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Hi, I have a Giant XTC SE. From 2005. Still original with the supplied hydraulic brakes. I know it’s nothing special but is to me. Not done loads of miles. However I am looking to upgrade the forks. Nothing new just looking for a good used upgrade. Can anyone suggest what to look out for please? It’s still fitted with the 26 inch wheels.
Thanks, Nigel.
What fork is on there now?
New fork wise you’d struggle to get much anyway with a straight steerer for 26” wheels - also I assume you’re on 9mm at.
The only vaguely reasonable fork I’m aware of new is a Suntour Epicon that I think is 26” / straight steerer etc.
Secondhand you could look for something like a Rockshox Revelation or Reba perhaps.
Hi it says marzocchi race which I think is a suntour one. Not great. Not sure how the calliper would fit on either as it’s disc
You'll be struggling unless you go second hand. There aren't that many 26er straight steerer forks out there now. Even something like this
https://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FOXFV26RL2/x-fusion-velvet-26---275-rl2-fork
Which is reasonable quality, would involve getting a new front wheel if you're 9mm QR currently.
Front fork you say. What fork have you currently got on the back?
Marzocchi were a brand in their own right - better than Suntour. They’re now part of Fox but that’s only recent.
Looking at the spec of the bike, unless you can pick up something cheap / secondhand in terms of forks I wouldn’t bother in hindsight. The xtc se looks very dated and wasn’t that well spec ‘d from new. Your money would be much better spent on a Voodoo Bizango or Hoodoo or something like a Vitus Nucleus where you’ll get all new components and much better geometry in the frame for trail riding.
Most likely your current fork will be 1 1/8 straight steerer, 9 mm QR, and ISO brake mounts, but you need to check that. I'm guessing the original fork was probably 80 mm travel, 100 mm at most. Something like a used Rockshox Reba or Revelation with 100 mm to 120 mm travel would be obvious things to look for. If you can find a U-Turn model, that would be perfect. I had a couple of XTCs over the years, they were good trail bikes.