My 2000 Gringo is up for replacement this month. As my only MTB it is a bit worn out - only the bar ends and shifters have lasted the course and have survived from the original build. The original Pace EvoIII's died a few seasons ago so I have been suffering with a set of Project 2's for a few years.
Anyhow, I'm buying an R8 frame, and I'm totally out of touch with the fork market. I ride in the Highlands mainly, so I need a 100mm travel fork, that will be durable. I tend to do multi day trips in the mountains travelling light and slow.
I've always been an Orange frame/Pace fork man, but I am aware Pace have been ruined by the Swiss. So your alternative recommendations would be gratefully received.
Get a marzocchi fork, just avoid the air sprung ones from 08/09 I think. Older model marzocchis would be best, or the new 2010 ones might be good but I think there probably dead expensive.
Rockshox Reba SL
the new 2010 ones blew me away with weight. ti sprung and oil!
Rockshox Reba SL
If you dont mind servicing forks often then go for rock shox or fox. You do need to take off the lowers and re oil thme pretty regularly. Marzocchis you can just leave for years.
jedi - 2010 what?! Rebas?
Qualifying your recommendations will help, otherwise I'll just end up with a group of folk suggesting I get what they use......which means I'll just be recommended every fork on the market 😀
marzochi.
i need to ride a set but seriously look like they back to 2003!
Jedi was talking about new 2010 Zocchis I imagine, Reba or even Sid would be my vote.
Do you want normal qr or are you planning on changing to soem kind of bolt through?
I want to use my 'old' wheel, so it'll be a normal QR. I'm able to service my own forks. Thanks so far.
How about a rigid fork, you've done it for years with the P2? Alternatively some Marzocchi or Magura (I used to have Rond forks and they rocked until the bike went AWOL) forks.
Generally it would seem you can get away with not servicing rockshox more than fox. Though it would seem from the Fox forks failures concnesus thread that it you use a Mucoff type bike cleaner that will kill the stantion coating regardless
You'll not go (too far) wrong with a Rockshox Reba SL. Perhaps not as reliable as an old marzocchi but much lighter weight (of the pre '08 forks avoid '07 XC700SLs)
Regarding rigid forks, rocky Highland trails and the fact I occasionally suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome rule them out long-term. I do understand the appeal though. I spent most of the nineties with a set of Pace RC30's up front when most had Mag10s/RC35s/XC500's etc.
Just to vent my spleen, anyone who spends their hard earned on such a peripheral commodity as bike specific cleaner doesn't get my sympathy when overly aggressive chemicals damage their forks. What's wrong with elbow grease?
But mustn't rant, don't want to discourage folks from commenting on the original question...........
I am with those who recommend 'zocchis - so long as they are open bath type - that means that they get properly lubricated with half a pint of oil in each leg not a teaspoonful.
Still need servicing now and then but will be much much longer lived
I've been a convert of coil forks now for a long time. They just seem to go on for years. Not really up on Fox forks, but I gather the coil ones are very long lasting. Doesn't the Orange P7 come with a Fox coil fork...
I'd say Rockshox are leading the way now in terms of price/performance/lack of servicing balance. I run SIDs and they are good but unless you're racing the added stiffness and longer service intervals of Rebas will probably suit you better.