You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
My 14 year old has had a growth spurt and so his 13.5” Felt now looks like a clown bike. Although it’s 26” it has a decent spec with 1x10 Deore with a wide range cassette so I thought just a frame upgrade might be a good option.
I’ve managed to get the frame I always wished I’d bought: a Mk1 Cotic Soul 26. It looks in good nick but I’m planning on getting it powder coated with new decals (don’t worry- I’ve read all the.’best colour’ threads!)
It’s a 1 1/8” non-tapered headtube. His current forks are Suntour Raidon with 100mm travel. I also have some 26” Bomber XC Pros lying around, but I’m guess they’d be heavier and need a replacement spring for a lighter rider.
I can’t find any specific geometry details on the Mk1 Soul but understand it was designed to run a 120mm fork. He’s pretty beige with his riding and so won’t be hammering down anything too technical. Will a 100mm fork be ok? If not any suggestions re: good value second hand air fork options? Am I best sticking to 26” or would 27.5” be an option (with a 26”wheel and maybe winding down or running a little more sag?)
I know the Singletrack collective will have tried most options so thought I’d pick your brains!
My Mk1 has always run with 100mm travel, think it was intended for 100-120mm.
Might be decent fork options available on ebay that will suit.
I've a RS Revelation 27.5 in the classifieds, it's tapered steerer so may not suit. Think I also have a 120mm airshaft for it.
I had a mk1 soul many moons ago and put a DT Swiss XMC 130 (130mm) and really liked it.
here's the link to the mk2 spec: https://www.cotic.co.uk/product/classic_soul
says 100mm minimum, max 140mm
if it helps I ran my mk3 with a 27.5 fork with 130mm pike (which I figured was the same as a 26 fork with 140mm of travel) and it felt pretty good.
The challenge in my experience will be finding non-tapered forks. My son had a XS Cotic Soul and it had RS SID Race forks on it which were perfect as they were nice and light and being air could be set up for the lighter rider. Looked like these (although I certainly didn't pay that kind of money for them):
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203736222829?hash=item2f6fa00c6d:g:FKAAAOSwcw5hAdOf
I run a Cotic Soda as a winter singlespeed bike with an old set of coil pikes. I think this will be a similar geometry. I have always run them at 120mm.
Set of Bomber MXC or classic Z1 BAM for that size or RS Revs/Pikes with air and U Turn (426). 27.5 in a straight steerer will be like hens teeth so I'd forget that for now.
I have a set of straight steerer 26er REVs in great condition that will be going in the classifieds if you are interested. I think they were originally 140 travel but have been reduced to 120, still have the 140 airshaft.
My Mk1 Soul has an old, straight steerer 140mm Pike 26". I heeded the warnings that the extra length would break it but went ahead anyway. I think it rides really well. I originally had a 100mm Magura Menja on it, but we ride differently these days, don't we. It would feel very precarious if I went back to that.
I had 150mm forks on my mk2 for years, worked brilliantly, despite everyone saying it was too much.
A 650b fork and 130mm forks will be grand.
That’s for all the advice. Sounds like the 100mm forks I have way be worth a try initially, but I’ll keep an eye out for 26” bargains. hardtailtony, your 27.5 Revelations look a lot of fork for the money but aren’t an option unfortunately because of the tapered steerer.
bsims and asbrooks ygm.
Looked like these (although I certainly didn’t pay that kind of money for them):
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203736222829?hash=item2f6fa00c6d:g:FKAAAOSwcw5hAdOf
/blockquote>I saw these as well but I think things are moving away from obsolete bargains towards the retro bike premium market!
That seller is just taking the piss, has a load of barely retro stuff they want daft money for. Same as the twunt hoarding all the old Hope stuff.
Christ, I've some xmm140 (26", bolt thru with straight steerer) I'd sell for less than that.
I have the mk2 and have been running 100mm fox vanillas. It's been great for xc riding. I've had to transfer those over to my sons bike (he has an xs adults specialised that I bought with some horrible forks so needed an upgrade) the 26er vanillas take a 27.5 wheel comfortably by the way. I'm looking for some 120mm (straight steerer and qr) for my soul but they are hard to find and seem to command top dollar.
Some Reba SL's (100mm) on Pinkbike with a long and straight steerer here for 125:
https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/3227525/
I had a Mk1 Soul and only recently stopped riding my Mk1 Soda.
120mm is indeed the sweetspot. 100mm will be absolutely fine in an XCish way.(I originally built my Soul with 100mm Floats). I also ran 130mm Pace RC41s for a while. Great along and down, but noticeably harder to winch up steep stuff on as the front would go light unless I used the lockdown feature.
Just replied mefster. I can't believe the prices of used forks!
So that I can provide a sensible price for mefster.
What would the collective value some Float 32 100mm QR with low usage Fit 4 upgrade at?