[Shmoo]

I picked up a Redline D440 so I could get a little taste of the 29 stuff. After 3 rides, although the bike is generally faster (or it seems so) than my 26'd Big Sur, it's the downhills that kill me. I can't hang at the speeds I do with the Sur. It's almost as if the rigid fork is causing me to go out of control over all the roots, stumps, drops, etc.

So now I'm looking for a used front end suspension for this thing. It's geo correct so it can handle a suspension fork (right?), but I'm wondering how much steerer tube I need. I know that used forks have these cut to the owner's preference, so I need to be aware of this when I buy one. Any help is appreciated. FYI, the Redline is stock in the head area.

 

[mtnbiker72]

Pulling a rigid fork off takes about 2-3min...take yours out and measure the steerer (include the headset race height). Then you'll know exactly what you need including the spacers you use.

 

[knottshore]

Where have you been and how did you learn how to ride a bike?

 

[Shmoo]

Pulling a rigid fork off takes about 2-3min...take yours out and measure the steerer (include the headset race height). Then you'll know exactly what you need including the spacers you use.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[knottshore]

Just a suggestion to help get you started but -You can get an 08' and prior Reba for a decent price online ([email protected]) now that the 09'-10' versions are out with a lot of changes- but if you are looking to keep it cheap they are fairly reliable and very tunable and as far as I am aware you can adjust all of them to either 80mm or 100mm- so it will work for your frame/taste by simply removing a spacer. ($200-250 average in good shape).

I had an 07', 08', 09' Reba and my brother still runs the 07 with no issues- though not the stiffest it works. I also ran a Manitou which was nice but not easy to find for cheap with the absolute feature or lock out- Fox is gonna be $350+ but is a very nice fork.

 

[Shmoo]

Thanks for the tip. I'm not going to dump too much money into this bike, a sub-$300 fork would do me just fine; I don't mind if it's coil sprung. I think I've caught the 29er bug and am looking forward to building an EMD9 or a G2 over the winter.