Which budget forks??

I have some MX Comp airs that i was gonna switch across to my new build, but the steerer is silver and just doesn’t match and being that im building it myself and for the first time i just want everything to be perfect.

So onto my question, im probably only gonna have about 100 to 150 to buy the forks what do you guys recommend?

Oh and the steerer has to be black lol and i’d love a lockout of some sort.

cheers guys.

The steerer??

You don’t see the steerer??

I confused.

Stanchions maybe?

I suppose you see a bit of the steerer with some stems e.g. Thomson X4

Personally – given your budget, I don’t think your rich enough to be that picky

No such thing as a budget fork mate. Buy a pogo stick instead.

For the same money, get a quality carbon rigid fork and a fatter front tyre. Lighter, faster, and doesn’t turn to sh1t after 2 weeks of real use.

(or spend some serious money on a suspension fork)

woops i wrote steerer instead of stanctions. Well im only gonna be using them for xc and single track and my mx comps were fine for that and they cost £120.

RS Tora, but to be honest you’re throwing money away as you won’t get much for that and the money could be better spent elsewhere.

bit harsh fellas – have had 2 pairs of toras & ragged them here there & everywhere & were fine.Put a wanted add in the classifieds with your price,you may be surprised at what turns up.

So we are taking cheapwith black stantions

I looked here

seems easier if you want a through axle thing

John

PS I feel very dirty helping with colour matching!

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=category&categoryId=16

If you can stretch a bit what about some Revelation 426s, light & good reviews; http://www.mtbr.com/cat/suspension/2007-forks/rockshox/revelation-426/PRD_414421_1550crx.aspx

I picked some up from JE James for £225 but I think they are all sold out now.

“No such thing as a budget fork” – what nonsense! Honestly, we’re not all made of money nor professional racers!
IMO, you can easily get a fork that’ll do the job (i.e. suck up enough of the bumps to have fun) for the budget. May not be light or have loads of adjustment, but it’ll be fine.
Merlin are doing the Rockshox Recon 327 for £150 – that’s not a bad weight at all, and they’re reviewed well. Plus, if you can stretch your budget to £175 you can shed a few pounds and get the Recon SL! I think either would be great (and probably a noticeable step up from MX Comps) neither has poploc but hey, they’re both black!

Hope that helps!

cheers mountainmonkey as i said only gonna be using them for xc and singletrack and just aint got the money to throw away on £300 + set of forks.

So should i give the Tora’s a miss? there is some good deals on crc? but so many different models its confusing.

Toras are good forks. Heavy, yes. Simple, yes. But they actually work properly, and can be serviced and repaired, but if Merlin are doing Recons for £150, get those!

You might pick up some used Fox Vanillas for that price though, and they are just as good.

what about these

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/id35024.html

Any good?

I’m with Peter Poddy

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=product&productId=1530&categoryId=18

Yep, as I said earlier – go for the Recons – they’re a better fork than the Toras and you won’t regret it!

Follow the link above and buy! (Then fit, fiddle ever so slightly and the get out and enjoy!)

I believe that the ones from Merlin are OEM forks intended for the build of Merlin or Rock Losters and the steerer tubes are pre-cut to length for them.

i think moseymtb wants black stantions to match his bike,
still dont think your gonna feel that much of an upgrade from the MX’s,
but the look is more the issue.

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=product&productId=1131&categoryId=17
black stantions and good review here
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/forks-suspension/product/xc500-11040

EDIT; the manitou r7s 2006 came with black stantions aswell, if you can find them, what travel do you need thats kinda important

Yeah to be honest i dont ride anything other than singletrack and xc so travel wise the Tora’s are perfect. As its a build im on a budget and just want the forks to finish the job. The Mx Comps have been fine but i want a lockout. Really like the white finish on the 318 Coil U-Turns and would look sweet on the bike.

Did anyone look at the Je James link would they be suitable for just pootling around on?

Looks like them Toras have silver stantions though?

barrrrfg!

I have recons, they are very very good if you can pick them up for £150, feel like a much more expensive fork

Seems a bit silly to pay out for budget U-turn forks (the Tora from Je James) when you don’t need to adjust the travel. If you want 100/120mm travel then I really don’t think you can do better the the recon for the price – that’s a fork much more suited to the riding you’ve described than the U-turns. The toras might look nice, but if they’re much heavier and a worst performer, do you really want them?

I agree with diglover as everything I’ve heard also says the Recons feel like a much more expensive fork.

If it were me I wouldn’t get a worse fork just based on colour. But hey,
it’s totally your choice!

I would sell my Tora 318’s (like in the link above) for £100 posted if you are interested. They are the 07 or 08 model and are white. E-mail in profile if you would like some pics.

I thought Toras were the same as Recons (assuming you get motion control damping) apart from heavier materials and no travel indicators on stanchions!?