Need some valuable info on Fork travel. I currently rebuild my 1998 GT Xizang. It is currently running a old Fox 80mm Vanilla fork. From what I know, 80mm (3inches) is the max I should go in terms of front fork travel to keep my race geometry in with the bike personality. I see a good deal on a 2008 Magura Menja fork with 85mm. Do you think 80mm to 85mm will hurt my bike's handing? I could spring up for a Sid fork but those cost a lot of $$. I love this bike and so far would like to get new fork for her.
Need some valuable info on Fork travel. I currently rebuild my 1998 GT Xizang. It is currently running a old Fox 80mm Vanilla fork. From what I know, 80mm (3inches) is the max I should go in terms of front fork travel to keep my race geometry in with the bike personality. I see a good deal on a 2008 Magura Menja fork with 85mm. Do you think 80mm to 85mm will hurt my bike's handing? I could spring up for a Sid fork but those cost a lot of $$. I love this bike and so far would like to get new fork for her.
That's a key point. Usually 5mm isn't going to be a problem, but you're already running a taller fork than your bike was designed for, and the relative axle to crown of the older forks was lower than today (I think an old 63mm Judy XC was about 420 or so).
I finally broke down this spring and got a new 2009 SID Race (you can get them on ebay for <$500) for my favorite 90s hardtail because of the lower axle to crown (I think it' listed as 453) and because I could get it with brake bosses. It looks like the 85mm Menja A2C is 458.
You may want to start by measuring the A2C of your current fork. If you like the way your bike feels with the Fox and the A2C is close, you may be OK with either fork.
Thanks for the reply everyone. I emailed GT about this and they seem that 60-70mm is the "sweetspot" for my frame but 80 mm is the max for my bike and that a extra 5mm won't do much harm. I took the advice and did some searching and the A/C is much lower on the Magura's so this should be a nice fix. The problem I guess with running a old frame like this is finding replacement parts, very limited. This Magura should be a life saver and should give me another 10+ years with this old bike of mine.
Thanks for the reply everyone. I emailed GT about this and they seem that 60-70mm is the "sweetspot" for my frame but 80 mm is the max for my bike and that a extra 5mm won't do much harm. I took the advice and did some searching and the A/C is much lower on the Magura's so this should be a nice fix. The problem I guess with running a old frame like this is finding replacement parts, very limited. This Magura should be a life saver and should give me another 10+ years with this old bike of mine.
Good choice. The Magura fork is very good. I love mine. Supple, controled, does not bottom out and very stiff.
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