Mountain Biking - In need of new forks!

I mostly do dirt jumping and trail riding. My current stock fork is 130mm so keep that in mind because I want to keep the geometry the same (or close to it). My price range is around 350ish. I need an idea of a good fork, new or used, that would fit my style pretty well.

Thanks.

What fork do you have now? Ebay has lots of Z1 forks for a lot less than 350.

BAM! (http://cgi.ebay.ca/05-Marzocchi-Bomber-Z-1-Freeride-2-thru-axle-Dirt-Jump_W0QQitemZ180003086202QQihZ008QQcategoryZ58085QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

Have you looked at Fox's Vanillas?

They are 400$ for the R version and 480$ for the RLC version, both are identical except the RLC offers some more adjustability and lockout, they are a 130mm fork internally convertible to 100mm.

an OEM version of this fork was going for 219$, no longer available but I'm sure its very possible to find a 2005 Vanilla on sale or a used one that is 350$ or so.

Not as beefy and stiff as a Marzocchi Z but a lot lighter and very very plush and great for dirtjumping.

Right not I have some **** forks, spinner ammo. For the fox vanilla, do you know if oil/grease gets on over the moving part of the fork at all (sorry don't know the name of the part)? Because my spinner forks would always get that black grease residue on them. Hope I worded that right.

One more question, I see the that axel on the Z1 fork and the vanilla axels are different. On my current fork I have the Z1 type axel so would I still be able to use the vanillas without getting a new hub? Sorry if how I am saying everything is confusing.

The Z1s have a 20mm thru axle, the vanillas have a QR.

If you have a 20 you'll probobly need to get a new hub, but with some hubs (like mine) a 20mm and QR are interchangable with a fun little conversion kit.

Needless to say, I love it.

Right not I have some **** forks, spinner ammo. For the fox vanilla, do you know if oil/grease gets on over the moving part of the fork at all (sorry don't know the name of the part)? Because my spinner forks would always get that black grease residue on them. Hope I worded that right.
Well, the Z1 lubes it's stanchions but it's definately not black nor a greasy residue. I think that could be due to a burst seal or simply a leak, I'd suggest not riding it anymore as it could be potentially unsafe.

Lower end forks have grease to lubricate this internals, higher end forks use oil. Lower end forks usually leak quite a bit. If you bought any of the real name brands, like Fox, Marzocchi, or Rockshox, then you probably wouldn't have that problem (unless a seal was broken, but they're more durable).

Stick with a 20 mm through axle fork, less problems and it's much stiffer, and you wouldn't have to buy a new hub or wheel.

Stick with a 20 mm through axle fork, less problems and it's much stiffer, and you wouldn't have to buy a new hub or wheel.

QFT.

So does that mean I can't use a fox vanilla? Also how do you think 150mm would be for dirt jumping? Also which Z1 fork would be the best for it too?

I have an FR 3 and love it, but I haven't tried to others.

And yes, you can use a fox vanilla you're just going to have to get a new hub.

Pretty much all the Z1 forks are great. Everything after the year 2003 is pretty good.

Defiance, what's QFT?

My Z1 is 150 mm and it's great for dirt jumping. I don't dirt jump, but a lot of my friends use my bike for it when I go down to the local dj's, and they love it. It makes a great street fork too, takes drops amazingly.

QFT is quoted for truth I suppose... I don't understand why people use so many abbreviations, its annoying and its not very hard to just type quoted for truth... but to each his own I guess :p

You can use a Fox Vanilla with a conversion kit/newhub but if you already have a 20mm through-axle hub then just get a through axle fork and the Z is a very nice fork though I would look at the U-Turn RockShox Pike (or air if you want to save a little weight) with a 20mm Maxle, I think its also around the 400-500 area for new 2006 ones but 2005 models and used ones will be right around your 350 pricerange. The Pike 426 is what you are looking for, the higher end one only has a hollow crown as an upgrade and the lower end lacks floodgate control.

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/FK503A02-Rockshox+Pike+06.aspx
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2F&fkr=1&from=R8&satitle=RockShox+Pike&category0=
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=unknown&sbrftog=1&from=R10&catref=C6&satitle=Rock+Shox+Pike&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&bs=Search&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search&fgtp=&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=ZIP%2FPostal&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=
http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/?category=14&ptimestamp=1150952400&op=list&keyword=pike&Search=Search
http://sram.com/en/rockshox/mountainforks/pike/

Yes QFT is quoted for truth.

QFE: Quoted for emphasis
FTW: for the win
AFAIK: As far as i know
etc etc and the monopolozing lol, wtf, omg and w00t. Although that stands for nothing, I just felt like saying it.


It makes a great street fork too, takes drops amazingly.

Oh yes. On my dinky 4" of rear travel K2 I can do a 6 ft drop onto concrete easily. Not the most comfortable, but the fork doesn't bottom out. Makes a great way to impress girls around the school ;)

What would you guys say is better for dj, rockshox pike or z1? Also if I got the z1 which model should I get? Is the pike air or coil?

I'd go with the Z1 for dirt jumping and the Pike for All mountain.

Does the z1 absorb all the little bumps and such as well as the large stuff? Which model z1 do you think would be great for dirt jumping and a bit of single track?

150mm is a little bit overkill for Dirt Jumping.

Like I said before, they're all great. They're all either 130 mm or 150 mm of travel, so you can choose whichever you like. They all work great, just some are more adjustable than others.

(Refering to konarider24) Thats what I was thinking but jason222 said all his friends liked it for dirt jumping. Do you know of another fork that would be good for dirt jumping that is around 130mm with 20mm axle?

Jason22: Do you think the Z1 light fork would be good for my uses? Also, on the Z1 fr lc, what does "130mm to 150mm (One Cartridge w/ Different Pressure on Negative Chamber)" mean?

It means you can adjust the travel by changing the pressure in each leg. You can find the older versions of their forks on ebay. The new Z1's are almost all 150 mm of travel.

Sorry if I sound repetetive but, do you think the new ones or the older versions would be good? Also, I was thinking of the fox vanillas again. Do you think it would be worth it to get a new hub to use QR? Also would a QR hub be strong enough for dj?

QR IS BAD! IT MAKE THIEF EVERYWHERE GO CHA CHA!

Ok seriously, don't use QR. It's one of the main reasons I'm now very happy with thru axle.

Many urban riders and dirt jumpers love the Pikes, a lot more than they love their Marzocchi DJ forks, they have even compared it to Manitou Gold Labels (which is a great DJ fork), mainly because of their stiffness to weight ratio which is amazing and the fact you can tune the travel from 95mm to 130mm with the turn of a know without losing appropiate spring rate.

I would actually pick the Pike for dirtjumping, less travel (preferable for dirtjumping), lighter, incredibly stiff, PLUSH, lots of adjustment for both small bump and big hit performance.

Yeah my vote goes to the Rock Shox Pike.

Is the pike air or spring? Which pike model would you reccomend?

The Pike comes in U-Turn (Coil/Spring), Air U-Turn (Don't know what this is, might be an air/coil combination) and Dual Air (Air), weight is 4.91lbs for the U-Turn version, 4.57lbs for the Air U-Turn version and 4.32lbs for the Dual Air version.

I recommend the U-Turn version, the best Pike model for your money would be the 426 but the 409 would be great too, the 454 has some weight savings (hollow crown and aluminum steerer) which might be nice but 4.91lbs is already light enough for what you want the fork for, the 409 is the same but lacks floodgate adjustment which relates to high speed compression and pedaling bob which someone could probably explain much better than I can.

I would get the U-Turn 426, the 409 is also great if you wish to save some money and I don't know how useful the floodgate might be, travel ranges from 95mm to 140mm which will be great for dirtjumping, you don't need air, U-Turn performs better and is only a tad bit more heavy, plus you get a proven design travel adjustment system (I don't know how the air u turn fares though). All Pike forks have a 20mm Maxle.

The Z Marzocchi forks have too much travel and they are too heavy, they are sweet forks for freeride hardtails but almost 6lbs might be a little too much for dirtjumping and trail riding... but if you are still interesed in them... pricepoint has a sweet deal for a 2005 Marzocchi Z.1 Freeride 3, new for 280$, however I still recommend the Pike.

http://www.pricepoint.com/detail.htm?stylePkey=13724