3" of travel, preferably sub 3 lbs.

What's your favorite suspension fork?

you have 2 choices

fox f80 or rock shox sid.

(Although, another option would be the DT swiss/pace fork xrc80.)

My favorite would be the fox. stiffer platform and lovely buttery travel. a few grams heavier though.

you have 2 choices

fox f80 or rock shox sid.

(Although, another option would be the DT swiss/pace fork xrc80.)

My favorite would be the fox. stiffer platform and lovely buttery travel. a few grams heavier though.

Fly Ti MTB that I ordered comes with the SID fork (2006 model). MTB Action didn't like that fork, my LBS tells me any newer race fork from the past 2-3 years will blow away my c. 1999 Manitou Carbon that's on my Jamis. We'll see.

your LBS is correct. You can't even compare the two.


The biggest knock I have heard on the SID is its noodly qualities.

The only people I know who like them weigh 150lbs or less.

But it might feel stiff compared to your 1999 fork.

your LBS is correct. You can't even compare the two.


The biggest knock I have heard on the SID is its noodly qualities.

The only people I know who like them weigh 150lbs or less.

But it might feel stiff compared to your 1999 fork.

The MB Action review of the Fly Ti was hard to figure. They liked the handling, lightness, climbing, didn't like the descending - but they tested it on the stock 1.8 Kenda Lite tires inflated to 50psi. You put those tires on any MTB and it will wash out on any technical terrain and descend like crap. Then in another section they call the Fly Ti 'harsh', but then they say it 'absorbs trail vibration and doesn't punish the rider'. Go figure. Ultimately they criticize the bike because you might want to upgrade the tires, cassette (12-27) and SID fork, and that's unacceptable for a bike that has an MSRP of $4300 (or whatever number Mike of BD gave them). I paid $1900. At that price it was sort of a no-brainer.

I still can't quite figure out that review. But they did characterize the Ti frame and finish as 'stunning'. That's hopeful. If the bike sucks I'll probably keep the components and get another CF or Ti frame. I'm sure the frame on that bike will bring pretty good $ on eBay if it came to that. But my guess is I'll like the bike.

The new sids have larger stantions, and are much stiffer.
I would czech those out.

Yah it only weighs like 100grams less than the Reba though...

Fly Ti MTB that I ordered comes with the SID fork (2006 model). MTB Action didn't like that fork, my LBS tells me any newer race fork from the past 2-3 years will blow away my c. 1999 Manitou Carbon that's on my Jamis. We'll see.

Mike from BD says the MTB Action article is inaccurate, the SID Fork on the Fly Ti is the 2008 model after all, so that should be pretty good from what everyone is saying here.

i'd be skeptical of anything written in MBA...

I am skeptical of everything.

Ultimately they criticize the bike because you might want to upgrade the tires, cassette (12-27) and SID fork, and that's unacceptable for a bike that has an MSRP of $4300 (or whatever number Mike of BD gave them). I paid $1900. At that price it was sort of a no-brainer.

So I've got an 11-32 cassette on the shelf that might get stuck on the bike early. I find tires a replacement item on pretty much every bike. I'm still curious about how fat a tire you can stick on that bike. I'd like to be able to run at least a 2.1" wide tire, weight be damned.

As far as the fork goes, my present mountain bike has an old school, lowest end Judy fork with Englund air cartridges (can I get an AMEN!?). I'm thinking the SID will be a pretty substantial upgrade.

So I've got an 11-32 cassette on the shelf that might get stuck on the bike early. I find tires a replacement item on pretty much every bike. I'm still curious about how fat a tire you can stick on that bike. I'd like to be able to run at least a 2.1" wide tire, weight be damned.

As far as the fork goes, my present mountain bike has an old school, lowest end Judy fork with Englund air cartridges (can I get an AMEN!?). I'm thinking the SID will be a pretty substantial upgrade.

I'm almost certain you can fit a 2.1" tire on there, I'll check with Bikes Direct. I run Conti Explorer Pros that would add 300 grams to the bike weight (150 grams per tire), but they're great all around CC tires that can handle just about anything. That cassette won't bother me, I'm a roadie racer and for me a 39 x 23 is a granny gear on the road. A 32 x 27 or whatever that bike has for a bail out gear will get me up anything I could ever technically handle climbing. If you need a smaller gear than that it's probably over my limited MTB handling/climbing skills anyway. All I have to add besides that are bar ends.

I am a roadie and just recently started to race xc. I ride a Motobecane Fly 9357. The stock SID Race fork has been more than great for me. The bike is light, fast, and responsive. The components rock. I couldn't be happier. I've raced it twice (13th ,2nd) and have ridden it on trails two other times. No complaints so far. Let me know if you have any questions.

RON

I am a roadie and just recently started to race xc. I ride a Motobecane Fly 9357. The stock SID Race fork has been more than great for me. The bike is light, fast, and responsive. The components rock. I couldn't be happier. I've raced it twice (13th ,2nd) and have ridden it on trails two other times. No complaints so far. Let me know if you have any questions.

RON

Thanks Ron, I'll do that. I am planning on looking for an not so technical MTB race to stretch
out the Fly Ti on later this year, perhaps in the Fall. You can fit 2.1" tires on that bike. I won't bother with the stock 350 gram 1.9" Kendas, I'll need a beefier tire than that around here.

Yah it only weighs like 100grams less than the Reba though...



Actually, the Sid weighs close to 300 grams lighter than the Reba.

The fox is nowhere near 3lbs, by the way.

I went from 2007 sid team to a new 2009 sid this weekend, and the difference is huge. I will give up 100g any day for a fork that actually goes where I point it. In my opinion, the new sid is the way to go.

Another option is the manitou R7 MRD, but those have been coming in heavier than expected and have 30mm stanchions, compared to the '09 sid's 32.

dude...check out the Manitou MRD R7 Absolute. for real sub 3 pounder and it works! not noodly and it's easy to service.

The fox is nowhere near 3lbs, by the way.

I went from 2007 sid team to a new 2009 sid this weekend, and the difference is huge. I will give up 100g any day for a fork that actually goes where I point it. In my opinion, the new sid is the way to go.

Another option is the manitou R7 MRD, but those have been coming in heavier than expected and have 30mm stanchions, compared to the '09 sid's 32.

I think the Fly Ti comes with the current SID, and the MTB Action article was wrong. We'll find out soon enough...

This current SID has only been out for a few weeks. It may be specced on an 08 bike, but I doubt it.

If it comes with the new sid, keep it.

The Fly Ti frames aren't even in the US yet. Due to land in the next week or so. The SID forks are in the hands of Bikes Direct, so they may well be the current SID. It think they're calling the Fly Ti a 2009 model. In any event, none of the bikes have been assembled or shipped to customers yet. Soon.

I look forward to stories of your ever-increasing self-loathing Pcad :)

I look forward to stories of your ever-increasing self-loathing Pcad :)

Nothing will ramp the S.L. more than a few days on the single track. Trust me. I may fancy myself some kind of hard core Road Nazi, but MTBs can make me cry for Mommy pretty fast.

The Fly Ti frames aren't even in the US yet.

They are now, BAAAAAAAAAAAAABYYYYYY!

My Fly Ti will ship early next week. I am psyched.

Man, 300 grams, 100 grams... I don't start caring until there's at least about a pound in difference...

I'm partial to Marzocchi, though I'm riding Rockshox right now. Check out the Corsa's.

yeah..manitou mrd R7 platinum is gonna be hella light...
i have an R7 platinum with spv...its a good fork.

at sub3 pounds, there are only a couple of forks on the market that will weigh that little, and only the R7 will be compatible with anything that doesnt have an oversize headtube.

there are no fox, rockshox, or marzocchi forks that will weigh in at under three pounds. however, the way in which the suspension fork operates is more important than the weight. fox forks are buuuuttttterrrrrrrrr. f80 would be solid. marzocchi's are suntour forks with nicer decals. sid's are noodly as ****. manitou or fox, though ive heard that dt swiss forks are light and smooth. if you have deeeep pockets...

Have you looked at Magura?

there are no fox, rockshox, or marzocchi forks that will weigh in at under three pounds. however, the way in which the suspension fork operates is more important than the weight. fox forks are buuuuttttterrrrrrrrr. f80 would be solid. marzocchi's are suntour forks with nicer decals. sid's are noodly as ****. manitou or fox, though ive heard that dt swiss forks are light and smooth. if you have deeeep pockets...

have you ever tried a Marzocchi?, Suntour with nice decals (wuuuuaaaat!).... you're funny dude

uhhh
yeah man im not joking
most of their line is built by suntour. sorry to rain on your parade.
and cmon, they suck ass. even their big hit forks, which is what they are supposed to be good at, arent as good as what either rockshox or fox has to offer. their dirtjumper forks are the heaviest pieces of **** you will ever ride.

uhhh
yeah man im not joking
most of their line is built by suntour. sorry to rain on your parade.
and cmon, they suck ass. even their big hit forks, which is what they are supposed to be good at, arent as good as what either rockshox or fox has to offer. their dirtjumper forks are the heaviest pieces of **** you will ever ride.

I can't argue with ya, just cant stop laughing at what you just said...:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

uhhh
yeah man im not joking
most of their line is built by suntour. sorry to rain on your parade.
and cmon, they suck ass. even their big hit forks, which is what they are supposed to be good at, arent as good as what either rockshox or fox has to offer. their dirtjumper forks are the heaviest pieces of **** you will ever ride.

How many miles have you put in on a 66 or a 55? Judging from your post I'd say you have a lot of experience with them.

magura..indeed. I was going to say the md-80 would be a good choice.

Follow up: got the Fly Ti MTB with the Rock Shox SID Race. Adjusted the air pressure and rebound. Very happy with the fork. Noodly? Perhaps, if you're a hard core MTB racer. I am not. Perhaps if you have experience with current state of the art MTB forks. I do not, my reference is a 1999 Manitou carbon (the fork on my old MTB), and this Rock Shox just blows it away. Light, responsive, supple.

Very satisfied. Don't plan to race. Thanks for all the responses. Thrilled with the Motobecane ti hard tail, exceeded every expectation.