Choosing a replacement fork for a 1996 Trek 8000 SHX

9

This all started, because I just wanted a new fork, for this bike.

I got a 2003 Marzocchi Bomber  mx comp. Travel =120mm.

This fork was too long, and to make a very long story short  (the long version), I now have a trek 8000 shx, that’s missing brakes, fork, handlebars, stem  and front deraliur.

But instead of just chuking the rest in the garbage, I decided to go look for a fork.

Perhaps I would then move the components back to my 8000, and get some shiny new for the 8500.

Så of to the races, trying to find a fork.

The first lesson learned from the old bomber, is that it cannot be to long, as this really messes with the fun of driving the bike. 63mm would be ideal, 80 should be acceptable (base on the old fork, in “climb mode”)

It has to be a straight 1^1/8” steerer, and for a 26” wheel.

It would be nice for it, to be for V or cantilever brakes, but if all else fails, ill have to accept getting a new front wheel, and some mechanical brakes (Hydras would be nice, but. Then I would have to upgrade the shifters, and so on.. So mechs it is)

The next thing, is weight. The original fork is 1500 odd gram and I don’t  want to much weight up front.

Then there’s a little personal thing. Im kind of a big guy. 183cm, 105 kg  these days. This means, I need a fork, that can handle the load, and that either means non stock springs or air.

And then of course there is the price. Lower is better, but I don’t  just want a wheel holder.

So let’s look at what it would be possible to get.

First of. I started by looking at Ebay and dba.dk ( I live in Denmark)… mtb fork 26” 80mm travel.

Its possible to get a bargain, but usually the cost to send it would be quite bad. Another thing.. you don’t know what you’re getting. So preferably a new fork.

We start bylooking at what forks we can get here

and comparing that with the guide from here.

http://www.bike-advisor.com/bicycle-guides/budget-cross-country-forks-for-your-bike.html

This, and a lot of reading the forums, gave me a list and i will try to water down what i have been through, and this is my incomplete, but quick list

Fork Name	Stroke	Weight (g)	Price (dkr)	Technology	Brakes	Verdict
Suntour  XCT-HLO	80-100	2500	499	Coil/Hydra Lockout	Disc	Wheel holder
Rock Shox XC 28	80/100/120	2472	899	Elastomer/coil	Disc & V-brake	Too Heavy Elastomer flexes
SUNTOUR  XCR-air-LO	100-120	2120	899	Air/hydra	Disc	Travel too long Too Heavy
SUNTOUR  Raidon-XC LO-R	100-120	1880	1900	Air/hydra	Disc	Must be modded, to meet 80mm travel Hard to setup
RST   F1RST Air	100-120	1950	1867	Air/hydra	Disc	Flexes under braking
Rock Shox XC 32 tk solo Air	100	2182	1250	Air/hydra	Disc & V-brake	Heavy Must be modded, to meet 80mm travel
Rock Shox XC 30 gold tk solo Air	100	1660	1789	Air/hydra	Disc	Must be modded, to meet 80mm travel

So what have we leant.
Well first of, that schematics really isnt all that useful, in determining, what forks to get.

There are so many variants of every type of fork, that its sickening.
The RS XC series, should be attainable with V-brake studs
The Suntour XCT/XCM/XCR can be had with V-brake, but are crap.
The RST's up to but not including the f1rst are crap.

The best priced fork, for 80mm and Vbrake. Goes to the RS XC 32 tk solo air... but it weighs a TON.
This would be the lowest quality i would go. 
 

Lets get rid of those who are to heavy.

that means every thing above 2kg.

Were left with the RS XC 30 gold TK. The ST Raidon and the RST f1rst

The XC and the Raidon, will fall, as they cant be had with V-brakes.

So that leaves us with the f1rst.

There are 4 series of theese.

Fork Name RST	Stroke	Weight (g)	Price (dkr)	Technology	Brakes	Verdict
30 Platinum	80/100	1550	?	Air/Hydra/ Lockout	Disc & V-brake
32	80/100/120	1850	?	Air/Hydra/ Lockout	Disc & V-brake	Too heavy
30-15	80/100/120	1950	?	Air/Hydra/ Lockout	Disc & V-brake	Too heavy
30	80/100	1770	?	Air/Hydra/ Lockout	Disc & V-brake

As i see it. The differences between these 4 forks are small.
If i can find one, in an EU contry, with the Vbrake studs, i think i just might purchase them.