Shopping for a new Fork

[truckboy]

So my Z1 Frankenforker is getting worn out. A good excuse to unload some unsightly cash you say? Well I'm not made of it but I did sell my motorcycle to free up some green.

I've checked out the two I trust most and have come up with Marzocchi All Mountain 1, or Fox Talas RLC or Vanilla RLC. I'm leaning toward the 'Zoke for its adjustability and plush ride (according to reviews) but it's frikkin expensive. That's why I thought the Vanilla. I like the coil/oil feel. And I hear great stuff about the TALAS but not sure if it suits me.

I'm looking for educated opinions.Have you bought or have you ridden any of these? Done extensive reearch?

My favorite riding style is aggressive, technical XC with some drops thrown in when I'm feelin' it. (I'm 41 with a ruptured disc - and NO I DON'T wear spandex you cartilaginous little huckmonkey!!) ahem...Sorry, ahem....The frame is a Turner 5-spot, a 5" travel beauty, as is the existing fark.

So forget about the rain, think about my new forkage.

[gnurider1080]

the zoke would probably be better for you since it looks beefier than the vanilla. how much cash you got to throw down for a fork. if you got the coin, spring for a fox 36. expensive, but very smooth and light.

[Quo Fan]

I have the All Mountain 1, and have been riding it for a couple of months now. I left the travel set from the factory, and set-up the preload like the instructions said to. I normally rin the fork in the middle "all mountain" setting on the TST, and I rarely use the ETA. The way I use the settings on the fork, is that I rarely use the climbing setting, and I sometimes forget to use the "downhill" setting. In the All Mountain mode, the fork is one of the plushest, smoothest forks I have ever riden. When in the downhill mode, the fork acts much like my Z1 freeride.

When I bought my fork, some online company was offering a free Chris King headset, so I bought it with a Patriot headset. That made the fork more affordable, even though it was still $750 plus shipping.

Now I'm glad I bought the fork.

[digger]

Some don't like Fox but I've had really good service out of a Vanilla RLC (2 years not an issue). Many a good Turner homer has one. I also have a Talas and it's not as plush, but if you want to wind down the travel for a long climb, you can.

Zoke AM1 looks really nice, but at $325 more than a VANrlc I hope you use all the unique features and adjustability.

Look into the A-C ride height question. Zokes are often subtantially taller than others - might impact the geometry you are looking for.

[gnurider1080]

my vote is for the fox 36r if youre gonna drop the coin on an all mountain 1 which is $769 on jenson usa. its about $100 more but from the riding time that ive put on it, its completely worth it. its a very smooth fork with 2 of the features that are most useful, a travel adjust that will not cause the fork to blow up (unlike manitou) and a rebound adjustment. if your still on the fence once i get some more time on this fork, ill let you know what i have to say. but if the $100 will send you over the edge, the am1 looks like a great choice.

[Luckybikes]

My vote is on the AM1. The Fox 36 and it are prety evenly matched for what your looking for and have almost all the same features but it all comes down to your desicion in the end

[truckboy]

Wow, great responses and quickly too. How come nobody took the bait at being called a cartilagenous huckmonkey? Some of you young guys must still have cartilage left in your joints. I'll check out the 36.

[gnurider1080]

well, you asked for it. cartilagenous huckmonkey!

[Body2Big]

WOW is 1,300 ++++ really worth it for a fork?? I mean I know if your a racer it might be but for the XC rider is it really worth that much?? I was just browsing through pricepoint.com and can't beleive how much they go up to. :o

I can buy my FS Specialized for the price of a Fork


Shawn

[boingboing]

I have the fox vanilla RLC. I got it at the beginning of last season and have had zero problems with it. Smooth travel plenty of adjustability and not real heavy. 4# I think???? I forgot I weighed it before putting it on. I got it by accidently bidding on the wrong fork on ebay. (Never try and do last minute bidding while at work when someone is standing on the other side of your PC asking you questions.) Not a bad mistake though, I love the fork and got it new (take off) for 300 bucks.

[NSrider]

Hey Truckboy I recently put a Vanilla on a new 5 spot and love it, I only have a few rides on it tho. As digger said the a-c height on the Marz's are taller and may tweak the geometry of the spot to where it rides differntly.
Dave Turner has stated on mtbr.com turner forum that the Vanilla was the fork he designed the spot around and he still considers it the best for the bike. He says he still goes back to the Vanilla on his own bike after trying many of the other forks. So for what its worth.

Also Pricepoint was giving away free King headsets with a Fox fork purchase (not sure if they still are), if you don't want or need a new headset you could probably sell it for 100 clams or so and recoup some of your money on the fork.

Scott

[auntesther1]

what is worm out on your Z1? Those are oil bath forks and besides the bushings and seals, there isnt alot that really would wear out ( unless you have thousands of miles on it). If you like that fork, consider a full rebuild/overhaul. Fresh oil, seals and bushings and maybe new springs as the old ones can get sacked out.

if you are really bent on a new fork, I have had great luck with my Manitou Fire Fly. the SPV Evolve works very well and gives you a ton of tuneability. Super stiff, dont weigh a ton and IMO they have much better compression damping than zokes ( more controlled,less dive).

with any fork, take the time to set it up properly and take care of it and I dont think you would go wrong with any of the suggested forks.

[truckboy]

I don't know what's getting worn. I had new seals and oil done and the guy who did it said it was getting worn inside. That's all I know. This is a 2nd hand purchase of a fork with a mix of 1999 and 2000 parts. I think the guts are 1999. I also think he used it for downhill for a time. I only paid $120 for it. It is of the vintage of the bolt-on chrome arch that the M shaped integrated piece replaced. It probably does have a million miles on it.

[Quo Fan]

What are possibly wearing out are the compression and rebound cartridges. I'm not sure how much it costs to replace them, but that might be an option.

[gnurider1080]

if you paid $120 for it, then replacing alot of the internals will not be worth it unless you get it done for free.

[Evan]

I'll be a part of the crowd saying if you have the cash to drop, go with the Marzocchi. If not, the Vanilla, as everyone has said is a wicked sweet fork. I've bounced around a few bikes with it, so I don't have the most educated response, but the price:features:weight ratio is totally cool.

[truckboy]

I think it's going to be the Vanilla. Jenson is price-matching it for $416 plus shipping right now. The only question is whether to buy now at that price, wait for something better end-of-season or go eBay.

[C.P.]

what is worm out on your Z1? Those are oil bath forks and besides the bushings and seals, there isnt alot that really would wear out ( unless you have thousands of miles on it). If you like that fork, consider a full rebuild/overhaul. Fresh oil, seals and bushings and maybe new springs as the old ones can get sacked out.

if you are really bent on a new fork, I have had great luck with my Manitou Fire Fly. the SPV Evolve works very well and gives you a ton of tuneability. Super stiff, dont weigh a ton and IMO they have much better compression damping than zokes ( more controlled,less dive).

with any fork, take the time to set it up properly and take care of it and I dont think you would go wrong with any of the suggested forks.


I'd have to say I agree with ester here. Both points too.
1. Doesn't seem right that the current z1 cant be rebuilt. You need to find out what's "worn", and go from there, esp if your budget might be tight, and you LOVE the way this fork feels on your current ride.

2. Or - going new, (Coming from an 01 Z1), I installed an 05 Manitou Flick (steel version of the Firefly) and As Ester said, I think it does a better job of comression damping, and it actually feels better then the Z1 ever felt when new.

[boingboing]

I think it's going to be the Vanilla. Jenson is price-matching it for $416 plus shipping right now. The only question is whether to buy now at that price, wait for something better end-of-season or go eBay.
I personally always try ebay first. Theres always a bike shop or 10 blowing out their inventory. Just be careful buying used stuff as some people unload stuff that should have gone in the trash.

[radair]

I have Vanilla RLCs on two bikes and love them. I also have a TALAS and it will probably be the last air fork I buy. It's a nice fork, but I'm pretty sure hucking, air, and winter riding are not good combinations. The travel adjustability is very cool.

There's nothing like that coil/oil feel. Those old Z1s are great forks, maybe you just need bushings.

I know nothing about the AM1 or 36 so can't compare.