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Just taken delivery of 20" steel life Frame c2009. Very excited as its my 5th bike but first steel frame. Need to build up as trail centre beast as use scandal 29er for Enduros and adventure races.
Have been reading old posts on travel and stem combos, lots of folk loving 100mm, 120mm and some with 90-130mm revelations. Wondering if anyone has run 140mm and;
which fork model + year
Axle to crown length inc sag
Is the ride any good
What about ...150mm?
Also interested in sanderson Breath experiences as identical geometry?
I run a 18" Life with 115mm (Reba) forks. Would not want much more than this on climbs.
As I understand it, the Blitz is designed for longer forks.
Cracking bike - I love riding mine.
From what I understand the CEN mkII(version can take longer/get away with it), I definitely wouldnt with the first version.
I ran mine with 100mm, it's definately more of a flat backed XC bike than a hardcore hardtail.
I ran mine with a 100mm fork and 110mm stem and it was brilliant.
I never tried it with more travel but the frame's far to flexy (in a good comfortable, ride it all day sense) to make it any fun with longer forks I'd have thought (it'll just tip that good flex towards out of controll both wheels poiting in different directions flex).
I'd build it up as a 26" equivelent to your scandal, if you want more travel look at soemthing stiffer like a 456, cotic soul, chumba HX1 or dialled prince albert.
Appreciate the swift replies thanks.
I'm intrigued about this frame flex, as i mentioned not ridden steel before. How do I find out if its CEN 2? Believe that's all to do with headtube/down tube strength...There is an extra layer of steel welded on at this join on my frame so hoping CEN 2.
Hoping bolt through forks will provide reasonable steering stiffness - Currently riding my alu 23" Rockhopper ht with bendy QR 100mm recons and 30.9 seat post. (mention frame heights as longer, thinner seat post gives more spine-relieving flex apparently)...THO do accept the point of 456 etc being designed for more travel, possibly better suited to my needs.
Where I am now is - it seems (if CEN mkII) okay to put longer forks on from a strength point of view, but if they are 'too long' then the ride will be too wobbly to inspire confidence. The target head angle I want to try is 68/69 deg, but may start with 100mm forks and steeper angle to see how I find it. And have 100mm forks handy.
If its the light grey Life its definitely mk1 pre-CEN.