K2 / Proflex Riders Group
General => Tech Forum => Topic started by: 5500C on February 02, 2003, 03:11:26 pm
-
I'm seriously contemplating putting this on my bike. I'm a bit afraid of drilling the holes in the dropouts though. Has anyone had any problems with this?
I know if I screw it up or if it bends under stress, finding a new swingarm will be a b*tch!!! Should I just be happy with my XTR V's?
-
Don't worry about it. They are really easy to install, and to date have worked perfectly for everyone.
If you are really uncertain, take the swingarm and the hammerhead kit down to a local machineshop and pay them a few bucks to install it. It won't cost much, and it won't take long.
-
get the hammerhead... its "idiot-proofed"...
trust me u CANT screw it up...
just measure 2-3 tims, and drill it once...
dont sweat it, just get the hammerhead
Discs brakes are worth teh 5 minutes it'l take u to get adaptor set up.... ;D
what brakes u looking at?
if u say these:
http://www.grimeca.it/grimeca/it/freni/idraulici_s_18ibs.htm
i'll have to reach throu the phone-lines and throttle you, ahahhah
sorry for teh italian link the English site seems to be borked... >:(
-
IFO, how did you know. I want those brakes, j/k. I want a mild setup and was thinking of getting the Avid Mechanicals b/c I have XTR combo shifter/brake levers.
I have the Carbon Cross Links though and don't feel that ambitious with trying to epoxy on a brake adaptor. Also, this has to put undue stress on the legs of the fork, don't you think?
-
i beleive the X-link is suffecintly strong enuf for discs...but its more hassle then that dated ol fork deserves...
if u stay with V's thats a good fork. but if your going to discs, get a new fork...
the Avids are oustanding, get em...
for a fork, if u can provide some riding style detials i'll gladly throwout some fork options i think will work well... ;D
u could also just tell me to bugger off, adn mind my own business... :o
-
Why would I tell you to bug off IFO, you helped me spec out and make sure the RC I bought on Ebay would fit!
Anyways, I live in Southern California limiting me to basically fireroads straight up and straight down (fast)!!! Ocassionally I will go "freeriding" on the ski slopes but not that often. My 5500C is spec'd with full XTR, race face cranks, Vanilla RC, carbon cross/smartshock fork, easton carbon bars and seatpost. So I'm a bit weight conscious, but not too bad.
Psylo, Marzocchi's? I'd have to get the Avid's and wheels, so I'll probably try and wait for a deal either on ebay or supergo. What do you think?
-
you will quite often see wheel/brake combos on the online shops come up....
since your in Cali. thats a good option for you...
r u near Supergo? if so i think instore prices are lower...might be worth your time to head in... :D
for a fork, thats big question is cost a big factor?
if so then my first choice is kinda hard sell... the FOX forks are were u should be looking..
if cost is a real factor, then again watchout for clearance deals... u dont seem like the type of rider who needs a heavy duty SC fork... get something with 4"s of travel (preferably not Air).... :-/
a adjustable travel fork like a Pyslo might work, but its gunna be more travel/weight then u need im guessing...
gimme more feedback... :D
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product.asp?number=17860
http://www.supergo.com/itemdisplay.asp?compflag=0&parentid=17996&company=Answer&secid=7559&subid=1808
heres a couple of suitable forks...both are good...
-
The fox forks do look really nice. I just don't know enough about the forks to make an educated decision. Also with the deals at Supergo, its hard not to pass up the Manitou or the Marzocchi Atom.
http://www.supergo.com/itemdisplay.asp?compflag=0&parentid=18667&company=Marzocchi&secid=7559&subid=1808
What do you think about either? + or - 's. The price point is hard to beat. I don't want to sound too cheap, but with these prices, its hard not to bottom fish.
-
i personaly wont own another Zokie SC fork...
to many of em are having issues when pressed hard..
my 01 Z1 with the ECC, has been warrrentied once already, it had a loosened steerer, adn had several internal "issues"...
now the ECC has flaking out already, and i've prolly used it less then 20 times..it wont stay locked down consitnetly anymore....sometimes it pops back to full height quickly, other times it slowly creeps out...
and the Crown creaks like a bastard when i use alot of frt brake, like nose wheelies or situations when u put alot of stress on teh fork....
basicly i wont tell u to try one... im not saying there junk, but u can fill the blanks in....
-
IFO will yell and scream and tell me to bugger off cos its an air fork...ediscout has noleen mega airs for $169
(http://ediscountbike.com/store/images/2001megaair400.jpg)
ediscount (http://ediscountbike.com/edbikestore/showdetl.cfm?&DID=1&CATID=2&Product_ID=342&count=1&Pcount=1&DETAIL=1)
-
As you may have noted from previous posts, I also have a 5500C. I'll give you my experience, but remember to suit yourself above all else.
First, I do recommend getting a new fork. I got a RS Duke Race shortly after they came out. I'm very happy with it. In retrospect, I probably would go with the Duke SL model for more travel (if I were going with the RS Duke line.) A few of my buddies have gone with the Psylos and are also very happy. With this bike I do aggressive crosscountry with small drops and lots of rocks and roots. I use another bike for more serious drops.
Brakes: I have to agree with the Avids since you have the XTR levers. This makes a great combination. If you go with Grimecas or Formula Activas, you'll probably want to upgrade later. I am actually running the Formula Activas and they do function okay. I do find myself often tweaking the little thumb wheels even during a ride. I have Avids on the front of another bike with the XTR levers. Much less hassle and great braking. If you have any inclination towards hydraulics, now is the time to dive in.
-
I love my Avids. They are amazing. However, if you are riding dry fire roads almost exclusively, they would mostly be a coolness thing. My V's worked fine in dry stuff and I wanted the discs mostly for muddy conditions. However, I'm not trying to talk you out of discs!
It wouldn't make much sense to get a rear disc and not upgrade your fork to take a disc as well. My personal recommendation is the Manitou X-vert. It was made for 2000-01 model years, but lots of them are still available in new or nearly new condition. I picked a new one up for my wife's bike last year for $119!!! (Too bad THAT deal isn't available anymore!) I did see the X-vert Super going for as low as $200 new. I've seen them on eBay in practically new condition for as low as $80. At any rate, it's a fabulous 4 inch fork with a great damper (TPC+, which is the same system Cannondale just licensed from Manitou for its new 5" Lefty - an incredible "fork"!) Best of all, you can get it in black which would match your carbon frame quite nicely...
And if you don't get an X-vert, I definitely recommend getting at least a 4" fork. 3 inches just don't do this frame justice. You'll see what I mean when you try it. I can't vouch for more than 4, but going from 3 to 4 inches was the single biggest improvement to my ride that I ever made (and I've made a lot of changes!)
-
IFO will yell and scream and tell me to bugger off cos its an air fork...ediscout has noleen mega airs for $169
([url]http://ediscountbike.com/store/images/2001megaair400.jpg[/url])
kiwi, i emailed ediscount months ago asking if they were going to get a "supply" of k2 Mega~Air's, looks like they do. this would be a good way for "5500C" to go disc and keep it "Noleen" especially for the type of riding you do in SoCal.
ediscount ([url]http://ediscountbike.com/edbikestore/showdetl.cfm?&DID=1&CATID=2&Product_ID=342&count=1&Pcount=1&DETAIL=1[/url])
-
I'm trying to stay away from air forks especially since I put a Vanilla RC on the rear, I don't have much Noleen alliance anymore.
I'm debating between the Manitou Black Comp 100/120 right now. $299 at Supergo.
http://www.supergo.com/itemdisplay.asp?compflag=0&parentid=17996&company=Answer&secid=7559&subid=1808
I'm kind of sad that I will have to get rid of the Carbon forks though, they look really cool with the carbon frame and how the legs were stretched out in front of the axle. Oh well. I'm getting sucked into the coolness of disks. But then again, I've never had anything to complain about my XTR V's. AM I CRAZY?
-
About the Manitou Black... It has the great damping, and a great ride quality initially, but for me, it had big durability problems. Practically every adjustment on the thing is plastic, and not very durable plastic at that.
However, if you don't tend to ride through stuff where your equipment gets bashed a lot, then it probably won't matter. I tend to ride over logs and big rocks, and I'm pretty much like a bull in a china shop.
I also had to do a lot of maintenance on my fork, but I don't know how typical that is.
I had an Xvert Super before, and that seemed a lot more durable to me. If you can find one used, they are going for great prices. I also seem to recall seeing regular Xverts on sale somewhere recently, I'll see if I can find that...
-
I'm trying to stay away from air forks especially since I put a Vanilla RC on the rear, I don't have much Noleen alliance anymore.
I'm debating between the Manitou Black Comp 100/120 right now. $299 at Supergo.
[url]http://www.supergo.com/itemdisplay.asp?compflag=0&parentid=17996&company=Answer&secid=7559&subid=1808[/url]
I'm kind of sad that I will have to get rid of the Carbon forks though, they look really cool with the carbon frame and how the legs were stretched out in front of the axle. Oh well. I'm getting sucked into the coolness of disks. But then again, I've never had anything to complain about my XTR V's. AM I CRAZY?
you are NOT crazy at all!!! do it and you will forget the xlink, the discs and new fork will be sooo nice going downhill, you will need a shorter stem, too to better match the new fork. you'll work a little harder to get up, but it will be harder to wipe that grin off your face going down!!
the xlink *is* a great xc fork, that's it though, IMO
-
If you want to stick with the carbon theme, see if you can find one of these. They are super nice forks, and the lowers are carbon and aluminum.
'Tis a Manitou Supernova. Chances are you'd have to find one used, they are also super rare. :)
(http://www.ruthlesscycle.com/rhubarb2-770-578.jpg)
-
as much as i love my Xvert carbon DH, i'd not recommend one to anyone at this point due to the lack of spare parts and the fact the fork is now outa production for over 2 seasons...
they are outstanding forks, but if you cant get parts it dont matter.... :(
Manitou's "dry-lube" system is higher maintainence then "oil-bath" forks, but its SO worth it...
the maintainence is "kindergarden easy" and takes less then 10 mins...
avoid the MEGA-air like it has the plague...the guy in our group who has one, feels worse then Daves stratos S7, and thats saying something...i dont understand how anyone can choose a Air-fork over a coil/oil one.... i dotn care how much weight it saves, if the travel is so shitty....
outa the forks listed the Black 120 is the one to get... those forks with teh "RA" reversed arch are amazingly stiff for a reg axle fork.... i know people who own em that say they are stiffer then a Zokie QR20 SC...thats saying sometihng cuz the QR20 is pretty stiff....
enjoy...
p.s. that bike in Daves pic has nice brakes.... ;)
-
Allright, I got caught up in the heat of the moment and bought a fork on Ebay. I figured the price point looked realy good. Its a 2002 Manitou Black Elite 100/120. Here's the link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2705197416&category=36135#BID1
I sure hope the stem is long enough at 7 7/8". I think it should be allright, if anyone can help please let me know.
Brad
-
measure your stack height on your current build...
u running a X-link right ? thats alot taller then the Manitou will need....
7-7/8 is enuf im sure....
p.s. nice choice, your gunna love the ride quality/handling of the Manitou...
get yourself a Manitou grease gun. if the fork didnt come with one.. you'll need it..
-
Go here for '03 Activas dirt cheap and direct from Thor USA and read the review-they have been improved and I at least wouldn't think twice in choosing them over the Avids.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=27949&item=2704993155&rd=1
http://groups.msn.com/FOGFormulaOwnersGroup/formulatestsaroundtheworld.msnw
check out Mike T test there will tell you eveything ...
-
This is a little late, as you've already bought a fork (and presumably on your way to a hammerhead), but maybe others are in the same situation. Installing the Hammerhead couldn't be easier - don't fear it one bit. As for putting disks on a crosslink, I've had mine now for anout a year and a half. In that time I've switched to a Marzocchi Z3 QR20 (twice) thinking that the extra travel would be just the ticket and ended up swapping the crosslink back because its just too good not to use. I am addicted to the 'precise' feel of the steering and how it just looks right on my 5500. Sure the 3" (at best) of travel is pretty short, but for general trail riding and drops up to 2 feet, I've found it to be excellent.
And by the way, I run Avid discs. I also bought a set of Activas (not the latest ones tho') and couldn't believe how thoroughly crappy they were - I consider them actually unusable and they are in the bottom of a box somewhere as a testament to the worst $50 I've ever spent on a bike part. I would only buy the new Activas if you could check them out in person, and then maybe buy from Thor, whose reputation for customer service is outstanding. Just my $.02.
-Wade
P.S. As always, ongoing thanks to RDI and OP for the Hammerhead and the instructions for building a crosslink disc mount.
-
u do 2 foot drops on a X-link ???
cool, you rok...
your braver then me...when i first started getting into "freeride" i was using my 98 4000, with a Azonic super shorty stem, and Easton EA50 risers... but the X-link was to flaky...
i quickly swapped it for the 99 6" boXXer, and never looked back...
p.s. i agree avoid the Activa's... esp when the Avids are so good and cheap...why get anything else???