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I use my Scandal a couple of times a week, anything from the local old railway and canal paths to taking it up and over Helvelyn and trails in between. I like to ride to the trails and regulary but in 60 - 80 miles in a Sunday. I currently have a pair of Vittoria Mezcals which are fast! It was putchased as a frame only and built up from what i found available along with a older set if Rockshox reba rl 140mm forks i had. I think I want some Pike Ultimate 130mm. RC2 But will I miss the the lockout on my road sections? What alternatives should i be looking at ?
Fox 34 I suppose?
Some of those dampers have a lockout. I have an older rhythm model on my hardtail and it has the grip damper with lockout. Don’t use it very often though.
I’ve also got a pike ultimate rc2- 21 model. 140mm on my fs. Don’t miss the lockout but if I wanted to I could wind the hsc and lsc all the way up and it would be very firm.
My mate has Sids on his scandal and seems to love them. He does have a stumpy for the chunky stuff though.
edit. Actually it’s a whippet he has I think
Rockshox reba rl 140mm
Not that it really matters but 140mm Rebas?
Personally I'd would go with the Pikes...as docrobster says, nothing stopping you winding them all the way
My mistake the forks I have on the Scandal are 140mm recons rl. I had a old Specialized carve with 100mm reba with a upgraded dna? Lock - pedal - open damper which was great for my usage.
I have some Ultimate pikes, one ride only as I swapped them for Helms, if you are interested....
But will I miss the the lockout on my road sections? What alternatives should i be looking at ?
And
I like to ride to the trails and regulary but in 60 – 80 miles in a Sunday
Have you considered a rigid fork?
Something with high and low speed compression adjustment at least. Fox 34 grip4? How much do you want to spend?
I got some bnwt Marzocchi Z2s for £250 from pinkbike
Really impressed with stiffness and damping
Have I considered a rigid fork ? I have a Giant TCX for that sort of riding 😁
But will I miss the the lockout on my road sections?
Unless you are out of the saddle and properly cranking on the pedals, using the bars for more leverage a LOT, no.
I have the steel version, a Big Dog - I decided it needed more 1990’s about it so I upped the travel and went for 150mm travel Lyriks, it’s pretty amazing down hills now, done a few 15km rides with my son on roads and gravel paths and they haven’t been problematic for that either. I’d get whatever your budget will allow
As a bit of a curveball, for those distances on relatively tame surfaces, for a fast ride I'd go with the Selcof carbon forks.
Had them on my Whippet (twice) and it makes for a very quick and surprisingly capable bike.
In between the two I had some 130mm Rebas which were also good, taking the sting out of the bumps on less tame surfaces but, overall lost the bike it's zippy point and shoot feel.
That was a carbon frame though, so maybe not exactly the same as a Scandal.
I've a Scandal, runs a pair of non-boost Pikes at 140mm - I like Pikes.
Do you actually use your lockoutnon the road sections? Unless you’re stood up cranking out of the saddle I don’t really see lockout is needed particularly.
I’ve ridden my nephews bike which has 140mm recon gold rls on and I have 140mm travel 2021 Pike ultimate rc2’s. The recons are ok, but the Pikes are a decent step up. With the rc2 you can dial in some extra lsc if you want to quell any bobbing - but leave hsc open.
I don’t ever ride 60-80 miles at a time on mtb - but when I sometimes ride my mtb to / from local trails on the road I can’t say I notice the fork absorbing much energy. I’m more of a sit and spin sort of rider though - rather than getting out of the saddle and cranking on the bars.
A fox 34 with grip 2 is probably equivalent to a pike rc2. If you want a lockout perhaps the 34 with a fit4 or grip 1 might give you that option / just a single dial to twirl for compression damping.
Aren’t Sid’s how 35mm in the leg? Would be stiff enough and lighter than a pike? No idea if they have lockout as lockout have become slightly irrelevant for most riders (appreciate why you want it, I just mean generally)
I just went from Rockshox Pikes to Fox 34SC Factory with the Fit 4 damper so has a lockout. I always wanted a lockout on the Pikes for road sections.
The Pikes are a fair bit heavier and stiffer so might be worth it if you're heavy. Performance wise, the Fox feel very similar to the Rockshox.
RockShox SID SL are 32mm stanchion and limited to 100mm of travel, SID in other guises is 35mm and can be 100/110/120mm travel & can have remote or manual lockout, the only adjustments are: air pressure, rebound & open/locked (no compression damping externally).
Many thanks for the replies - don't really want a rigid fork as i try to ride in proper mountains when I get the chance and I have a cx for tame evenings on the canals. Cannock is 12 miles away from me and it feels wrong driving somewhere so close to ride my bike. I also like to get out for long days in the peaks and I do the HONC in just under 5 hours on this bike. My recons are 140mm and have a moco damper which does not seem to do much between open and locked out. The lighter fox forks sound enticing but I have the tools for servicing rockshox.
I have Rebas with 130mm travel on my Scandal. They have a lockout and suit it fine. Got them for much cheapness from a PSA on here when I was building it up a couple of years ago.