Author Topic: The curse of Stratos (Read 6443 times)

slowride · « **on:** March 14, 2003, 08:35:09 am »

Well, looks like my Stratos fork isn't going to sell. It's been advertised for a month on MTBR, longer on Ridemonkey, and after almost a week on eBay I have 1 bid and 1 guy from Poland vaguely interested. I'd be willing to bet I'm gonna get stuck with this fork.

I should have known... nobody wants an used Stratos (or White Brothers, or RST, etc...). Or if they do, they want to pay something like $50 for it.

So, a word of advice... stick with the bigger names if you want to have some resale value (I sold my Black used after a year for $10 more than I paid for it, and they guy bought within an hour of me posting the ad).

And, finally, anyone know if there are frame guards made for 35mm stanchions? I'm talking about the little rubber thingies that keep you from bashing your frame with the fork... I think DMX Racing makes some, but they are all for smaller forks...

[smiley=turtle.gif]

IFO · « **Reply #1 on:** March 14, 2003, 10:32:31 am »

haahh im not gunna say anything...

buying a stratos is like buying Hyundia...it might work ok for the original owner, but it has NO resale value...

sort of like used toilet paper... [smiley=redface.gif]

slowride · « **Reply #2 on:** March 14, 2003, 10:49:02 am »

Yep, you're right... I'll use it until it breaks or whatever, and then I'll put it in the basement or sell it for $25. I'll chalk this up to a "lesson".

Know anything about those stanchion guards? I may end up using doorstops on the frame, or something like that...

IFO · « **Reply #3 on:** March 14, 2003, 12:38:51 pm »

what most people do who cant find rubber bumpers for off brand sized forks. is to cut up a set of thick rubber'd grips and zap-strap em in place onto teh forks...

Oury brand grips are quite popular.. they are cheap and made of a decently think soft rubber compound...

good luck...

http://www.bikeroom.com/product.cfm?ProductID=24

such as these....

slowride · « **Reply #4 on:** March 14, 2003, 01:48:11 pm »

OK, how about this for coincidence?

I go to the Oury homepage to check out their products (they have some new lock-on grips, I'll be trying them!) only to find that I live in the same town as Oury! Check out this map... 1 is where I live, 2 is where Oury lives.

Matno · « **Reply #5 on:** March 14, 2003, 01:54:42 pm »

It's a small world sometimes. Turns out that Lizard Skins was just down the street from my last house.

Also, I bought a computer a few years ago (from Quantex, a now dead company that was located in New Jersey), and when I called the tech support line, their tech support office was located in Orem, UT just a couple of miles from where I was!

But speaking of Lizard Skins, they make what you're looking for:
http://www.lizardskins.com/products/mtnbumper.html
They're neoprene, so I'm sure they would stretch to fit your stanchions. (The website says: "New design accommodates for wider stanchions") There you have it...

slowride · « **Reply #6 on:** March 14, 2003, 02:02:26 pm »

Thanks Matno, I'll have to track down a pair of those!

The weird thing about Oury is that there is no obvious sign that they are there... the block that they are in is a kinda weird place. It's right across the street from Wheaton College housing, and there's basically a bunch of cruddy college-oreiented stores there, and some houses that have been converted into stores (like the College Station Cat Clinic).

I suspect it is a 1 or 2 man operation working out of an office in the 2nd floor of an old house, with manufacturing done elsewhere. Nothing wrong with that though!

I've been driving down that road right past their offices for a good 12 years or so...

Mr.Ed · « **Reply #7 on:** March 14, 2003, 03:04:45 pm »

I drove past your place and oury's once upon a time. Back when I used to frequent the DuPage county court house, I would take various ways home thru town. Wow, it really is a small world.!!!

IFO · « **Reply #8 on:** March 14, 2003, 04:43:38 pm »

hahaha , thats so funny u live just down the street...

small world is right...

glad u found something to do the job...

dented frames suk...

GrimJack · « **Reply #9 on:** March 14, 2003, 06:59:35 pm »

Ahh, that is the curse of the Stratos, for sure. The good side is, you can pick them up for dirt cheap when you need a long travel dual crown fork!

Seriously, you'd be pretty upset if you bought an S8 new at $1000 and wanted to sell it.

However, imagine if you were the buyer looking to buy it used for $200 after a year of use. What a deal!

Reminds me of why you don't buy American automobiles new. 60% depreciation in 3 years sucks... I'd rather buy the same vehicle in 3 years for 40% of the price, thanks. Or better yet, buy a Honda. Now if only they made pickup trucks!

slowride · « **Reply #10 on:** March 14, 2003, 11:32:42 pm »

Small world is right!

You're right too GrimJack... unless you buy one in a slightly different configuration than what you want (for example, to change mine from 5 to 6 inches of travel is $120, and to put on 20mm dropouts is $106). But it's still nice to have the option...

Speaking of Hondas, my 97 Civic is still worth within $4000 of what I paid for it, with 92,000 miles on it!

jimbo · « **Reply #11 on:** March 15, 2003, 06:03:04 am »

Quote

Or better yet, buy a Honda. Now if only they made pickup trucks!

This ain't no pickup. It is a butt ugly Honda and I want one.

http://galleries.wheels24.co.za/cars/Honda/Element/19.asp

http://galleries.wheels24.co.za/cars/Honda/Element/index.asp

IFO · « **Reply #12 on:** March 15, 2003, 12:43:49 pm »

oh noooooooo....

plz tell me your kiddding when u say your liking the honda Element?

u know even guys who drive volvo's point and laff at those cars....

jimbo · « **Reply #13 on:** March 15, 2003, 02:08:55 pm »

Yep, I want one. But my current car is only 3 years old with 20,000 miles so I can't switch without taking a loss on the car. [smiley=coolfrown.gif] Maybe in a couple years!

The Element is perfect for hauling my stuff. It reminds me of the VW Van.

I laugh at the guys with 4 wheel drive SUVs on our island. There isn't any place here to go off road. I've ridden around the entire island in less than 7 hours on a road bike. When we go mtbing, we always park along the main roads and ride into the hills.

Vitaliy · « **Reply #14 on:** March 15, 2003, 03:24:37 pm »

Hey, I'm planning moving to Hanolulu, is it really hard to find job over there, and is rent really expensive, also how long do you need to be in state to become a resident? I'm planing to go to University of Hawaii, or Hawain Pacific University, not sure which one is better probably would like to live on campus. And were you born there or came from other place?

Thanks,

Vitaliy Khimich.

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Author Topic: The curse of Stratos (Read 6443 times)

jimbo

jimbo