Upgrading my fork. Need advice
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Upgrading my fork. Need advice
Guys,
my fork is a 04 Rock Shox Judy XC and I am planning to take the big step and upgrade to a 06' Fox Talas RLC I saw for sale on ebay. However, the item description states that it has a 20mm thru axle which looks in the photos much beefier than my QR axle. Can I buy that fork or do I need to upgrade the hubs too?
I would also like to know what measures should I be careful with? Steering tube length? Steering tube diameter?
Thanks for the advice,
Ricardo
PS: If there's a reason why I shouldn't buy that fork I'd also like to know.
my fork is a 04 Rock Shox Judy XC and I am planning to take the big step and upgrade to a 06' Fox Talas RLC I saw for sale on ebay. However, the item description states that it has a 20mm thru axle which looks in the photos much beefier than my QR axle. Can I buy that fork or do I need to upgrade the hubs too?
I would also like to know what measures should I be careful with? Steering tube length? Steering tube diameter?
Thanks for the advice,
Ricardo
PS: If there's a reason why I shouldn't buy that fork I'd also like to know.
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A 20 mm thru axle requires a special hub. You can usually find a decent front wheel with a thru axle hub used for about $150.00.
You could buy the hub only and relace your existing wheel, but when it's all said and done, it's going to cost you close to $150 anyways. Better to keep your old wheel and old fork as they are as a back-up and buy and new/used front wheel.
What year is your existing fork? Most likely it's 1-1/8" steertube (diameter). The Fox will be the same, so generally not an issue.
The critical thing is the length of the steerer tube. measure from the top of your existing crown to the top of your stem. Make sure the new fork is the same or longer.
You could buy the hub only and relace your existing wheel, but when it's all said and done, it's going to cost you close to $150 anyways. Better to keep your old wheel and old fork as they are as a back-up and buy and new/used front wheel.
What year is your existing fork? Most likely it's 1-1/8" steertube (diameter). The Fox will be the same, so generally not an issue.
The critical thing is the length of the steerer tube. measure from the top of your existing crown to the top of your stem. Make sure the new fork is the same or longer.
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Sh*t I've got the almost exact same problem and I was goin to start up a thread asking the same question about the axle. Does the axle size have to be 20mm?
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Originally Posted by Ricardo
Guys,
my fork is a 04 Rock Shox Judy XC and I am planning to take the big step and upgrade to a 06' Fox Talas RLC I saw for sale on ebay. However, the item description states that it has a 20mm thru axle which looks in the photos much beefier than my QR axle. Can I buy that fork or do I need to upgrade the hubs too?
my fork is a 04 Rock Shox Judy XC and I am planning to take the big step and upgrade to a 06' Fox Talas RLC I saw for sale on ebay. However, the item description states that it has a 20mm thru axle which looks in the photos much beefier than my QR axle. Can I buy that fork or do I need to upgrade the hubs too?
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Originally Posted by BROCK SAMPSON
Sh*t I've got the almost exact same problem and I was goin to start up a thread asking the same question about the axle. Does the axle size have to be 20mm?
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Originally Posted by MattP.
What do you mean? Front forks come in either quick release or 20mm through axle. What is your build going to be like?
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Originally Posted by BROCK SAMPSON
O. sorry if what I say doesnt make much sense because I'm fairly new to mtb. My axles are quick release and the forks I found are 20mm axle hole, will my axles fit with these forks?
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Originally Posted by MattP.
No. To run a 20mm axle fork, you need a 20mm axle hub. You can either relace the wheel with a new hub, or you can buy a new wheel. What is your old fork, and the new one you are looking at?
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Guys,
thanks for the responses. If I buy an air shock (Talas RLC) should it come with a special pump or can I put air some sort of car air valve??
Ricardo
thanks for the responses. If I buy an air shock (Talas RLC) should it come with a special pump or can I put air some sort of car air valve??
Ricardo
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Ricardo, you need a shock pump. Car pumps will not be accurate enough for such a small volume of air, and they probably won't reach a high enough pressure.
As for the 20mm fork, go ahead and upgrade. Think about a solid tube of metal the thickness of your thumb clamped onto your fork, compared to a hollow axle that's thinner than a pencil that sandwiches your fork tabs with a QR.
The 20mm interface is much stiffer.
As for the 20mm fork, go ahead and upgrade. Think about a solid tube of metal the thickness of your thumb clamped onto your fork, compared to a hollow axle that's thinner than a pencil that sandwiches your fork tabs with a QR.
The 20mm interface is much stiffer.
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The fork I have now is a marzocchi dirt jam comp (2005 or 06), and the one I'm looking at is a marz dj3(04)
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Originally Posted by Ricardo
Guys,
thanks for the responses. If I buy an air shock (Talas RLC) should it come with a special pump or can I put air some sort of car air valve??
Ricardo
thanks for the responses. If I buy an air shock (Talas RLC) should it come with a special pump or can I put air some sort of car air valve??
Ricardo
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Hey man, what kind of bike is the fork going to be on?
A Fox TALAS RC2 is a big and beefy fork with 36mm stanchions made for very agressive riding.
The Fox TALAS RLC forks are lighter and have 32mm stanchions made for trail riding and XC racing.
If you're not riding medium drops and agressive trails, get the Talas RLC with the smaller stanchions. You won't have to build a new front wheel, you'll save at least a pound, and you will have a lockout to boot. The bonus of the 36 is that you get low speed compression adj.
A Fox TALAS RC2 is a big and beefy fork with 36mm stanchions made for very agressive riding.
The Fox TALAS RLC forks are lighter and have 32mm stanchions made for trail riding and XC racing.
If you're not riding medium drops and agressive trails, get the Talas RLC with the smaller stanchions. You won't have to build a new front wheel, you'll save at least a pound, and you will have a lockout to boot. The bonus of the 36 is that you get low speed compression adj.
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Originally Posted by brad06ag
you can find the DJ3s in QR. I just put a new '07 DJ3 on my dirt jump bike that is QR.
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Originally Posted by BROCK SAMPSON
Yah, but my parents won't let me spend alot of money and I found a good deal on an of dj3 and it has 20mm axle holes so it looks like I'll have to keep looking then.
If you're progressing to the point where you need a DJ specific fork, you'll probably want a 20mm axle too. A decent 20mm hub can be had for under 30 bucks on Ebay. New spokes, if you even need them, are generally a buck a piece. Learn to relace your new hub and you'll be 20x ahead of the game.
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Originally Posted by AfterThisNap
If you're progressing to the point where you need a DJ specific fork, you'll probably want a 20mm axle too. A decent 20mm hub can be had for under 30 bucks on Ebay. New spokes, if you even need them, are generally a buck a piece. Learn to relace your new hub and you'll be 20x ahead of the game.
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Tell mommy and daddy that spending an extra 60 bucks now will save them from having to buy a new fork six months down the road.
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Originally Posted by AfterThisNap
Tell mommy and daddy that spending an extra 60 bucks now will save them from having to buy a new fork six months down the road.
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Get a job? Or better yet, get a job at a bike shop.
How old are you? In all honesty, if you find the right shop, working in bikes when you're younger is terrible way to save money, but a great way to feed your parts addiction. Imagine having everything available to you basically 40-60% off retail.
How old are you? In all honesty, if you find the right shop, working in bikes when you're younger is terrible way to save money, but a great way to feed your parts addiction. Imagine having everything available to you basically 40-60% off retail.
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Originally Posted by chelboed
Hey man, what kind of bike is the fork going to be on?
Ricardo
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Originally Posted by AfterThisNap
Get a job? Or better yet, get a job at a bike shop.
How old are you? In all honesty, if you find the right shop, working in bikes when you're younger is terrible way to save money, but a great way to feed your parts addiction. Imagine having everything available to you basically 40-60% off retail.
How old are you? In all honesty, if you find the right shop, working in bikes when you're younger is terrible way to save money, but a great way to feed your parts addiction. Imagine having everything available to you basically 40-60% off retail.
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Originally Posted by BROCK SAMPSON
Yah I'm looking for a job, I'm 14 and it kinda hard to find a good job for my age. I wish I could get a job in a bike shop but near me theres only one good bike shop and they don't employ people under 16 or something.
See if you can get an apprenticeship, which is the american term for slave labor. Yea, you'll be sweeping the floors and dragging out the trash a few times a week, but if they're a good shop they'll teach you how to work on your own bike (priceless) and give you the shop discount.
Plus, in all likelihood you'll end up riding with more experienced older riders, so your game will improve to boot. Swing by and ask.