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Does it make sense to be fitting a longer fork after fitting a angleset? Will it improve handling and make it even more slacker?
Angleset = lower front end, lower bb.
Longer fork = raises front end, lifts bb + more travel!
I've got some Fox 34's that can be taken from 140mm to 150mm with a airshaft. Its around 67deg with angleset @ 140mm.
will make the bike about 1/2 degree slacker still if you do
It's often a good idea for the reasons you state!
Cool - I was hoping at @150mm it would actually be better overall.
What angleset did you fit? 1 or 2 deg?
You don't quite get the full angle stated as the bike rotates around the back axle so the actual head and seat tube angle of the frame steepen but the fork is kicked out. You will lose a tiny bit of that bb drop and seat tube steepening by adding the extra 10mm travel but I would do, and did do, exactly what you are thinking going for a 150mm fork on my bike when I fitted a 2deg angleset. Never looked back, bike feels lovely and planted with the longer wheel base from both combined.
Also did it to my solaris when going 100 to 120mm fork with a -2deg angleset to slacken it out.
Do it unless your bike lifts when climbing and is already front wheel light!
I run a Cube Stereo 140 -1deg and 20mm overforked from new. Never ran the frame in it's standard guise as it was ideal for both mods. It was sold 10mm overforked a year into it's production run and raced 20mm overforked by the factory team. It already had a ridiculously low BB, so the slight rise improved it. A reasonably steep seat tube (not particularly steep by 2020-21 standards) and pretty low standover/short seat tube, for it's year, which was unusual for older Cube frames. The replacement model actually got 20mm longer seat tubes and 10mm shorter chainstays, which was a weird decision IMO!
I did try an offset bushing but the bike sat too low and suffered more pedal strikes (170mm cranks). Even as is, it's still low to the ground compared to many!
Mk1, pretty much turns it into a mk2. Tbh I've never really taken to the solaris like I did my mk1 scandal 29er. It was supposed to replace my scandal as a "racey" xc bike but after fitting angleset I got carried away fitting longer forks, upgraded damper, 4 pot brakes, wide carbon rims, shorter stem, wider bars... And it turned into a bike I took everywhere as it was just so capable.. In short it turned into a bit of a monster that just wants to go faster
Thanks andyl, I did something very similar with a Genesis High Latitude and as you found it became very capable all round and still surprisingly good at more xc stuff. Just wondered if I made right decision as Solaris mk2 was an option.
Op, definitely go for it with longer fork!
Do you guys replace the stem with a slightly longer one to compensate the loss of reach?
Will it improve handling and make it even more slacker?
It will make it slacker. Whether it's an improvement or not will depend on the bike, the type of riding you do, personal preference, etc. Can't hurt to try.
I fitted a shorter stem. The reach was 465mm and spec stem is 70 and now on 55. It is a bit shorter but not enough to make a difference. Went wider bars too. Handles great though.
Try what you have a and go from there.