Cotic BFe, as a trail bike… perfect fork?

Hi chaps,

I’ve read all the fork threads iI can find, but can’t see anything conclusive. As a trail bikke would a 150 fork with a 120 step down be the ideal? Or would 140 be the best bet?

Any ideas welcome 🙂

Cheers

Ricks

Yeah 150/120 adjustable would be my ideal if money allowed. Stuck with a 150 at the min when it’s pined back together.
But having said that I like it like that for quick blast/ play so I’m happy, there a great frame and ride well with most fork lengths.
Enjoy Bats.

What sort of trails are you planning to ride?

I have a U-turn lyric – 115/160. Works v well – pricey fork new though, not sure what they go for s/h.
Wouldn’t fancy a 140mm fork on it permanently, at all. Depends how you ride though – some folk make them work.

I think the BFe rides best around the 120/130mm area… I currently run a Pike 454 U-Turn, tough and stiff, although a touch heavy.

U-turn Revelation, 120-150mm. Dual position has its place but uturn’s far more flexible.

Pike Coil U-turn if you can find one.

I run a Pike Coil U turn which is ideal as it can be wound down to 100mm. I’m not sure what the current equivalent is in the Rock Shox range.

It’ll be for riding South Wales 90% of the time, as I live here – so Machen, Sirhowy, Afan, Brechfa, Cwm Carn, Rudry. Some steep, so flowy.

It’ll be used for longer rides too, 6 hours’ish.

My concerns with the longer fork is it’ll feel rubbish on tight twisty singletrack, and will only feel nice descending steeply. My concern with a shorter fork is that it defeats to point of the BFe.

I’ve got a 120mm SID QR15 to put on to start with, but am I just hedging my bets? Would I get more out of the bike with a longer fork?

One PITA is I’m stuck with QR15 due to my wheels, and I’m not changing them – one set of parts, two frames (and forks). Too many bikes nicked to bother with more parts now!

All thoughts welcomed (forks based 😉 )

Cheers

Ricks

Pike equivalent would be Sektor, although not as stiff. Can get a 2 step, 150 – 120, and convert to it U-turn.

My concern with the Coil Sektor is that when compared back to back with a Revelation its just not as nice….

I run a Pike Coil U turn which is ideal as it can be wound down to 100mm. I’m not sure what the current equivalent is in the Rock Shox range.

They do a Sector Coil U-Turn I think (Q/R at Merlin for £259!)
Also a dual position

QR worries me now that I’ve been running QR15 or 20mm Maxle for ages, it’s just not as stiff and makes the fork feel noodly in comparison…

rickon – Member

My concern with the Coil Sektor is that when compared back to back with a Revelation its just not as nice….

Always been curious what you’d get if you combined a Sektor coil with high-end Revelation damping. Will probably be finding out, if my u-turn air explodes again.

My concerns with the longer fork is it’ll feel rubbish on tight twisty singletrack, and will only feel nice descending steeply. My concern with a shorter fork is that it defeats to point of the BFe.

Yes, long forks feel cack. They may be good for downhill courses but they are shite for trail riding (unless you have absolutely no finesse and just like to hold on and plough through stuff)

The BFe isnt designed around a long travel fork, the angles go all funny. Get a Ragley if you want to run long forks.

You could get a Soul if you want to use shorter forks – but then if you ride downhill tracks, do jumps and ride drops offs (which you can do with short travel forks believe it or not!) then the soul may not be upto the task.

The reason behind the BFe not the Soul with the ability to run a longer fork for trips in the mountains, the seatpost diameter to run my Reverb (I dont think I could ride without it now, just seems to work for me), and the cost.

UTurn does appear to be the right choice, I know LoCo can do a Blackbox rebound unit for the Sektor, which will make it more controlled…. hmmm…..

Personally I think the BFe feels odd on 100mm – for me the sweet spot is 120. Each to their own and all.

About to fit fork to my new BFE Frame.
Choice is Pike Air U Turn 115-140mm travel or
Fox 160 Van
I’d describe my riding as ragged but improving and typically Lakes and Northern Trail centres. The foxes are going on at present will I die…

Trail as opposed to tarmac?

Tricky, yes dying is certain.

When you’re using the Fox is debatable.

iDave… yeah, you know…. mud instead of that black stuff with cars on.

You needs the different rubber for the gripping, or else you be slipping……

innit.

It’ll be for looking at while I’m turbo training, then get sold after a few weeks so I can look at something else riding South Wales 90% of the time, as I live here – so Machen, Sirhowy, Afan, Brechfa, Cwm Carn, Rudry. Some steep, so flowy.

FTFY

Choice is Pike Air U Turn 115-140mm travel or
Fox 160 Van

Pike. You’ll appreciate the versatility of being able to wind it in/out. Being stuck at 160mm would suck I think.

About to fit fork to my new BFE Frame.
Choice is Pike Air U Turn 115-140mm travel or
Fox 160 Van
I’d describe my riding as ragged but improving and typically Lakes and Northern Trail centres. The foxes are going on at present will I die…

As Prezet said, Pike for sure. I manage to mince round the lakes just fine with Pikes on the BFe

Had a Pike on my Soul for a while, tried various lengths, happiest at 140, now have fixed-travel revs on it.

Not remotely convinced about this 120/sweet spot thing.

Hmm…. Rickscratcher…. I know you, you know me.

I hate the turbo, it sucks balls.

Looking like UTurn Sektors with BB rebound may be the way forward.

honourablegeorge – Member

Not remotely convinced about this 120/sweet spot thing.

I thought it was the single best length, for my Soul and my BFe… But I was really glad I wasn’t stuck with just one length, they had more to offer than that, really brought out difference sides of their character.

I know its a Soul but 100/140 works well for me.

Fox Talas 140 on my BFe. Although I find myself riding it mostly on 120mm. Its nice to have some more travel for the rougher terrain, but I wouldn’t want more than 140mm. Comes with 15mm axle.

IMO – the Pike U-turn is the perfect match with the BFe, i wind it write down for the climbs wind it back out for the descends

Sektor with the Uturn coil conversion and balckbox dual flow conversion! You know you want it 😈

La la la la la, I can’t hear you! I think you’re right Sy, BFe seems all about adaptability, and for that you need a travel adjust fork.

Do they not do a UTurn air model in the Sektor? I’m guessing not….

Although looking at it on paper, the dual position Sektor would be spot-on… 120mm for general riding, and 150mm for hooning downhill

Nope no air uturn, but they’ll be deals around for the UTurns as they’re so last year and more adjustable than this years?!
You need to have a feel of the REV RCT3 s though (dual air) as they full amazing out the box 😀

Tell me more about Blackbox Dual Flow – is there any advantage to that over the Motion Control DNA that all the current Revelations have?

It’s alot cheaper mainly 😉

Double post…

Not remotely convinced about this 120/sweet spot thing.

It’s long struck me that the phrase ‘sweet spot’ only has relevance for sporting racquet/bat things and in all other situations it’s just marketing style (often misapplied by consumers as well as producers) bs. I really like my Soul with 140s (and I don’t run much sag and my regular riding is trying to go as fast as possible down some of the tightest twistiest (and fairly flat) singletrack known to man). Obviously ride what you like but Craig’s photo above is interesting – layback seatpost and saddle back – with a straight post and saddle forwards it would climb well without dropping the forks. That may be too cramped but it may not – they’re pretty long frames.

LoCo – Member
It’s alot cheaper mainly

Got it. So leaving my 2012 RLs alone is the best option?

I dont know why but i just want a BFe. Just looks right.

Sektor or Revelation Hon.George?

Rev