Can you change Fork travel from 100mm to 120mm on HT

Discussion in 'The Workshop' started by templar, Nov 26, 2010.

  1. templar

    templar Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2010
    Messages:
    306
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Occupation:
    Database, UNIX consultant
    Location:
    Aliso Viejo
    With FSR's I know that there strict guideliness for fork travel increases, but does those apply also to HT's? I have a rockhopper with a 100mm Dart3 which I would like to replace with a 120mm RS Tora 302SL I have lying around. Does anyone know how this would affect the bike?

    Thanks in advance.
     
  2. Garrett

    Garrett Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2009
    Messages:
    1,861
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    Location:
    Chico
    I recall hearing that acceptable difference in travel from stock is about 10%. So a 20mm increase will void your warranty and increase stress on the frame beyond what it was designed for.

    However I ran a 140mm fork on my old Enduro for a few years and had no problems (stock fork was 120mm). It just depends on if you want to take the risk.
     
  3. Petex8

    Petex8 New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2010
    Messages:
    141
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    SD/Lake forest
    So what would it be better?
    for example: I have a 2007 fox float RLC 130mm, should I go to 140mm or 120mm, which will cause less stress on the frame?
     
  4. jeffj

    jeffj Bloated Mountain B'hiker

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2007
    Messages:
    2,617
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    Occupation:
    Bloated Mountain Biker
    Location:
    Castaic, CA
    I bought a Marz 44 to put on my XC hardtail. It came set at 120mm travel, so I thought I would give it a chance to see how it worked. The front end was too light on steep climbs and it handled like dookie... more like dookie squared. The increase in travel was not nearly worth the tradeoffs. I had the travel changed to 100mm like the frame was designed for and the bike has been fantastic.

    I think changing to a Tora would be an upgrade, but I wouldn't do it if it could only be done with the Tora set for 120mm travel. Can't the Tora be reduced to 100mm travel?
     
  5. mtnbikerfred

    mtnbikerfred Super Moderator

    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2007
    Messages:
    3,034
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Occupation:
    I sell industrial power transmission and motion co
    Location:
    Fullerton (1.6mi from the courthouse)
    Try to stay as close to stock as possible. There are some longer forks with shorter axle-to-crown measurements that will will great. the idea being that you ride with a little more sag, and the fork will be super plush without screwing up the rest of the geometry.
     
  6. rojomas

    rojomas A.K.A The Oxx

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2007
    Messages:
    2,401
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    Location:
    Wherdaphuqarwe
    I had a XC hard tail that I put an old 125mm Fox Vanilla on because I never really liked XC geometry. I always felt like the head angle on XC bikes were way to steep which causes them to be too scetchy for my liking. I tried many different stem lengths, different placement of the stem spacers, and different springs. I didn't have too much problems climbing with the fork at 125mm but when I would point it down hill the front end would float around and the bike felt unbalanced untill I lowered the travel from 125mm to 100mm.

    I would say try it, you might like it that way. But if you don't you can always just change it back. What works for you might not work for others. Hell, I've seen 140mm forks on XC bikes and the owners like em that way. To each their own.
     
  7. templar

    templar Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2010
    Messages:
    306
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Occupation:
    Database, UNIX consultant
    Location:
    Aliso Viejo
    much thanks to all! I'll give the Path call and see how much they charge and if the Tora's travel can be adjusted.
     

Share This Page

Help keep STR alive, please click the donation button below