Foxxy advice/ Rock Shox rant

[Rupert]

I'm doing some planning for when the cheap prices on forks come in the sales. The background to this is I've now gone through 2 sets of Rock Shox Rebas in 4 years on the Superlight, and on both the coating on the stanchions has worn away. I really like the fork, but I'm sure they should last longer considering how much forks cost. Yes I probably should service them every 25 hours, but if someone put that kind of service interval on car suspension they'd be laughed out of town, so why is bike suspension any different

I was thinking about trying Fox this time round, but as far as I can see they don't actually make a fork that competes directly with the Reba that has the features I want:

- Kashima coating because maybe it's harder wearing?
- I don't need a remote lockout. I had one once and never used it.
- Maybe a bolt thru instead of a QR this time, as I think Hope hubs can be converted
- ~100 to 120mm adjustable travel. I run at 120mm most of the time, but like to be able to wind the travel down to keep the front wheel on the floor when I'm trying to chase Ben up some stupidly steep climb ;D I do actually use this feature on the Rebas and would probably miss it.

The TALAS seems like a good idea, but the shortest travel for the long setting seems to be 140mm, and the max recommended travel on the Superlight is 120mm. I think TALAS is only 2 positions and nothing inbetween, in which case the 140mm position is probably useless to me (or might damage my frame?) and I might as well save my money. Or is there version I've missed which is continuously adjustable?

As far as I can see I'm stuck with my 2 yearly Reba exchange, but any advice appreciated.

/rant over

[Oggy]

Fox will be far less durable than the rockshox in the long run and need far more servicing. A simple lower lube service is all that is needed on the Rebas to keep them running sweet, by doing this 15 minute job every few months the stations will last for years.

All you need to do to perform a lower leg service is to whip the lowers off your fork, wipe the crap out of them and put a small amount of replacement lube oil back into the lowers. This is not to be confused with a full dampener service as this only needs doing once a year or so and can also be done easily at home

Talas are renowned for their stantions lasting less than a year and even with very regular servicing I only got a year out of mine. Fox forks in general are more expensive, less durable, and harder to home service

[Rupert]

Cheers Oggy

Dec 11, 2011 20:02:09 GMT Oggy said:

by doing this 15 minute job every few months the stations will last for years.

I usually do do this every probably 4-5 months, but I know I should do it more often. Takes me longer than 15 minutes though :-)

[Oggy]

to be honest it does need doing every couple of months with the crap conditions we ride in. I always shove a little more than the recommended amount of oil in to as it doesn't last long before is disappears.

Rebas are cheap as hell on merlins at the min (add on the vip discount), although it is crap how long many expensive bike parts last

With Plenty of TLC fox floats do tend to last a lot longer than the talas so could be worth a go but i wouldn't recommend tala to anyone due to how they last and they are the most least plush fork going due to all the parts in the over complicated tala side.

[thistle]

Do Fox forks still use shorter bushes than Rock Shox? (that I'm told wear out quicker).

[Oggy]

Dec 11, 2011 22:27:04 GMT thistle said:

Do Fox forks still use shorter bushes than Rock Shox? (that I'm told wear out quicker).

Not sure if the size of them is different but the little groves on the fox bushes always tend to end up leaving nice lines in the stations and the bushes always seem to tight

[sally]

now i feel totally useless as i've never done anything to my forks and they do make a funny noise sometimes and the numbers have worn off as well so does that mean there may be some muck in there thats rubbing them off?

[Oggy]

Unfortunately Sal they are well over due if the numbers are rubbing off.

Here is a guide on what to do, it looks more complicated than it actually is

www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/workshop-how-to-service-rockshox-reba-suspension-forks-23142/

The TF tuned lower lube kit contains all the stuff you need to do it

www.tftunedshox.com/Miscellaneous/Oils-and-Grease

A deep 10mm socket can be bought from Halfords, a deep socked is needed to reach over the air valve

Give me a shout if you get stuck

[Russ]

Yes very easy job to do on RS forks, also easy to get hold of service guides and spare parts for them. Will add that I'm sure lots of forks come out of the factory with the bare minimum of oil/grease in them.

[thistle]

The Rock Shox website has the service manuals available for download which also have instructions and tables telling you what oil goes where.

The anodising has totally worn off my stanchions. They still work it just means it's time to start saving/looking for new ones.

[Russ]

£229! www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FORSRERL/rockshox_reba_rl_dual_air_100mm_fork_with_poplock__26_inch

[Craigy Boy]

Servicing lowers is a must, in my experience fox forks don't last at all I've serviced my talas lowers following the advised times and they've still worn

[Rob]

The 2012 Fox forks now have a New low friction SKF seals and Kashima coat after finally admiting there was problems with the earlier Forks in terms of wear.

One will see how it goes as the 2012 TALAS are on my new bike so i will let you know how it gets on.

[dyls]

Ive had no problems with my fox talas getting worn, getting on nearly three years now and serviced by mojo once.

[thistle]

Dec 11, 2011 21:28:38 GMT Oggy said:

Rebas are cheap as hell on merlins at the min (add on the vip discount),

SRAM say the Rebas come in 80/100/120 travel. Is it just a case of changing spacers to get the different travel? (the 100mm ones are pretty cheap )