Forum menu
RS Reba RLT into a ...
 

[Closed] RS Reba RLT into a Jump Fork?

Posts: 863
Free Member
Topic starter
 

I have a spare 2012 Rockshox Reba RLT fork. It's got 120 mm travel and 15 mm axle. But I need a jump fork with less travel and a better compression profile for jumping.

Is it possible to do some sort of conversion? I only go jumping occasionally and only on the baby jumps. I'm just curious if I could repurpose a spare fork.


 
Posted : 17/02/2022 9:12 pm
Posts: 9071
Full Member
 

I'd start by sticking it on the bike and hitting some jumps to see what adjustments it needs, if any. It might be fine.

Can you Google a manual or something and see if there's a way to reduce the travel? Is this the generation which had the black plastic spacers for travel adjustments? Then stick in some volume spacers.


 
Posted : 17/02/2022 9:34 pm
Posts: 3900
Free Member
 

A Reba as a jump fork?
Can you film it for us?


 
Posted : 17/02/2022 10:23 pm
Posts: 15454
Full Member
 

Does the RLT have a negative spring?

Eldest child's bikehas an old (08ish) Reba Race, when that needed to be shorter the easiest option was to disregard the guideline pressures and use that to make it sit lower.

Alternatively you could look at making some travel spacers out of delrin or nylon bar?


 
Posted : 17/02/2022 11:49 pm
Posts: 3240
Free Member
 

More air in it for a start and you could add some oil to the air chamber so it ramps up more (I'm assuming it's pre air tokens vintage).


 
Posted : 18/02/2022 8:56 am
Posts: 863
Free Member
Topic starter
 

It does have a negative spring. Can't remember if it's got tokens or not, it's been a while since I pulled it apart. I think it's time for some exploration!


 
Posted : 18/02/2022 9:28 am
Posts: 12362
Full Member
 

You should be able to find the service manual on the SRAM website. AFAIK, some RS forks were adjustable with spacers, some need a new airshaft. You need to check the specific model to know for sure.

The Reba, Revelation, and Pike used to be built off the same basic chassis so it's at the more robust end of the XC fork spectrum. If it's a Dual Air model, it'll be very tunable, you just need to put enough positive pressure in to stop it bottoming and then you can tune the negative pressure to give a bit of compliance over smaller stuff.


 
Posted : 18/02/2022 9:40 am
Posts: 3356
Full Member
 

if it's solo air it'll need a shorter air piston to reduce travel. if you try to add spacers the fork won't extend enough to balance the negative spring and it'll be difficult to start the travel. may be what you want though?
if it has the token friendly top cap, that's the easiest way to change the spring rate. If not, then as others have said, oil in the air spring will reduce the volume, or a short length of plastic rod will do the same, though it will rattle a bit.

if it's dual air, you can reduce the fork travel by adding spacers to the air shaft. you can normally get these in 10-20mm lengths. air spring can then be tuned by sticking a lot of pressure in the positive and not quite as much in the neg.


 
Posted : 18/02/2022 10:46 am