Forks Replacement

in message <[email hidden]>, Rob

(') said:

I've got a Giant Terrago mtb, and I've recently got round to thinking
about replacing the forks.

I got the bike as an insurance replacement for a GT mtb with 'solid'
forks, and I preferred the way the GT handled - much sharper on turns,
and noticeably lighter. The suspension does make for a comfy ride, but
that doesn't bother me too much - I use the bike mainly for city
commuting:

http://patchoulian.googlepages.com/bike

Question is - would I be better getting some better suspension forks, or
solid types?

An example of solid:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360008401

I'm completely bemused by the suspension types, but don't want to spend
more than 100UKP (ebay is an option). Lightweight and responsive are
what I'd like, I suppose.

You won't get suspension forks that are worth having for that money. Go for
rigid ones.

Quoted message said:

Finally - fitting the things. I used to be quite handy at fixing bikes
but of late I don't bother too much. In fact, after fitting new brakes
and wheels I haven't touched the bike in about three years (except
maintenance). Is it quite straightforward; are special tools needed?

Yes, for pressing the headset race onto the fork. You can do it without the
specialist tools but it's tricky (it will also be tricky getting the
headset race off the old fork without damaging it).

Everything else is straightforward (although the right tools are helpful
for cutting the excess off the steerer tube and getting it square!)

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
;; Drivers in the UK kill more people every single year than
;; Al Qaeda have ever killed worldwide in any single year.

Quoted message said:

Question is - would I be better getting some better suspension forks,
or solid types?

For what you use it for, I'd get solid. All but the cheap forks come with
a lockout for use on the road.

Quoted message said:

I'm completely bemused by the suspension types, but don't want to
spend more than 100UKP (ebay is an option).

Gnargh, solid solid solid! £100 forks are [censored].

Quoted message said:

Lightweight and responsive are what I'd like, I suppose.

Definately solid then, even if you could afford a decent suspension fork.

In article <[email hidden]>, Rob
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I've got a Giant Terrago mtb, and I've recently got round to thinking
about replacing the forks.

I got the bike as an insurance replacement for a GT mtb with 'solid'
forks, and I preferred the way the GT handled - much sharper on turns,
and noticeably lighter. The suspension does make for a comfy ride, but
that doesn't bother me too much - I use the bike mainly for city commuting:

http://patchoulian.googlepages.com/bike

Question is - would I be better getting some better suspension forks, or
solid types?

An example of solid:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360008401

Excellent forks, get them.

Quoted message said:

I'm completely bemused by the suspension types, but don't want to spend
more than 100UKP (ebay is an option). Lightweight and responsive are
what I'd like, I suppose.

Finally - fitting the things. I used to be quite handy at fixing bikes
but of late I don't bother too much. In fact, after fitting new brakes
and wheels I haven't touched the bike in about three years (except
maintenance). Is it quite straightforward; are special tools needed?

A bench vice is handy if you don't have the proper tools for removing
and refitting the crown race, but you can get away without it. Other
than that you only need an allen key (make sure you get a new star
fangled nut to go in the forks - removing the one from the old forks is
likely to be more trouble than it's worth).

Rob Morley said:

In article <[email hidden]>, Rob
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I've got a Giant Terrago mtb, and I've recently got round to thinking
about replacing the forks.

I got the bike as an insurance replacement for a GT mtb with 'solid'
forks, and I preferred the way the GT handled - much sharper on turns,
and noticeably lighter. The suspension does make for a comfy ride, but
that doesn't bother me too much - I use the bike mainly for city commuting:

http://patchoulian.googlepages.com/bike

Question is - would I be better getting some better suspension forks, or
solid types?

An example of solid:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360008401

Excellent forks, get them.

Quoted message said:

I'm completely bemused by the suspension types, but don't want to spend
more than 100UKP (ebay is an option). Lightweight and responsive are
what I'd like, I suppose.

Finally - fitting the things. I used to be quite handy at fixing bikes
but of late I don't bother too much. In fact, after fitting new brakes
and wheels I haven't touched the bike in about three years (except
maintenance). Is it quite straightforward; are special tools needed?

A bench vice is handy if you don't have the proper tools for removing
and refitting the crown race, but you can get away without it. Other
than that you only need an allen key (make sure you get a new star
fangled nut to go in the forks - removing the one from the old forks is
likely to be more trouble than it's worth).

Many thanks all - appreciated. I'll go the rigid route as suggested, and
just visit to the LBS if it looks like too much.

I haven't subscribed to this group for a while, but it seems this whole
suspension thing is quite a minefield. Fond memories of my old (c.1985)
Dawes MTB with nice 531 forks :-)

Rob