[Closed] Cotic BFe, as a trail bike... perfect fork?

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.

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[s] riding South Wales 90% of the time, as I live here - so Machen, Sirhowy, Afan, Brechfa, Cwm Carn, Rudry. Some steep, so flowy.[/s]

FTFY

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

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.

[img] [/img]

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

[IMG] [/IMG]

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

Compression damper wise yes, rebound damper I'll let you know in a few weeks after I've bedded my DNA damped revs in and had a play with some parts.

454 Air U-turn Pikes on mine. I do like the adjustability but tbh, most of the time it just stays in 140 mode, other than pumptracks and hitting sweet booters that is! I used to drop them for climbs, I just can't really be bothered now.

LoCo - Member
Compression damper wise yes, rebound damper I'll let you know in a few weeks after I've bedded my DNA damped revs in and had a play with some parts.

Cool... will keep that in mind.

Actually - while you're here - have a set of Pike 454 Air U-Turns, old ones, that are wearing the stanchion, on the front of the spring side. Are they for the bin?

Probably, as a new csu, bushes and service (even discounted) would work out about the same as a set of Sektor Coil on offer.
Rockshox CSU units are really exspensive.

LoCo - Member
Probably, as a new csu, bushes and service (even discounted) would work out about the same as a set of Sektor Coil on offer.
Rockshox CSU units are really exspensive.

Thought as much. Damn, they were/are a great fork, working perfectly in every other aspect. Can't really sell them now. Cheers anyhow.

Ride a Soul myself, tried 100mm, 120mm and 140mm all Fox Forks as well as an old Rev 130 u'turn.
Have to say my favourite was the 140mm for the Peaks and most trail centres, you just have to move your weight around more on the singletrack. Have a 120mm on at the moment while the 140mm is on another bike. If I could afford it I would definitely get an adjustable fork especially for a BEFE, 150mm to 120mm would be perfect.

running fox vanilla on mine for the last 3 years

excellent

cant be arsed with adjustable

repatriot - do you mean 150/120 dual position, or U-Turn?

Having run all manner of Revs, from top end black box team, race, to coil uturn sektors, dual air sektors, I can honestly say my coil Lyriks at 140 are bang on.

Was thinking about what Cy has planned for the next BFe update - I'm guessing the new 44mm headtube he's been putting on the 9er's - would make it nice to be able to run tapered forks.

I'd also like to see replaceable mech hangers like the Soul.

I reckon a u'turn because the dual 120/150 is really a setting for climbing, not a fully open setting. (I think?)
Gives you the option for dialling in the fork for the terrain. 150mm might be to much for flatter terrain!
I heard the next generation cotic soul and befe will have new 44mm headtube to future proof it.
My 140mm is a vanilla too, ace fork.

Interesting thread. Looking at exactly the same. Thanks to all, keep advice and experience coming please.

Nope, the 120/150 dual position is full open - with that in mind, does that make it ideal?

Or would I actually miss just hooning around at 140 all of the time, and not fiddling with anything?

built up and off for a ride....any comments welcome
http://catgreenhorse.pinkbike.com/album/bfe/
do not know how to post pics onto here directly.Sorry

seriously, its 20[b]12[/b]

so your fork travel should be 120mm, 110 will be far too twitchy and anyone considering 130+ obviously cant ride for toffee.

im certain, from reading on here, this applys to any cotic frame but i suspect that it is true for any manufacturer

Nice bike tricky dick,
Beauty of the befe is flexibility to run 100mm up to 160mm.
Obviously a 100mm fork is going to effect the type and style of riding your going to do as much as 160mm fork will do.
Being over biked or under biked is no fun, thats why getting a fork with some adjustability is a good idea for a trail bike like the befe.
I imagine getting the most out of a befe with a 160 fork, takes a lot of toffee!

Get a 44 micro switch - 150mm travel for the downs and 130 (ish) for the ups - light, plush as a plush thing, and a 3 year maintenance warrenty checkout our video on a Bfe with these - [url=

Right then, it's now built and with Fox 140 Kashima RLCs.... it feels perfect at 140, no way slack feeling, if anything it feels steep; there's nothing I couldn't climb on the BFe that I could climb on a 100mm race hardtail.

I have to say though, it's a proper hooligan - I've never ridden something that's so rewarding for being brutal with the front end.

Photos Rickon?

I agree they're rewarding. I love mine, can't see me wanting any other bike for a long time.

@rickon - thanks for the update, a photo would be great.

I love mine, 140mm Pike coils on it. It feels so much fun, when standing up it feels steep. With all this fashion of super slack head angles you can forget how much fun a quick handling front end is great fun when the terrain is flatter.

[img] [/img]

140mm Fox RLC Kashimas, Sram X0 mech and shifters, XT double, Crests on Hope Pro3s, Monkeylight bars, Hope Race X2 brakes, ESI grips.

Pretty damn light, and ridiculously fast and inspiring downhill. 140 feels perfect for all day riding.

After 2 weeks of trial and error I have removed the 160 Fox 36's Van I had in favour of the Pikes that I had left in the corner at build time.

I think a few of you were right about the Van being a little bit of overkill. The Pikes do give the bike a much nicer feel, it now climbs well and feels to have sharpened up the steering but it still goes down the hill like the clappers.

In terms of tyres I had tried the CST BFT 2.4" but have found them poor on punctures, 5 so far, maybe I've been unlucky but I had assumed these would have performed better than this. Also they had made the bike feel very sluggish has anyone else got any experience of these tyres?

Overall I like the bike very much.

Richard

Interesting I was eyeing up those tyres for mine, I have Super Tacky Swampthings on it at the moment and it still feels nimble.

XS BFe being delivered Friday to build up into an AM hardtail. Got some 130-150 Marzocchi 44 to plug into it. Tempted to leave them at 150 and just go for it, but since I'm used to a 100mm fork anyone reckon I would be better off adjusting down to 130 and running it like that for a while?

slainte ❓ rob

yes

I'd go solo air revs spaced to 120-130mm.

It's a hartail, you don't need short forks for good climbing, 140mm+ on a hardtail starts to feel wrong.

120-130mm seems like the sweet spot, just enough gain good control in the rough, not so much the geo goes weird and accelerates you over the bars when your front wheel gets gobbled by an unexpected hole on the way down.

not so much the geo goes weird and accelerates you over the bars when your front wheel gets gobbled by an unexpected hole on the way down.

I'd have thought a longer fork would make that less likely, not more.

I'd have thought a longer fork would make that less likely, not more.

A long fork will travel further, thus making the geo change even more. If you have a short fork on there the geo isnt going to change as much.

Not a Bfe but look what the TNT man brought me last Friday:

[IMG] [/IMG]

[IMG] [/IMG]

[IMG] [/IMG]

Fence, grass, fruit trees... yes yes yes all need sorting.

A long fork will travel further, thus making the geo change even more. If you have a short fork on there the geo isnt going to change as much.

Exactly, you have to make bigger adjustments to counteract the bigger change in COG, this combined with the fact that a lot of the time 150ishmm forked people never leave the ground, run loads of sag so they can get full travel, resulting in a divey fork.

But if the long travel fork was ran hard, keeping the axle to crown high, keeping the HA slack, this would prevent you diving over the bars.

It's not so much the suspension travel allowing these hardcore hardtails stability, it's the slack HAs the long travel forks bring with them. The forks need to be ran harder than maybe some are willing to to maintain the slack HA.

For example a 67* HA 100mm bike will dive less, and be more stable than a 150mm travel 67* HA bike.

bikebrechfa are running 150-130 micro switch and plenty of posts on here from owners happy with140 and 150 forks which is what I'm going with, 110-140 or 120-150.

davidtaylforth - Member
I'd have thought a longer fork would make that less likely, not more.
A long fork will travel further, thus making the geo change even more. If you have a short fork on there the geo isnt going to change as much.

Depends how it's set up. And even if your statement were true, a 150mm fork dropping 40mm is still less likely to tip you over the bars than a 120mm one dropping 20. Not to mention the effect of the slacker HA.

And even if your statement were true, a 150mm fork dropping 40mm is still less likely to tip you over the bars than a 120mm one dropping 20.

My statement is true 😆

But why would it only drop 40mm? Surely its setup incorrectly if it does. The whole point of having 150mm of travel is so you have 150mm of travel, not 40mm of travel.

For example a 67* HA 100mm bike will dive less, and be more stable than a 150mm travel 67* HA bike.

Yes but a BFe with bottomed out 150mm forks will have virtually the same HA as a BFe with bottomed out 100mm forks. And as we are talking about Bfe's the point being discussed in moot no matter how true it is.

Depends how it's set up. And even if your statement were true, a 150mm fork dropping 40mm is still less likely to tip you over the bars than a 120mm one dropping 20. Not to mention the effect of the slacker HA.

Using this example is perfect. Suppose your situation above, 120mm has gone through 20mm of travel, your 150mm has gone through 40mm of travel, you yourself have stated that there is a bigger change with a longer travel fork. With a larger change in travel on an impact, a larger shift in body weight is needed to counteract this shift that is tending to throw your weight forward.

Then you have the HA aspect, for arguments sake the 150mm sits at 67* static, the same frame will sit about 68* static with a 120mm fork. Using your scenerio, 150mm compresses 40mm, the resulting HA will be about 69*. Again with the 120mm fork, it compresses 20mm, the resultant HA will be about 69*, so dynamically the HAs will be the same, but the longer travel fork will have more tendency to compress making the sweet spot of balance shift further and more quickly.

Hopefully that's making sense?

Longer travel forks will give more traction, it's a balancing act between traction and handling (comfort too).

Will I DIE when I get mine and put 150rl's on it?

Probably, I've died 8 times with coil Lyriks on my BFe. 😯

revelation rct3 here. light and squidgy. the three position compression whatsit is most excellent. I run them long with plenty of sag.

Probably, I've died 8 times with coil Lyriks on my BFe.

only 1 life left then snakebite 😯

I'd go solo air revs spaced to 120-130mm

just like this then. (but on a BFe)

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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/17059060@N00/6618770011/ ]P1040284[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/17059060@N00/ ]eastham_david[/url], on Flickr