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Already posted this in Chat and then thought it would be better in here, doh!
Well I couldn't resist and having decided to sell my motorbike and get a cheap track bike and new treader I've just bought an XL 2011 Turner 5 spot in ano grey from Merlin for £1350! Somewhat excited.
I'm going to swap the bits over from my other bike which includes PUSH'ed air PIKES but the steerer will probably be too short. Doubt it's worth getting a new steerer pressed on (don't even know if it's possible) which is a shame as I'm happy with them. Anyway, would like some fork recommendations please. Thinking Fox float RLC QR15 140s look good, Merlin have them in black for £540, any advice on these? Any pointers on headsets would be good too.
For info my riding is mainly South Downs with some Surry Hills, occasional trips to Welsh trail centres and will probably taken down the track at Cwm Carn once or twice a year too.
Cheers all
Hi Davo, well done with the new purchase. I also have a 2011 spot, run it on 140 fox Talas but never really use the talas wind down feature, so the floats would probably be fine. A slightly longer fork shouldnt be a problem, 150`s would be fine.
You could shop around for anyone selling cheap forks with a 1.5" steerer as the Turner has a 44mm head tube it can run the big steerer.
Chris King and Cane Creek both do a suitable head set, but the Nuke proof headset from Chainreaction is good as it is available in every version and easy for spare bearings (not that you would need them for CK)
IIRC the headset is external lower internal upper
this is the link for the tappered version.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=55502
Cheers NCB. I assume the reduction from 1.5" lower to 1.125" upper is done with the upper headset race for a tapered steerer? Forgive my ignorance, I'm a bit out of touch.
How high does the front end feel with the 140s on there? I've got a bad back and am actually after a fairly upright seating position
How do you like the RP23 on yours? I accidentally put the same post in the chat section, Wrecker doesn't rate the rp23 on the spot and thinks a coil is the way to go
Your Pikes will probably fit as long as the steerer is 190-200mm long. The Turner frame is designed with a 44mm head tube that takes an internal/zerostack headset (basically the cups and bearings run internal to the head tube)this means that the overall stack hight of the head tube is quite low as you do not have the external cups of the older 1 1/8 style headsets (used to add about 25mm onto the head tube hight).
If you want to upgrade your forks i have a similar frame - ironhorse mk3 (also DW link and similar travel at the rear with a 44m head tube) and i am currently running 150mm rock shox revelations with a tapered steerer. To allow this to work you need to install a different lower headset cup that will sit externally to the headtube like the old 1 1/8 headsets did to allow the 1.5 inch steerer to fit.
Headset wise Hope do pick and mix headsets so you can buy the top half and bottom half you need seperately to avoid wasted parts.
did you see the Silverfish ex-demo 5-spot which is up for £1,995 (buyable for £1,900 delivered). It's a 2011 bike in large (good for up to 6'1" and 34" inner leg) with a stonking build including Kashmina fox forks, Nukeproof headset, The One brakes, Hope Pro wheels and lots of Raceface Turbine/Atlas kit.... it would be bloody difficult to replicate that build for less.
awesome bike... I should have for it, but having just come out of a Flux, i fancied a change and went down the Yeti route.
I run a 150mm revelation they are great, I'm sure Merlin or On-one have them for £400 ish.
The bike was built around that particular A-C length.
I must say mines an 09 (slightly steeper) I wouldn't want to run it with anything shorter than a 150mm fork TBH, but yours is slightly slacker so it may be ok with 140mm.
mines an 05...i know they have changed a bit since then but I run 150mm sektors and it feels spot on, I wouldn't want any less to be honest.
I have Revelation 150mm air u turns on my 2011 5 spot and they seem to suit it really well. I find the 120mm setting allows me a bit more control over the front when climbing but having said that the DW link gives such awesome traction at the back that you can keep your weight fairly forward without spinning out. On the first few outings the RP23 seemed to bottom out to easily at times but I've carried out this mod http://forums.mtbr.com/turner/dw-5-spot-rp23-mod-503070.html and it works a whole lot better.
I've swapped between U turn air Revs & air Lyriks on my 2010 5 spot, Revs are lighter & it climbs a bit better but I notice the flex after the Lyriks.
I think I'm going with the Lyriks as the climbing is only slightly compromised but the decending is much better.
If you do get 150mm forks and still feel it needs to be a bit slacker up front you can always fit an off-set shock bush. I'm going try one in my 2010 DW Link as I run 140mm forks on that. It climbs really well and descends well but I make the bushes anyway so it's just a little trial run for me 🙂
Cheers for the info chaps.
@campfreddie - yes I did see it (heard about it from you!) and emailed them to askif they had an XL demo but no luck. Yeah, you should have had it......sure the Yeti is fine........ 
Can't believe it hasn't sold already to be honest
Saw the Turners on Silverfish web site, good prices there alright!
Ok back to head sets......
Check out the Turner web site for good info specs etc.
from there.....
44 headtube //
This head tube is perfectly sized to work with a tapered steerer fork and the new 44XX lower head set bearing from Cane Creek. Stiffness gains of up to 20% can be had with a tapered steerer fork. With the upper bearing bore now at 44mm, the rider has the ability to run a ZeroStack headset on top. This setup will lower the hand position up to 10mm for more control on steep climbs and fast descents, where front end traction is enhanced through transferring the riders weight over the handle bar. Our 'just right' head tube design allows for the biggest bearing size on the bottom for a long head set life.
The Nuke proof head sets have a good code system to decribe what they are.... all the info and specs to explain what headset fits what steerer etc is here....
http://www.nukeproof.com/en/headsets/nukeproof-headsets
As for the fox RP23 I think its a very good shock, the version fitted to the Turner is custom tuned to their spec with very little pro-pedal damping as it doesnt really need it. Some people add an internal shim to the air sleeve (fro Mojo or home made). This reduces the internal sleeve volume to make the air spring ramp up more at the end of the stroke. I have not tried the mod myself as i really like the way the suspension feels very bottomless and linear (particuarly for an air shock). Set the sag properly to your weight with a camel back on etc and try it.
Some guys here say the coil spring feels better, I havnt tried it but the RP23 aint bad 🙂
Cheers all for the info. Think I'll try the Pikes with the Hope pick and mix headset, ultimately though the front end height will be the same as my old bike with the same forks fitted. I'm looking to get it a bit higher because of my back so a new pair of forks is probably on the cards, at least then I only have to buy a new lower assembly if I go for a tapered steerer, as Rusty says. Anyone run fixed travel 150/160mm forks and if so how are they when climbing and in tight singletrack?