Reba's combination of ligth weight and stiffness make it the most versatile option for aggressive XC and lightweight All Mountain bikes.
Key features
-New BlackBox Carbon-Steerer
-Stiff 32mm 7000 series aluminum upper tubes
-Aluminum control knobs
-Bossed lower leg option
-Integrated graphics
-Motion Contol with external Floodgate
-Compatible with all PopLocs
-Dual Air
Submitted by
Julius
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2007
Strengths: Stiff, very light, dual air valves, adjustments, solid lockout/compression dependability, VERY robust and price.
Weaknesses: Reba graphics, available ONLY on complete bikes.
Bottom Line:
The fork takes a licking and keeps on ticking. It's light and stiff! I've taken the Reba on a 24 hour race, 50-mile road bike race, thousands of mile off other trails, and thrown it off a 50 story building. Ok, that last one I made up. Seriously, if you can find this fork alone buy it or someone else will!
Similar Products Used: RS Pilot SL, Fox Float 32 RL
Bike Setup: BMC Fourstroke 03, Giant NRS3
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Submitted by
OldSchoolDirtbag
a Cross Country Rider
from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2007
Strengths: Stiff, light, adjustability, inexpensive, Simple classic looks, effective "platform", long travel (100mm-130mm), platform adjustment trail adjustable with rebound knob pulled from bottom of fork.
Weaknesses: Cheap sticker graphics, 2006 factory equipment version doesn't have AL knobs, small bump compliance not on par with Fox forks
Bottom Line:
Bought this fork as a take off from a new bike so I didn't get the AL knobs. Removed the spacer (130mm travel) to match the Titus's 4.75" rear travel.
So far this fork has performed perfectly and was ridden all winter down to -30C, no problems in any weather with only pressure changes to compensate. I have the platform set to be off when the lockout knob is turned CCW for plusher travel offroad but full CW adjustment gives a nice platform that blows off at anything over an inch high. Disc brake bosses were perfectly straight and perpendicular so no fiddling.
Not as fluid or as plush as the Fox coil I tried but its pretty close and a heck of a lot cheaper. The "platform" is a blessing and really makes setting up the fork for varying conditions a no brainer...off for offroad...full on for road or smooth trail. 32mm legs are as stiff or stiffer than the Fox. Ramps up nicely at the end of its travel so running lots of sag is no problem (I run 30-40mm).
I've put about 2000km rain, snow and shine on them and no problems so far, they haven't leaked a pound of air. Hard to find fault with an excellent product that has survived all I can throw at it, I'm no lighweight either at 6'1" and 220pds. Don't think I could ever own another fork without some sort of "platform" on it now, I'm sold on the no compromise performance and this forks implementation of the concept. Another nice touch is the brake hose groove behind the arch that tucks it safely out of the way. For price versus performance and durability this fork might be hard to beat and I have been very satisfied with it so far.
Similar Products Used: SID (80mm-Dual Air), Fox (130mm coil), Manitou Minute 1(100mm-130mm)
Bike Setup: 2003 Titus Loco Moto, Sram X9-Med cage, Race face cranks, Blackspire 22t,36t rings and bashguard, Fox AVA shock (air), WTB rims, Easton CT2 carbon bar, FSA 105mm- Zero degree stem, Axiom flats, XT 11t-32t cassette, Hayes HFX9, 27.5pds total weight.
Strengths: smooth, lots of easy adjustments, great lockout system, and light!!
Weaknesses: ?????NONE
Bottom Line:
great fork takes high speed rocky descents with ease with out complaining or bottoming out and it's one of the lightest in its class plus it's a great price nough said!
Bike Setup: gary fisher marlin, lx running gear, bonti rims,michlin xcr dry tyres
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Submitted by
Bob
a Cross Country Rider
from Gloucestershire, UK
Date Reviewed: November 19, 2006
Strengths: Everything - light weight (1.5 kg), everything adjusts, great looks. Silky smooth performance straight "out of the box" but even better after a few tweaks.
Weaknesses: None so far - not had it very long though, about 10 rides.
Bike Setup: Trek 8000 with Shimano LX/XT kit, Reba SL 80mm fork and Bontrager tyres.
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Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Victoria, Australia
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2006
Strengths: Light Stiff Very tunable Plush Poploc lockout Fingertip compression and rebound adjustments - alloy not plastic rubbish. It's a Rockshox - good rep.
Weaknesses: The Diffusion black colour shows rub marks - but a wipe with a silicon cloth banishes them.
Bottom Line:
I wanted a light 100mm fork for my new hardtail, and had heard and read alot about the virtues of the Reba. So, I was lucky enough to find a new pulloff SL, in black disc only off ebay - perfect!
First of all - do not believe the pressures recommended on the fork - they were far too high. So I just played around until it felt right - one of the virtues of an air fork!
This thing is plush and linear to the end of the stroke, but never bottoms hard if set up right. The lockout is a handy feature, as is the floodgate valve to adjust the lockout. I find the compression damping to be meaningful in it's adjustment, and the blue alloy knob is a nice touch. The rebound adjuster is also alloy and tucked out of the way under the fork leg, and offers a huge range of adjustment.
The fork is nice and stiff and flex free for an XC fork. Small bump response is excellent due to the negative air spring, and big hits are handled with ease.
In short, a very trailworthy XC fork that would also be at home on a race course.
Similar Products Used: Halson Inversion Ye olde Mag 21 Judy SL's (96 and 2000 models) Marzocchi EXR Pro Air
Bike Setup: Tomac Taos hardtail - X9, Reba SL etc.
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Submitted by
Dirk Diggler
a Cross Country Rider
from The QC
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2006
Strengths: It has numerous tuning options. From setting the postive and negative chambers, rebound, to the floodgate, to the compression dampener. I almost forgot to mention the poplock. It's a God-send for those killer-Everest climbs. Tune it properly and you can get it to work like Fox's Terralogic.
Weaknesses: I don't find the label appealing. I prefer the 05 stickers, but that's just me.
Bottom Line:
If you're an aggressive XC rider with weight issues, this is for you. Definitely the best bang for your hard-earned dollars.
Strengths: Pretty darn stiff, responsive, rediculously tunable thanks to negative and positive valves. Can handle just about anything thrown at it. Changed the spacers on the inside and put it up to 115mm. Nice difference, tracked a lot better after i did that. Put an 8 inch rotor on it just for kicks and can't wipe that grin off my face every time I'm roaring down a single track.
Weaknesses: The rebound aluminum knob fell out after the first couple of rides, probably my fault from messing with it. Got an allen bolt in there now, works great.
Bottom Line:
This shox rocks. Rockshox is finally starting to figure things out, took them long enough. Definitly get the 15mm more and you won't be sorry. Very plush and smooth and dependable, so far. Who the hell cares about stickers anyways? People who should buy it are those who are XC racers or aggressive single track attackers of doom. You can customize to however the hell you want it set up, for big hits or fast rolling single tracks. Choose your weapon. Wisely.
Similar Products Used: Fox 100mm air fork, Rock Shox Pike, Marizoochi.
Bike Setup: 2006 Giant Trance 2, stock except with an handbuilt wheelset. 8 inch rotor up front, hope stainless steel braided brake lines, race face diabolus stem, protaper riser, and crank bro mallet c pedals.
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Submitted by
clay davies
a Cross Country Rider
from england / london
