FlareMax: can I run...
 

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[Closed] FlareMax: can I run 150mm fork

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Or will I die?
The original spec was 130 front, 120mm back.
Cotic updated that to 140mm front, 132 mm ( changed stroke on rear shock).
If I change the front Pike to 150mm is it sacrilege... will it make it handle like a dog?
Thoughts


 
Posted : 01/04/2020 9:17 pm
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Why do you want more travel on the front? Answers could be:

A: More sensitive suspension due to running more actual sag
B: Takes more to bottom out
C: Higher BB
D: Slacker head angle
E: Higher stack
F: Less reach


 
Posted : 01/04/2020 10:37 pm
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The simple answer is it’s only designed for 130-140mm (551mm CTA unsagged iirc).

Will you die? Depends, if yer really, really, really unlucky you might. Possibilities are you’ll rip the head tube off and you’ll have no warranty. This kind of failure is easy to spot!

Maybe you should trade up to RocketMAX instead?


 
Posted : 01/04/2020 10:44 pm
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Not a good idea at all.

As the guru asks… what change are you after? There may be other ways to get what you want.

I’m running a Fox36 Grip @ 140mm on something very similar. You may just need a better fork, or a fork tune up, or an angleset, or offset bushings, or bigger tyres, or a shorter stem, or your saddle shifting, or some combination of those.


 
Posted : 01/04/2020 10:59 pm
 spev
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I know Cotic say its travel not A to C that you should stick to, but:=

Pike @ 140mm axle to crown 541mm
DVO Diamond @ 140mm axle to crowm 552mm
Pike @ 150mm axle to crown 551mm
DVO Diamond @ 140mm axle to crown 562mm

surely if the leverage of a pike at 150mm is enough to rip a head tube (I'm not convinced) then my DVO Diamond will do at at 140mm ? I'm not an engineer or bike designer and my maths is shonky at best so if i'm wrong please tell me (but dont be mean, its late and im tired)


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 12:23 am
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I’d imagine you will be fine. From memory mag reviewers were running the original Orange Segment at 140mm instead of 120mm and didn’t die.


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 12:30 am
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Pike @ 150mm axle to crown 551mm

561mm

DVO Diamond @ 140mm axle to crown 562mm

552mm

I’m not an engineer or bike designer and my maths is shonky at best so if i’m wrong please tell me

Where did you get your figures from?

Anyway, the frame has not been designed, tested or certified for 150mm forks.


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 12:51 am
 spev
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Pikes from Here

Dvo's from their website but I misread the figures:) did say I was tired though😀


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 1:16 am
 spev
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Oddly, whilst I was rereading stuff ( cos I got it wrong so was re-checking) I see both Fox and Rockshox say +/-5mm for their a to c measurements, so a 150mm pike could be anywhere between 556 and 566 based on nominal being 561mm, seems a bit imprecise that, they seem pretty accurate everywhere else.


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 1:23 am
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Years ago I recall Cotic stating that it was travel not A2C that mattered because in addition to the longer A2C you also have the riding style that tends to go with longer travel and the greater force it takes to bottom out a longer travel fork.


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 9:21 am
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Or will I die?

No.

will it make it handle like a dog?

Quite likely.

As above, why do you want to anyway? 140mm should be more than adequate for shredding the gnar-gnar.


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 9:27 am
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Thanks all
a) buy a rocket> yes - but it is another 2K
b) Why ask - my Pikes are set at 130, I could go 140mm - but I was just turning it up to 11. It's boring at home
c) And yes 140mm is no doubt enough, esp as I don't always use up all the front travel. But again - just thought I would ask.

I will now probably upgrade it to a 140mm airshaft,
Thanks


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 9:32 am
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If you're running debonair Pikes then probably ok. The larger negative air chamber tends to give more sag anyway.


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 9:42 am
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I was thinking about this but ended up with a rocketmax. If, like me, you're a ten stone (now home) office worker who doesn't do anything crazy the you'll probably be okay. I got some advice off a friend to put an angleset in to keep the seat angle, bb and bar height sensible.


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 11:25 am
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I am a 100kg carthorse ...
The FlareMax is the tool for 90% of my riding. I am not sure I can warrant a rocket.
And it would be a charger Pike


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 11:47 am
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Ha, bit trickier. I guess you have to decide how hard you are on bikes and decide if warranty matters. Good luck!


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 1:28 pm
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I love the way there's an actual, genuine Cotic employee on this thread (hiya Kelvin!), who everyone's completely and utterly ignoring 😂🤣


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 1:57 pm
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Barney: we're all tired of experts, remember.


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 2:12 pm
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"b) Why ask – my Pikes are set at 130, I could go 140mm – but I was just turning it up to 11. It’s boring at home"

It isn't all positives, hence my earlier question. Increasing the fork travel by 20mm will slacken the angles by almost a degree, raise the BB about 6mm, shorten the reach, increase the stack, etc and that's ignoring the warranty issue.


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 2:42 pm
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Who’s ignoring Kelvin?
I’m not - and I was hoping he would reply. And his comments have been noted


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 6:05 pm
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All sorted with Kelvin.
They were Debonair BTW


 
Posted : 04/04/2020 9:15 pm

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