Reba vs Fox Float 32 vs Fox Float 34

[Craig Armstrong]

Hi,

 

I'm currently in the second hand market for a dual sus bike.

I'm a little bit bewildered by the lineup of Fox forks available at the moment.

 

I've currently got a Reba, and don't really want to end up getting a downgraded fork on the new bike.

 

I know that Rockshox vs Fox is a bit of a personal preference thing, but when it comes down to these 3 forks, how do they compare?

 

So I've currently got a Reba 100mm.

I'm looking at a 2017 Scott Spark 950 with a "FOX 32 Float Performance Air Grip 3 / 3-Modes / 15x100mm QR axle / tapered steerer Reb. Adj. / Lockout / 120mm travel"

I missed out on a deal on a Scott Spark 940 with the Float Performance 34 rather than the 32. I'd also like to know how much I actually missed out on (I know the 34 is the stanchion size, but whats the difference when riding), and where does the Reba fit in in this lineup.

[BikeisLife]

You've quoted the specs of the shock on the 950 and not the fork. 

The Fork is the below: 

FOX 32 Float Performance Air Grip 3 / 3-Modes / 15x100mm QR axle / tapered steerer Reb. Adj. / Lockout / 120mm travel

 

The 34 will be more solid than the 32. Both have the grip damper. 

[Craig Armstrong]

You've quoted the specs of the shock on the 950 and not the fork. 

 

The Fork is the below: 

 

FOX 32 Float Performance Air Grip 3 / 3-Modes / 15x100mm QR axle / tapered steerer Reb. Adj. / Lockout / 120mm travel

 

The 34 will be more solid than the 32. Both have the grip damper. 

 

Haha yeah, sorry about that. Edited the post accordingly.

 

I guess its too early in the morning for me 

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

32 = wet noodle at anything other than 100mm travel

Reba = stiffer chassis, great fork, also 32mm stanchions but like dry spaghetti vs the 32's al dente.

34 = Stiffer than Reba, 34mm stanchions, if you're looking at a new build I'd suggest this or the Reba. 

 

Difference when riding - if gravel, you won't really notice a difference. If you keep it at 100mm, you won't really notice a difference. At 120mm plus is where the shortcomings of the 32 start to present themselves, but the difference is only really noticeable on technical terrain and in fast corners. Not with the damping circuits, that's the same as on the 34 and they're good. It's the lack of stiffness in the Fox 32 chassis that you just don't get on the Reba and 34. 

 

I wouldn't put your current Reba on the front of the Spark, as it's designed around the 120mm fork and will negatively affect handling and BB height, increasing the chance of rock strikes and making the head angle about 1/2 a degree steeper. There's the option of buying a new air shaft to convert the Reba to 120mm, and then you can sell the 32 that the Spark comes with, if they're the same hub standard. 

[Craig Armstrong]

32 = wet noodle at anything other than 100mm travel

Reba = stiffer chassis, great fork, also 32mm stanchions but like dry spaghetti vs the 32's al dente.

34 = Stiffer than Reba, 34mm stanchions, if you're looking at a new build I'd suggest this or the Reba. 

 

Difference when riding - if gravel, you won't really notice a difference. If you keep it at 100mm, you won't really notice a difference. At 120mm plus is where the shortcomings of the 32 start to present themselves, but the difference is only really noticeable on technical terrain and in fast corners. Not with the damping circuits, that's the same as on the 34 and they're good. It's the lack of stiffness in the Fox 32 chassis that you just don't get on the Reba and 34. 

 

I wouldn't put your current Reba on the front of the Spark, as it's designed around the 120mm fork and will negatively affect handling and BB height, increasing the chance of rock strikes and making the head angle about 1/2 a degree steeper. There's the option of buying a new air shaft to convert the Reba to 120mm, and then you can sell the 32 that the Spark comes with, if they're the same hub standard. 

 

Thanks for your very detailed answer, as well as your spaghetti analogies. 

Okay, so I'll avoid the Fox 32 120mm's then. 

Do you have any idea of a ballpark cost on the 120mm air shaft for the Reba? 

Are we talking R500, R1000 or R2000?

 

While I've got you here, I've read some of your other posts about SID vs Reba and that you reckon the Reba is a much stiffer fork and the SID is just for racing snakes wanting to shave a few grams. Do you still hold that opinion and/or is that just for certain years? Or if I don't plan to race, should I just avoid the SID in general?

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Thanks for your very detailed answer, as well as your spaghetti analogies. 

Okay, so I'll avoid the Fox 32 120mm's then. 

Do you have any idea of a ballpark cost on the 120mm air shaft for the Reba? 

Are we talking R500, R1000 or R2000?

 

While I've got you here, I've read some of your other posts about SID vs Reba and that you reckon the Reba is a much stiffer fork and the SID is just for racing snakes wanting to shave a few grams. Do you still hold that opinion and/or is that just for certain years? Or if I don't plan to race, should I just avoid the SID in general?

It's a couple of grand. Well worth it, in my opinion. And you can sell the 32 for a decent chunk of change, so will be able to finance it through that (assuming your reba is also a niner version)

 

As for the Reba vs SID - DEFINITELY. 

[thebob]

Spanner in the works time. The new gen of Spark is Boost spaced front and rear. Is the Reba Boost or not?

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Spanner in the works time. The new gen of Spark is Boost spaced front and rear. Is the Reba Boost or not?

The front may not be as it's a 2017, and the spec shown above is 15x100mm which is normal. Can adapt a non-boost wheelset to boost, but not the other way around. 

[Craig Armstrong]

My Reba isn't boost, no. 

But yeah maybe that Scott isn't boost... not sure.

 

New question.. 120mm Revelation vs the 120mm Fox 32?

[DieselnDust]

Revelation

[splat]

My Reba isn't boost, no. 

But yeah maybe that Scott isn't boost... not sure.

 

New question.. 120mm Revelation vs the 120mm Fox 32?

 

Revelation would be stiffer with its 35mm stanchions

[Craig Armstrong]

Revelation would be stiffer with its 35mm stanchions

 

I think the bike I'm looking at has 32mm stanchions. It looks like 35mm might have been a 2018 update.. or maybe I've got it all wrong

[dirtypot]

In 100mm the Fox feels better than the RS but going to 120mm the RS is better (comparing 32 to 32).  But if you're comparing a Fox 34 to a RS 32 (even the old Revelation) then the Fox is better.

[Craig Armstrong]

The bike that I think I've settled on has a Revelation 120mm. My only reservation is that the reviews seem to say that the Revelation (2017) is a bit crappy... is it really that bad? 

 

So my take away is that Fox 34 > Revelation > Fox 32

 

How would a Revelation 120mm compare to a Reba thats upgraded to 120mm?

[stefmeister]

The bike that I think I've settled on has a Revelation 120mm. My only reservation is that the reviews seem to say that the Revelation (2017) is a bit crappy... is it really that bad? 

 

So my take away is that Fox 34 > Revelation > Fox 32

 

How would a Revelation 120mm compare to a Reba thats upgraded to 120mm?

The revelation would be much better than the reba at 120mm. Larger diameter stanchions (35 vs 32 mm) = increased stiffness. Both probably have the same damper (motion control) and airspring, so it's down to the chassis.

[droo]

The bike that I think I've settled on has a Revelation 120mm. My only reservation is that the reviews seem to say that the Revelation (2017) is a bit crappy... is it really that bad? 

 

So my take away is that Fox 34 > Revelation > Fox 32

 

How would a Revelation 120mm compare to a Reba thats upgraded to 120mm?

 

Depends on the Revelation. The new ones are 35mm, the older ones are 32. That said, even the 32mm will be stiffer than the Reba or the 32.

 

34 is still first prize though, the damping is better.