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I have a love for 29 plus bikes and generally keep rigid these days due to age/ injury meaning little gnarr/speed or requirement for suspension ...I also enjoy the lack of change in geometry when braking etc as well as using tyre pressure changes to make both road or ploughed field riding enjoyable . I also often carry heavy loads so my ideal machine is along the lines of a surly ogre/longitude/ecr ?(perhaps) or similar. I have the first two and a pugsley as well with which the Q factor has given me some issues knee wise but thats another story and ..as usual ..I'm rambling and heading off topic !
If you're still with me I still feel that I would enjoy the same type of bike/bikes but occasionally with a suspension fork up front . All those mentioned (+ most other similar contenders ) have old skool headtubes and require 1 1/8th straight steerers . Also although forks are available ..many will not take 3" tyres and people have got round this using lefties, maverick and some older fox34's ? etc but those are hard to source and I normally need a long steerer as well . SO! ........ my best solution is the following and please tell me if there are better ideas/solutions on a lowish budget and if I've missed or forgotten something .
If I can source a 2016 genesis Longitude frame ...the only version that came with a tapered headtube and suspension corrected fork ( rigid aluminium ) then I could ditch that and ..if funds allowed ..buy a 29 plus compatible tapered steerer fork such as these I see on sale in Germany :
https://www.bike-discount.de/en/rockshox-yari-rc-29-debonair-tapered-boost-1
It would be a big outlay for me and I haven't checked what axle to crown measurement I need to say within to avoid ruining the ride but pricewise they look a good a great deal . Any other forks/ideas suggestions would be much appreciated and I know 29x 3 is fading ..as are tyres etc but it just suits me and I have several sets of tyres and wheels to keep me going at my age ..perhaps to the end !
Hoping 2023 brings peace and well being to you all .
Bill in Devon
Trek Stache or Roscoe, or Specialized Fuse perhaps if you can live with alloy or carbon?
Trek stache or if your budget reaches further a trek 1120
Second hand fatbikes can be had for not a lot of money these days. Some but not all fatbikes will take a 29x3.00 tyre. This would involve having another set of wheels built but no problems with clearance. You could then get a RS Bluto if you fancied suspension. Not a cheap option I know.
I did this for the Surly Wednesday I already had and it works really well.
Nice idea but I get Q factor related knee pain hence something with a standard bb width would be better .
I'd considered a Stache but it's rather more sporty than touring /bimbling biased so not quite what I'm after .
Just remembered they did a touring stache with bolt on racks, 1120? Not seen many about and it wasn't cheap to begin with.
Yeah, the 1120. Not cheap but I'll admit to being tempted.
Budget is cheap as possible ..hence the used longitude frame idea with any half decent fork that will work ( not many ! I tend to use a rack + panniers . No doubt the 1120 would be out of my price range .
Fargo? Reach is short for flat bars but not impossibly so. Takes a suspension fork. Not cheap though.
How about Kona X and then add in a fork when your ready or there's the Surly Bridge club (I think it is), the 1120 whilst beautiful is mucho £ around 2K IIRC.
James
Oh and Surly Krampus, should have thought of that sooner :/
I've a krampus frameset for sale just now Bill! Size large, tho from fatbike forum days Ah'm pretty sure you're on a smaller size.
Hapoy new year wherever yer plus size adventures take you!
Well what I’ve learnt is that Bike-discount post to Britain! Just in time for a complicated brake upgrade
I think the Kona Unit x and Bridge Club are suspension corrected. So rigid only
To the OP I can’t see why that fork won’t be fine. But I’m me expert
i have had a whole load of 29+ stuff in the past, a Jones (dont believe the hype) 2 x Surly ECR's which were probably the best at the 29+ platform, and my current bike a ti fargo which also takes a 3'' tyre.
the ECR with a 3'' tyre is awesome and needs no suspension fork.....IMHO.
The Unit takes a 100mm Sus fork, downtube kinked for clearance and 44mm head tube for versatility. Rear wouldn't take a 3 inch tyre though.
I've not tried one myself but the Lauf fork is meant to be good for a bit of shock absorption if you don't want loads of travel. Seen a few pics of the them on MTB hardtails rather than the usual gravel bikes and think they look great.
Genesis tarn but I think you’d be limited to 2.6 rear? Runs rigid or 120mm fork. Usually plenty around second hand.
Sorry I missed the budget bit!
Whilst not really keeping to budget for all those thinking about the Trek 1120 you can buy the fork and rack separately. Might give more options if you don’t need a 3” tyre in the rear.
Thanks for all the ideas .. I have considered most of them previously but it seems a niche that is very hard to find or at least on a budget . The ECR would be close to perfect if it came with a 44mm headtube and higher bottom bracket ...although if running 3" tyres it seems great for my usage requirements . Unfortunately they are also seemingly very sought after going by the FB fanboys and girls . The Krampus was considered but it's more trail than touring although It might be the answer .. Annoyingly I bought a frame and fork ( touring version ) years ago but sold it on before building it up .
Re the lauf fork ... I personally am not keen on the look or price tbh . I have also considered having a different headtube fitted which again is not cheap and also pondered whether I should find a suitable tapered fork and have an adaptor/ straight steerer fitted by a company like RSF ? In Plymouth but that's £200 alone on top .
Not an easy project it seems but I will get there eventually !
Rankbadin ... I have messaged you .
All the best
Bill
Just realized a singular rooster would be another candidate.
If anyone knows if or comes across any of the suggestions for sale used ..either complete or f+ F ..could you possibly give me a heads-up ..sizewise normally large or occasionally XL but virtual TT on my bikes is around 61 cm give or take an inch either way.
Much appreciated
Bill
Bombtrack beyond+
some cheap ones were online somewhere a while ago.
https://www.lyonequipment.com/bikes/bombtrack
Think this is where the cheap ones where but no + models now
I stand corrected on the kona unit x fork length