Mountain Biking - Suspension fork...remote lockout upgrade...need advice

Hey guys,

I have a new 29er with a Rockshox Reba RL fork and I would like to upgrade the fork with a remote lockout conversion kit.

Heres a link to the fork....http://www.sram.com/rockshox/products/reba-rl

I'm more of a roadie and suspension systems are relatively new to me, but as far as I understand it, my fork is compatible with a RockShox Reba/Rev/Sektor/Pike Remote Upgrade Kit (see image)...http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31lpreSCkTL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Am I understanding this correctly? SRAMs website doesn't really have anything helpful.

The second question concerns compatibility with a 29er. Is this conversion kit 26er or 29er specific or is it a "one size fits all" type of thing. The reason I am asking is becaue the cheapest I can find this conversion kit is at Bikeisland.com (http://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_STOR20.cgi?Action=Details&ProdID=1011
where they have it listed as being for 26", but no other website selling this conversion kit, nor SRAMs website mentions 26er or 29er compatibility. Will the one on the Bikeisland website work with my 29er?

Lastly, I am having trouble finding any decent instructions or videos on the internet showing the installation process. Before I commit to ordering one and attempting the conversion myself (rather than taking it to my LBS and paying an arm and a leg for it) will I need any special tools. I'm an experienced bike mechanic, and am more into doing this myself, but like I said above, suspension systems are new to me, and although I am certain I could do the conversion with proper instructions, I'm just not sure about the tools.

Thanks for the help!

The size shouldn't matter. I'm like you as far as wanting to do everything I can and save my cash for other stuff. Another place to ask this question is in the Bike Mechanics thread. I am really in no position to instruct. BUT, my remote lockout on my Fox is good and keeps the pogo experience to a minimum.

My vote is that you learn to do this really well and post it on You Tube.

The size shouldn't matter. I'm like you as far as wanting to do everything I can and save my cash for other stuff. Another place to ask this question is in the Bike Mechanics thread. I am really in no position to instruct. BUT, my remote lockout on my Fox is good and keeps the pogo experience to a minimum.

My vote is that you learn to do this really well and post it on You Tube.

Thanks for the feedback. I had almost given up on this thread! I posted the same question in the mechanics forum and zero feedback. I hate going into the LBS for things like this. More often than not I end up having to wait for the part to arrive, then leave my bike in the shop for a week, and end up paying way more than I expected, and I end up learning nothing. Doing it myself may be more of a PITA, but at least I end up learning more. Judging from the lack of feedback, I guess not many people know much about lockout upgrade kits! I'm probably going to order it and see it I can get it installed, and maybe update this thread.

I've been riding a singlespeed exclusively on trails for years, and even with my new geared hardtail, I can't help but stand and crank up the small hills. The suspension fork, while appreciated on the flats and downhills, is leaching all my uphill speed, so I really need a lockout.

It's a pretty simple process. Damper size does not differ from 26" to 29" format, in my experience. I have swapped out a poploc blackbox moco damper out of a 09 Reba Team 29 for the blackbox moco damper w/ crown mounted adjuster from a 09 SID worldcup 26er fork - the dampers were the same dimensions and it works as it should.

The RS technical manuals will cover anything you need to know about the process. Link to 2010 RS Tech manual: http://www.sram.com/_media/pdf/rockshox/dealers/TM_MY10.pdf

I have a Scott Spark with remote lockouts front and back. They really do help a ton.

Congrats on being able to HERF it up the climbs on a single speed. I downshift climbing my driveway.

Post a before and after video or pics. Your BST may be important to others.

I tend to prefer the crown mounted lockouts over the poploc, but it would be nice for the singlespeed - my other two mtbs are geared, so I rarely lock the forks/shock out. Crown mounted lockouts generally have more adjustability. A poploc/pushloc are mostly either on/off - fully locked out or fully open with no inbetween, unless you get a poploc adjust(which has a dial to adjust the amount of compression).

Anyways, here is a photo of the dampers....the one on the right from a 29" Reba Team(with poploc), the one on the left from a 26" SID Worldcup(crown mounted adjuster - currently in my Reba Team 29).....

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/Ncfisherman/DSC_1517.jpg

Get that damper swapped out?