I weigh 260. I don't have a Monkey, but I have a 100mm Reba. With a Specialized Hilo Disc hub and a Salsa Gordo rim, The steering is very predictable. The hub has a thru hub type arrangement but it's 9mm, so it fits in a standard dropout. Probably be even better with a QR15 or whatever they call it.
Karate Monkey Sus Fork Recommendations
I built up a karate monkey rigid and love the handling, but my body can't quite take the beating of the rigid fork on rocks/small drops. I'd like to preserve the handling but get a susp fork to soak up some of the brutality. Does anyone have recommendations for forks, I'm aware of the Reba/Manitous/RST/Toras. I tried a 100mm Tora TK, and didn't like the handling. I appreciate any inputs before I go drop coin on this.... I was leaning toward 80mm Manitou Drake for $280 (but I weigh 230, so might have to pay $ to upgrade spring?) or Minute (but don't want to change out my disk brake)....... Would like to spend under $300, but a little flexible. I'm assuming the niner carbon fork would not provide enough relief...... Welcome any advice especially from experienced monkey riders.
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i love my monkey, it's now been passed down to my son,
i did the rigid fork and loved it, but realized getting beat isn't love
then bought a white bro rigid carbon
biig upgrade
tnen tried an rst 100mm fail
then one of the good air tora's, the air at 80
sweet spot
now it's fun, lots of other things went into it, stiff strong crankset comes to mind
i did the rigid fork and loved it, but realized getting beat isn't love
then bought a white bro rigid carbon
biig upgrade
tnen tried an rst 100mm fail
then one of the good air tora's, the air at 80
sweet spot
now it's fun, lots of other things went into it, stiff strong crankset comes to mind
My 2 cents;
I own a Monkey. I don't care for the handling @ 100mm. Its too slack for my tastes. Handling @ 80mm works well with one exception. If you set the air fork (Reba) to have some small bump compliance, the fork compresses too much in hard, fast cornering. The fork may not bottom but the head angle then becomes very steep. If you happen to cycle it on a bump while its compressed, you may find yourself on the ground.
My solution - a first generation Reba converted to a coil spring (Pike) with U-turn. I can get away with about 90mm.
Good
- near Zero maintainance
- no set up just ride
- better performance than any air fork as its a coil
Bad
- first gen Rebas flex
- heavy in relative terms
YMMV but this set up suits the Monkey so well that I plan to sell them together despite not wanting to do so.
Good luck. Let us know how it turns out.
I own a Monkey. I don't care for the handling @ 100mm. Its too slack for my tastes. Handling @ 80mm works well with one exception. If you set the air fork (Reba) to have some small bump compliance, the fork compresses too much in hard, fast cornering. The fork may not bottom but the head angle then becomes very steep. If you happen to cycle it on a bump while its compressed, you may find yourself on the ground.
My solution - a first generation Reba converted to a coil spring (Pike) with U-turn. I can get away with about 90mm.
Good
- near Zero maintainance
- no set up just ride
- better performance than any air fork as its a coil
Bad
- first gen Rebas flex
- heavy in relative terms
YMMV but this set up suits the Monkey so well that I plan to sell them together despite not wanting to do so.
Good luck. Let us know how it turns out.
My KM was a cushy razor with a Minute 80mm QR fork. I am kind of kicking myself right now for selling that fork. Real dumb.
Fox F29 works well at 100mm
I ran my RLC at 100mm all last season until October when I switched back to the rigid fork. It took me a month or so to get the fork dialed in but once I did I ran it wide open almost all the time. I think the only time I ever bothered to lock it out was on a couple of road rides. I gave up a little efficiency on smooth climbs compared to the rigid fork at 80mm, but it made everything else so much better. By the end of the summer I was looking for places to pump the fork for extra fun. This was on a medium monkey carrying a 250lb+ rider.
I ran my RLC at 100mm all last season until October when I switched back to the rigid fork. It took me a month or so to get the fork dialed in but once I did I ran it wide open almost all the time. I think the only time I ever bothered to lock it out was on a couple of road rides. I gave up a little efficiency on smooth climbs compared to the rigid fork at 80mm, but it made everything else so much better. By the end of the summer I was looking for places to pump the fork for extra fun. This was on a medium monkey carrying a 250lb+ rider.
On the opposite side of the fence to you, tried the Monkey with a Minute 120mm and loved it, but didn't want to risk it since it was designed around an 80mm fork, put it back on the Paradox. Best bet if you want to preserve the handling traits is to go for an 80mm fork, any of the ones you listed would work, just depends on your budget. Not sure why you'd have to s wap out your disc brakes if you got a Minute :???: Is it because it's Post Mount instead of IS? If so then all you would need to do in most cases is get the right adapter to convert your IS brake to PM.
LyNx
After I posted I thought to mention your preference for a 120mm fork.
OP
Lynx suggestion of 80mm is sound. In general, run the recommended fork length and you'll be fine.
After I posted I thought to mention your preference for a 120mm fork.
OP
Lynx suggestion of 80mm is sound. In general, run the recommended fork length and you'll be fine.
Thanks for the feedback. I had read other places that the minute required an unusually small disk rotor (90mm?). That's why I'm assuming I'd have to swap out my 185mm bb7.
I'll go looking for a good deal on a 80mm fork, and double check the minute disk brake thing, maybe I got that wrong.
I'll go looking for a good deal on a 80mm fork, and double check the minute disk brake thing, maybe I got that wrong.
Nope, I run a 185mm on my Minute and have absolutely NO issues, non what so ever. Wherever you read that, don't go back there again or at least whoever posted that, don't believe what they say again :skep:
terrysol said:Thanks for the feedback. I had read other places that the minute required an unusually small disk rotor (90mm?). That's why I'm assuming I'd have to swap out my 185mm bb7.
I'll go looking for a good deal on a 80mm fork, and double check the minute disk brake thing, maybe I got that wrong.
I ran a 185mm rotor and BB7 on my 80mm Minute with post mounts. No issues, no problem.terrysol said:Thanks for the feedback. I had read other places that the minute required an unusually small disk rotor (90mm?). That's why I'm assuming I'd have to swap out my 185mm bb7.
I'll go looking for a good deal on a 80mm fork, and double check the minute disk brake thing, maybe I got that wrong.
I ended up buying a used 2009 Tora Race 80mm from Ebay. I'll post some feedback after I get it installed and use it for a while. Thanks
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