[perryc]

I'm purchasing a medium size 1994 GT ZASKAR LE and would like to know what front suspension to use. I already have 2002 Z1 Wedge MARZOCCHI and it's a 100-130mm. I heard it will be too much. Any comments and suggestions?

 

[shopcat_cycles]

That bike was designed around 60mm of travel. Probably want to stick with 80, if that.

 

[mtnbiker72]

1994 its was more like 48mm of Travel...unless the Mag 21 SL came with the "Long Travel Kit"

But yea, 80mm max only because there are not much for options below that

 

[leoh]

You may still get a 2007 SID and add the spacer to get 63 mm.

 

[perryc]

Can I use 80mm? It's 17mm from 63 mm.

 

[leoh]

I don't know what you mean by 17 mm.
But I don't think you will be able to buy any fork less than 63 mm. At least not good forks.
In my opinion, your best choice is a 28 mm SID with the spacer for 63 mm travel.

 

[perryc]

63 mm plus 17mm will be 80mm. a 17 mm difference. Will 80 be too much still?

 

[loozer]

17 mm. won't be too much in my opinion.

You may want to move the saddle forward by 10 mm. or opt for a lower rise stem.
This should get you closer to the position on the bike you are familiar with and put some extra weight on the front wheel.

Otherwise you will have to stick to some older forks like mag 21, marzocchi XC 500/600 series or early manitous.

I plan to replace my Mag 21 with a RS Duke U-turn.
That way I'll have the benefit of a not too tall 63 mm. fork for the uphills and some extra travel for the downhills.

 

[leoh]

The difference is not much. I'd try it.
Anyway, you don't have many options with that frame.
I have a friend who has a Zaskar LE from about that year (not sure about the year, but probably around 1996).

Here's a link with more info of his bike: https://mtburuguay.forogratis.es/foro/viewtopic.php?t=818

He actually used it with a SID, without any trouble.
The original fork was a Judy XC which has probably something around 63 or 80 mm of travel.

 

[perryc]

I think 80 will work and just use a flatbars instead of risers and a zero offset seat post. I have this Marzochi Z1 wedge and I'm thinking of modifying it to 80 mm. What do you think??

 

[mtnbiker72]

80mm should be OK as far as the frame handling it...those Zaskar frames were way overbuilt (in a good strong way).

Good idea on the flat bars, if you like the width and sweep of risers, there are lots of flat bars that have similar sweep and width (Titec, Niner, Salsa, Bontrager). These are getting common since a lot of 29er riders (including me) need our hand position lower to simulate our position on a 26er.

 

[loozer]

With regards to the Zaskar frame being strong enough to handle a longer travel fork, is there any evidence of damages to the frame or the headset caused by forks 20 to 30 mm. longer than the one the frame came with?

I'm planning to get a new fork for my 95 titanium Kona but I haven't found any detailed info on the subject.

 

[mtnbiker72]

I would think a lot of it would have to do with how the bike is being rode. I ran an 80mm fork on my Bontrager that was designed for a 63mm fork and it worked fine...no issues. But it was an XC frame that I only rode XC on. What I found both working in bike shops and just watching people on the trails is that if they go and throw a 130mm fork on a XC frame designed for an 80mm fork...they are not riding XC. They tend to get quite a bit more aggressive with jumps and drops...and that, combined by the increased leverage on the headtube is what kills the frames.

BTW-If I recall, the 1995 Kona's were 1" threaded...could be tough to find a 1" steertube fork (other than RST). Marzocchi was making them a few years back, might want to start watching E-bay.

 

[danoalb]

100mm works fine, no more than that though. Axle to crown is the important measurment. You can't go over 500mm including the headset race. My bro has a GT Rebound with a 100mm dart 3 (crappy fork) with a riser stem and riser bars and he kicks but climbing really steep stuff with that bike..go figure..