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Quest to resurrect a 26er singlespeed hardtail to get me biking again. It’s a parts bin budget project but I do have two sets of forks. I think I know the answer but here goes:
I have:
1 x Dialled Love/Hate. (Not sure if designed for 100mm or 110mm fork? There is no external gusset under the headtube so caution prevails)
1 x Sektors RL dual position coil (150mm) 15mm maxle
1 x Tora U Turn (130mm-?) QR
I have a really nice front wheel (Stans Flow Mk3) that I’d saved to use with the Sektors, but that too can be sold to help fund a more suitable fork. I have an odd pair of beater wheels from the old P7, both QR tho. Was hoping to stay with bolthru + Stans Flow + 2.4 tyre as I’m not a svelte rider.
Should I just dial down the Toras and live with the old (QR) XC rim? Or try and sell the Toras and Sektors and try and find something more suited for the frame design, also with 15mm maxle for the Stans? Looking around, 26” forks are few and far and daft prices. I fear a trap!
WWYD?
Depends what kind of riding you're going to be doing. I've got the same Sektor on my Prince Albert. Works well enough. I use it as pumptrack/ messing about type bike now, so I've got it set up as stiff as it can be. An air fork would be a better choice, but slightly more suitable forks for a bike I don't use that much is a way down the spending priority list.
Thnks Ned, going to be using it for all sorts, XC, push and plummet, bike parks, local tracks and trails. A lockout is important as I ride from the door. Not sure how the motion control damping works on the Sektors as never used them yet. The Tora’s lockout works well enough.
What’s the diff with a PA and L/H 150mm seems like a long fork! I bought it to upgrade a 2009 P7, but that seems a more aggro bike than the L/H and was designed around 130mm?
I just leave the DP switch at 120! PAC was intended for 100-140. Short end for 4X and sharp handling, longer end for rougher terrain.
I wouldn't go more than 110mm on a L/H.
A 150mm fork probably won't break it, but it will handle like a pig.
I put a 150mm fork on my L/H a couple of years ago, and it felt very odd.
The seat angle was reeeeeaaallly relaxed, and it felt very wandery.
After that I fitted a Maverick SC32 (120mm, but short a to c) and that was spot on.
From the website: Love/Hate is recommended travel 80-100mm or 440mm rigid fork.
I ran mine on a carbon rigid fork and it was great.
The dual position Sektors can be left at 120 and work pretty much as well as they do at 150
^ That’s good to know thanks. I selected both ‘min’ and ‘max’ (uninstalled) compressed by hand/bodyweight and nothing seems to change no matter either setting. At rest (uninstalled) the seals rest on ‘20%’ travel marker whatever.
Bought them (used) a few years ago at an event day for pocket change, so will just bung them in and see what happens. I mean, what’s the worst that can happen? 🤣
Yeah, you have give them a good bodyweight heave down on the bars, brakes on, to switch the travel.
Wouldn't be surprised at all if you weren't able to do it uninstalled. Doubt I'd be able to.
I had a L/H. Loved it but went 29er and Dialled never did. Shame as Dialled was my event sponsor for a while.
*bump*
Anyone know t possible to lower the travel below 120mm by modding the Sektors?
I bought my Love/Hate about 12 years ago. It came with Marzocchi Bombers (not sure what travel), but as it was used mainly for trailer pulling (initially) I fitted Pace RC31 rigid forks. It’s still mainly used for family rides. The kids are 13 and 11 now and running bikes with decent suspension forks, but I love it with the rigid forks, it’s pretty light, nimble and direct and is a good ability leveller, making sure I don’t take everyone down a route they’ll find too challenging and not enjoy.
I thought about kitting it out with rigid forks but I don’t have a hardtail/sus bike at all since the last one rusted through. Sounds ace though. It does seem a fairly light frame for 520/steel. I’ll give it a go as a hardtail for a while then consider retiring it on (and me) on a rigid carbon fork.
Parts bin rolling chassis shoved together today, can’t try compressing the forks properly until fitted but they are sitting on the lower end of the DP so around 120mm at a guess. There are some (Alivio) square taper cranks and ring to go on, some old Avid Juicy 3 brakes, so nearly there, just a chain and brake service, B/B and headset.
Doesn’t look too mad? I reckon that BB height is enough tho, even without a headset 😑 Exciting times as haven’t been MTBing proper (with sus forks) for a couple of years now.
#notmylawn