My New Fox F100

[PacMan]

Just thought I'd share a couple pics of my now-finally finished Tracer. I decided to go with the Fox F100 fork. My LBS made me a great deal on it--$450, so I couldn't resist.

I know it's small potatos with all the new Turners around here, but what the heck

[tkblazer]

nice to see that there's another tracer rider here! hows the new fork ride so far

[Epic_Mtn_Biker]

very nice pix!!!!

[dukethenuke]

Nice I'm getting the same fork on my new Flux. Now if only the Bike Co. can figure out what they have in stock and what they don't I could start riding my new ride.

[PacMan]

Thanks for the kind words

It's actually my back-up bike, second fiddle to my Spec Enduro. I was running a Marzocchi MX Pro on it. A totally capable fork, but I had always wanted the F100 for it, but didn't have the $$ when I originally built it up.

I took it out for the first time today and it rides like a dream. I can notice a difference in the way the F100 rides verses the MX Pro. A lot smoother and a bit firmer. I also noticed the weight difference--as the F100 is nearly a pound lighter than the MX Pro--and I liked it a lot. I could flick the front end around easier than before while still maintaining a solid feel.

I think I will be taking it out a lot more frequently now. I would like to get a decent set of hydro brakes for it sometime, but I'm in no hurry since the mechs work well.

[CalEpic]

Thanks for the report. I'm in the process of picking a 4" fork myself. I think I'm going to go with a Reba, but I really like the light weight of the Fox.

Looks great.

[FoShizzle]

The Reba is an excellent fork. I have one on one of my bikes.

I also liked the Float 100RLT I used to have, but a little too progressive for my liking as it was very tough to set it up to get full travel without it being too mushy.

My Talas was ok but REALLY wallowed in its travel / lots of dive when cornering and/or braking put a PUSH job can fix that, but then a lot of coin when done.

Personally, given its only marginal weight penalty except for true weight weenies, I would highly recommend the Vanilla RLC. Set it up as 100mm travel and since it is relatvely cheap, you can get it PUSHed to make it the ultimate fork for a 4" trailbike.

I have also owned a terralogic fork (F80X) and LOVED it...but that was on a hardtail where I was standing a lot where the benefit really shined and not to mention, lots of coin.

just my 2 cents....

[Schecky]

Have you had any issues with the Fox seals?
I'm trying to decide between the Reba, the Talas or the '05 Marz AM SL.
I don't know that much about the Float - If I remember right, its virtues are that its lighter weight than the Talas?

[FoShizzle]

Originally Posted by Schecky

Have you had any issues with the Fox seals?

I have been fortunate to not really have any real issues with any fork seals. Sure some oil shows but probably within what I should be expecting anyway. I will also have a new Maverick fork in a few weeks to try out and I understand those have a bad history of seals but have supposedly been addressed.

Originally Posted by Schecky

I'm trying to decide between the Reba, the Talas or the '05 Marz AM SL.

I dont care what anybody says, all higher end forks work well, period. It all comes down to your priorities of course (eg, cost, riding style, travel adjust, linear spring, etc.).

I think if you want adjustable travel "on the fly" then a U-Turn version of the Reba or the Talas is the way to go. The AM SL I do believe has travel adjust but it is done with adjusting the negative air chamber to set the travel so definitely not on the fly.

I have also owned a Marzocchi AM 1 which was perhaps the most killer fork I have every owned. It was incredible. I hesitate to infer how good the AM SL is never having ridden it and with it being a dual Air but the AM 1 kicked arse. The TST option (which the AM SL has) is awesome. It actually works very well with the bladder system used. However, it may not be as sweet on this fork as it was on my AM 1.

Another thing to keep in mind is that "generally" Marzocchi forks are taller than others. So for the same travel, the Marz fork will be a bit taller than say a Fox fork which may or may not be a good thing. Along these lines, isnt the AM SL only available as a 130mm-150mm fork? If so, not really in the same class of fork (travel-wise) as the others you mention.

Originally Posted by Schecky

I don't know that much about the Float - If I remember right, its virtues are that its lighter weight than the Talas?

It is a bit lighter than the Talas but negligible as far as I am concnerned. The real difference is that (1) Talas has adjstable travel and (2) the Talas is a linear spring fork versus the Float which is a typical progressive type of air fork. The upside of the Talas being linear is that it is gonna be more plush for sure. Downside is that some folks dont like that the fork may wallow a bit too much in the travel. On the other hand, you can have the Talas sent to PUSH Industries and have it completely custom tuned for you and your riding style. Having said that, any day now PUSH industries is gonna PUSH Rockshox forks as well. While a Float too can be PUSHed it will not alleviate the fundamental progressive nature of the fork.

[PacMan]

I run a TALAS on my Enduro and have beat the crap out of it for nearly 2 years. I have not had 1 issue with it whatsoever. No leaking seals or anything else.

I anticipate I will have the same experience with the F100.

[Neccros]

Speaking of seals, if you should have any issues, I've ran these in my forks and they work great...

http://enduroforkseals.com/

[Schecky]

Originally Posted by FoShizzle

I have been fortunate to not really have any real issues with any fork seals. Sure some oil shows but probably within what I should be expecting anyway. I will also have a new Maverick fork in a few weeks to try out and I understand those have a bad history of seals but have supposedly been addressed.

Make sure you write up a review after you get the Maverick. That would be great to read about.

Originally Posted by FoShizzle

Another thing to keep in mind is that "generally" Marzocchi forks are taller than others. So for the same travel, the Marz fork will be a bit taller than say a Fox fork which may or may not be a good thing. Along these lines, isnt the AM SL only available as a 130mm-150mm fork? If so, not really in the same class of fork (travel-wise) as the others you mention.

Well, I'm generally a Marzocchi rider so the tall issue is no big deal for me.
As far as the SL, there are some versions that are 110-130.

I want to stay Marzocchi if possible but I'll be checking out the others before I decide.
Thanks for the opinions all.

[FoShizzle]

Originally Posted by Schecky

Make sure you write up a review after you get the Maverick. That would be great to read about.


Well, I'm generally a Marzocchi rider so the tall issue is no big deal for me.
As far as the SL, there are some versions that are 110-130.

I want to stay Marzocchi if possible but I'll be checking out the others before I decide.
Thanks for the opinions all.

i would honestly consider the AM1 in 110mm-130mm....it is a KILLER fork. Though a bit heavier, depending on your priorities, may be a much better fork. At a minimum, it has ETA which is the ONLY travel adjust feature that I like as it is intantaneous and drops it a lot...great for climbs/g-outs and as easily, releases. Not to mention, the AM1 is air/coil and if feel as plush as the 2003 Marz Z1 FR QR20 I had on my Bullit......and heck, the AM1 is still only 5lbs spot-on which is not even that heavy in my opinion and not to mention, you can get sweet deals on this fork now.

[ECOdork]

Been window shopping for the AM-1 and AM-SL on ebay myself.

So do I have it right?
The 2005 (bile colored) AM1 is 130 - 150mm
The AM-SL: version A = 110 - 130 mm; version B = 130 - 150mm

But the AM-SL travel is only adjustable via changing the (-) pressure whereas the AM-1 is adjustable "in the saddle"?

[CalEpic]

Originally Posted by ECOdork

Been window shopping for the AM-1 and AM-SL on ebay myself.

So do I have it right?
The 2005 (bile colored) AM1 is 130 - 150mm
The AM-SL: version A = 110 - 130 mm; version B = 130 - 150mm

But the AM-SL travel is only adjustable via changing the (-) pressure whereas the AM-1 is adjustable "in the saddle"?

There were some AM1's that were 110-130 too. The correct name for the color is ear wax. Not bile. Get with the program. Is this for your Rocky Mountain or are you joining the homer nation?

[TURNERob]

Don't get the AM SL Lance, it has no ETA like you said......there are many better air forks out there. The AM1 like Craig said was available in both a 110-130 and 130-150mm version.....although the '05 models may only be left in the 130-150mm now. The AM1 is about 5lbs.....definately too much fork imo for a Flux......perfect on my Spot though. It is a great fork, very plush and very adjustable.

Looks like Dino won't be getting a Turner so there should still be plenty to choose from Lance....although the price isn't as low as we had thought.

Oh, and I like to call the puke yellow color...."desert storm"

[FoShizzle]

Originally Posted by FXRob

Don't get the AM SL Lance, it has no ETA like you said......there are many better air forks out there. The AM1 like Craig said was available in both a 110-130 and 130-150mm version.....although the '05 models may only be left in the 130-150mm now. The AM1 is about 5lbs.....definately too much fork imo for a Flux......perfect on my Spot though. It is a great fork, very plush and very adjustable.

Looks like Dino won't be getting a Turner so there should still be plenty to choose from Lance....although the price isn't as low as we had thought.

Oh, and I like to call the puke yellow color...."desert storm"

Agree....I did not know it was for a Flux.

And technically, the lovely 2005 color was called desert storm by Marzocchi and the appropriate color is not earwax, but rather earwax-tappioca

Originally Posted by ECOdork

Been window shopping for the AM-1 and AM-SL on ebay myself.

So do I have it right?
The 2005 (bile colored) AM1 is 130 - 150mm
The AM-SL: version A = 110 - 130 mm; version B = 130 - 150mm

But the AM-SL travel is only adjustable via changing the (-) pressure whereas the AM-1 is adjustable "in the saddle"?

fyi -

AM1 travel cannot be adjusted "in the saddle". You have to get off the bike.

However, you can ignore the Marz manual which suggest you have to depressurize the air chamber to adjust travel; not true. The only reason they say that is because you cannot spin the TAS knob to reduce travel cause the force from the airchamber is too great thus, they tell you to depressurize but you dont need to.

You can lower the travel one of 2 ways, but both require you to get off the bike:

(1) kneel by the bike, pull down on the bars/stem to reduce travel and then you can spin the TAS knob easily to reduce travel cause you have reduced the travel already by pulling down on the bars/stem so no force for spring to go against; or,

(2) use lovely ETA and drop fork down into its travel....same effect as pulling fork down manually cause you can now reduce travel easily.

You loose about 4 psi when going from 130mm to 150mm so no real need to fuss with air pressure. I would just run the TST know with more compression at the 150mm setting if I wanted to adjust for the negligible air loss but rarely bothered cause I like it more plush anyway when using 150mm travel.

cheers

[ECOdork]

Thanks for the feedback!
As much as I would love to get some of 'dem fancy 5-spots, no can do right now....

But there's no harm in dreaming of putting a little more beef up front on the Rocky. I think it could handle 110mm (my Fox Float 100R sits that high anyway) that opened up to 130 for decents.

ebay has an AM1 - 110 - 130 available now....

And whatever the F it's called, the color ain't that bad.

[CalEpic]

Lance - I think that fork is way too heavy and an overkill for the RM. I would look at a Reba. 85-115 about 3.5 lbs depending on model. Plenty of close-out '05's out there too.

[ECOdork]

Interesante.....I will consider...

Originally Posted by CalEpic

Lance - I think that fork is way too heavy and an overkill for the RM. I would look at a Reba. 85-115 about 3.5 lbs depending on model. Plenty of close-out '05's out there too.