REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Anyone running a 2020 Balance with a 180mm fork or angleset?

1612 Views 23 Replies 7 Participants Last post by stripes, Dec 27, 2021

stripes

Discussion Starter · Nov 20, 2021

I have the backend of my Balance feeling right, but I'm tempted to play a bit with the front end. Either run a 180mm fork, or run a .5 degree angleset to slacken it out. Which is strange to say, with a 64 degree HA bike. Anyone running a taller fork on it? good or bad? Chuck this idea?

1 - 20 of 24 Posts

Raleighguy29

· #2 · Nov 21, 2021

I’m running a 180 single crown onyx on mine. And have had no issues at all. I’ve ridden it from bike parks to pedal trails no issues.

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Reactions: 1

stripes

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 21, 2021

Raleighguy29 said:
I’m running a 180 single crown onyx on mine. And have had no issues at all. I’ve ridden it from bike parks to pedal trails no issues.

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How do you like the Oynx? I’m debating on a new fork for mine, since the Balance is so stiff, i can feel the flex in my current fork.

Raleighguy29

· #4 · Nov 21, 2021

Love this fork. It’s burly. I’m 200-220 of alcohol fueled stupid and it’s amazing. I’ve ridden it from windrock to pisgah to trestle to Moab. And have never had a issue

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Reactions: 2

ungod

· #5 · Nov 22, 2021

Is that the "old" balance? Sorry I can't remember.

I had the last model year balance and I felt like it wanted to lift the front wheel when I went to a 170 fork so I'd imagine a 180 would be worse about that on climbs. I'm also on an xl so you may have a different experience on a different frame size.

Reactions: 1

stripes

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 22, 2021

ungod said:
Is that the "old" balance? Sorry I can't remember.

I had the last model year balance and I felt like it wanted to lift the front wheel when I went to a 170 fork so I'd imagine a 180 would be worse about that on climbs. I'm also on an xl so you may have a different experience on a different frame size.

Small 2020 Balance. The nice thing I really love about Canfield is they list the AtoC.. I think it's 565mm. My fork is 570mm, so I'm not sure a 180mm would be better or not.

Don_1138

· #7 · Nov 24, 2021

I built mine with a 180 Fox 38. If all I was doing was shuttles and park, it would have been rad. But it was too slack for climbing and all around trail riding. I shortened it to 170 and was much happier. But I think you know this...

stripes

Discussion Starter · #8 · Nov 24, 2021 (Edited)

Don_1138 said:
I built mine with a 180 Fox 38. If all I was doing was shuttles and park, it would have been rad. But it was too slack for climbing and all around trail riding. I shortened it to 170 and was much happier. But I think you know this...

Yep, I’m thinking the same now. Not higher, but lower is what I’m looking for. Thanks for your thoughts on it

I’m thinking that given this is the general perspective, the next step is to retune my fork. I’m going to get the compression tuned with a heavier damping, and a softer spring to see if that gets me what I’m looking for.

Sanchofula

· #9 · Nov 25, 2021

Anyone know if a 29" wheel will fit on the back of a balance?

The ultra short chainstays on the Balance would be awesome for a 29er, though I suspect there's interference.

stripes

Discussion Starter · #10 · Nov 25, 2021

Nurse Ben said:
Anyone know if a 29" wheel will fit on the back of a balance?

The ultra short chainstays on the Balance would be awesome for a 29er, though I suspect there's interference.

Just buy a lithium already.

Reactions: 1

stripes

Discussion Starter · #11 · Nov 25, 2021

Don_1138 said:
I built mine with a 180 Fox 38. If all I was doing was shuttles and park, it would have been rad. But it was too slack for climbing and all around trail riding. I shortened it to 170 and was much happier. But I think you know this...

How do you like it as far as stiffness is concerned? Are you running the same fork now?

Cerberus75

· #12 · Nov 27, 2021

Nurse Ben said:
Anyone know if a 29" wheel will fit on the back of a balance?

The ultra short chainstays on the Balance would be awesome for a 29er, though I suspect there's interference.

It's been tried, not unless you short shock it to 120mm.

stripes

Discussion Starter · #13 · Nov 27, 2021

Cerberus75 said:
It's been tried, not unless you short shock it to 120mm.

Don’t encourage him. It’s like feeding a raccoon. He’ll actually try it.

Cerberus75

· #14 · Nov 28, 2021

stripes said:
Don’t encourage him. It’s like feeding a raccoon. He’ll actually try it.

Haha! BTW I've ridden a few Balance with 180 and it definitely lost the trail bike feel. Same reason I'm not going 180 on the Lithium. Even though the rear out does the front. Are you trying to get the front lower or the whole bike lower?

Reactions: 1

stripes

Discussion Starter · #15 · Nov 29, 2021 (Edited)

Cerberus75 said:
Haha! BTW I've ridden a few Balance with 180 and it definitely lost the trail bike feel. Same reason I'm not going 180 on the Lithium. Even though the rear out does the front. Are you trying to get the front lower or the whole bike lower?

Thanks, I think it was some frustration with my current fork I finally have fixed that came out here, but I agree. I ran the Tilt at 150mm and I didn't like that either.. I think the bikes feel fine at the lower travel, which is unusual for me. I usually want to overfork all the frames, but the Canfields don't feel that way at all.

stripes

Discussion Starter · #16 · Dec 16, 2021

Cerberus75 said:
Haha! BTW I've ridden a few Balance with 180 and it definitely lost the trail bike feel. Same reason I'm not going 180 on the Lithium. Even though the rear out does the front. Are you trying to get the front lower or the whole bike lower?

Ok, so circling back. The reason I'm thinking of doing this is to run a 29er fork at 160mm, which is the same AtoC as a 27.5 fork with 180mm. Then short stroking the shock to 230x60, giving it 155mm of travel, so making it 160mm front/155mm rear.

Mainly because the fork I'm looking at is only offered in 29in, and not in 27.5. Does this sound crazy?

Reactions: 1

Cerberus75

· #17 · Dec 16, 2021

stripes said:
Ok, so circling back. The reason I'm thinking of doing this is to run a 29er fork at 160mm, which is the same AtoC as a 27.5 fork with 180mm. Then short stroking the shock to 230x60, giving it 155mm of travel, so making it 160mm front/155mm rear.

Mainly because the fork I'm looking at is only offered in 29in, and not in 27.5. Does this sound crazy?

I've ridden a mullet Balance and liked it. With the 29er frount it doesn't feel like it's going to wash out. Less weight is needed on the front so it feels more darty if that makes sense.

Reactions: 1

stripes

Discussion Starter · #18 · Dec 16, 2021

Cerberus75 said:
I've ridden a mullet Balance and liked it. With the 29er frount it doesn't feel like it's going to wash out. Less weight is needed on the front so it feels more darty if that makes sense.

It does--but I'm still going to run 27.5 wheels front and rear--just a 29er fork since they won't be making it in a 27.5 :/

So the geo would be the same as a 180mm 27.5 fork, but the suspension would be 160mm front and 155mm rear.

Cerberus75

· #19 · Dec 16, 2021

Oh, ok. I think it's a try and see type thing. Maybe get a low stack bottom cup to help with it if you don't like it. If you like the fork a lot. Sometimes it's worth adjusting to it. What fork?

Reactions: 1

stripes

Discussion Starter · #20 · Dec 16, 2021

Cerberus75 said:
Oh, ok. I think it's a try and see type thing. Maybe get a low stack bottom cup to help with it if you don't like it. If you like the fork a lot. Sometimes it's worth adjusting to it. What fork?

Ohlins RXF38 comes out in February. You can actually run them in coil, unless DVO, Fox 38, and the RS Zeb.

Never thought about a low stack lower cup. I'm running whatever the Canfield headset is..not sure if that's a low stack cup or not.

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