K2 / Proflex Riders Group

General => Tech Forum => Topic started by: BigO on May 17, 2016, 11:03:08 am

Title: OMG! I'm Finally In!
Post by: BigO on May 17, 2016, 11:03:08 am
Lol, man, that last security question was a doozy. Hey guys! New not only to the Proflex, but the biking scene in general. Just picked up a bike last week and was told it was 1996 Proflex 956, but after doing a bit more research on my own, I'm thinking its actually a 1995 855. Either way I love it. The previous owner brought the original beautiful dark metallic blue down to the polished aluminum look. It doesn't look bad but I have a few color schemes in mind to make it my own.  I currently live in San Diego, CA and have since 2009. There are a few good places round here to ride and I hope to do so in the near future.  I picked up the bike in good condition for a measly $80 so while its not a new high tech $3K+ FS bike, that'll do pig, that'll do.  Its not quite in its original state as the rear elastomer was replaced with a custom rear spring setup and the fork was completely replaced at some point with a rigid fork :'( I really wanted that sweet Girvin setup... I hope to learn a good bit from you guys and hopefully this forum isn't full of tumbleweeds and dust. It would be nice to steal a bit of knowledge from you guys. Thanks for having me!
Title: Re: OMG! I'm Finally In!
Post by: Carbon_Angus on May 18, 2016, 09:32:27 am
The forum was electric many years ago. Don't be too discouraged about lack of activity. Too bad you have a rigid fork. How does it ride? Like a pogo stick?

IF you can find a bike with a recalled Judy TT fork circa 2001 that hasn't been sent in for warranty you still might be able to get new one. Bring it in to your LBS. I recently did and a week later had a new Sram Recon waiting for me.
Title: Re: OMG! I'm Finally In!
Post by: BigO on May 18, 2016, 09:48:40 am
The forum was electric many years ago. Don't be too discouraged about lack of activity. Too bad you have a rigid fork. How does it ride? Like a pogo stick?

IF you can find a bike with a recalled Judy TT fork circa 2001 that hasn't been sent in for warranty you still might be able to get new one. Bring it in to your LBS. I recently did and a week later had a new Sram Recon waiting for me.

Actually its not that bad, no pogo effect, but I definitely need to get it calibrated to my body. I'll keep an eye out for that fork, I wonder how often they come up seeing that they are almost 15 years old. Hope to learn a good bit more from you guys!
Title: Re: OMG! I'm Finally In!
Post by: Blackjoy on May 18, 2016, 11:54:53 am
IF you can find a bike with a recalled Judy TT fork circa 2001 that hasn't been sent in for warranty you still might be able to get new one. Bring it in to your LBS. I recently did and a week later had a new Sram Recon waiting for me.

Funny.  I had an old Diamond Back V-Link 3.0 in my garage.  About a year ago, I did some searching and found out that the front fork: Manitou Comp 5, had also been recalled.  After some emails with the Hayes tech support, they authorized a free Match Comp which I put on my 554.  I then got a cheap Marzoochi bomber for the Diamond Back.   The Mach Comp fork is a little long for the 554.  I think I need to get it converted to the 100mm travel, if not the 80.
Title: Re: OMG! I'm Finally In!
Post by: Spokes on May 19, 2016, 12:03:38 pm
Welcome aboard! Ask as many questions as you like, they'll all get answered eventually  :)

Chris
Title: Re: OMG! I'm Finally In!
Post by: fyrstormer on May 23, 2016, 07:45:29 pm
This forum may not be very active anymore, but it's still an excellent repository of information -- something Facebook groups will never be, because Facebook lives on new content, even if it's duplicate -- especially if it's duplicate.
Title: Re: OMG! I'm Finally In!
Post by: Carbon_Angus on May 25, 2016, 07:30:24 am
IF you can find a bike with a recalled Judy TT fork circa 2001 that hasn't been sent in for warranty you still might be able to get new one. Bring it in to your LBS. I recently did and a week later had a new Sram Recon waiting for me.

Funny.  I had an old Diamond Back V-Link 3.0 in my garage.  About a year ago, I did some searching and found out that the front fork: Manitou Comp 5, had also been recalled.  After some emails with the Hayes tech support, they authorized a free Match Comp which I put on my 554.  I then got a cheap Marzoochi bomber for the Diamond Back.   The Mach Comp fork is a little long for the 554.  I think I need to get it converted to the 100mm travel, if not the 80.

100MM would be my choice. As you know that bike was never meant to be a bomber. Have fun. My fork is going on an old A1 Rockhopper. The Judy TT was off a Giant Iguana. For anyone else looking to do this and you find a fork that's been recalled be sure the bike is in good shape and not found in a dumpster.   ;) Also real good to have a relationship with your LBS that sells the brand the fork came off of.
Title: Re: OMG! I'm Finally In!
Post by: fyrstormer on May 28, 2016, 11:42:57 pm
I have an adjustable 90-120mm fork. I've never taken it off the 90mm setting except to make sure the adjuster still works.

Pro-Flexes are old-school cross-country bikes, made for people who like to hammer on singletrack. If that's not your thing you'll have to make a lot of adjustments to compensate for the forward riding position and steep headtube angle.

It's funny, I always fancied myself a singletrack rider, but I've almost never ridden on singletrack. It's surprisingly hard to find in any meaningful quantity where I live.
Title: Re: OMG! I'm Finally In!
Post by: BigO on May 31, 2016, 11:31:42 pm
Thanks for all the feedback guys. I am currently trying to decide between trying to put a few hundred dollars into the Proflex(susp fork, etc.) or picking up a 2015 Diamondback Axis that is currently on sale for $349 from $599. If I do pick up the later, I dont plan on getting rid of the old bike but taking my time with the rebuild. You guys need to talk me down from the ledge lol. If I do plan on getting a suspension fork will the majority of them fit a 1995 855? I dont know much in the way of the steerer tube angle and so on. I found a practically new 2002 RockShox Duke Race for $150 and was hoping it might fit. Any feedback? Thanks in advance fellas!