Hi, I’ve got a suspension fork query for you lot.
I’ve got some old (2006 I think) Fox 36 Van R’s, which I’ve been very happy with over the years, but they’re starting to feel their age now -there’s no stantion wear or damage, it’s just they’re not feeling a nice as they have done in the past (I have kept them serviced regularly). I’d like to stick some nice new Lyriks or 36’s on, but I haven’t really got £700 plus to go on a new set of forks. So, do I just get on with it see if TF Tuned / Loco / Mojo etc can breathe some new life into them (£150 ish with bushes + postage?) or look for some new forks?
I’ve had a quick look around, and I could probably stretch to £350 (£400 at a push) or so, which means something like RS Sektors or Revelations comes up. Problem is that I use my bike for all my riding, including uplift days, so I’m not sure if Sektors or Revelations will feel a bit overwhelmed for the rough stuff and jumps / drops etc compared to the 36’s?
Anybody with experience of going from a 36 / lyrik to a smaller fork like Sektors? Any other forks I should be looking at within my price range? Maybe I should just shut up and just ride my bike…. Advice appreciated, many thanks
Edit - sorry, should have mentioned I'm running them on a Heckler, so I want 150mm or 160mm travel.
I have tried going from 35/36mm forks to 32mm ones and they don't compare as well. It's ok for general trail riding and the damping in Revs is very good so the fork doesn't get over whelmed in that sense. Where you really feel it is in the lack of stiffness especally on landings and g outs where the 32mm forks feel decidedly noodly fore to aft. I hated the sensation of the fork flexing front to back. It will be less of a problem if you're light but if youre using the bike regularly for uplift days then I'd keep the Vans or try to find some lyriks or newer vans second hand.
Thanks very much for the advice, that's precisely what I was worried about. I do uplift days regularly, so maybe keeping the 36's for a while is the best option and start saving for some new Lyriks.
Many thanks.
The other forks to look at are Xfusion. They have the same internals as fox but are about 30% cheaper. You can get a brand new Vengrance R for about £500 maybe even less.
I hadn't thought of Xfusion, I'll have a google and see what I can find.
They are made in the same factory as the fox units and by the same people. It's a fox fork for a lot less money and none of the regular servicing intervals.