Mountain Biking - RS Duke XC UTurn

I currently have a 2003 Specialized Hardrock and am looking to replace the stock RST fork on it. I am in no hurry and would like to spend around $150.

Performance bike currently has the Rock shox Duke XC Uturn on sale for $150. There is also a 20% coupon, so the fork would only be $120. Would this be a good fork for a beginner? Right now I am only looking to do light XC riding, but I will probably get a little more advanced. I doubt I will be doing any jumps or anything? Also, will I be able to use disk brakes with this fork if I want later on?

The posts here seem to be positive overall and the same at MTBReview. I am going to order so I don't miss out. It looks like it generally sells for twice this. If it is bad I will return it. Consider this a hot deal post for whoever else wants one then.

I currently have a 2003 Specialized Hardrock and am looking to replace the stock RST fork on it. I am in no hurry and would like to spend around $150.

Performance bike currently has the Rock shox Duke XC Uturn on sale for $150. There is also a 20% coupon, so the fork would only be $120. Would this be a good fork for a beginner? Right now I am only looking to do light XC riding, but I will probably get a little more advanced. I doubt I will be doing any jumps or anything? Also, will I be able to use disk brakes with this fork if I want later on?

im not sure about the uturn, but my friend recently got the duke air and he is infatuated with it. i took it for a ride and its a very nice fork. the uturn is a little heavier, but since you will just be doing trail/ light xc riding it will be a sweet fork for a beginner. good price too.

im not sure about the uturn, but my friend recently got the duke air and he is infatuated with it. i took it for a ride and its a very nice fork. the uturn is a little heavier, but since you will just be doing trail/ light xc riding it will be a sweet fork for a beginner. good price too.

I am not too concerned with weight, but mainly when I upgrade I at least try not to increase the weight of my bikes. My stock fork has a claimed weight of 3.75lbs without steerer tube, so I imagine they should weigh similarly. How much does a steerer tube weigh on average? The Duke claims 4.11lbs with 160mm steerer.

The Duke is a decent fork, definitely get one for that price. Granted, it's no Marzocchi Z1, but it's a great fork for what you've described as your style of riding.

Regarding discs, most new forks all have disc tabs, just make sure you get one wth caliper posts. A lot of closeout forks are DISC ONLY!

Of course, that would be a good excuse to go ahead and upgrade to an Avid Mechanical disc brake for the front! "But honey, I didn't know it was disc only! I guess I'll have to buy a disc brake too!"

L8R

The Duke is a decent fork, definitely get one for that price. Granted, it's no Marzocchi Z1, but it's a great fork for what you've described as your style of riding.

Regarding discs, most new forks all have disc tabs, just make sure you get one wth caliper posts. A lot of closeout forks are DISC ONLY!

Of course, that would be a good excuse to go ahead and upgrade to an Avid Mechanical disc brake for the front! "But honey, I didn't know it was disc only! I guess I'll have to buy a disc brake too!"

L8R
thats not a bad idea... Saw a psylo at pricepoint for around 230$ hmmm

The Duke is a decent fork, definitely get one for that price. Granted, it's no Marzocchi Z1, but it's a great fork for what you've described as your style of riding.

Regarding discs, most new forks all have disc tabs, just make sure you get one wth caliper posts. A lot of closeout forks are DISC ONLY!

Of course, that would be a good excuse to go ahead and upgrade to an Avid Mechanical disc brake for the front! "But honey, I didn't know it was disc only! I guess I'll have to buy a disc brake too!"

L8R

The fork has caliper posts, so it should work for now. I want to get an Avid mech disc for the front, but I will need disc compatible wheels first. Considering I bought a road bike and lots of other bike stuff and am living on a college students income the wheels and discs will have to wait.

You only live once amigo!

L8R

Make sure you can take advantage of the coupon and the sale at the same time. Most places don't let you use coupons on sale items, i.e., you can only use coupons on regular price items.

Make sure you can take advantage of the coupon and the sale at the same time. Most places don't let you use coupons on sale items, i.e., you can only use coupons on regular price items.

Performance Bike lets you use coupons on sale items. Since I am also a member of Team Performance I will also get back 10% of the cost after coupon to spend at Performance. In the end, the fork ends up costing about $108+tax and shipping.

Performance now has the fork marked as discontinued, but mine has already shipped so I should be good.

They still have the Marz MX Comp and Manitou Black Elite (disc only) on sale for $192 after coupon if anyone is interested.

I got that fork a couple of months ago. So far so good, but it's a bit squishy for my taste. I suppose I just need to get used to it...

I got that fork a couple of months ago. So far so good, but it's a bit squishy for my taste. I suppose I just need to get used to it...

How much do you weigh?

Agreed, if it's too squishy, you may need a firmer spring rate. I always have to swap mine out to the stiffest to support my fat arse!

L8R

I got the fork today and it seems a lot higher quality than my current RST. I guess I will be taking it to my LBS to get the steering tube cut and a start nut installed. Anything else I need done to it?

I was compressing it a bit today and am I supposed to hear a bit of oil splash around when I compress it and shake it around? Also, a bit of oil lines the tubes when the fork compresses, is this normal? The only fork I have ever paid attention to is my stock RST and it is a bit different...

I have a week to write a 14pg paper, do a CIS lab and a lot of other crap, so I wont get to play around with it for a bit here. :(

Agreed, if it's too squishy, you may need a firmer spring rate. I always have to swap mine out to the stiffest to support my fat arse!

L8R

I'm 170lbs- not so big. my last fork was a K2 smart shock which I always cranked to the most rigid. I considered swapping the spring, but in reality, I'm not bottoming out or bobbing an unreasonable amount.

good luck w/ finals, bg!

I think 180 is the upper range for a Medium rate spring (or elastomer). So, if you like to ride with a stiffer fork, you may benefit by moving up to the next stiffer rate and keep it with little preload.

This will actually allow the fork to work better. A less stiff spring partially compressed will not work as well as a stiffer spring in a barely compressed state.

L8R

I'm 170lbs- not so big. my last fork was a K2 smart shock which I always cranked to the most rigid. I considered swapping the spring, but in reality, I'm not bottoming out or bobbing an unreasonable amount.

good luck w/ finals, bg!

I am currently 170 as well. I will probably be down to 160-165 when I start riding a bit more here.

Anyone have an answer to the oil question I asked a few posts up?

This is just midterms for me now :( I don't finish school until June 10. Stupid quarter system...

I think 180 is the upper range for a Medium rate spring (or elastomer). So, if you like to ride with a stiffer fork, you may benefit by moving up to the next stiffer rate and keep it with little preload.

This will actually allow the fork to work better. A less stiff spring partially compressed will not work as well as a stiffer spring in a barely compressed state.

L8R
Good advice. Thanks!

bg- sorry, I have no idea about the oil!

I am currently 170 as well. I will probably be down to 160-165 when I start riding a bit more here.

Anyone have an answer to the oil question I asked a few posts up?

This is just midterms for me now :( I don't finish school until June 10. Stupid quarter system...

my sid xc and mag21 behave similarly, but they are both air/oil forks. i don't know what the duke is but if it uses the hydrair or hydracoil system then that means it uses oil for damping in conjunction with air or coil, respectively.

Good advice. Thanks!

bg- sorry, I have no idea about the oil!

I still haven't got the fork prepared, so I havent been able to use it. However, when I compress the fork and shake it a bit the oil makes a bit of noise, but much less. After compression the tubes are a tiny bit slick with oil, but not as much as they were originally. I think the fork just got shook up a bit during shipping. It seems a lot more normal now. Thanks.