Mountain Biking - 29" fork on a 26" wheel bike

Hello all.

I have one of these (http://www.avanti.co.nz/bikes_detail.asp?id=185&t=8) (from my limited knowledge I'd call it an XC bike) and I was looking to put some rigid forks on there. My current crown to axel height is around 480mm and all 26" rigid forks fall quite a bit short of this. However, the Surly Karate Monkey Fork (http://www.surlybikes.com/forks.html) is around 468mm, which isn't too big a difference. The thing is, it says it has removable cantilever mounts...is there any chance you can just move them a little lower? or if not, will disc breaks still work?

The brakes should work, I dont know about the rest of it though.

My current crown to axel height is around 480mm and all 26" rigid forks fall quite a bit short of this. However, the Surly Karate Monkey Fork (http://www.surlybikes.com/forks.html) is around 468mm, which isn't too big a difference. The thing is, it says it has removable cantilever mounts...is there any chance you can just move them a little lower? or if not, will disc breaks still work?
Your current Axle to Crown is only 480mm when you're not on it accounting for sag which is what happens when you get on the bike the 468mm Karate Monkey will put you right about the correct ride height for your application without worring about the brakes
Edit: Substitute the Instigator that is Suspension corrected for a 100 mm fork, and has a 447 mm axle to crown height.
Never let it be said I won't admit when I'm wrong

without worring about the brakes

Wrong. Brakes will be spaced from axle centerline for 700c wheels, and will not engage braking surface for 26 inch wheels. Run a disc in front and the problem goes away.

Wrong. Brakes will be spaced from axle centerline for 700c wheels, and will not engage braking surface for 26 inch wheels. Run a disc in front and the problem goes away.
You are of course correct. Thank you. :beer:
(I went ahead and edited the post to add in the correct data.)

I misread the post. What the Original Poster *should* be looking at is a Surly "Instigator" fork. I was under the false impression that the bike in question was a 29"er

The Instigator (http://www.spicercycles.com/index.cgi?cat=18&sub_cat=Forks&prod_id=231&cat_desc=Mountain) fork is suspension corrected to replace a 100mm fork and will work fine for the job at hand for the reasons I stated above. Right idea wrong execution

Your current Axle to Crown is only 480mm when you're not on it accounting for sag which is what happens when you get on the bike the 468mm Karate Monkey will put you right about the correct ride height for your application without worring about the brakes
Edit: Substitute the Instigator that is Suspension corrected for a 100 mm fork, and has a 447 mm axle to crown height.
Never let it be said I won't admit when I'm wrong

Thanks Raiyn, you stopped me wasting a bit of money!:D I was thinking it strange that I needed a 29" fork just to keep the geometry my 100mm fork provides.

Cheers!

Thanks Raiyn, you stopped me wasting a bit of money!:D I was thinking it strange that I needed a 29" fork just to keep the geometry my 100mm fork provides.

Cheers!
No worries. I'm just glad that my original error was caught prior to you making a purchase. Rest assured that Surly makes one hell of a Rigid fork. I've got one (Surly 1x1) on my commuter and I wouldn't swap my old fork back in if you paid me to