It's very simple to do and requires no special tools.

Just remove the lowers, remove top caps, take damper unit/spring assembly out and place into new uppers. You will have to cycle out the old damper fluid from the damper rod, at least i did as i was using new fluid.

You may have to faff about with a blanking disc located at the bottom of your existing spring side stanchion, it's held in with a circlip type thingy!

That was the only part that was a bugger to do.

Nick.

Hope may well sell you just the caliper 'shell' and you could then rebuild it using the parts off the old caliper?

Fair enough on the Maxle. I found the Rev's on my old 5 too stiff (and heavy) and the 15QR on the Fox a great compromise.

I didn't plan on getting one before i'd sold my 5 but you know how it is….you go on holiday to North Wales and come back with 2 bikes instead of one! 😉

Get some Fox Floats (in white) on there and you're sorted.

Good choice BTW …..i'm loving my 514 and i even like the blue colour coding! Although i didn't at first.

I too think it's the best bike i've owned.

I don't own a 314 but i do have a 514….i'm only a few weeks into owning it but it is amazing.

It just absolutly flies and i just want to ride everything as fast as possible! It also seems to want to take off at every opportunity. I've been cleaning climbs i have struggled to do in the past on my old Orange 5.

I only use the propedal to help prop the bike up and steepen the angles abit when doing road sections or climbs. I also own a Cove Handjob so i prefer a stiffer rear end when climbing most stuff.

….and it is completely bob-free in any gear.

Don't hesitate…buy it!

+1 for The White Room….you get to ride Les Arc as well as loads of other trails in the Tarentaise valley.

I replaced the Fox Floats on my 5 with Rock Shox Revs Maxle.

Initially i was impressed but after a few months i decided that the Rock Shox were inferior in every way except stiffness but not by much.

Now have a Lapierre Zesty that has the new FIT damped Fox 32 15QR and they are superb. Amazingly plush, perfect balance between stiffness and some compliance and very light.

Yes they do require a wiper seal inspection every 15 hours but this equates to about once a month as this is one of two bikes i own. These are by far the best forks i've ever owned.

Yes it's crap but thanks for sharing that with us

What about Mendips then the Q's!!! Mendips is pretty dry and Q's should be too.

Around on Saturday if you'd like a guide for the Mendips. Email in profile.

Maxxis Minion DHF on the front and Crossmark on the rear is a good combo IMO.

Currently running an Iginitor 2.35 LUST and Crossmark 2.1 LUST on my Zesty. A fantastic combination so far.

+1 for 'ro' on the sharki thread 👿

I've owned 5 pairs of Fox forks (2006 32 RL's/2007 32 RL's/2006 32 Vanilla R/2010 32 RL FIT/2006 32 TALAS) and 2 pairs of Rock Shox (2007 Coil Pikes/2009 Revs).

The Fox are by far the better performing fork. Better damping and lighter but the Rock Shox were alot stiffer (too stiff really IMO). The new FIT forks in my lapierre are amazing. A great compromise between stiffness and lightweight.

However….I have never bought Fox forks aftermarket. They have all come on a bike. The Rock Shox were both bought at reduced cost but for good reason IME.

davidtaylforth….you bettter be a riding god to make that sort of comment….or you have no money and you're jealous!

I don't think thats a fair comment MM!

Clearly no one really knows him all that well, or at least a certain part of him. His online and 'out riding' life is one thing and his personal life is just that.

Keep those sorts of comments to yourself 🙄

Hainey…..open your eyes my friend.

Les Arc is just ONE resort in an otherwise very big valley. You made your point on the last thread about Les Arc/Sainte Foy.

Ash…Did i spy Ace of Spades, Vedi Vici whatsit and Helter Skelter in that lot??

Can't wait to ride 'em again but with The White Room 😉

+1 for The White Room…..Roll on September 😀

I was told to take loads of spare pads on our first alps trip last year.

So took 4 pairs each….how many did we use?…..None!!!!

Both our bikes were using Organic Hope pads BTW.

I'm 5' 9" on a Medium Zesty 514. 70mm stem is spot on reach wise. I reckon a 50mm stem is great for the Alps but too short for up/down riding!

Good luck finding one though. I found mine in Revolution Bikes (BAngor) whilst on holidy in North Wales. Supply has pretty much dried up as i understand it.

2.35 Maxxis Ignitor and 2.1 Crossmark on my Lapierre Zesty. So far they seem a great combo for trail centres/rockier places. Crossmark is very fast rolling but seems to grip well under braking too.

Want to get another UST wheelset for my Handjob which i use for local muddy/rooty singletrack. Thinking a 2.35 High Roller Super Tacky on the front and 2.1 Advantage on the rear for that.

I don't think the Maxxis range is that limited really. At least i've found ones i'm happy with.

My wife and i are really sorry to hear about your friend.

We have just lost a friend to cancer (my wives business partner). She was first diagnosed 4 years ago but died last week after a very rapid decline. Even knowing what was coming didn't help with the loss. My wife is particuarly upset. She worked with her every day when she was well enough to work.

You said goodbye and that really is the main thing. This most recent loss to us is our third this year! We both lost a grandmother in January, saying goodbye to them really helped but it's still hard.

Our thoughts are with you and your friends family.

The thought of returning to the Alps this autumn always makes me smile. Here's a photo of the very tip of Mont Blanc as viewed from a clearing in the Sainte Foy forest.

Sorry about your loss. My wife's and my grandmother died on the same night back in January and my wifes business partner died last week so believe me i know how you feel 😐

All i know is this…….I wanted a Lapierre Zesty 514 but…….

…demand is very high and stocks low to non-existent. I want to sell my Orange 5 first but then i went into a bike shop whilst on holiday. Get chatting to them and they confirm that supply is indeed non-existent. There's a 514 on the shop floor which looks lovely.

I return a couple of days later and buy it at full price. I don't even bother asking for discount. Why should i? They swapped the Conti tyres to the Maxxis tyres i prefer for free. They offered great advice and service. I want the bike and feel it's great value and they're a small independant shop so i'm not going to insult them by asking for a discount.

I have no idea what any of this really means. There will always be people who are prepared/able to pay the full price.

Can anyone give me a long-term review of these?

My Zesty 514 has R1 levers/RX calipers and i've only done 3 rides so it's early days so far. The last ride was a very wet July trail at Afan and the noise they made was horrendous!

Running the standard organic pads at the moment…..any recommendation pad wise?

Any tips/advice much appreciated.

Zesty 514…..Goes like a rocket up and down. Makes my old Orange 5 seem pretty crap in comparison.

Lapierre all the way….

Virtuous – The first MTB film in HD.

If you like riding in the Alps you'll love it (and if not it's great anyway). My favourite film by far!

It'll be economy. Unlike some on here i can't afford anything else 😥

Doethie will be sooooo wet but it'll still be great.

+1 for parking at Lynn Briane dam although the climb up from the chapel was completely washed away in the autumn. Must be much worse now surely?!

Might just find myself there this weekend also i reckon……….

DO NOT GET ENDURA 3/4 LENGTH!

I'm on my 3rd (warranty) pair and they always leak aroud the arse seams! I've given up with Endura products….crap IMO.

Good point Konabunny, we don't have to be there for xmas day really….and that might save us abit. Thanks for that.

Going for 2 weeks but can't do more as i get bugger all holiday so i'm making the most of the company xmas shut-down.

I hate the idea of flying for so long but i'll just have to make the most of it!

Looks like Singapore is the winner. Looking to book this week so better limber up the credit card.

We'll certainly consider a stop-over but we want as much time in Oz as possible as i havn't seen my stepfather in 5 years. But the thought of 24 hours flying makes me feel sick.

Thanks for all the replies guys. Much appreciated.

CaptainFlashheart….I take that and raise you!

My father wrote off an Aston Martin V8 Vantage after hitting a fox!!! Although he did have a Jenson Interceptor as a second car 😆

I love my bikes but i wouldn't say no to owning a Mini Cooper 1071 'S' or any ex-works rally Mini. Those in the know will know what i mean.

If it helps i just sold my 2009 Orange 5 (new in August 09) for £1650.

It was an almost standard Pro with Easton finishing kit, Hope Ceramic BB and 2009 Rock Shox Rev's. It was pretty immaculate with only cosmetic wear to the crank arms.

Had abit of interest for the frame but i couldn't be arsed to split it. Got hardly ant interest on here so advertised it on Bikeradar. It sold that evening!!!

My advice…try Bikeradar.

This thread just confirms my thoughts….that certain members of STW are unbelievable!

To slag off someone like that is well out of order!

Others on here are clearly jealous of the fact that Stevo found a niche that no one-else had and took full advantage. Thats business so get over it!!

IMO Trail Addiction and White Room are catering for very different tastes, why can't some of you see that?

Im out!

BTW Freeride addict….Stevo didn't own an Orange 2 years ago.

In regards to 'fully qualified', i was under the impression that the french authorities do not acknowledge SMBLA as sufficient qualification to guide.

Stevo is an International Mountain Leader and Iona an 'aspirant' leader AFAIK. Could be wrong though.

I find it amusing that people will become so possesive when it comes to trails and who discovered them etc etc. The fact is in our week with Stevo last year we only rode Les Arc trails a few times. Apart from one particularly great trail that shall remain nameless :wink:, i didn't actually think they were all that. Partly because they were knackered! I know there are far more that aren't though.

My point is that Stevo operates well away from Les Arc (and La Varda isn't one they usually do anyway) and thats the appeal to those that go there.

Perhaps when it comes to Ste Foy trails maybe the white room are the experts……they live there after all.

BTW You can ride singletrack from the White Room door too 😀

Well…the fact is there are 3 great companies to choose from and more than enough riding for all.

I can also confirm that Ste. Foy most certainly do not run any chairlifts during the summer. I recall Stevo telling me that it takes a team of 6-8 to run a chairlift due to the having enough people to evacuate in case of an emergency!