How smart is this fork?

[shovelon]

I am kind of interested in this fork. But how smart IS it? http://cgi.ebay.com/K2-SMART-FORK-for-mountain-bike_W0QQitemZ200212546457QQihZ010QQcategoryZ36135QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Colin]

hmmmmm...............about as smart as an earthworm?

sorry, must not diss the almighty Girvin........................

I have NR-5 Smartshocks on my Crosslinks and to be honest I can't tell when they're switched on or not...................

Go for it at a good price and it'll be interesting..............!

Col.

[Matno]

Not a bad fork according to the reviews back in the day, but there are lots better things available these days. The electronic component of those forks was notoriously short-lived, at which point it just becomes a "regular" fork with dead weight inside and only so-so damping. I wouldn't waste my time with any suspension from Girvin or Noleen (gasp!).

[Colin]

Stone the heretic!.......................


Yes, I'm coming around to this POV.

(Maverick fork and Manitou Swinger shock waiting to be installed)

Col.

[shovelon]

I am going to have to pass on it then. The valving is indeed bass-ackwards.

[RhinoDave]

The only reason to buy one of these is if you wanted to keep an older K2 orginal. Something to think about if you want a true retro bike. Personally, I like mixing the old with the new. That's why my next project is to put a swinger air shock on my 856's crosslink. I just have to design and machine an adaptor to compensate for the difference in eye to eye length and to provide a little clearance for the air valves.

[shovelon]

The only reason to buy one of these is if you wanted to keep an older K2 orginal. Something to think about if you want a true retro bike. Personally, I like mixing the old with the new. That's why my next project is to put a swinger air shock on my 856's crosslink. I just have to design and machine an adaptor to compensate for the difference in eye to eye length and to provide a little clearance for the air valves.

You may get a little more travel too.
Andrew(Frankd3000) adapted a cane creek to his crosslink. Although better, not sure if he was happy with it.

I am really into the Mega-air VTO forks. Thought the smartfork would be similar, but I reckon not, because the valving is all wrong, and is coil sprung I think.

[RhinoDave]

Right now I'm more worried about too much travel. I have a 200 mm shock in the drawer right now and am planning on using it. I've looked at Andrews (FrankD3000) setup and he used a much shorter shock with a long adaptor. I think you are correct about him not liking the fork. If you look at his gallery (the old one), he switched to a Manitou fork three months later.  I am looking at making adapters similar to jazclrints design where he installed a Fox Talas 200mm shock on the front of his crosslink. http://www.flickr.com/gp/16675643@N08/5HG0QK  He had a short discussion thread about this back in October last year. Unlike Andrew, I think he has been riding this Fox shock set up for a while. Great minds must think alike. I have two Noleen Mega Airs. One on my Haro FS and one on my son's bike. Great performing fork with a stupid simple design and easy maintenance. It'll be a sad day when they finally wear out.

[signalMTB]

That is my old fork!!  Crazy, I sold to him in Nov. and he's already parting with it.

[shovelon]

That is my old fork!!  Crazy, I sold to him in Nov. and he's already parting with it.

So how did you like it?

Terry

[signalMTB]

works fine, plush for sure, a little heavy, but in great shape when it left my hands...but I've always been partial to the Girvin / Noleen linkage so my opinion is probably biased

[jazclrint]

Right now I'm more worried about too much travel. I have a 200 mm shock in the drawer right now and am planning on using it. I've looked at Andrews (FrankD3000) setup and he used a much shorter shock with a long adaptor. I think you are correct about him not liking the fork. If you look at his gallery (the old one), he switched to a Manitou fork three months later.  I am looking at making adapters similar to jazclrints design where he installed a Fox Talas 200mm shock on the front of his crosslink. http://www.flickr.com/gp/16675643@N08/5HG0QK  He had a short discussion thread about this back in October last year. Unlike Andrew, I think he has been riding this Fox shock set up for a while. Great minds must think alike. I have two Noleen Mega Airs. One on my Haro FS and one on my son's bike. Great performing fork with a stupid simple design and easy maintenance. It'll be a sad day when they finally wear out.

Actually It's not a Talas, It's a Float RL, but I don't know if there's a difference.  I talked extencively about it a few years back.  All the stuff is in the archives.  I have lost the drawings I made and with school I have not had the time to recreate them.  My machinist is willing to make a new set for anyone that wants one.  I am still refining the design, but I love it.  The only issue is not the length, but the dampening is a little too much.

Great minds, definately.