Looking to upgrade my fork

[rihaha]

Currently I have a Rock Shox J5 and it just isn't cutting it anymore. I'm leaning towards an air shock and was looking at the Fox line. If anyone has any suggestions, I am willing to listen. Along with a new fork, I would need disc brakes. My current wheel set has the caliper mount on it so I would only need everything else. I was hoping for hydraulic brakes.

I would buy a new bike but the budget is not there for a bike set up with the components that I want due to having to pay off a school loan. I do have enough to do this type of upgrade. I also currently like the bike that I have.

[rihaha]

The bike is a Specialized FSR XC '06 medium frame.

[bash]

Hi Saundra-

For the brake recommendation, I've had Avid Juicy 7s on my last two bikes and I love 'em. I rented a bike in Alaska with the Juicy 3s and they were great too, just didn't have the handle reach and contact adjust but still hydraulic and very powerful.

As for a fork, I have a Fox TALAS 32 and it works great. To be honest I hardly ever use the travel adjustment so I wouldn't spend the extra money on that if I did it again. The Fox forks can be on the spendy side so if you are looking to save money and still get a great fork - I have friends with Rock Shox Reba and Revelation forks and they love them.

[jjrsds]

If you have time come see me about upgrades. Fox and Rockshock make great upgrades for front forks. Brake upgrades depend on what you want them to do and how you want them to perform.

Front fork would be a fox 100 or Rockshock Reba for best performance.

Brakes Avid BB7 mechanical, Avid juicy (3,5,7) or Hayes Stroker. Either one of these would be great upgrades to you bike.

[rihaha]

Thanks for the info so far. I have heard a lot about the Juicy 7's and wouldn't mind giving them a try.





I was wondering if John or one of the monitors couls move this over to the wrenching section, I wasn't paying attention when I post it last night.

[El Chupacabra]

You can get a nice RockShox fork with RLC for less than a similar spec'd Fox fork. In my opinion, the only difference is the money left in your bank account.

[charliebrown]

I don't think you can go wrong with Juicy 3,5, or 7's I have 3's Melissa has 5's and they both are great. Just depends on your budget. I would say take JJ up on his offer to help you. He will help hook you up nicely.

[soupboy]

The MTBR classifieds section (http://classifieds.mtbr.com/index.php) is your friend.

Fork: here (http://classifieds.mtbr.com/showproduct.php?product=22359&cat=8)

Brakes: here (http://classifieds.mtbr.com/showproduct.php?product=22751&cat=11)

Get the Avid mechanicals even if you *think* you'd prefer hydros. Way cheaper, way easier to maintain, pretty darn close in modulation and absolutely equal in sheer power to hydros with similarly sized rotors.

[fallingup]

I love my Rockshox Sid SL... check out ebay! You're not a heavier rider so this would work great for you!

Brakes - I really like my Avid bb5's, but I'd go with the 7's - I hear they're easier to adjust when on the trail.

[grendel]

I just upgraded to bb7's and they are great, found them(front and rear) on ebay for cheap. $20 on new cables and housings. $60 for calipers and disc and hardware. and the dual adjustment is so nice, and tool less. my $.02

[hops]

As far as brakes go, I have Hayes HFX 9 (hydraulic). They work very well and are easy to maintain. My son has mechanical disk breaks... I'll never buy another set of mechanical disk breaks.

[gordanfreeman]

Get the Avid mechanicals even if you *think* you'd prefer hydros. Way cheaper, way easier to maintain...
i disagree. once properly setup, a hydraulic system should need no maintenance save the occasional pad change, unless you break a line. in 2 years on a second hand set of juicy 7's on my jump bike i've yet to snap a hydro line; unless you're carrying extra cables with you on trail, a mech. brake isn't going to save you from going brakeless when a line pops anyways.

mech will generally be cheaper, but if you look hard enough, hydro can be very affordable as well.