Mountain Biking - Suspension Fork Terminology/Question

Ok, I've been researching Rock Shox forks and I'm trying to figure some stuff out.


What is the difference b/t Rock Shox forks listed with "80/100 All Travel", "80 or 100 All Travel" and "85-135 U-turn".
I thought that higher end forks would have more travel, but their most expensive line has only 80mm whereas their 2nd from the bottom has up to 135mm, why is this?
I have a Raleigh Mojave 5.0 that I am thinking about upgrading on. It's stock fork has 75mm travel. If I go to 135mm will the geometry screw me up in hard corners? (I do XC riding, and I'm starting to learn the trails and go faster).
I am looking to upgrade in January next year. I am hoping to spend around $300 for an upgrade. Can I get much of an upgrade over the stock SR Suntour XCT that it came with? (Suggestions wanted). I *may* be *slightly* willing to spend up to $400, but I'd really like suggestions in the $300 range.
Solo Air or Coil?

Other info: the models I am currently looking at: The Tora 302 and 318 and the Recon XL

Thanks
~Randy

Travel has to do with "style" of biking, not how high end it is. XC gets less travel than "all mountain". Each catagory has a range of forks.

When Rockshox says "80/100", that means you get either of those, but nothing in between. When you see "U-Turn 85-135", that means you can dial in whatever travel you like between those two endpoints.

I believe the term "all travel" is Sram's way of saying that you can't adjust the travel like you can on a u-turn fork.

You definitely do not want to put a 135mm fork onto a frame designed around a 75mm fork. You would muck up the geometry by doing that. However, it should be no problem to go from 75mm to 80mm. You do have some room to move up or down a bit, just not by huge amounts.

And perhaps most importantly, a Tora would be a huge upgrade over a Suntour fork. A Tora 318 air fork at 80mm travel would be an excellent choice, and would cost, I think, in the $250 neighborhood.

Ok, I've been researching Rock Shox forks and I'm trying to figure some stuff out.


What is the difference b/t Rock Shox forks listed with "80/100 All Travel", "80 or 100 All Travel" and "85-135 U-turn".
I thought that higher end forks would have more travel, but their most expensive line has only 80mm whereas their 2nd from the bottom has up to 135mm, why is this?
I have a Raleigh Mojave 5.0 that I am thinking about upgrading on. It's stock fork has 75mm travel. If I go to 135mm will the geometry screw me up in hard corners? (I do XC riding, and I'm starting to learn the trails and go faster).
I am looking to upgrade in January next year. I am hoping to spend around $300 for an upgrade. Can I get much of an upgrade over the stock SR Suntour XCT that it came with? (Suggestions wanted). I *may* be *slightly* willing to spend up to $400, but I'd really like suggestions in the $300 range.
Solo Air or Coil?

Other info: the models I am currently looking at: The Tora 302 and 318 and the Recon XL

Thanks
~Randy

A 100mm travel fork will be fine on it...would prob. handle better too.

Rockshox Tora is an excellent "inexpensive" fork. I had one and thought it was laterally stiff and pretty supple compared to others in the same price range.

Toras are usually the minimum level I recommend for people doing serious off-roading- the air ones give you plenty of adjustability and they're good quality for the money.

So it seems y'all like the air better, are those easy to tune? I obviously have no adjustments on my current fork (except preload) Or would the coil spring be easier? I'm sure my LBS could teach me all that when they install it, but would just like your opinions.
Also, so having longer travel will not absorb roots and bumps better? It's other factors that count?

I think anything is better than those suntour XCT things man, I feel your pain, I had one.
Longer travel allows you to hit bigger things without bottoming out as easy.
I had the 75mm suntour, and I moved to a 100mm Manitou Splice, and Havn't noticed a big difference in the geometry. The big handles better now.