|   Zokes Z1 FR SL for 150 pound rider ???? | YaMon
May 20, 2003 5:46 AM | | Ok -
After much analysis and debate, I have finally arrived at 2 choices for the terrain and style of my riding. There is just one other variable I would like to consider before making my choice.
Anyone out there weighing around 150 pounds using the Z1 FR SL fork ?? Are you getting full travel AND sag ???? I know that with air forks, this may be a problem at certain rider weights. I personally believe that the fork was designed for a heavier rider and BOTH requirements will not be met.
If the answer to the above question is NO, then I will probably go with the Fox 125 R. The fork will be mounted on a 2000 Dare and the terrain we ride here in Jamaica is very hilly. We just came back from Pisgah and since most people consider that Freeriding, I guess we can be considered freeriders. Lots of uphills and fast singletrack downhills w/ 3-4 ft. drops.
Weight of the fork is VERY important since we will ride 20-40 miles at a time and include lots of uphills. For those of you that think an extra pound is worth it.....BS. I started riding my 24 pound Mantra a few weeks ago, it is 4 pounds lighter than the Dare and what a world of difference. Riders that used to forge ahead before cannot do it again. Matter of fact, I am in front of them on a few climbs now.
Funny thing though. Although I can get to the top first, riding that light bike down the trails is not nearly as fun. The bike is flying all over the place and you really have to concentrate on keeping your line on the way down.
It's all about the ride down guys !!!!!!!!
Later Mon.
YAMON. |
| re: Zokes Z1 FR SL for 150 pound rider ???? | Ventanarama
May 20, 2003 5:56 AM | | Hi Wayne.
You really shouldn't have any problem getting full travel and very good performance out of the Z1SL. The Marzocchi air forks can be tuned well for lighter riders. I know lots of lighter riders on Marathon air forks (uses the same air system) and a couple on the SL with no problems getting full travel.
Larry Mettler
http://www.mtnhighcyclery.com |
| Thanks larry, you just made my choice harder :-). | YaMon
May 20, 2003 6:50 AM | | I was actually hoping to hear that the Zokes could not be tuned to my weight. I guess it really now just comes down to preference and cost.
One more thing.....Any problems with the Zokes ?? Remember where I live and it may take months before I can get the shock serviced in the event of a major breakdown. With the Fox, there are no air seals to contend with. Do you concurr ??
Thanks Again. |
| Thanks larry, you just made my choice harder :-). | YaMon
May 20, 2003 6:51 AM | | I was actually hoping to hear that the Zokes could not be tuned to my weight. I guess it really now just comes down to preference and cost.
One more thing.....Any problems with the Zokes ?? Remember where I live and it may take months before I can get the shock serviced in the event of a major breakdown. With the Fox, there are no air seals to contend with. Do you concurr ??
Thanks Again. |
| I am 145 and the Z1 SL works very well | Martino
May 20, 2003 4:34 PM | | I run as low as 30-35 (positive) and the fork mantained a wonderful plushness combined with an unchanged capability of socking up everything I could through at it, increase the negative pressure a bit and the fork feels very firm under pedaling. The doppio air is very simple to use and experiment with and the fork feels solid like a rock.
Really hard to tell the difference with my 2001 coil Z1, the SL has the advantage that it is infinitely adjustable (and at low pressures!) and of course has the ECC5 ... |
| Read this first, Fox feedback | James
May 21, 2003 10:24 AM | | My experience with a 2002 Fox Float RL my help you. I'm about to receive my 4th warranty service in less than nine month for creaking left stantions. The problem is either a manufacturing issue at Fox or the fork can't handle 4 foot drops combined with the braking forces of a disk. They have been replacing the steerer, crown, stantion assembly each time and rebuilding the fork.
I ride on Vancouver Island with rocky rooty terrain up and down steep grades. I weigh a buck 60 and am 46 years old on a Kona Bear Dee-Lux. I consider my riding style as aggressive XC light FR, I'm too old and wise to do 6 foot drops. I like everything about the Float, supple, stiff and progressive except the issue I described above. Fox says it is not a manufacturing issue and I am abusing the fork, my LBS totally disagrees and has a couple more forks with the same problem. In 3 months I am going to be out of warranty and out of luck as far as Fox goes. At the moment we are in discussion about replacing the fork with a new one, hence a new 12 month warranty or with a Zokes Z1, quite frankly I'm leaning to the Zokes as i don't think a new Float will cure the problem. Hope that helps. |
| Man, that sounds howful, glad I sticked with the Z1 Marzocchi (nm) | Martino
May 21, 2003 5:58 PM | | |
| Floats are light XC forks | J.S.
May 21, 2003 7:00 PM | | The Float is a light weight XC-oriented fork... not really meant for aggressive XC or any level of FR. I'd have to advise going with Marz -- their cryofit stanction/crown assembly will be a lot beefier and withstand more abuse.
If you've gotten consistent creaking on the left side stanction, then you're probably right about the Fox crown/stanction design being unable to handle disk brakes + your riding style. Is it abusing the fork? Well, that fork isn't marketted as FR-capable, so it probably doesn't have the tolerances needed to hold up to constant 4-footers + disks. |
| Kona Spec'ed the wrong shock | James
May 22, 2003 9:11 AM | | It sure looks that way even though Kona states "Bear bikes are made for Back Country riding. They bridge the gap between lightweight Cross-Country and Freeride - a combination of XC geometry built with Kona Clump Light butted tubing." One could imply that aggressive XC- light FR is within spec of the bike therefore, the Fox Float is designed for the intended use. Maybe Kona oversold the Fox and should be specing the bike with Zokes? |
| probably right | J.S.
May 22, 2003 9:30 AM | | You're probably correct here. People's individual characteristics and riding styles vary quite a bit. This makes it somewhat difficult to balance lower weight with proper durability given the same trails and application.
Kona was probably better off spec'ing a heavery duty fork like Marzocchi in their BigBear line, since the frame exceeds the fork's toughness (otherwise, they'd both be breaking). There's no point in sticking with Fox after the warranty if you've already had 4 rebuilds in 9 months.
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