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
sbmac
a Weekend Warrior
from Long ISland NY
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2008
Strengths: Amazing forks...REALLY adjustable. Smooth, plush, and took everything I threw at them. Light weight, easy to set-up. Strongly built.
Weaknesses: None that I can see
Bottom Line:
Well worth the money...I can't imagine anything performing better than this.
Drop after big drop I stayed in control and felt a smooth acceptance of the trail.
Small roots and stones may as well have been invisible to me. I pounded this forks like a maniac and felt nicely exhausted but not beat up. Spend a couple hundred more for your forks and try these...they transformed my bike.
Similar Products Used: Rockshox Tora, Rockshox Dart3
Bike Setup: Specialized Rockhopper Disc with following upgrades: Reba fork, Thudbuster LT, Crank Bros 5050xx pedals, Ritchey carbon rizer bars, Specialized Phenom saddle.
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Submitted by
Nic Oliver
a Cross Country Rider
from Bristol, UK
Date Reviewed: August 9, 2007
Strengths: Light, very adjustable, handlebar mounted lock off. Great for XC and trail riding. Gives very good feedback to the rider from the front end. Minimal brake diving.
Weaknesses: Negative rebound chamber needs topping up after every ride.
Bottom Line:
Great forks; remember to keep the negative rebound chamber topped up with air.
Strengths: Weight, smoothness, tunability, long maintenance cycle
Weaknesses: Not really a weakness, but the seals take a LONG time to bed in!
Bottom Line:
This is an update to a review I made when my forks were a mere 3 months old and causing me all manner of stiction related grief!
However, after following some setup advice on th MTBR forums and just riding the forks they have really come into their own. In fact they have surpassed all my expectations and outclassed my now aging Fox Float RLC's.
The level of adjustment is massive and once the seals have bedded in the smoothness of these forks is as good as anything else out there.
Maintenance wise these beat Fox hands down and that's a big issue given how much my bike gets ridden.
They have proven to be a very versatile fork and with different setups I've ridden them hard in all sorts of different terrain and now I'm forced to eat my words and say that they are a truly great fork.
What is even more frightening is how the price is still dropping. To get a PUSH upgrade for my Float's and a full seal kit, it'll cost almost as much as buying a pair of 07 Reba Race's!
Similar Products Used: Fox Float RLC (04), Manitou Pro and Pro C
Bike Setup: 06 Turner Flux, XT, XTR, Hope etc
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Submitted by
brod jenkins
a Cross Country Rider
from new zealand
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2007
Strengths: Lightweight, Responsive and smooth throughout stroke of travel. Good adjustments, and the poploc remote is an excellent idea that works great.
Weaknesses: NONE
Bottom Line:
Forks came set-up with 80mm travel. 30 minutes works to remove 2No. internal spacers made sure there was a true 100mm travel.
Squishy noise reffered to in earlier reveiws is the rebound damping actually working. (something some mountian bike forks don't actually do all that well).
Value for money and the performance of these top end XC forks is as good as it gets
Strengths: Reliability, Durability, Stiffness, Efficient when Poploc engaged but plush when turned off, Adjustability
Weaknesses: It wasn't free.
Bottom Line:
I have used this fork for 18 months and put a lot of miles on it as I like to do really long rides and long races when I can. I had a Rock Shox SID on my previous bike and didn't realize how much the SID was flexing, especially on rocky or rooty downhill sections. The drastic improvement in stiffness was so nice and absolutely made me more confident on technical descents. Even if you are a weight weenie this fork is worth the weight penalty if you ride trails with rocks or roots or bumps that are medium sized or larger. I have ridden SPV forks a couple times (just short rides) but I still think that for most people the poploc is going to be a better option. The poploc lever on the handlebar allows you to easily lockout or open up the fork very quickly even while carving through twisty singetrack. I think SPV tends to be a little too harsh in its initial compression so that your front tire doesn't track quite as well and with the poploc you control when the fork stiffens up. I think SPV might be better in certain situations (possibly racing on a smoother course where you don't need as much help from the suspension when cornering). But for most racing or trail riding situations I would highly recommend the Reba team. The adjustability is a little hard to get dialed in but is very nice once you get it where you like it so take the time to experiment and write down you pressures and dial settings as you set up the fork.
This fork has been 100% reliable, doesn't lose air pressure, and is very rigid. Don't worry about the weight over a SID - you're riding will improve in cornering and accleration with this fork. One of the best mtb products in terms of performance and reliability I have ever used. All mountain bike products are overpriced but relative to other forks it is a good value. Unless you get a lemon (which it appears there aren't any problems with this fork) you will not be sorry. I don't normally get that excited about a prodcut but want to give credit when something performs this well and is reliable. Ride on.
this fork is great. its very smooth and it practicly eats anything that gets in its way. I like that its a light fork, and it has lots of adjustments. its great for aggresive xc riding, like here in Ecuador. unfortunately ,nothing is perfect. it lasted 3 months of some intense use to become very stiff in its compression. it was time to lubricate seals and everything inside. besides that, this is a great fork that lasts longer than older rock shox like my old psylo. nothing lasts longer than a marzocchi!! I dont use the lockout very much, but its very usefull when you need it , in my case, rolling over pavement. also, after 7 months it started making weird hidraulic sounds that it didnt make earlier. i recommend this fork for aggresive xc riding, a light freeriding is ok, but it bobs a lot sometimes.
Submitted by
daniel ve
a Cross Country Rider
from montpellier, france
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2006
Strengths: very stiff, plush, settings (uturn poplock)
Weaknesses: dont know yet
Bottom Line:
I have changed to a reba team (with u-turn) because i was not feeling very confident riding with the SID. The reba is way stiffer, a lot more precise, and it seems it eat all the bumps so you can just focus on the trajectories rather than having to plot your line through the rocks and roots. I ride it at 100 mm and it seems to be enough for engaged XC. set it to 115 mm (it is a breeze with the u-turn) and i think very few of us will be able to get to the limit of this fork. Overall a great fork with lots of settings to play around. build quality is top (better than the SID, especially for the knobs) and weight is kept low.
Submitted by
Alex
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Date Reviewed: October 3, 2006
Strengths: Color, adjustments, light, v-brake ready, comes with a cool pump, and takes the hits of course. This fork is perfect for my riding style, which is cross country.
Weaknesses: Makes some funny sounds when you ride over a huge gap or bump in the trail. The sound of Rock Shock!
Bottom Line:
I think this is a great fork for cross country and maybe some light free riding. I'm very happy with this fork and would purchase another Rock Shock in the same price range. No regrets!
Similar Products Used: The only other fork I used that is worth mentioning is, the Manitou 6 elite (03). You get what you pay for, enough said!
Bike Setup: Santa Cruz Superlight, Mavic, Shimano xt/lx, and Thompson stem and seat post.
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Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver, BC
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2006
Strengths: Stiff, reasonably light, looks sharp with aluminium adjuster knobs and valve caps.
Weaknesses: Not exactly 100 mm of travel, makes squishy noises
Bottom Line:
In 10 or so years of XC mountain biking, this is the best XC fork that I have ever used. I abused this fork over 6 months of BC riding and I've had no problems at all. The fork is plenty stiff for aggressive XC riding. The claimed weight of 3.5 lbs is competitive with any other 100 mm travel XC fork.
The fork is easy to set-up with positive and negative air, rebound, lock-out, and "flood-gate." I prefer and more supple fork and had great results with the positive air chamber set at 10-15 lbs below body weight, and an equal amount of pressure in the negative chamber. Also, air pressure is adjusted using shraeder valves so no adapters are needed.
The "flood-gate" is really just an adjustable blow-off threshold when the fork is locked-out. When the fork is open, the flood-gate adjustment does nothing. When the fork is locked, the flood-gate determines how much force is needed to get the fork moving. If you adjust the flood-gate at just enough to keep the fork locked out when climbing out of the saddle, then surprisingly the fork is still reasonably active on the descent.
My only gripes - I had the fork set at 100 mm of travel, but 90 mm is closer to the actual travel (not a big deal). The fork makes some "squishy/hydraulic" noises on bigger hits, it's more noticeable than on other forks but it never really bothered me. Very soon after I purchased the fork, I noticed a small amount of play between the stanchions and sliders, this has not gotten any worse and does not seem to affect the fork function.
I am very pleased with this fork, highly recommended.
Similar Products Used: Marzocchi Marathon, Manitou Skareb
Bike Setup: Giant NRS with 100 mm Reba Team
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Submitted by
Ben W.
a Cross Country Rider
from Lancaster, PA
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2006
Strengths: Smooth, stout, tracks excellent( I am 235lbs). Someone commented about stiction. There is no stiction in my Reba Team on my 26er or on my Reba SL on my 29er.
Weaknesses: 05 Rebas have terible caps and knobs relative to the 06 and newer Rebas.
Bottom Line:
Liked it so much on my 29er I got one for the little wheeled bike.
Strengths: Quality look, stiff and accurate feel, lockout
Weaknesses: Stiction, stiction and some more stiction. Lack of any indexing on the adjusters, obtuse compression adjustment on PopLoc Remote.
Bottom Line:
They're just not Fox. The sheer cost of my Turner meant that I had to take a gamble on the Reba's because Fox were just out of my budget and I wasn't willing to take the pair I had off my Inbred.
I rode a mates hardtail with some Reba Race's on and they felt good but clearly I should have tested a pair on a full susser. My main gripe is they just don't feel as supple as my Float's and feel far harsher than the beautifully supple backend of the Turner.
I'm still playing with the setup, but three months on the front is still skipping a bit, the stiction is still horrid and I just can't love these forks like everyone else seems too.
It's a shame because aside from the lack of any indexing on the adjusters, the fork has a real quality feel. They are a world away from some Duke C's I had years ago and prove that RS have really raised their game.
I've only given them a 3 because even with the help of SRAM technicians at Mayhem this year, I still can't get them setup to feel invisible like the backend - they're more like a pneumatic drill at the moment!
Similar Products Used: Manitou Pro, Manitou Pro C, Duke C, Fox Float 100 RLC '04
Bike Setup: Turner Flux, RP3, XT/XTR, Hope Mini's, Monkey Lite CNT, Hope XC/Mavic wheels, Thomson etc etc
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Submitted by
Zachary Kurka
a Cross Country Rider
from Durango, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2006
Strengths: Stiff laterally. Plush travel. One of few to still work with v-brakes. very tunable and adjustable. One of few that can be set for 80mm ride height.
Weaknesses: Out of the saddle climbs cause lots of bob unless poploc is equipped.
Bottom Line:
This is a high quality product. Its adjustability allows you to tune it to just about any XC application. I can keep the front end glued like never before on tough climbs.
It is strong for in the saddle climbs, but out of the saddle is tough without a poploc. Laterally it is stiff and rails corners on twisty singletrack. Value rating is based on MSRP rather than what I paid. It's expensive, but not as much as FOX.
Similar Products Used: Manitou Black Elite 100. Manitou SX Ti. Rock Shox Judy
Bike Setup: Gunnar 853. Mostly XT and X-9. Easton and Thomson round it out.
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Submitted by
Umar
a Cross Country Rider
from Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2006
Strengths: Lighter than my previous Reba SL. 100mm travel suit my riding style. Silver colour to suit KHS XC904R silver colour frame.
Weaknesses: Comes with v-brake boss! A lot expensive than the Reba SL.
Bottom Line:
I really dislike the v-brake boss for obvious reason that I'm using disc brake.
It perform a lot better than my previous 2005 Reba SL. The 2005 Reba SL wander a bit on technical climb and I need to use the lockout on smooth trail climbing, however the 2006 Reba Team stay calm and did not bob on the smooth trail climbing.
Compare to F100X, the Reba Team is a bit firmer. But the F100X wander like the Reba SL as well.
It's still pretty new, but it seems like the perfect fork for someone who doesn't need more than 4 1/2 inches. I had serious doubts about the utility of the U-Turn 85mm-115mm adjustibility, but it does exactly what you hope it would do (change the bike's geometry/suspension for climbing, road riding, descending, technical) and is well worth the added weight/complexity. Takes a minute or so to crank the fork from 85mm to 115mm, so I only noodle with it for long-lasting course changes. I have Pop-Loc lockout on the handlebar and wonder how I ever lived without it--had lockout on the column on my Manitou but this is in another world. Use it a hundred times a ride. All controls/adjustments are ergonomic and easily used in the field--unlike Fox, where you need jeweler's needlenose pliers to adjust anything. Very plush. Very stiff--fat pistons. The manual makes tuning the thing straightforward. All in all, I see nothing to compete with it. Wish it were cheaper. I weigh 145 lbs, for what it's worth.
