855 fork switch from Vectors to telescopics?

[red855]

I am about to get a new HT bike (on a cycle to work scheme - Boardman Pro MTB) and am thinking of also fixing my 855 forks rather than spending the money on a new FS bike that will be heavier than the old Proflex   

So I'm thinking of dumping the Vectors as I don't like the fork oscillation and thud thud thud I seem to get when using the V brakes.  I was wondering if most people have moved on from Vectors now and if so what sort of tele fork I should look for?

I don't want to spend a fortune (£2-300?) but equally don't want to gain a tonne of weight    just riding trails, nothing extreme

How do I go about choosing a fork? I'm wary of geometry changes, do I just measure current fork length and get something similar?

[shovelon]

Sadley, I just don't get along with Vectors or Crosslinks, although when my smartshock blew I kinka liked the crosslinks. The dreaded J-path and twitchy diving on downhill curves caused a lot of crashes for me. I calculated about 2 inches of wheelbase shortening for the usable 2 inches of travel compression.

I have moved to Noleen Megair forks and a Maverick. All have a minimum of 4 inches of tunable travel. I am a big fan of airsprung suspension too.

I think a 2007 100mm manitou or rockshox air fork, maximum 4 lbs weight can be had for less than your 300 pounds. Just stay away with platform damping in forks in IMO.

Check out Simon's fauxbar bike. I think he has a 100 mm fork.

[Ade]

I recently changed from x-links on 957 to rockshox reba and really like them. Handling is better at any given speed, especially downhill and climbing isn't damaged either. Recommended. Right in your price bracket OE stock from merlincycles. Put hope mono mini on at same time and transformed the braking and handling.

Ade

[xp8-er]

Switching to somthing with about 100mm of travel will be just fine. I switched to look fournales forks with about 90 mm of usable travel and the result was astounding !  Although these are also linkage forks the extra travel will improve your rides massively. Geometry  wise the difference is not as bad as it seems as you still set the forks up with some sag and although the head tube angle gets slightly slacker this will sharpen in compression and you can shorten the stem length to sherpen up the steering response. This is what i did on my XP8 which is a variation of the  855   

Have fun.  

[red855]

Thanks all.  Will continue trawling ebay and the cycle shops for some light weight (under 4lbs) 100mm air forks with V brake mounts and that will match a red 855     so silver then...

The HT I'm getting in April will have the Reba Race 100mm forks so I'll also see how I get on with those perhaps before I choose anything.  I may then have a Risse Genesis front shock to sell.

[jeffhop]

try the spinner aeris fork, its only 80mm travel but weighs in at a more than respectable 1350grms and have read some favourable reports on the weight weenies website about them.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/08-Spinner-Aeris-Surpensio-Fork-Smart-Lockout-1350g_W0QQitemZ370156780619QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCycling_Parts_Accessories?hash=item370156780619