Mountain Biking - Fork Decision

Ok I've narrowed my search for forks now, and Need a decent fork for racing.
Here are my option I've seen

Rockshox Tora 318
2007 100mm Dart 3-pop lock
2008 dart 3-pop lock (don't know travel, but its more expensive)]
Marzochi Zl sport
Marzochi Super Comp
Marzochi XC 6000 Sl 90-130 mm
Marz Dirt Jumper 2

Those are all within my projected price range.
I can find the difference between the two Dart'3 though.
I felt a dart 3 in the LBS today... big difference from my fork. So something along that level will make a huge difference.

I want at least 100mm travel and lock out. 130 mm will probably be my limit. I want adjustability so I can make it how I want it. I'm 165 pounds if that helps at all, and I race XC single track, lots of roots, ditches, "woomps" and hills. Lots of climbing... to much climbing.... Needs to be V brake compatible and disk compatible.

I'm trying to be serious in this thread as soon, I'll have the money I need hopefully, and I'll be buying a fork, and then tires.


Thanks.

Edit: These are all from price point so far,
http://www.pricepoint.com/thumb.htm?dept_id=3&deptName=Parts&sub_id=59&subName=Forks/Accessories&category=False&cat=&sort=lprice&ascend=0

I'd go for the Tora.

I have a Dart, i cant really fault it. But would still go for the Tora.

You can throw the DJ out of the line up.Thats not really what your after.The Tora is a decent fork but no v mounts.The MZ supercomp is not gonna be very adjustable but it has v mounts.It's a low end fork but better than what you're running now. With the Z1 your gonna need a new 20mm hub and disk to make it work.The dart is gonna be your best option.Not the best fork but it'll do what you need for now.

Thats what I was thinking. I tested one at the my LBS, and it was 500% better than the POS I have now.
WHats the difference between the 2008, and the 2007?
I can't find it right now, my internet is disgustingly slow at the moment.

Not much as far as i can see. Graphics, thats probably it. You won't find much hugely radically different between one year and the next on low end forks.

You could save yourself the trouble and buy my 06 Giant Rincon for the same price already with a Dart 3 if you want.......
:D

Oh I'm such a salesman. But seriously.

Yeah...a few hundred more can get you a Motobecane with Dart 3, Avid discs, 9 sp...

You race XC and you'll go as high as 130mm? My first upgrade on my old hardrock was a 120mm Manitou...what a mistake. Luckily I was able to return it and get a 100mm Reba SL which I was happy with. How often do you ride your bike?

I ride it almost everyday. I want something that can be adjusted, because I don't race everyday. Some times I just want to goof off and have fun, thats where the extra travel will come in. Thats also where lock out would help.
The dart, seems to be my best option, and after comparing one to my current fork it felt godlike so I'll be happy. The fox fork that was on that 08 Trek Fuel though.... was.... amazing........expensive....


Buying another bike is out of the question.... not allowed. I CAN get parts for my current one though.
Moving to germany in less than a year, I'll be buying my next bike there.

Yeah...get one of the cheaper ones so you have more money left to spend on the new bike.

You can throw the DJ out of the line up.Thats not really what your after.The Tora is a decent fork but no v mounts.The MZ supercomp is not gonna be very adjustable but it has v mounts.It's a low end fork but better than what you're running now. With the Z1 your gonna need a new 20mm hub and disk to make it work.The dart is gonna be your best option.Not the best fork but it'll do what you need for now.

I wouldn't throw out the Tora based on the lack of brake mounts:

http://cgi.ebay.com/RockShox-Tora-302-Coil-U-Turn-85-130mm-Black-w-bosses_W0QQitemZ110200233464QQihZ001QQcategoryZ36135QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQ_trksidZp1638.m118.l124 7QQcmdZViewItem

heres the tora solo air 318 with V's
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/17225-315_ROCT87-3-Parts-59-Forks/Accessories/Rockshox-Tora-318-Solo-Air-Suspension-Fork-2007.htm

Stretchin my price limit but It's either that or the Dart 3 at this point...

heres the tora solo air 318 with V's
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/17225-315_ROCT87-3-Parts-59-Forks/Accessories/Rockshox-Tora-318-Solo-Air-Suspension-Fork-2007.htm

Stretchin my price limit but It's either that or the Dart 3 at this point...

The forks found on ebay stores offer a fairly substantial discount, even when compared with pricepoint, jenson and the like.

Obviously you don't have an ebay account but your parents might. Just give money to parents so they can make ebay purchases for you.

Mom doesn't do ebay.
She makes everything difficult.

Honestly, the Dart 3 isn't going to be radically better than the fork on your Trek 3900. Is it a Suntour or a Spinner? (the Trek website pic is a Spinner while the specs say Suntour for some reason). I'd just save the cash until you move away and buy a good cheap all-mountain FS rig like a Prophet. Seriously, you probably won't even be able to feel the difference.

If you REALLY want to blow some cash go with the Tora. Its an air fork, so its going to be lighter, and the adjustments will actually do something.

Didn't get a chance to test the tora, but I tested the Reba and the Dart 3. They both had considerable "betterness" than my crappy SR suntour pogo stick.
I'd imagine the Tora would be imbeween the Dart and the Reba, so I'll have a large noticable differeance, and my current fork is jacked up, wont even adjust anymore. When I buy a new bike I'm still keeping my 3900, so I wan't it to be decent, even if it is just a 3900.

find a friend with ebay, buy off there. can get a dart 3 for 100 bucks. check out this guys store, its where i bought my revelation, going to find your best deals on there. http://stores.ebay.com/Bicycle-Outfitters-Indy-Store_suspension-forks_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ5QQftidZ2QQtZkm

Doesnt have the remote thing I don't think, but that price is Nice.
I have a friend with both Ebay and Paypal, so I may have to give her a buzz later.

60 bucks..
ALmost there lol.

Man, after this weekend I'll be able to apply for a job...
YEA!
Then maybe My budget will go up.

Doesnt have the remote thing I don't think, but that price is Nice.
I have a friend with both Ebay and Paypal, so I may have to give her a buzz later.

Remote isn't a big deal. I've ridden a Reba with the pop-lock and I couldn't care less about that feature.

Smooth as hell for 100mm though.

get the tora man, you can get a disc break cheap if you have too. 2 upgrades in one .. at the speed your upgrading you know it's coming

I'd take the mz supercomp over the dart

I may go the tora route, I'm not going to get disk brakes for this bike, V's work for now.
I've found a few with V posts though, so thats good.
I need a website that has the Pro's and Cons between the forks lol.



Just saw an add for these forks:
http://www.x-fusion-shox.com/

It goes from 80-130 mm in 10mm increments, just what I wanted... but no price listed, that scares me.

lol j/k bout the above, never even heard of them



EDIT:
I just read some reviews and such, I think I'll go with the Dart 3 just because I know for a fact it has V's, and it's adjustable, and it has 100 mm of travel which was my target travel, the price is reasonable.
Unless someone can provide a good solid reason otherwise.

I may go the tora route, I'm not going to get disk brakes for this bike, V's work for now.
I've found a few with V posts though, so thats good.
I need a website that has the Pro's and Cons between the forks lol.



Just saw an add for these forks:
http://www.x-fusion-shox.com/

It goes from 80-130 mm in 10mm increments, just what I wanted... but no price listed, that scares me.

lol j/k bout the above, never even heard of them



EDIT:
I just read some reviews and such, I think I'll go with the Dart 3 just because I know for a fact it has V's, and it's adjustable, and it has 100 mm of travel which was my target travel, the price is reasonable.
Unless someone can provide a good solid reason otherwise.

for the velvet R, you're looking at around $700

I figured that LOL..
That much for a springer? holy crap.

I figured that LOL..
That much for a springer? holy crap.

Manitou (SP?) Travis is $1100, I believe.

Who said sprin forks are always cheap?

EDIT:
I just read some reviews and such, I think I'll go with the Dart 3 just because I know for a fact it has V's, and it's adjustable, and it has 100 mm of travel which was my target travel, the price is reasonable.
Unless someone can provide a good solid reason otherwise.

Why replace crap with slightly better crap? After all, it's still crap. You're better off saving a while longer for a better quality fork rather than buying something else you'll want to replace shortly.

I agree with never.
the dart 3 won't be much better than the suntour, I wouldn't settle for below a tora.. I was suggesting that MZ supercomp as it has more adjustments than the dart, but who knows how those adjustments will work.

I wouldn't waste my money on the dart, put a 2.3 tire on the front and run low pressure, I think that would make more of a difference.

Why replace crap with slightly better crap? After all, it's still crap. You're better off saving a while longer for a better quality fork rather than buying something else you'll want to replace shortly.

Agreed. I got the "upgrade fever" after the excitement of getting my Hardrock. I've since decided to wait and make a jump directly to a high end fork instead of wasting money on small upgrades. My next fork purchase will be a Revelation 426 coil u-turn for around $350 NEW on ebay.

Ride now, upgrade later.

Cheeto-

+1 on ditching the Dart 3 idea. It's tempting for the price, but it is still a low-end boinger. The MZ Supercomp is a good choice as far as value is concerned, and it's a decent fork to boot, MUCH better than the Dart.

What is the difference in the MZ supercomp and the MZ comp of a couple of years ago?

Cheeto-

+1 on ditching the Dart 3 idea. It's tempting for the price, but it is still a low-end boinger. The MZ Supercomp is a good choice as far as value is concerned, and it's a decent fork to boot, MUCH better than the Dart.


Who said I was ditching the Dart?


Why replace crap with slightly better crap?

Because the Slightly better crap is 300% better than what I have now, and untill I get a new bike, I want to be able to enjoy riding. My hand hurt so bad the other day I couldnt do another lap.

Done some more research/looking
the Tora 318 Solo Air seems to be the best "cheap fork"
After I sell my Paintball gun for 250.00 I'll have enough for the fork.

My hand hurt so bad the other day I couldnt do another lap.


HTFU

Werd.

You're hanging out in the road forum too much.

You're hanging out in the road forum too much.

:D

What is the difference in the MZ supercomp and the MZ comp of a couple of years ago?

it has rebound adjust is all I know..

nvmd

RS Tora 318 Solo Air.
ANyone have any deals for sale? lol.

What's the lowest price you've found thus far?

Umm a little under 300,
i think it was around 280ish


Sorry I' scatter brained, my crazy, mean 80 year old (or more) math teacher is insanely cruel... IN MATH CLASS she is making us OUTLINE TEN(10) CHAPTERS! each chapter has to be a page front and back...
OMG
going insane..
Theorems, postulates, proofs, planes, points, lines, rays.... they're all floating inside my head..

I also went so crazy I made a song about her to the rhythm of "Living On a Prayer" by Bon Jovi..

AHH
ok...

yea 280 was the lowest I believe-came with a crane creek headset also.


just to prove how crazy this lady is, she tought my friends dad who is 45, during high school. she also tough one of my friends GRANDFATHER!
shes atleast 75...

Lol. What are the song's lyrics?

Hawley's 2007 wholesale price for the fork was $216, so $280 retail with a headset is pretty good...

I'll have to remake them and write them down, LOL I sang as a went.... no wonder my dog was cowering in the corner with his head below his paws.. lol
Muhahaahahahahahahahaha!

yea the LBS guy recommended that if I get a new fork, to get a new headset, he said look into CC's

Headset schmeadset.

Yea yea yea.
Mine keeps getting loose or what ever, my fork has some play in it again.
Think my forks going bad.
Made some jumps over fallen trees today... Fork made a funky noise lol

tighten your headset man

Alright, this has gone one long enough. Here are the forks you need to consider:

Option 1 (http://www.marzocchi.com/template/detailSPAForksMTB.asp?IDFolder=113&IDOggetto=2451&LN=UK&Sito=mtb)
Option 2 (http://www.risseracing.com/forks.shtml#bigfoot)
Option 3 (http://www.avalanchedownhillracing.com/mtn10.html)

Yea ok benli, your cool.
Go spread your worthless crap in some other thread.
Thanks.

2007 USED REBA TEAM fork.
Pictures are very clear and there's little to NO scrathes on it.
Steer tube is 8.25 inches is this long enough for my trek?

It's only 177 Bucks. I'll grab this thing like right now if it'll fit.

Measure your current setup...even if you have to eyeball it, it'll be more accurate than someone here saying yea or nay... It's long enough my 19" Jamis if you'd like to make a donation... :P