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Hi
My self inflicted problem.
I bought a Niner rdo one ss 29er Fantastic.
I had an FF29 as my fast sort of race bike. Gave me numb hands.
I thought in my wisdom I would build the Niner into my race bike because it rides great and has a mech hanger and light.
So I sold the ff29 frame bought an old ss 29er and built the Niner into a race bike but still running my 120mm fork.
It rides awful.
It's the steering that's the problem I think.
Is it the fork as Niner reccomend 80 to 100mm fork, can it make that much difference.
So dilemma.
Make the Niner a SS again and build another race bike? What race bike? Sell my really nice fox CTD kashima?
Arghh
can't you just do whatever it was made the Niner ride great again?
The 120mm fork was on the FF29 when it was your race bike, but is now on the Niner?
Yes, the 120mm was on the ff29. Mint, like new fix factory fit kashima. I didn't want to sell it so put it on Niner.
The Niner had a rigid carbon fork on (still have).
Fit that back on it then if that made it ride well.
That said, racing is about going fast. If it's faster with the 120mm fork, but feels horrible, I'd live with it.
And the really nice fox CTD kashima is the 120mm fork that is maybe a bit long for the Niner?
I don't know, but can't you reduce the travel of it?
Incidentally, I sympathise. I once put my best ever fork on my favourite frame coming down from 1 bike to 2. The result was horrible, and I ended up doing away with the entire bike and starting again...
🙁
Yes you can reduce the travel down to 100mm.
In my mind I think how much difference does this 20mm make.
It doesn't feel as quick as the ff29 did. That was quick but didn't feel quick, weird. But lap times proved it.
Maybe:
Niner back to ss/rigid
Old ss sell, fork sell.
Buy another race frame based on 100mn travel?
I like carbon.
Your posts are virtually incomprehensible, and read like the frenzied mutterings of a mad man. Try thinking before typing
Why would you start again when you have a brand new fork you could just shorten to 100mm? Just do that, try it on the Niner.
When I swap forks from a Niner carbon fork to a 100mm it feels 'awful' for a while but then just works. The step change from a very light, quick steering front end to what feels numb vague and heavy takes some getting used too, but then I realise I get far more grip and can cope easier when tired I just get on with it.
A 120 will feel that bit slacker than a 100, try it with reduced travel.
If the fork can be reduced down to 100 using a spacer then just try it. Won't cost hardly anything and it maybe all that needs doing. Got to be the first option rather than getting another bike.
Ha ha njee20. My typing can be that way, I am at work trying to muti-task, failing.
Rsvktm, thanks I think it may be worth a try first.
I guess I was expecting a very different ride.
Thanks all
I will slow my typing and improve
Yes, a 120mm fork on a 80-100mm frame will make a huge difference. Space the fork down to 100, or maybe less if it can, then try again.
If it was me, I would aim at the minimum travel the frame is aimed at as I can't stand tall slow-steering front ends.
Thanks yak.
May be I should try and sell the fork or swap?
Realistically I haven't got another frame to take 120mm.
The Niner is designed around 80 to 100mm.
Thank you.
So shorten the bloody fork you've got.
Patience njee20, deep breaths!
😀
It's like dealing with an over excited child.
rsvktm sums it up in a nutshell.
We make changes to our set ups and then wonder why its not as good, different to how it was before! Give it time. And then change if needed.
Personally I run a Air 9 carbon with the rigid fork and am happy with its performance within limitations. Can't imagine running a 120 on it. Why would you!
I'm now thinking that jobro.
Only running/trying the 120mm because that's what I have other than rigid.
Thought I would put the question out there for other people's experiences.
Keep the fork and reduce the travel to 100mm!!!
Sorted!!!
Have some rockshox totems that would do the job £4k
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