keep the travel the same. a dual crown fork can be set-up to have a shorter axle to crown height than a single crown so you can go longer travel without raising the BB or slackening it but it'll ride slightly steeper deep into the travel

FWIW I'd be happy if my DH bike only had 7" front and rear instead of 8"

mikey74 - Member

This is true, but the Cane Creek Angleset costs £190

IS IT! Never realised that. To be fair I don't need one so don't keep up to date 🙂

I run Totems and they're ace. I've done a DH race on them and never ever exceeded the travel. They also aren't horrendous on the weight front, I used my bike at a trail centre with plenty of climbing on Monday and with them locked out it was awesome.

If you can afford it, I'd recommend them

It's a Banshee Rune, with 150mm on the rear and 160mm Lyriks.

I am tempted by the upgrade to a 170mm spring AND the Works Comp headset.

I figure the extra 10mm in travel will give a HA of 66.5 (from 67 currently), this, together with a -1deg headset, would give 65.5.

The other plus point on this is that I could break it down into two different purchases, hence being easier on the ole wallet.

but you run more sag on a longer fork. so you wont get that much of a headangle adjustment.

those offset shock bushings are the cheapest option to reduce headangle and lower BB.

but you run more sag on a longer fork. so you wont get that much of a headangle adjustment.

That is true. Maybe I'll just go for the reducer headset first, and then see.

I had 180 Domains on my Big Hit when new, they were OK but as they were 302s they were just a massive old Pike. Damping etc easily changed using oil weights & new spring. However, I saw an air Totem on here for under £200 and bought that, loads and loads better, alot lighter been totally reliable and I also did the Pinkbike suggested modification to take off the Flodgate which makes it a little bit better still for DH.

get 180mm 66's more than enough and cheap as chippppppppps

ebay 888's?

+1 for 66's. Get 05/06 italian made ones, later ones (until 2010) a bit less reliable allegedly. Even the basic rc ones are ace. And they make a better 'squooshy' noise than mission control rockshox. IMHO of course.

I'd forgotten about Marzocchi. I guess I had generally discounted them, due to the general reliability issues over the last few years.

The new Ti spring ones look nice.

Use [url= http://bikegeo.muha.cc/ ]this[/url] to work out what difference you can make. 10mm on your forks won't do much.

Long forks also lift the bb, not really a good thing on a longer travel bike. Adjustable angle headsets drop the bb height so combining the two could work for you.

You could also consider offset bushings. They cost about £20 each and can easily make as much difference as an angle adjust headset and drop the bb, but slacken the seat angle as opposed to headsets which steepen it. Contrary to popular belief they don't reduce your travel.

I've ordered a set of offset bushing so I'll let you know how they affect stuff. I've also got a new cane creek angleset that I'm selling if you are interested.

How much for the Angleset, and why are you selling it; if you don't mind me asking.

- Most spendy option: Replace said forks with Totems.

Lyriks and Totems seem to go for similar prices secondhand. Could be the cheapest option!

I have a Totem and it's a superb fork now the seals are fixed (problem on older ones). Rode my Froggy back-to-back with a friend's one that had a 36 Van and the difference was spectacular.

slowrider - Member

Contrary to popular belief they don't reduce your travel.

Unless you end up clashing hard parts o'course.

Mikey, I'm after £115 for it, boxed and never fitted. It was for a build on my new zesty that would make it more spicy-esque, I decided to just keep my spicy as well!

True northwind, though things would have to be prett tight for that to happen, they only move the shock by 5-6mm.

+1 for the older Marzocchi 66's, both mine were 2006.
+1 for the works headset.(I've just fitted the 2 degree version and seems very good so far.)

180mm fork and a -2 degree headset seems to work very well on runes. elka have a specific shock tune for it now too.
I'd love to try one with a fox van 180, my mate loves his. I run a '10 rc3 66 ti so can thoroughly recommend one of those if you can find one for a good price.

slowrider - Member

True northwind, though things would have to be prett tight for that to happen, they only move the shock by 5-6mm.

Doesn't sound a lot but remember a fairly typical stroke is just 50mm-75mm to move the rear wheel through 5 or more inches so that's proportionally a big change. Never seen a Rune in the flesh but I'd bet money there'll be bikes that'll lack the clearance.

i ran totems on a FR bike for a year and was very impressed actually.

if you get some, ditch the rockshox seals and get some Enduro seals, totems (at least the 2009 ones I had) are know for oil leakage problems, the enduros solved this completely. it also extended the time between services for me.

you can pick up Totems for about £300 second hand.

I'm looking around at the moment. I haven't found any for £300 yet, but will keep an eye open.

Slowrider: that is very tempting. I'll send you an e-mail if I decide to go for it. Are you in a hurry to sell it?

Mikey, nope. I've got it up on eBay but not in a hurry to get rid just yet.