Mountain Biking - Crashes due to fork?

Hi all

I have been *****ing lately for the lack of stiffness of my fork (previous post) . I got the advice of getting new springs on the fork from you. I got two crashes today on a 7 hour epic ride, caused by bottoming out of the soft fork .... . It is 80mm manitou Axel fork with medium spring. If i get the stiffer spring and convert it to 100mm will i see any improvement? i do aggro xc and there is a loooooot of bumpy stuff around here that easily bottom out my fork and send me over the bars. By the way i can bottom out the fork while pressing the bars. Any advice on the excess travel? should i go for 100mm? I got a 2003 rockhopper HT frame.:crash:

yes you will see an improvement...you will have stiffer springs and have more travel to blow through...

Also try to suck some up with your arms...I had a crappy exr and the only time I bottomed it out was on drops. Never just riding along on bumpy stuff. It may not be perfect but it will help. (arms always bent)

thanks mael....i usually have the arms bent....but the bloody fork is so soft that i think i would even be safer with a rigid one....i hope with the new springs they will be back in action.....the problem with the softness intensified....as the fork bedded int....when it was new i had less problems...now that the seals and stuff are bed in its way too soft and i definately need 100mm plus the stiff spring..... I think that a 120mm or 130mm fork would be an overkill for my frame right?

It would definately change the performance of it. Overkill..I don't know your trails or your style so I cant tell you that. But handling changes drastically if you change the fork travel too much.

just a thought.........................maby your crashing is due to rider error

Respectable thought since most of us dont know each other.... i make errors....like all of us....but i can definately tell when i get betrayed by the bike or by my skill

Crank down on whatever knobs are on the top, if that dosent help get stiffer springs. And.....yea i'll just not say what else I was going to.

Holding yourself back Klein...you sick today? ;)

Originally posted by Maelstrom
Holding yourself back Klein...you sick today? ;)


Do you think I should go off?:D

yes shoot me right away

Stiffer springs will help a lot. Plus, if you go to 100mm it won't affect the bike's handling drasitcally. I say, "go for it".

L8R

I have finally found the fork that works for me (200 pounds) After various forks with springs and elastomer inserts I opened my wallet and bought an '02 SID XL. What a difference. Selectable travel and easy to adjust compression/rebound. Have done rougher riding on this fork than I ever did on the previous ones and never a bother with bottoming. I had the Manitou that came on my Fuel 90 rebuilt twice. And never was any good. The SID given me a big boost in confidence and I now ride with abandon on trails I would not have attempted before. I got mine off of eBay for $289. Was new and unused with the factory warranty.

Thanks a lot for the advice guys . I ll go for the springs and travel change..... Do you know if i can fit a lockout mechanism on the Axel fork? Manitou provides a lockout upgrade but i dont know to which fork it applies.