Lightish 120mm XC/Trail fork of choice

So in a little bit of a weird situation, have the opportunity to buy either of the below options, new old stock for about the same money, roughly £450 for either of them if I buy on Monday…

– Fox 34 Factory Step Cast FIT4 120mm (2022-2023)

– RockShox SID Ultimate Race Day 120mm (2022 C1 model I believe)

I’m in the market for a new 120mm fork to go on my Scott Spark, both seem to have their upsides and downsides and finding it tricky to find people that have or have ridden both. I’ve previously been a RockShox rider and these will be replacing a set of 2015 SID forks so I’d imagine would be an improvement either way!

I don’t have to buy either of these but also know I’m going to get some replacement forks in the next few months and these seem decent deals for either! Also don’t really want to go over £500 if I can avoid it!

Happy to take suggestions for if I should be looking at something else! A set of Manitou R7 caught my eye but pretty sure that’s a good bit heavier but like the potential adjustability?

They’re both great forks but both have their quirks. The Fox 34SC is solidly built but can only take a maximum size of 2.4 inch tyre if that is an issue for you. Also, some people don’t like the Fit4 damper (I owned a regular Fox 34 with this damper a few years ago and it was fine).

The SID rides like a trail fork and is a good bit stiffer than the Fox, the damper is great, but the first generation ones suffer with bushing play issues and there are reports of damper longevity issues. Both of these issues were fixed on the latest gen SID but you are looking at a good bit more cash then.

I would personally go with the Fox 34SC.

The sid’s had some problems with bushing wear when new.

Has that been sorted?

I had a pike that was at 120mm and awesome.

What’s a few 100g Vs longer lasting fork with the right tire clearance for you

Ive got the Fox 34 SC factory with Fit4 damper. Not had Sids but was put off by the bushing issues. Great fork. Only issue ive had is it ramps up quite a lot even without any tokens in there. Installed a Trutune carbon thingy that solved that though.

I’ve got both a Fox SC Fit4 (120mm) and a Sid (100mm). I greatly prefer the Sid. Fit4 feels harsher, even with more travel. Minor point, but I’m also not a fan of the recessed nuts on the SC for servicing purposes either.

Mmmm, interesting feedback. Seems to suggest if I want performance go for the SID or longevity the Fox..

The new SID is eye wateringly expensive in comparison, especialy for the RCT3, but I do wonder if I do get the bushing play issue 18 months down the road what it’d be warrantied with now as understand they don’t keep old parts stock in that long (from a previous warranty I had to do on a rear shock)

The bushing play is apparently to do with the fact that on the first gen 35mm SIDs (i.e. not the 32mm ultralight SL models) the stanchions only engage with the top bushings until they get into their travel so they have to deal with more force.

On the new version, they lengthened the stanchions so they engage with both top and bottom bushings from the go.

The bushing play is definitely a thing – I own a SID in the Select+ variation (Charger 2 damper) and have had it on two sets of lowers now. There’s no way that I would buy one of the older generations now but there are people who have had no issues with them. Its a shame because apart from the bushing issue it’s been a highly capable fork.

Outside of the warranty period, the fact that you have to replace the entire lowers at £200 a pop rather than simply being able to replace a couple of £2 bushings like on other forks is obscene. Apart from that it’s a great XC fork

How’s about a reliable option of a DVO Sapphire

Have you thought about a Manitou Mattoc? You could get an Expert for that money:

https://www.starbike.com/en/manitou-mattoc-expert-suspension-fork-15-110mm-44os/?country=GB&currency=GBP&keep_params&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwhIS0BhBqEiwADAUhcxto5v4lb2oamCHS96S2G1A5D8_bogPiG5gj4y5wXi5iBLarRUNHPhoC_ggQAvD_BwE#143498

DT F232 120mm? – I’ve got he 100mm on my hardtail and they’re very capable.

Having tried a pal’s new SID (the 35mm version) vs my RCT3 Pike I’d go for a quality Pike.

The SID had the feel that my old RS Reba black-box had, that slight ‘rubbery’ damping feel – didn’t like it.

Weight-wise isn’t a Pike only 150g heavier?

Try 500g+

Mattoc looks good and gets decent reviews. At the risk of being very naive, would anyone worry unduly about buying a fork from Europe (Starbike etc)? Warranty could be tricky but I see TFT service manitou. Not sure if manitou have a proper distributor or shops in the UK since hotlines demise.

Try 500g+

Gone for a quick look, Ultimate level works out at 400g.

Still prefer the feel of my Pike over his SID.

The SID had the feel that my old RS Reba black-box had, that slight ‘rubbery’ damping feel – didn’t like it.

This is my feel of the majority of RS forks. The only one I have liked the feel of was top-level damper on Lyric.

I fitted a pair of 120mm Fox 34 Factory FIT SC with the 3 pos lock-out to my bike to replaced a set of borked 32’s of a similar ilk for general X type stuff including racing XCO, XC and some marathon type work and they’re ace.

I’ve a set of  RockShox SID Select RL3 Air custom Charger 3-mode damper 120mm forks, 44mm offset – 152mm steerer – that came off a Spark – I had them up for sale here a month or so ago – was looking £260 if they’d be of interest  ?

MY24 Pike Ultimate with the charge damper is 1.88kg

MY24 SID Ultimate SL is 1.35kg

That’s 500g+ in anyone’s book.

MY24 SID Ultimate SL is 1.35kg

The SL doesn´t come in 120mm flavour. The 120mm SID Ultimate is pretty much 1,500g on the mark.

Ah – fair point.