[Enzyme80]

I am lost. I have gone through many of the threads, read many reviews and still have no idea what I am looking for.
Lets see here:
Me - 5'9 175 lbs (go between 165-180)

money - I would like to say under 500 but will spend more if the fork is worth it.

use - 99.9% XC (I don't know - I just call it mountain biking. It is single track in Mass, rocks, drops, roots, dirt, pump tracks don't know what else to call it)

Weight - current forks weight is around 4.2-4.5 lbs (I think it is more but that is what I am seeing) It is a Manitou Axel Elite 05 100 mm travel if that helps. I would love something in the low 3's but really as long as it is below 4 I think that would be OK.

Bike - Gary Fisher Marlin 2006 Check it here for specs STOCK besides the saddle and rear tire.

Right now, my suspension will bounce all over the place when hitting anything. It does not seems to always work, and off of drops I am pretty sure this has been my main reason for crashing (not all of the time but sometimes it just doesn't do what I think a fork should do.
I have no experience with any other forks besides a very old rigid one. I have been riding 2-3 years (single track) and really want something that will last.

I am lost, too many reviews no way to really try the forks I want to buy.

X-Fusion Velvet RL

RockShox Reba SL duel Air

Fox F100 RLC

Those are the three I am looking at but not limiting my search by any means.

Please help!:madman:

 

[shorner]

I just got a 2012 Reba RLT (29er) from bikerbob (he's in the classified section here) for $450 and absolutely love it. I switched from a FOX RLC FIT and the Reba feels much more supple, and the compression damping seems to be more "tunable" than the Fox (at least for me).

 

[Pau11y]

Look around for an older Fox Float 130 RLC...the open bath ones. I see them every so often for like $250 tops. They can be reduced to 100mm in 15 mins and are pretty friggin' buttery. The only down side, I think you'll be limited to QR w/ these older Fox Float, unless you get new lowers.

 

[Enzyme80]

Thanks for the suggestions guys - I don't really know too much - what is QR?

 

[mullen119]

I would look into this

 

[elTwitcho]

Yeah the Manitou would probably be a good choice, the ABS+ damper is fairly well regarded. My friend who has one is pretty happy with it.

Look for something with adjustable compression damping at minimum (the fork specs will specifically list "adjustable compression damping" or something to that effect so you don't have to worry about confusing this) and even better still if you can get something with adjustable floodgate.

QR is the standard wheel attachment skewer you've got in your wheel now. There are new systems out there that have thicker axles that offer less flex but they'll most likely require you to get another wheel and a lot of people are still running QR and are perfectly happy with it so it's still a pretty viable option.

 

[Enzyme80]

All set with getting a new wheel unless I have to - it seems like most if not all of the shocks I am looking at need disc brakes and I currently don't have that. Not sure I am a fan of needing to upgrade another part of my bike because I want better suspension.

 

[elTwitcho]

To be honest you're probably going to see as much of an improvement in your overall ride just upgrading to disc brakes as you would with a better fork. I think it's a totally worthwhile upgrade

 

[Enzyme80]

meh - i have used disc breaks, I am sure they were not overly good but to be honest I did feel like I gained anything from the one's on my main ride. Have never had the chance to ride good ones.

And it's not that I don't want to go to disc breaks, it is the extra money to get breaks back on my bike that sucks.

 

[mullen119]

meh - i have used disc breaks, I am sure they were not overly good but to be honest I did feel like I gained anything from the one's on my main ride. Have never had the chance to ride good ones.

And it's not that I don't want to go to disc breaks, it is the extra money to get breaks back on my bike that sucks.

Properly set up rim brakes can have the same power as disc brakes. The difference comes when you ride in wet/muddy conditions or have long down hills. Rim brakes do not work very well once they get in those conditions and disc brakes will feel the same regardless of the conditions. Discs also have better modulation and lever feel(assuming they are BB7 cable brakes or hydraulic, anything less and you are better off with rim brakes)

 

[Enzyme80]

I will take that into consideration... Just saying that it sucks that in order to upgrade my fork, I have to upgrade my breaks, and probably have to upgrade my wheels. I mean I just went from 300-500 to like 500-800 (or more) just kinda sucks.

 

[mullen119]

I will take that into consideration... Just saying that it sucks that in order to upgrade my fork, I have to upgrade my breaks, and probably have to upgrade my wheels. I mean I just went from 300-500 to like 500-800 (or more) just kinda sucks.

Thats very true. It comes down to the trail types and conditions your ride in. If you have dont ride in wet conditions, you can get away with rim brakes and be fine.

I definitely would skip spending 800 bucks on on upgraded front end. I would save up a few hundred more and upgrade to a bike that comes with a good fork, disc brakes, as well as better drive train, wheels, and other components before spending that much on upgrading only part of my bike.

 

[Enzyme80]

I have done wet conditions before and have noticed the decline of the rim breaks but was still able to ride.

I fell that the frame I have is a good enough frame to upgrade on. Also, not sure if I would be able to talk the wife into letting me get another bike but thanks for the suggestion. I do kind of wish when I was buying the bike someone had spoken up and said hey if you spend a little more now it's gonna save you a bunch later. Oh well - live an learn.

 

[Enzyme80]

So I think it is between the Minute Pro and the X-fusion... any reason for one over the other?

 

[joytron]

You want a new fork, but in order to get a new fork, you need to use disc brakes, and in order to use disc brakes you need a new wheel set (or I guess a disc on the front and a new front wheel), but you dont want to buy anything else? How do you plan on doing that besides not using a front brake?

 

[Enzyme80]

Not sure what you mean, I don't think I said that I didn't want to buy anything else well I guess I said I don't want to buy a new bike. I don't get how that means I can't use a front break.

 

[Gman086]

So I think it is between the Minute Pro and the X-fusion... any reason for one over the other?

X-Fusion is the real deal - their stuff flat out works; they're the up-and-comers. Manitou is going the other direction.

Nuff said,

G MAN

 

[mullen119]

X-Fusion is the real deal - their stuff flat out works; they're the up-and-comers. Manitou is going the other direction.

Nuff said,

G MAN

What makes you think that Manitou is going in the other dirrection? In the last 2 years, they have released one of the best compression dampers on the market, matched it with what already was one of the best rebound dampers and put it in every fork they make. Fully tuning it for each application the the fork is designed for. Their customer service is top notch as well.

OP, Both forks are very good forks and you would be happy with either one. I would lean towards the Manitou because both the rebound and compression dampers can easily be tuned to fit your weight and riding style, But thats something I look for.

 

[Enzyme80]

What makes you think that Manitou is going in the other dirrection? In the last 2 years, they have released one of the best compression dampers on the market, matched it with what already was one of the best rebound dampers and put it in every fork they make. Fully tuning it for each application the the fork is designed for. Their customer service is top notch as well.

OP, Both forks are very good forks and you would be happy with either one. I would lean towards the Manitou because both the rebound and compression dampers can easily be tuned to fit your weight and riding style, But thats something I look for.

I was wondering why Gman said that as well. If it is true then that would sway me but if it was just hear say then that is different. I am thinking the Manitou, it's a good price, I already have the Manitou Axel Elite on the bike and it has never broken down or anything even if it is just a entry level fork.

 

[mullen119]

I was wondering why Gman said that as well. If it is true then that would sway me but if it was just hear say then that is different. I am thinking the Manitou, it's a good price, I already have the Manitou Axel Elite on the bike and it has never broken down or anything even if it is just a entry level fork.

Manitou was sold in late 2007(I think thats when it was) to Hayes. The few year prior to the sale were bad years for Manitou, and it took Hayes a few years to get everything together. In 2010, they updated there product line and are back to a solid company with very good products. I have had to deal with there customer service a few times to order parts and answer questions and they have always been great. I have even heard of them doing warranty claims for people whos forks are 3-4 years past the warranty period(some being made before Hayes even owned them). If you went with the Manitou, you can rest assure that the company and products are solid.

That said, I have heard very good things about X fusion as well. You really cant go wrong either way.

Edit: Manitou has a program where you can send in an old manitou fork and they will give you 30% off MSRP on a new fork. Could be something to think about.