Mountain Biking - Upgrading my fork. Need advice

Guys,
my fork is a 04 Rock Shox Judy XC and I am planning to take the big step and upgrade to a 06' Fox Talas RLC I saw for sale on ebay. However, the item description states that it has a 20mm thru axle which looks in the photos much beefier than my QR axle. Can I buy that fork or do I need to upgrade the hubs too?

I would also like to know what measures should I be careful with? Steering tube length? Steering tube diameter?

Thanks for the advice,

Ricardo

PS: If there's a reason why I shouldn't buy that fork I'd also like to know.

you would need a new front hub

A 20 mm thru axle requires a special hub. You can usually find a decent front wheel with a thru axle hub used for about $150.00.

You could buy the hub only and relace your existing wheel, but when it's all said and done, it's going to cost you close to $150 anyways. Better to keep your old wheel and old fork as they are as a back-up and buy and new/used front wheel.

What year is your existing fork? Most likely it's 1-1/8" steertube (diameter). The Fox will be the same, so generally not an issue.

The critical thing is the length of the steerer tube. measure from the top of your existing crown to the top of your stem. Make sure the new fork is the same or longer.

Sh*t I've got the almost exact same problem and I was goin to start up a thread asking the same question about the axle. Does the axle size have to be 20mm?

Guys,
my fork is a 04 Rock Shox Judy XC and I am planning to take the big step and upgrade to a 06' Fox Talas RLC I saw for sale on ebay. However, the item description states that it has a 20mm thru axle which looks in the photos much beefier than my QR axle. Can I buy that fork or do I need to upgrade the hubs too?

Do you have a link to the auction? Reason I'm asking is cause the Talas RLC is QR only, while the Talas RC2 is 20mm....

Sh*t I've got the almost exact same problem and I was goin to start up a thread asking the same question about the axle. Does the axle size have to be 20mm?

What do you mean? Front forks come in either quick release or 20mm through axle. What is your build going to be like?

What do you mean? Front forks come in either quick release or 20mm through axle. What is your build going to be like?
O. sorry if what I say doesnt make much sense because I'm fairly new to mtb. My axles are quick release and the forks I found are 20mm axle hole, will my axles fit with these forks?

O. sorry if what I say doesnt make much sense because I'm fairly new to mtb. My axles are quick release and the forks I found are 20mm axle hole, will my axles fit with these forks?

No. To run a 20mm axle fork, you need a 20mm axle hub. You can either relace the wheel with a new hub, or you can buy a new wheel. What is your old fork, and the new one you are looking at?

No. To run a 20mm axle fork, you need a 20mm axle hub. You can either relace the wheel with a new hub, or you can buy a new wheel. What is your old fork, and the new one you are looking at?
The fork I have now is a marzocchi dirt jam comp (2005 or 06), and the one I'm looking at is a marz dj3(04)

it would seem that it would make more sense to find a different fork than to upgrade the hub for this fork. still alot of close outs online.

Guys,
thanks for the responses. If I buy an air shock (Talas RLC) should it come with a special pump or can I put air some sort of car air valve??

Ricardo

Ricardo, you need a shock pump. Car pumps will not be accurate enough for such a small volume of air, and they probably won't reach a high enough pressure.
As for the 20mm fork, go ahead and upgrade. Think about a solid tube of metal the thickness of your thumb clamped onto your fork, compared to a hollow axle that's thinner than a pencil that sandwiches your fork tabs with a QR.
The 20mm interface is much stiffer.

The fork I have now is a marzocchi dirt jam comp (2005 or 06), and the one I'm looking at is a marz dj3(04)

you can find the DJ3s in QR. I just put a new '07 DJ3 on my dirt jump bike that is QR.

Or 25 mm.

Guys,
thanks for the responses. If I buy an air shock (Talas RLC) should it come with a special pump or can I put air some sort of car air valve??

Ricardo

The Foxes come with a pump when they are new. Buying it off ebay, not sure if it iwll have a pump. Do you have a link to the auction? Cause the RLC isn't 20mm axle...

Hey man, what kind of bike is the fork going to be on?

A Fox TALAS RC2 is a big and beefy fork with 36mm stanchions made for very agressive riding.

The Fox TALAS RLC forks are lighter and have 32mm stanchions made for trail riding and XC racing.

If you're not riding medium drops and agressive trails, get the Talas RLC with the smaller stanchions. You won't have to build a new front wheel, you'll save at least a pound, and you will have a lockout to boot. The bonus of the 36 is that you get low speed compression adj.

you can find the DJ3s in QR. I just put a new '07 DJ3 on my dirt jump bike that is QR.
Yah, but my parents won't let me spend alot of money and I found a good deal on an of dj3 and it has 20mm axle holes so it looks like I'll have to keep looking then.

Yah, but my parents won't let me spend alot of money and I found a good deal on an of dj3 and it has 20mm axle holes so it looks like I'll have to keep looking then.


If you're progressing to the point where you need a DJ specific fork, you'll probably want a 20mm axle too. A decent 20mm hub can be had for under 30 bucks on Ebay. New spokes, if you even need them, are generally a buck a piece. Learn to relace your new hub and you'll be 20x ahead of the game.

If you're progressing to the point where you need a DJ specific fork, you'll probably want a 20mm axle too. A decent 20mm hub can be had for under 30 bucks on Ebay. New spokes, if you even need them, are generally a buck a piece. Learn to relace your new hub and you'll be 20x ahead of the game.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=249688

Tell mommy and daddy that spending an extra 60 bucks now will save them from having to buy a new fork six months down the road.

Tell mommy and daddy that spending an extra 60 bucks now will save them from having to buy a new fork six months down the road.
But mommy and daddy are tightasses and won't let me spend any money on my bike, they don't want me buying a fork altogether but if I find a good deal I might be able to get away with it.

Get a job? Or better yet, get a job at a bike shop.
How old are you? In all honesty, if you find the right shop, working in bikes when you're younger is terrible way to save money, but a great way to feed your parts addiction. Imagine having everything available to you basically 40-60% off retail.

Hey man, what kind of bike is the fork going to be on?


It will go on a very light XC racing hardtail. I guess that the 32mm stanchions are what I need. I really don't go huge and would appreciate the weight saving. Now I am wondering if the ones sold on ebay come with the pump....


Ricardo

Get a job? Or better yet, get a job at a bike shop.
How old are you? In all honesty, if you find the right shop, working in bikes when you're younger is terrible way to save money, but a great way to feed your parts addiction. Imagine having everything available to you basically 40-60% off retail.
Yah I'm looking for a job, I'm 14 and it kinda hard to find a good job for my age. I wish I could get a job in a bike shop but near me theres only one good bike shop and they don't employ people under 16 or something.

Yah I'm looking for a job, I'm 14 and it kinda hard to find a good job for my age. I wish I could get a job in a bike shop but near me theres only one good bike shop and they don't employ people under 16 or something.


See if you can get an apprenticeship, which is the american term for slave labor. Yea, you'll be sweeping the floors and dragging out the trash a few times a week, but if they're a good shop they'll teach you how to work on your own bike (priceless) and give you the shop discount.
Plus, in all likelihood you'll end up riding with more experienced older riders, so your game will improve to boot. Swing by and ask.

It will go on a very light XC racing hardtail. I guess that the 32mm stanchions are what I need. I really don't go huge and would appreciate the weight saving. Now I am wondering if the ones sold on ebay come with the pump....


Ricardo

Yeah, a 36 Fox would be way overkill on a "very light XC racing hardtail". What is the link to the auction?

See if you can get an apprenticeship, which is the american term for slave labor. Yea, you'll be sweeping the floors and dragging out the trash a few times a week, but if they're a good shop they'll teach you how to work on your own bike (priceless) and give you the shop discount.
Plus, in all likelihood you'll end up riding with more experienced older riders, so your game will improve to boot. Swing by and ask.
Yeah I guess I could give that a try.

Guys,

here is the link to the auction. However I am not sure if it is a 32mm...
http://cgi.ebay.com/FOX-TALAS-RLC-FORK-with-LOCKOUT-700-Value_W0QQitemZ120061155188QQihZ002QQcategoryZ36135QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Any thoughts are highly appreciated.

Ricardo