I've not bought a pair of forks for a long while, last new ones were in 2006. latest were a pair of Revelations but they were second hand.
don't need travel adjust. to go on a Stumpjumper FSR.
so what's out there for <£500 new?
I think there's a 140mm group test coming up in the next issue of the mag.... if you can wait that long.
ah excellent.
xFusion velvet DLA.
all good, all new (ish)
If you can run 15mm and don't mind older forks, there's some deals on fox floats kicking about
would prefer not to have Fox as I don't like the linear feel of them.
15mm would open up more options, but I'd have to change hub.
Happy with my Thor's, and I believed they are lightened for 2012.
Left of field choice, Suntour Durolux. [url= http://www.srsuntour-cycling.com/dstore/products/Suspension+Fork/2218/DUROLUX/SF9-DUROLUX+20+1.5.html ]Linky. [/url]
[url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=67897 ]Rockshox Sektor?[/url] Ticks all the boxes and a very good price.
Another vote for Thors here.
Has to be Fox Floats
so is the Sektor what the Revelation used to be?
Will check out the Maguras too.
Sector is more of a combination of the recon and pike forks, kind of a solo air version of the Rev.
For your money you could get a top of the line Revelation fork from Merlin, only difference would be the 15mm axle rather than 20mm. You can reduce the travel to 140mm with the addition of all travel spaces internally.
You couls also try contacting Si at Loco Tuning and see what he could offer you, i would think he would be able to shorten the travel on the fork to suit prior to him sending them out too.
I think I might just have to get the Revs off Merlin and bite the bullet with a new 15mm hubbed wheel - to be honest, the wheel I'm using is 8 years old and is probably due for replacement anyway.
If you did go down the 15mm hub route have a look at the 2011 marzocchi 44 rc3ti on CRC. Brilliant fork with 3 year warranty. I'm loving mine.
used to love Marzocchi forks and still have two old pairs that are still going strong but was really put off when they changed from open bath and everything went wrong. would need convincing that they're reliable again, regardless of warranty.
I have a Suntour Durolux, it seems really good for the cash though I haven't thrashed it that hard yet. Its more of a Lyrik / Domain competitor than Revelation or Sektor, as it goes up to 180mm travel and the stanchions are 35 or 36mm.
Brakes, the rc3 ti are open bath. I think all issues regarding reliability were sorted from late 2009 early 2010 onwards. I have some 66 rc3ti & the 44's and they're lovely.
+3 for Thors and I have a set of 2010 for sale if you're interested.
crotchrocket: how are you getting on with the x fusion velvets?
and brakes - what did yougo for in the end? While you're on, there's a "bakes ." on Strava who pops up on some of the same segments as me on my commute. Is that you?
another vote for thors, mine are for sale too (don't really want to sell them but need the cash)
matt
Really like my Thors too - but they are very linear indeed.
Go directly to a Revelation or Sektor, do not pass go.