patentcad

3" of travel, preferably sub 3 lbs.

What's your favorite suspension fork?

C Law

you have 2 choices

fox f80 or rock shox sid.

(Although, another option would be the DT swiss/pace fork xrc80.)

My favorite would be the fox. stiffer platform and lovely buttery travel. a few grams heavier though.

patentcad

Fly Ti MTB that I ordered comes with the SID fork (2006 model). MTB Action didn't like that fork, my LBS tells me any newer race fork from the past 2-3 years will blow away my c. 1999 Manitou Carbon that's on my Jamis. We'll see.

C Law

your LBS is correct. You can't even compare the two.


The biggest knock I have heard on the SID is its noodly qualities.

The only people I know who like them weigh 150lbs or less.

But it might feel stiff compared to your 1999 fork.

patentcad

The MB Action review of the Fly Ti was hard to figure. They liked the handling, lightness, climbing, didn't like the descending - but they tested it on the stock 1.8 Kenda Lite tires inflated to 50psi. You put those tires on any MTB and it will wash out on any technical terrain and descend like crap. Then in another section they call the Fly Ti 'harsh', but then they say it 'absorbs trail vibration and doesn't punish the rider'. Go figure. Ultimately they criticize the bike because you might want to upgrade the tires, cassette (12-27) and SID fork, and that's unacceptable for a bike that has an MSRP of $4300 (or whatever number Mike of BD gave them). I paid $1900. At that price it was sort of a no-brainer.

I still can't quite figure out that review. But they did characterize the Ti frame and finish as 'stunning'. That's hopeful. If the bike sucks I'll probably keep the components and get another CF or Ti frame. I'm sure the frame on that bike will bring pretty good $ on eBay if it came to that. But my guess is I'll like the bike.

Frunkin

The new sids have larger stantions, and are much stiffer.
I would czech those out.

xcracer13

Yah it only weighs like 100grams less than the Reba though...

patentcad

Mike from BD says the MTB Action article is inaccurate, the SID Fork on the Fly Ti is the 2008 model after all, so that should be pretty good from what everyone is saying here.

BlueTrain

i'd be skeptical of anything written in MBA...

patentcad

I am skeptical of everything.

Fat Boy

So I've got an 11-32 cassette on the shelf that might get stuck on the bike early. I find tires a replacement item on pretty much every bike. I'm still curious about how fat a tire you can stick on that bike. I'd like to be able to run at least a 2.1" wide tire, weight be damned.

As far as the fork goes, my present mountain bike has an old school, lowest end Judy fork with Englund air cartridges (can I get an AMEN!?). I'm thinking the SID will be a pretty substantial upgrade.

patentcad

I'm almost certain you can fit a 2.1" tire on there, I'll check with Bikes Direct. I run Conti Explorer Pros that would add 300 grams to the bike weight (150 grams per tire), but they're great all around CC tires that can handle just about anything. That cassette won't bother me, I'm a roadie racer and for me a 39 x 23 is a granny gear on the road. A 32 x 27 or whatever that bike has for a bail out gear will get me up anything I could ever technically handle climbing. If you need a smaller gear than that it's probably over my limited MTB handling/climbing skills anyway. All I have to add besides that are bar ends.

ronbridal

I am a roadie and just recently started to race xc. I ride a Motobecane Fly 9357. The stock SID Race fork has been more than great for me. The bike is light, fast, and responsive. The components rock. I couldn't be happier. I've raced it twice (13th ,2nd) and have ridden it on trails two other times. No complaints so far. Let me know if you have any questions.

RON

patentcad

Thanks Ron, I'll do that. I am planning on looking for an not so technical MTB race to stretch
out the Fly Ti on later this year, perhaps in the Fall. You can fit 2.1" tires on that bike. I won't bother with the stock 350 gram 1.9" Kendas, I'll need a beefier tire than that around here.

giant rules!!!

Actually, the Sid weighs close to 300 grams lighter than the Reba.

ZeCanon

The fox is nowhere near 3lbs, by the way.

I went from 2007 sid team to a new 2009 sid this weekend, and the difference is huge. I will give up 100g any day for a fork that actually goes where I point it. In my opinion, the new sid is the way to go.

Another option is the manitou R7 MRD, but those have been coming in heavier than expected and have 30mm stanchions, compared to the '09 sid's 32.

fosmith

dude...check out the Manitou MRD R7 Absolute. for real sub 3 pounder and it works! not noodly and it's easy to service.

patentcad

I think the Fly Ti comes with the current SID, and the MTB Action article was wrong. We'll find out soon enough...

ZeCanon

This current SID has only been out for a few weeks. It may be specced on an 08 bike, but I doubt it.

If it comes with the new sid, keep it.

patentcad

The Fly Ti frames aren't even in the US yet. Due to land in the next week or so. The SID forks are in the hands of Bikes Direct, so they may well be the current SID. It think they're calling the Fly Ti a 2009 model. In any event, none of the bikes have been assembled or shipped to customers yet. Soon.

ZeCanon

I look forward to stories of your ever-increasing self-loathing Pcad

patentcad

Nothing will ramp the S.L. more than a few days on the single track. Trust me. I may fancy myself some kind of hard core Road Nazi, but MTBs can make me cry for Mommy pretty fast.

Fat Boy

They are now, BAAAAAAAAAAAAABYYYYYY!

patentcad

My Fly Ti will ship early next week. I am psyched.

AKRX

Man, 300 grams, 100 grams... I don't start caring until there's at least about a pound in difference...

I'm partial to Marzocchi, though I'm riding Rockshox right now. Check out the Corsa's.