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As forks on my hardtail seem to be knackered I'll be putting my current Yaris on that, so need new "big" forks for my full sus.
Options at the minute are the new Domain gold, or for bit more money could get some older Zebs, any thoughts?
Not massively fussed about a few hundred grams in weight or masses of adjustability.
Cheers
I’d get an older Zeb with a proper charger damper personally.
The Domain Rc and R both have a motion control damper which is a bit limited - especially for a big fork that you’re charging hard on. The Domain Gold RC has an ‘isolator’ damper whatever that is - sounds like a budget ifp type thing.
I know you said weight isn’t an issue but the Domain is just over 2.5kg which is pretty bloody heavy.
What's your budget for this new fork?
Like joe said, the bigger the fork the better the damper it needs, the basic Domains are the wrong fork for just about everything except smooth park laps. (honestly I reckon anyone that's happy with a big fork and basic damper on anything else probably should just be getting a smaller bike)
I've had a Yari that I upgraded with a charger damper immediately because it was far to "spiky" and harsh.
I now have the previous model domain on both of my bikes and I've not yet seen a reason to upgrade the damper (if you can find one ?) I reckon for 90% of riders it is a more than adequate fork.
In a couple of weeks I'll be finding out how well it copes with the TransMadeira Enduro.
For me it seems the lack of flex gives it a bit more suppleness as it moves rather than bends ? maybe any extra oil present over the Yari because of the bigger diameter helps too. I just know it's much better than the Yari was.
What’s your budget for this new fork?
On the basis that I can get an older Zeb for around £600 that's kind of the top.
Latest Domain I can find for around £400
Any other options I should be thinking about?
For context this is going on my main bike used for doing a bit of everything, but I'm around 115kg at 6'4" so have a tendency of breaking stuff so would rather get burlier stuff that'll last.
If you didn’t break the Yari then maybe add a Lyrik or Fox 36 to the list too?
Lyrik I’d want select + or Ultimate.
36 the Performance model with Grip is meant to be pretty good and will be cheaper than a performance elite / factory with the Grip 2 damper.
In true STW of recommending what you own...
Had a look at the Marzocchi Z1? The older one with Grip Sweep damper is very very good and can be had for around the £500 mark.
I'd definitely go for some older Zeb ultimates, there's been some great prices on them recently, I personally stocked up on older lyrik ultimates to run 170mm 180mm as I like the front end as light as possible, saves me 300g over a Zeb but heaviest I've been is 80kg.
Have a set of 170mm Yaris, freshly serviced by a bike shop, I'd let go for £150 🙂
There's a few cheap DVO forks at Winstanleys.
There are some DVO's much discounted at present, Winstanleys for a start.
IKNALTF
Zeb Ultimates from Merlin at £600 is a decent buy. Charger 3 which can be upgraded in a year come service time to 3.1 if the desire is there. Just done a year on my Lyrik 3's with no complaints..
There’s a few cheap DVO forks at Winstanleys.
I just ordered some 36 Factorys from them, yesterday... They are being delivered today! Brill service.
Couple of people mentioned Grip damper'd foxes and zocchis, maybe worth mentioning that these are brilliant dampers but lacking in adjustment so some people just can't get a good setup out of them. I'm too light and there was just no damping setting that worked, they were either reactive but super divey, or supportive but choked. Just a limitation of the compression damper/adjustment, high and low are tied together.
PS, come join the Cult of Coil. Big forks are always better with coils in, always.
Thanks everyone. Went for the zeb ultimates from merlin in the end. Just had them fitted and glad I spent the extra money, far nicer than the yari's and that's with just the standard settings from trailhead.
Unfortunately, this upgrade now highlights the next weak link. Rear shock next I think
Was gonna say I now have some Zebs I'd let go cheap, but you're sorted with some decent ones 😀
So a bit of a thread resurrection. I only ended up swapping in the MoCo compression upgrade (I got it for £20) rather than anny proper damper upgrades and took it to Morzine for a long week.
Performance-wise I was actually very impressed and surprised at how well it performed, much better that any of the older MoCo forks I’ve used (including Pikes, Rekons and the old DC Domains) and it didn’t hold me back at all. Not sure if this was partly to do with the fact it’s a big 170mm 38 fork or what, but it wasn’t particularly divey, handled the braking bumps and repeated hits pretty well (it’ll never be a top end fork) without packing down all the time.
Overall I’d say it was pretty good. I’ll probably upgrade it to either the newer RS Isolator damper (£70) or the FAST SC5 in the future (£££) but for now my bike snobbery has been kept in check.
Basically you’re looking at a bike but worried that the Domain will hold you back then I’d say don’t stress about it.
If it has the same air spring as the Zeb (guessing it does), then I'd highly recommend a TruTune widget.
It made a massive difference to my Zeb; getting more travel more easily, but also feeling more composed and measured.
yeah, I’m thinking of the TruTune at some point. I’ve heard good things about them on here and other sites. I’m still 87kg so wondering how it works for heavier people
I was about 80kg when I was riding it a lot. I'm sure there'd still be a benefit even if you're getting into the travel easier anyway.
I think it kind of straightens out the leverage curve, so the fork feels more predictable and you just don't think about it as much.
Cheers, 80kgish
big boned trutune rider reporting in.......
95kg in kit, so yeah I love mine, have the short one in a 160mm yari with a splug damper
its great- a bit more ~7.5psi~ air pressure so its more supportive, but more responsive on fast hits, its voodoo! its not quite coil plush but feels smoother and less divey.
i have one in a 140mm Z2 and its a definite improvement, but not as transformative as the yari, id happily stick one in a zeb
Cheers.
If it has the same air spring as the Zeb (guessing it does), then I'd highly recommend a TruTune widget.
It made a massive difference to my Zeb; getting more travel more easily, but also feeling more composed and measured.
As a lighter rider (max 70kg) do you think a TruTune widget would help me get more travel out of my Zeb? Even working really hard I struggle to get into that last 10-15mm of travel.
As a lighter rider (max 70kg) do you think a TruTune widget would help me get more travel out of my Zeb? Even working really hard I struggle to get into that last 10-15mm of travel.
Yes, very likely. They are particularly good for lighter riders and for the Zeb.