I know they are OE and I will have to pay VAT. Does anyone know what the import duties and/or fees will also be?
They look like an older model, so likely to have the Charger 2.1? That sounds like good news to avoid the risk of issues with the 3.0 / 3.1?
Anything else I missed?
They are the 1.8” steerer rather than 1.5”conventional taper, is that what you need?
I had some Fox 34s from Bike Discount in Germany last month and paid £95 in VAT and other fees on a £320 ish purchase price.
Older style fork with a 1.8 tapered steerer. Maybe why it’s cheap.
as long as you’re not fussed for all the latest ‘better tech’ and your bike is happy with that steerer size it looks like a good buy. Not entirely sure on tax prices but I imagine it will still be good value.
Sorry this doesn't answer your question, but why not get the 36s from Merlin and change the air shaft to 150 for about the same price?
https://www.merlincycles.com/fox-36-float-performance-grip-boost-mtb-forks-29-280585.html
Thanks all. Glad I checked 😂. I didn't notice the steerer thing!! Not gonna work. The 36s are indeed an option thanks. Or the 140mm Pike Ultimate. It's for the Rascal so that could work. Food for thought!!!
Am I being dense?
1.8in tapered is still the current standard, isn't it?
Am I being dense?
1.8in tapered is still the current standard, isn't it?
Nope, that's the "E-Bike specific" Standard.
1-1/8" - 1-1/2" is the "normal" tapered Standard.
normally it's 1.5 inches to 1 1/8th
DrP
OK not so much being dense as reading comprehension failure 😀
Older style fork with a 1.8 tapered steerer. Maybe why it’s cheap.
Newer stile - it's a 1.8", as opposed to 1 1/8" - it's a bigger steerer used on some eBikes designed to create compatibility issues
Newer stile - it's a 1.8", as opposed to 1 1/8" - it's a bigger steerer used on some eBikes designed to create compatibility issues
Oh for ****'s sake😕
depending on your frame, you may be able to fit a 1.8" into a standard taper, if you have a 56 or 66mm lower headyube (non integrated)
https://www.superstarcomponents.com/products/headset-bottom-cup-special-fitments?
designed to work with 46mm crowns (40mm is 1.5)
I always factor in about 30% extra for VAT + duty + fee when purchasing from outside UK
Am I being dense?
1.8in tapered is still the current standard, isn't it?
Nope, that's the "E-Bike specific" Standard.
1-1/8" - 1-1/2" is the "normal" tapered Standard.
Didn't realise there was such a standard. Will be more clued in now if ever ordering a replacement fork (have a real bike and an eBike). Thanks
Oh for ****'s sake
To be fair this isn’t stuff that get talked about or explained often, and while some of us are used to the bike industry’s habit of interchangeably using metric, decimal imperial and fractional imperial units I can see why it confuses the utter bollicks off of some people, especially when they just want to buy some forks, not think about the latest compatibility wheeze from Rockshox and Fox…
Then try explaining Giant’s 1-1/4” steerers to an incredulous roadie who’s day job is finance…
I would definitely have assumed it was an error and was in fact 1 1/8th not 1.8" - That's one to commit to the memory bank next time I get tempted by a Fork bargain to check first!
The Merlin 36s are a good buy. The Grip damper's their cheapest one but it's really nice- honestly I prefer it to the Charger. Just be aware it's a bit limited in adjustability and not everyone can get a good setting, especially if you're at the ends of the scale. I weigh nothing and without getting into changing oil etc they couldn't be made to work adequately, there was no good balance of hsc and lsc. Which was a bummer as the basic performance is excellent if you do find a good setting.
designed to create compatibility issues
Nicely put 🙂