5" travel fork on 4" travel bike

[TheHeckler]

I ride an older SC Heckler. It is currently set up with 4" of travel front and rear.
I want to upgrade to a 5" travel fork.
Do you think this will effect the ride of the bike?

[C.P.]

I have a newer Heckler (Heckler 5), over the winter I changed out the fork from a 5 to a 6, so now it's a 5 rear/6 front. It did change the ride slightly, IMO for the better. My confidence went way up. It does steer a little "slower" but with lots of riding, you quickly learn the timing and compensate.
You may have to fiddle with sag on the rear once the new fork is on, and overall, things should feel good.
For the most part, I think you'll like it better and learn to adjust to the new setup.
Good luck!

edit: I just found an OLD pic of my 01 superlight, which is no longer with me sold it the same year I bought it) it's the same frame geometry as an older Heckler too, BTW It had a Z1 (5inch fork).

CP

[TheHeckler]

That is a sweet superlight and it has the exact frame as my heckler (except mine is green). The fork looks like a good fit. Thanks for the input, I can't wait to get my new fork.

Rob

[heckler]

You guys don't know what OLD is. My Heckler, a '96!!!! came with a 3" fork.... I don't know if they even made longer forks back then.

[Adam]

You have to try it:) One of the sweetest riding bikes I've had is my 4" travel Tracer with a 5" Z1 FR up front.

-Adam

[TheHeckler]

I have given it a try and I am glad I did. I have been waiting to post until I had a few rides on the new fork.

I put a Fox Vanilla 130R on the Heckler and it is sooooo plush. I rode Lynn woods on Sunday and the fork just soaked up the trail.

It took a couple rides to get use to change in steering but now I could not go back.

I did make the front end lighter and made climbing a bit more difficult. I slid the seat forward a bit and moved my CG forward just a hair. It climbs nice as long as you stay up on the seat.

[TheHeckler]

That is not my bike. What happened? The picture got changed.

[Quo Fan]

Nice bike.

[heckler]

I just picked up an '01 Superlight that came with a Z1 (4", I believe). I checked the frame pretty closely to my '96 heckler and they SEEMED identical. I had always run a 3" (80mm) on the Heckler and loved how quick the handling was. I rode the Superlight with the Z1, and the Heckler with the Scareb and the Superlight seemed like a boat! This was just on the pavement but clearly the turning radius was longer and the whole thing felt slower.

Well, I put the Scareb onto the Superlight and it is awesome but on last night's ride (in that stupid heat and humidity before the stupid rain and darkness...) it felt almost too quick.

The Z1 is in being rebuilt and I think I will have to give it another shot on the bike when it gets back. Having extra travel can never be a bad thing. I just don't know if I can get used to the steering on the XC type single track I love to ride. I can't imagine putting a 5" on it though for anything but downhill.

[TheHeckler]

I agree, the longer travel does make the bike corner a bit slower. I run about 1 inch of sag (as reccomended) so while sitting on the bike the effective travel is right about 4". I have had to adjust to the slower steering but I can't say that it is slowing me down. The extra travel and SUPER plush fork allows me to be faster between corners and over the rougher terrian. I have let all my riding bud's ride this bike. Everyone has had the same reaction, when they first get on it they are "Holy cow this thing is plush" and after taking it for a spin on the trails they are "This thing is sweet"

Oh yeah, downhills are REALLLLLY fun. ;D