I have a recently new Rockhopper Comp with a Rockshox Tora 302 SL fork, which is spec'ed as having 100mm of travel. When testing for full travel on the fork by bouncing down on the handlebars, gently bottoming out, it's clear (with a ruler) that the fork only has 80mm max travel! According to RockShox website, the fork is either "80 or 100mm", but I can't tell if it's one or the other or if it's adjustable via internal spacer. Either way, I was expecting it to be setup at 100mm stock from Specialized, as they advertise.
I just stopped by my LBS to confirm about this and they are going to call RockShox tomorrow, then possibly Specialized. Right now I'm left wondering though, what gives? Any comments?
I spoke with my LBS again today, who spoke with RockShox, and they told me that RockShox makes 80 and 100mm versions of the fork, and that either one could have ended up on the bike according to whatever Specialized put on it. So I asked if this is an issue we could take up with Specialized and my LBS guy told me that Specialized reserves the right to change the spec without notice, which means the bike may come loaded with components that are slightly different from the spec. While I can understand this for something like a seatpost, brake rotors, etc., it doesn't seem cool to me that I would get a fork with less travel than the spec. This to me is not a comparable change.
What do you guys think?
For now, the LBS guy wanted to take the fork spring out and confirm one more time that it is 80mm. I'm not sure what happens after that.
You should have a clearer picture once the LBS takes the fork spring out. Fingers crossed that they find it's adjustable (like the Tora 318 SL) via an internal spacer. If this is the case all they have to do is to remove the spacer and you'll have 100mm travel. If it does not have the internal spacer adjustment then by the sounds of it you may be stuck with a 80mm travel fork.
Would be interesting to know if this is a once off or happened to others as well. You know if it's advertised as 100mm you have a right to get a fork with that much travel, it would have been more acceptable if they had changed the spec to a different brand fork of equivalent value and the same travel as stated, I know they reserve this right but surely there is limits. However if it is an internally adjustable version then it's probably an oversite or some sort of supply issue, and I wouldn't worry too much because for you it's an easy fix.
Ok, went to the shop today and all is well. When I first got there, they tried bouncing on it again and again it seemed to bottom out at 80mm. I say this now because we all tried it and all felt it bottom out and the fork only measured 80mm. So, they took out the spring and pressed the fork down and immediately it went to 100mm. Odd. So they put the spring back in and we tried bouncing on it again, but we couldn't get it to bottom out like we had just a few minutes earlier. The zip tie test showed we got up to around 95mm.
So, it is indeed a 100mm fork, although I have no idea why it seemed to be bottoming out at 80 before we removed the spring. It could have been something with the way the spring was seated before? I really have no idea. It seems to get all the travel now though and the sag is just about right for me, so I'm satisfied.
Great to hear the problem is fixed!
Hopefully smooth sailing (or should I say riding) from now on.
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