Replacing forks, not a what-is-best thread

[ShinySideUp]

I have a Cube Reaction Hybrid Pro and have had it for several months now. I have done everything I can with the forks, even had them sent back for a repair (that probably wasn't really needed) because they were so bad. Drop off a kerb and the forks don't react, they are more like a stick than a suspension unit, they are truly useless and only really compress under braking (then don't rebound quickly enough) -- all things have been tried like various air pressures, fork lockout etc. There's nothing that can be done as I've ridden another exact model bike and they were the same -- rubbish, utter rubbish (for info, they are generic X-Fusion Mig29 32, no rebound, air shocks).

Rant over, here is what I want to know. I have a Specialized Rock Hopper (non-ebike) with Rockshox forks, when I go over rough ground they soak up everything, moving in and out with smoothness and ease. They are coil spring shocks and I love them because they keep the horrible blows away from my arthritic hands such that my hands don't hurt at all -- something I cannot say for the nasties on my Cube. If I upgrade the forks on my ebike, will I get the same smoothing of bumps that I currently get on my non-ebike? I'm worried that some of the difference between the shock action is caused by he added weight of the ebike combined with the 29" wheels and larger diameter stanchions -- my Specialised has 26" and is nearly half the weight. With quality shocks can I expect the same excellent performance that I get from my Rock Hopper? Also does the fact that my ebike shocks are air and my Rock Hoppers are coil make some of the difference? I'm thinking of getting coil springs as the upgrade.

 

[dobbyhasfriends]

will I get the same smoothing of bumps that I currently get on my non-ebike?

yes.. probably better
what you thinking of buying then?

 

[ShinySideUp]

yes.. probably better
what you thinking of buying then?

At the moment I am completely clueless. I know only that something has to be done, quite how I'm going to go about it I have no idea. I am obviously inclined towards Rockshox as it's the only other manufacturer of which I have experience. It's difficult enough choosing from one brand without involving loads of others. I might go down to my LBS and ask their advice as let's face it, with an entry-level bike I want to avoid trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear. No point spending loads if the rest of the bike isn't up to it.

 

[Bummers]

I'd be tempted to look at a decent set second hand, can get a good fork at a much cheaper price that way.

 

[Doug Stampfer]

I'd be tempted to look at a decent set second hand, can get a good fork at a much cheaper price that way.

I gotta agree. Your rockhopper 26 inch would be very old & anything mid - upper standard would be better. In saying that your old coil forks may feel spongy which to you may feel good & plush however could actually be reasonably ineffective in their overall performance. I'd try some Mazzochi Z1or 2s if you can find some second hand. They are good fork but not in favour at the moment so people would be upgrading them to Lyrics/zebs.
I think it would be best for you to talk to your local bike shop about what they'd recommend. Don't get angry with them if they suggest expensive forks as if they did sell you something mediocre for a lot less & they didn't perform to your expectations then you'd be feeling ripped off. Best of luck

 

[RustyMTB]

I'd be tempted to look at a decent set second hand, can get a good fork at a much cheaper price that way.

Indeed. Anything big brand from the past five years will be a safe bet. Just so happens I'm selling a one year old Fox 34 in here which would be ideal.

 

[dobbyhasfriends]

At the moment I am completely clueless. I know only that something has to be done, quite how I'm going to go about it I have no idea. I am obviously inclined towards Rockshox as it's the only other manufacturer of which I have experience. It's difficult enough choosing from one brand without involving loads of others. I might go down to my LBS and ask their advice as let's face it, with an entry-level bike I want to avoid trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear. No point spending loads if the rest of the bike isn't up to it.

have a look around for a used Lyrik.. very good performance for a good price.. sometimes you can find some that are OEM taken off a bike and have the charger RC damper.. great bang for buck

 

[Slapbassmunky]

A used (or new) Yari will fit your needs perfectly. It is based on the lyric chassis, has decent yet basic damping and will really take a hammering. If you find the damping truly lacking you can upgrade to the charger damper for a reasonable price.

 

[ShinySideUp]

I have committed to a new fork set, a FOX 34 FLT something or other, something or other (so many abbreviations!) and fitting is only twenty quid which I think is a bit of a bargain and much less than I expected; can barely buy a decent pipe cutter and nut setter for that.

It was less a choice of what I might have wanted, more what they can get supplied. Many bike component companies have 'out of stock' notices on a lot of their stuff. Whether it's Brexit, China, the war in Ukraine or even that the fork fairy has COVID, there seems to be quite a shortage of a lot of stuff for bikes.

 

[Hardtail]

@ShinySideUp what length did you end up going with, from memory your original was 120, is that right?

 

[ShinySideUp]

@ShinySideUp what length did you end up going with, from memory your original was 120, is that right?

My original travel length was 100mm and after taking advice, I've stuck to that measurement. It's a relatively cheap bike and messing around with the original geometry might not be a good idea.

 

[Rod B.]

Shinysideup,

There are basically two forms of suspension used on most suspension forks. They are coil spring and air spring.

Coil spring forks, like the Marzoochi Z1 offer a very plush suspension feel. Coil forks tend to be set and forget and are uncomplicated to setup. The trade off is that coil forks tend to be heavier than an air spring fork and when adjustment is required, it may involve replacing the coil spring.

Air spring forks such as the Fox 34, Rockshox Lyric, etc. use air on one side of the fork and a hydraulic operated dampener on the other side of the fork to control suspension.

Air suspension forks are lighter than coil and offer a wide range of tuning possibilities. With an air fork, you just add or subtract air or add or subtract volume spacers to adjust to rider weight. The downside to air spring suspension is that it requires knowledge and a lot of rider involvement to set up. if it’s not set up correctly, the ride can be extremely harsh and hard on the hands and shoulders.

The majority of suspension forks on modern bikes are air forks. Cheaper air forks will typically only have rebound adjustment which works well for less knowledgeable and new riders. Forks with feature rich tuning options will be much more expensive and more suitable for advanced riders. As a rider progresses in knowledge and skill, they tend to know what features they want in a fork, i.e. Grip 2 dampener, low speed compression dampening, larger stanchions, larger air shaft, etc.

The Fox 34 FIT is an excellent fork for your needs. It requires basic rider input to tune and functions really well for average trail riding. You’ll like the fork once it has been setup with the correct air pressure.

 

[ShinySideUp]

It is done, I have had my forks replaced with a set of these Fox 34 AWL forks and while I have only managed to ride around the garden since getting the bike back late this afternoon, I am already aware that the difference is palpable. The reaction of the forks to the slightest bump is nothing short of miraculous compared with the old pieces of shite that came as OEM fitments. I bought what was available, not necessarily what I might have wanted and had to pay the price that was asked. I know I could have got them a little cheaper but then I would have had to fit them myself and buy the tools necessary to do so; since fitting by the local bike shop cost me the grand total of twenty quid I was very pleased with the saving on tools and time. I have yet to set up the rebound and sag, which is a job for tomorrow, but so far so very good. I stuck with the 100mm of travel.

 

[ShinySideUp]

Since writing the above I have been out on the moors a couple of times to test things out and I feel I have a real bike now. The forks function as I always thought they should and the ride is super-comfortable on my arthritic hands, even over very rocky ground. It is such a shame that I had to spend another six hundred quid on top of the price of the bike to get the bike I wanted and I wonder about the logic of fork manufacturers who make sub-standard, cheap crap for use on budget bikes. I mean, when I'd finally decided to replace the forks, the last company I would choose for the replacement is X-Fusion; once bitten and all that. Those cheap and nasty things have put me off ever buying from them even though I am sure if I paid a similar amount to my Fox's I would end up with a pretty good set from X-Fusion. Hey, their loss and I really feel like writing to them to tell them what they've done allowing Cube to put them on their entry-level bikes.

I don't think I can even sell the X_Fusion Mig forks as I would feel I was ripping someone off if they bought them, I expect they'll just go in the bin.

Ah well, never mind, I am happy with my bike now and that's all that matters.

 

[Richridesmtb]

Don't bin the old ones, give them away. Some kid with busted forks would appreciate them.

 

[Slapbassmunky]

The last company I would choose for the replacement is X-Fusion; once bitten and all that. Those cheap and nasty things have put me off ever buying from them even though I am sure if I paid a similar amount to my Fox's I would end up with a pretty good set from X-Fusion. Hey, their loss and I really feel like writing to them to tell them what they've done allowing Cube to put them on their entry-level bikes.

I don't think I can even sell the X_Fusion Mig forks as I would feel I was ripping someone off if they bought them, I expect they'll just go in the bin.

Ah well, never mind, I am happy with my bike now and that's all that matters.

To be fair to x-fusion they just supplied a cheap fork to match a price point. Rock Shox, suntour, etc all have similar offerings. You've picked the 34's and I'm happy that you've discovered how quality forks should perform, just remember to keep the lower legs serviced for a long and stiction free life.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend x-fusion to anyone, I've personally owned the Slant and Metric and they've both been great forks. I've also done a few runs on an RV-1, it felt great. Likewise, Suntour make some fantastic forks at the top end, and the similarities between their triair shock and the DVO offering are uncanny

In the nicest possible way, you've done what countless customers have done over the years and bought a bike with a sub par component for your riding requirement which has needed upgrading. Welcome to mountain biking, what's next on the list? Brakes, tyres?

 

[RustyMTB]

Your logic is all backwards. The forks on that bike are what Cube specified for it in order to sell at the price point they required. It should have occurred to you a bike that ranges from £2499 to £8099 might just have some significant differences from one model to another.