Med!c

So both of these shocks are made by rockshox as most of you know.

However I am confused to what the difference is. Some technicalities do exist but I'm not completely sure here. I cant really seem to find much online though googling. I cant find ANYTHING on the manufacturer's website.. Not really sure whats up with not having any information on older models.

Through googling I did find some crums of information. It was suggested that the SL and 302 are from the same model line, however after a year the name was changed. I think this is wrong though, because I've seen both 2010 SL and 302. So not really sure..

Any help would be appreciated. I am looking for the air models, and basically I'm trying to figure out which is better and get the better. I'd also appreciate any quick responses since I have found a good deal on one of these on auction.

Thanks in advance! This forum has been very helpful.

Edit: the 302 can be found on rocksox's website, the SL cant be though. Just wanted to throw that in.

Zephyr11

SL is 100mm travel. Trail 302 is adjustable travel up to 130mm. The SL is most likely lighter too.

And it's a fork, not a shock! You just promised Never you weren't going to call it a shock anymore!

never

Haha!!

Med!c

should I go with the SL then? I'm a little confused on what to do here. There are way too many options. lol.

fuji86

The Tora is that the $ 179 deal from the other thread ?

https://jensonusa.com/store/product/F...x?SSAID=314743

vs

https://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...Turn+Fork.aspx

Little bit of a price difference, others that reviewed it, the Tora gets mixed reviews, perhaps why it's being discounted, even why it's no longer on the website as a current model (discontinued). Was it replaced by the Tora TK ? If you can justify the extra money for the 302 and feel better about it, consider it a Christmas present to yourself. $ 62 difference, over the life of the part, cost wise it's not much. Per ride it's even less in perspective. $ 62 over 2 years is $ 2.59 a month, 8 1/2 cents a day. The 302 is eligible for free shipping, the Tora, that probably isn't free, so the difference is less in that regard. The Tora is MSRP @ $ 338, so in it's day, Rockshox thought of it at that price point.

Med!c

THey're both Toras. As far as the SL goes vs the 302, I've found the 302 for exactly 179 with free shipping on another site. So the cost is the same. the thing the 302 has going for it is that it's black so it will fit with my bike. I've decided to go with the 302 unless there is a reason not to.

And if I'm correct you're basically saying the 302 is better than the SL? By the way, the 302 I'm looking at is a solo air as well.

Zephyr11

SL: https://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...r+Fork+Oe.aspx
302: https://www.blueskycycling.com/view_p...eProductSearch

Both are air forks and can be dialed in with a shock pump. Both have adjustable rebound and lockout. Both are 9QR and have a 1-1/8 steerer tube, though you can find them available with Maxles if you have a TA hub on your front wheel currently. Both are good forks.

Here are your differences:
302 is 130mm travel. This does not look to be the U-Turn version, which means it can't be easily lowered. It can be done, but you'll probably have to get your shop to do it. SL is 100mm travel, so it's a shorter travel fork.
302 is 5.3 lbs. SL is 4.4 lbs, so SL is almost a pound lighter. If your bike is a 23lb XC machine, that's significant. If it's a 40lb burly sled, you probably couldn't care less.
302 has disc and V-brake mounts. SL has only disc mounts.

The 302 that Fuji posted is a completely different fork. That's a coil U-Turn.

EDIT: So I just looked at your bike. Either fork will be a big improvement from the Suntour. Obviously you don't care if there are V-brake mounts, so you can get either fork without needing to buy new brakes. Your big difference will be the travel. Your current bike is 100mm, so the SL will keep the geometry the same and it will continue to fit and handle the same way. The 302 will add 30mm of travel. The 302 will probably void the warranty, but mehhh, ask me what I'm in the process of doing to my hardtail. In addition to adding travel to the bike, the 302 will also slacken the angles, which will, in general, make it a worse climber but better descender. The 302 will also change the handling a bit, making it more stable but slower at turning, and you may have to weight the bars a bit more to get it to respond. Finally, the 302 will raise the front of the bike, changing the fit by shortening the reach and lengthening the stack, so you'll be in a more upright position and the bars will feel closer to you. The bike fit can be tweaked by removing spacers, getting a longer stem that has less of a rise (or by...*bum bum bum*...flipping it), or getting bars with less of a rise. Standover will get a little higher too, but that doesn't matter as much.

Don't buy by color. Buy depending on whether or not you want more travel and a slacker bike. Some people like it, some people don't. It all comes down to riding style and personal preference. Neither fork is "better." They're just different.

fuji86

I posted the link to the 302 without knowing which specific vendor it was. But Zephyr11 nailed the differences pretty good. I wasn't implying the SL or 302, that either was better, just that one is steeper discount from an MSRP. I think the SL has been replaced by the TK in the product line per se. SRAM Rockshox in the Tora line seems to have resorted to coiled spring forks. Would be speculation that there is any issue with the air forks ?

https://www.sram.com/rockshox/category/105

Deshi

SRAM offers a Tora 302 120/130mm travel fork in Solo Air still. They are standing by air shocks still just didnt see much need for to many air forks in that level of fork.

https://www.sram.com/rockshox/products/tora-trail-302
Check the specifications tab. Solo Air is an option. According to their 2011 catalog, the Solo Air is only offered in the Tora Trail 302 and only adjustable travel from 120-130mm

Med!c

my bike knowledge isnt that great here, but 30mm isn't much. Is the difference going to be significant?

I found found a 2011 Tora TK with 100mm travel. It is coil, but it's about 100 bucks shipped which is nice. I've never really had issues with coils before, so I think I might just get this. The price is good, it seems like a good fork, and most importantly it will put me back on the trails while keeping stock travel(which seems to be an issue here). It doesnt come in a solo air, but that's fine I guess. I don't need anything too advanced or fancy to have my bike running.

Zephyr11

30mm is over an inch. It will slacken the bike. It could be a good or bad change, depending on your riding preferences.

The Tora TK for $100 sounds like a great deal. Just put an appropriate weight spring in and you'll be good to go.

EDIT: Here, have a ball: https://www.cotic.co.uk/geek/
I don't know the starting geometry of your bike, but that should give you an idea of how different fork lengths affect a frame.

Med!c

I feel like a coil will probably be better for me anyways. lol. I like to do wheelies and stuff a lot for fun here and there.

Zephyr11

An air fork wouldn't stop you from doing wheelies, I promise. My F100 bike wheelies just fine. What the coil fork will get you is linear travel. You'll just need to swap out the spring to dial in the ride.

fuji86

$ 100 shipped seems to be a good deal, google shopping searches are $ 160-190. ebay as much as $ 288.

Deshi

I have a Tora 302 Coil U-Turn on my jumper right now and it has performed amazingly. I installed a lockout just for when im riding down the street headed to the park or trails and whatnot.

I have the fork dialed down to 85mm travel and thats about it. Nothing to worry about with this fork.

My suggestion is to purchase a Tora TK coil, swap in the appropriate rate coil spring and adjust the dampening to suit your trail/riding style and not worry about it again until it comes time for a fluid flush.