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Guten tag.
I’m looking at upgrading the fork on my 2020 Calibre Bossnut. I’m torn as I may upgrade to a carbon 29’er next year, but as I’m going out on the trails 2-4 times a week having something that tracks the ground better as I improve really appeals. Plus I imagine I won’t lose much on it if I refit the original fork for sale and resell the upgrade.
My current fork is a 2020 RS Recon RL 130mm, non boost, which as I understand is a good starter fork with heavy steel stanchions, and damper tech from 2008. I’m keen on any replacement to be 130mm - 140mm to maintain geometry.
So I’ve been reading a lot of singletrack posts which are often recommending the Pike or Mattoc Pro. The Pikes seem to be holding value well second hand at £450+, as well as being mostly 150mm. The Mattoc again seems a longer travel fork, and whilst it isn’t a total deal breaker it wouldn’t fit my RRP Pro mudguard which is fantastic and I’d rather not have to replace.
I’ve seen a FOX Float 34 CTD Kashima 140mm fork for £335 second hand, which from sleuthing Google images looks like a 2014 model. Reviews from around this time don’t speak highly of small bump sensitivity, which is effectively what I’m upgrading for, so I thought I’d see if anyone has any knowledge on whether this would be a worthwhile upgrade?
I’d raise the budget for a better, newer fork but as I can’t take it to a future 29’er that wouldn’t be ideal. That said if I can get good value second hand that will hold (say £550 now, sell for £450 in two years), ideal fork recommendations would also be wicked.
In the week I ride 700ft up to some fairly flat, almost XC+ trails with small jumps and berms. On the weekends I ride blues and reds at the FOD or Quantocks, and will be hitting up Cwmcarn, BPW and other parks in Wales once restrictions lift. I ride as much for the lung busting, technical climbs as I do for the gnarly descents.
Cheers guys!
I can’t comment on the Fox, but Inrexently fitted recon golds to my nephews bike. They seem ok for the money, but are a bit spindly in the stanchion / leg size and feel a bit noodly to me. My bikes have a Lyrik and a Pike between them. The Pike is ideal for 140mm travel - lighter than the Lyrik but still pretty plush.
I sold a secondhand pike for about £275 recently - it seemed about the going rate. That was a 2017 Pike RC.
If you can only get 130mm or 150mm etc then it’s about £50 for a new airshaft to adjust the travel. I’ve changed a few now and it’s about an hours work for me. The only specialist tool you need are circlip pliers - other than that it’s Allen keys and either a 24mm socket or cassette tool to remove the air side top cap.
Cheers Joe! You’re advice is sorting my bike right out!
It seems Pikes went Boost only a few years ago, but Ive managed to pick up a late non-boost one just now ( https://m.pinkbike.com/buysell/2909564/), it’s only been used once or twice and year by the sellers wife, and serviced annually so fingers crossed it’s a good one!
Which brings me to the rear shock, would you recommend a Monarch Plus RC3 or similar?
Looks good, I picked up 2017 (I think) Pikes from here last year to replace Recons and it was a big upgrade.
That Pike should do the job - would assume it’s got a charger 1 damper in it which is pretty good and better made (less plastic) than the charger 2 to at came after it (according to tf tuned).
On rear shocks have you got a standard monarch? I think they’re ok and the rc3 is an upgrade - but I probably wouldn’t bother. If I were to upgrade I’d have a look at a Cane Creek piggy back shock if they make one in the non-metric size you need. Better adjustments and I don’t think Monarchs have the best longevity. Fox Dpx2 is also pretty decent but probably more spendy.
That said - if you’re thinking 29er in the not to distant future I’m not sure it’s worth spending money upgrading the shock.
Was just coming on to say the same, 2nd hand Pike is the answer!
Cracking cheers guys, that’s wicked. Great to hear it’s hopefully a solid choice!
Thanks re the rear shock advice also, is this the Cane Creek one you mean Joe?
https://www.singletrackbikes.co.uk/m7b546s428p56211/Cane_Creek_DBair_IL_/Rear_Shocks/RS_GB/142395
It has a variable lockout that reduces both compression and rebound which is interesting, that could be super useful for the climbs as my current one (RS Monarch as you say) does bob a bit.
Also it comes in 190 X 50mm, my bike is 190 X 51mm... will that stretch or do these fitments have to be bang on?
190x50 and 190x51mm shocks are the same, it's to do with the way the imperial measurement is rounded - up for RS, down for C/C. I'd also speak to someone like TF Tuned about seeing if changing the tune on your current shock is an option.
And be careful that a piggy back shock will fit before you go buying one...
I was thinking a DB Air rather than the linked DB Air inline. Or the new one - Kitsuma Air I think.
On a more budget choice there is also that new Suntour triair which I’ve seen a good review for - although it’s not as adjustable as the Cane Creek shocks.
I’ve seen mixed reports on the db air Inline - I think they had some durability issues when first launched - particularly on suspension designs that might side load them a bit (maybe single pivots with no linkages). Last I heard they’ve sorted those out and I think the Bossnut is a linkage controlled single pivot so should be ok.
I’m just on a basic RS Deluxe RT with a Megneg - it’s pretty good - but doesn’t have adjustable low speed compression - that’s the one thing I’d like to improve on mine.
Cheers guys all super useful!
I’ve found a few new shocks that suit my needs perfectly, but they’re all (understandably) higher end haha - £400 plus. Which I don’t think I can justify simply because they’re so bike specific and I can’t take it with me to the next frame.
This one looks like it’s possibly a good solution though, with the DPS it should be a solid option for climbs as well as descents? And I don’t think I’ll be riding much that demands a piggyback, maybe Cwmcarn when it’s open what do you think as I’ve not ridden it yet but hear it’s a long drop? Anything like the Alps where you’d really need one I’ll hire a rig out there with mates.
I’m I right in thinking this is the right fitment?
Can’t comment on fitment and size - is this effectively rebound adjustable and then a 3 position compression lever? If so it’s probably a small step up from your monarch but not huge. If you just want to firm up the shock when climbing this should do that for you. I find I forget to re-open the lever after climbs and realise as I shake my way down the next rocky downhill!
Cwmcarn main red trails (X2) and blue trail aren’t that hardcore at all. I don’t think either of the downhills are long enough to need a piggyback shock either in all probability. I’ve done the Pedalhounds downhill but quite a lot but I haven’t ever done the bigger downhill trail just because I haven’t worked out how to cycle to the top of it yet.
Haha I know what you mean, so easily done! With a lot of my rides fitness focussed now I’ve got a lot better at being on top of it, still I get it wrong regularly!
If I’m honest with my requirements, which is key here isn’t it or you just keep going up the spec sheet, I absolutely need a lockout/compression reducing lever. That’s my bottom line. I’d also really like some better small bump sensitivity, but I realise that’s what you pay the big bucks for, shocks that can do that and provide the necessary support.
Massively appreciate the shout on the Cane Creek piggyback, but at £599 it’s too high for the frame for me right now. I think I’m down to these at the moment:
Top End: DVO Topaz, £440
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/dvo-suspension-topaz-air-rear-shock/rp-prod163107
Fantastic reviews everywhere, tuneable but simple to set up and can come with a free custom tune if you ask nicely, looks wicked, comes in a padded pistol case for extra points.
Mid Range: Cane Creek DBair IL, £327
https://www.singletrackbikes.co.uk/m7b546s428p56211/Cane_Creek_DBair_IL_/Rear_Shocks/RS_GB/142395
Fits my requirements perfectly, looks brilliant, but questionable reliability record - although apparently whilst the original units were a nightmare, the return figure for these is 2% which isn’t awful. It’s tempting because it’s bang on spec, but it’s a gamble right?
Low End: Fox Float DPS, £200
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254787753271
Gets me the lockout I need. Sounds like it’s a PITA to tune but then rides really well ( https://www.ambmag.com.au/feature/tested-fox-float-dps-performance-elite-482126). Totally appreciate it’s not going to be night and day, but it’s £360 for a DPS new vs £110 for a Monarch R, so it may be a bit better?
Head says the DVO, and keep everything it comes with for resale whenever I change the frame, what do you think?
Great to hear re Cwmcarn, that place sounds ace. Cannot wait to try it out, do you prefer heading there or to FoD?
The Fox is a MM tune and I need an ML...
Rear shocks are going to be harder to pick up second hand I think!
Dvo topaz is supposed to be good, you'll just need to make sure it fits in the frame.
Might also be worth looking at cane creek inline coil, it's good once you've got it set up right and has a climb switch.
Or another coil option is the new marzocchi bomber coil shock? Again make sure it fits as it's piggyback.
I'd give tf tuned a call and see what they suggest..and if you think about coil make sure that it suits the bike, as depends if it's progressive or linear frame etc etc.
I think I’d take the Cane Creeknoption you’ve listed. It’s a chunk cheaper than the DVO but should be more adjustable than the Fox option. With lsc adjustment you should be able to dial enough in to stop bobbing without having to flick on a lockout / pedal platform everytime you do a longer climb. Just a balance of enough to limit Bob without making the shock too harsh for general riding. I’ve got my Bird Aether setup with just a RS Deluxe (no lsc - just either open or pedal) so that I don’t really bother to flick to pedal very often.
Great to hear re Cwmcarn, that place sounds ace. Cannot wait to try it out, do you prefer heading there or to FoD?
I’d typed out a response to this but don’t know where it went. The short version is if you just want to ride marked trail Centre trails then I’d take Cwmcarn. It has a bigger hill and longer descent that are flat out quick. If you want a day with a mixture of trail types and are happy to explore with Trailforks and just following your nose then I prefer FOD. With Cwmcarn you get a series of huge climbs and huge descents - with FOD it’s broken up into shorter sections.