Trail Fork for a 29er

[ckritzinger]

I bought a secondhand Ellsworth Evolve frame a couple of months ago and built over all the components of my old hardtail.

 

Its working very nicely and the plush dual-suspension is making me push my riding to places I never thought it would go.

 

I'm now hitting the limits of my 100mm XC front fork quite solidly and picking up plenty of scars (as well as a couple of blown front tyres).

 

So I'm looking to upgrade to a fork with 140mm of travel in the front. Problem is, the frame has a straight steerer (and won't fit an adapter for a tapered steerer).

 

The only fork with those specs that I can find is the Manitou Minute, which seems like a reasonable (if pricey @ R10k) option.

 

Does anyone know if there are any other options around?

 

And (more importantly) does this seem like an insane thing to do? Should I just give up and buy a 650B?

 

FWIW I'm 1.9m tall and weigh 90kg, so the bigger bike fits me rather well.

[Flowta]

What is your budget?

 

Saw some RS Pikes the other day but that's like R11k-R13k and I'm not sure if they have in straight steerer.

 

What fork do you have on there now? Maybe a better suited fork with 120mm travel would be a better option.

 

What tyres are you running that are blowing off?

 

Go speak to William at Williams bike shop in Somerset West, he is/was an Ellsworth rider and he'll know what you can/can't put on there also sort you out with decent rubber and/or wheels.

[Guest Smimby]

That will change the geometry drastically. The head angle will be a lot slacker and will affect climbing.

 

If you really want to do it you shod be able to find a 2nd hand one somewhere.

 

Some forks can be adjusted. Rockshox can go 100-120. For excample. Unless the bike was designed for a 140 I don't think it would be a good idea

[PhilipV]

If you have a rocks how for you can probably remove the travel adjust spacer inside of it and ride it at 120mm up front. Will already make a massive difference. And get some 2.3inch wide tyres with solid casings.

[PhilipV]

+1 for what smiley said.

[Fabian46]

MAnitou Tower Pro can do 120mm. I have a 2012 with a 20mm TA. Currently running 100mm travel on mine. Mine is straight streerer.

 

Mine actually came off an Ellsworth

Edited July 18, 2014 by Fabian46

[Maximis]

Suntour epicon is also available with straight steerer, thru axle, and 120mm if I'm not mistaken. I have one and I'm 96 kgs and same hight, loving it! Cost me 3k, best money I have spent on my bike

[ckritzinger]

Hi Guys

 

Thanks for the great advice and suggestions.

 

@Smimby: Evolv comes with 120mm as standard, so i figured 140mm would prob be OK.

 

@Flowta: I've actually been chatting to William - he is the one getting me the quote on the Minute. The Pike looks nice, but as you say, quite pricey. I'm running (tubeless) Crossmark USTs on Alexrim XDs. Not actually blowing the tire itself, just breaking the seal and burping out the side when I land hard or turn hard - even when running the tires really hard. Thinking I might have to look at proper UST rims.

 

@Maximis - I'll have a look at that - sounds great. Chatted to a local dealer who told me Suntour don't stock anything that would work for me. Think he was maybe trying to get me to buy a Fox...

 

Shot for all the advice, gents!

[Flowta]

Pity about the taper issue, this would have been good

https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/97158-sr-suntour-epicon-29er-thru-axle-120mm-fork/

[Danger Dassie]

Suntour Epicon - adjusts from 100mm to 120mm, stock standard.

 

Rock Shox - Revelation

[ckritzinger]

Pity about the taper issue, this would have been good

http://www.thehubsa....xle-120mm-fork/

 

Ja, that darn straight steerer is making this really tricky

[ckritzinger]

So after a lot of searching, I got an Xfusion Trace. 140mm travel, straight steerer. Have had a couple of rides on it - fork that seems to do exactly what I was hoping for.

 

I also tried adjusting the Epicon up to 120mm. Was a bit better but the Xfusion blows it away.

 

The slightly slacker head angle makes the bike feel a bit more cushy on the downhills and i can't say I've noticed a big difference while climbing.

 

Thanks for all the advice