Originally Posted by
robabeatle
thanks everyone.
After these comments and some more reading, it seems the best course of action now is to stick with this fork, have my LBS service/rebuild, and then in the future just get a new fork (tapered, thru axle) with a new frame. I see an upgraded shock would be at least $500 and I am seeing very nice newer bikes (used) with new shocks for about $2K.
ps: I did take my shock pump to the trails and dialed in the pressure which was much higher than the recommended shown on the side of the fork. It stated around 85 psi and I am at 100 psi. I am still dialing in the rebound though I don't really notice much change from one extreme to the other.
Would this be an internal upgrade?:
https://www.amazon.com/RockShox-Moti.../dp/B003RLDVXW
Just curious as to why the pressure is so high? Were you having issues with the fork bottoming out?
My favorite tactic for adjusting pressure is to look at how much travel you used during a ride. Ideally, you would use a maximum of ~75% of the travel on a typical ride. That gives you some margin and ensures that you're making the most of the fork.
Rebound adjustments are more subtle than pressure. Rebound determines how fast the fork recovers between hits. Too fast and it's kind of like a pogo-stick, too slow and the fork packs up, since it won't fully recover between hits. If you ride hard and fast, you'll need a faster rebound than a more cautious rider.
The best test is a set of stairs or rock garden, you really a set of extended bumps so that the rebound is tested. Go down a couple of times with different rebounds and see what feels best. If you can't tell the difference, then set the knob somewhere in the middle and don't worry about it.