Broken Suspension: Help Needed!
 

Hello,
I recently acquired what appears to be a '96 Gary Fisher Montare (pictures attached). It is in pretty rough shape, and the front fork suspension appears to be broken and not working. It is a RockShox Quadra 21R. The suspension seems to be in the lowest position and when I pick it up it simply goes down by itself. I think there is no air inside the suspension (pictured). I have looked online to videos on how to fix it and take it apart, but the ones online have a black cap on top of it that is easily unscrewed. Mine however has a silver cap that is unlike the ones online (pictured). When I unscrew it, there appears to be no way to reach the inside, unlike the ones online (pictured). My question is how would I get inside the suspension, and fix what is wrong. Also what is wrong?
Thank you in advance,
Arthur

There never was, it (the Quadra 21R) was an elastomer fork, OK BITD, but long out classed now.

You could either research into repairing it (Just Google search 'rockshox quadra 21r') or replace, but you would need to source a fork with rim brake mounts, and the correct steerer diameter.

Elastomers: https://www.suspensionforkparts.net/...kit-95-96.html

Manuals: http://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/...ra+Service.pdf
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/...adraserv96.pdf

I am completely new to this and I am not familiar with all the terminology. I am looking to repair it. So what exactly is wrong with it? What could I do to fix it? Thank you for your reply.

Elastomers are a b****
They are perhaps the worst "innovation" to come to mountain biking. They are big nitrogen infused urethane tubes that are jammed into a fork. They also degrade really fast, I have a '91 diamondback apex with anti gravity front suspension and the previous owner used the wrong type of lube. I ended up scooping 20 yr old urethane clay out of the fork with a spoon.

Your fork uses elastomers inside it, they don't last forever, they will eventually perish and need replacing.

If the elastomers have perished, you will need to pull the fork apart and clean it before putting in new elastomers.

To answer your question of "how to fix it" you could get more elastomers but they are becoming increasingly more difficult to find. I got an rst gila fork for around 100$. It didn't look as cool and it takes some knowledge of bike headsets to install

What do you guys think about the bike itself? Is it worth anything? I got it for 20$ and seemed like a valuable bike.

Looks like your fork has a 1 1/8" steering tube, it might be a better idea to replace the fork with another one.

Any bike where the wheels spin for 20$ is a great deal. It seems to me like a mid range to higher end bike for the 90s. Probably worth around 150$ in great condition.

Why is that (replace the fork)?

Elastomers are nearly impossible to find, are very finicky, and are an inferior type of suspension. I have heard of people using spring conversion kits. That may be an option, but I would recommend getting a 1 1/8 compatible fork and hanging the rockshocks on a wall.

The fork is over 20 years old, it is broken and can't be ridden in it's current state.

It will cost you money to fix it and you will be left with a fork that is old technology by today's standard.

What do you want to do with the bike?

How much money are you willing to spend on it?



Your bike looks to be a 96 model: http://bikepedia.com/quickbike/BikeS...&model=Montare

Rough value: http://www.bicyclebluebook.com/Searc...82&model=65453

* a broken fork reduces the value even more as the bike can't really be ridden like it is.

I haven't decided if I want to fix it up to ride it or sell it as it is/fix it up and sell it.

You can buy the parts, linked above, for $53 and hope you can make it work and fix it.

Or spend $99 and get an entirely new fork. More modern. Coilspring based rather than elastomer.

for 26' wheels, 1-1/8 steerer, mounts for your canti brakes.
Rockshox XC28 Suspension 26" Fork > Components > Frames, Forks and Suspension > Forks | Jenson USA