Raising the Paragon's front end???

[FPMXer]

Well after a long hiatus off the bike, I finally found time to get back in the saddle. My neighbor and I went to the Santa Rosa Plateau yesterday and did the loop twice and some of the smaller trails branched off. The Paragon is great but I was able to ride half the loop on his Giant F/S and liked the way the front end was higher than the rear end. I had more confidence rolling through some of the tech stuff as I didn't have that over the bars feeling the Paragon gives. I'm wondering if I can raise the front end of the bike or do I have to trade in the Paragon for a Giant?

[mtnbikej]

Originally Posted by FPMXer

Well after a long hiatus off the bike, I finally found time to get back in the saddle. My neighbor and I went to the Santa Rosa Plateau yesterday and did the loop twice and some of the smaller trails branched off. The Paragon is great but I was able to ride half the loop on his Giant F/S and liked the way the front end was higher than the rear end. I had more confidence rolling through some of the tech stuff as I didn't have that over the bars feeling the Paragon gives. I'm wondering if I can raise the front end of the bike or do I have to trade in the Paragon for a Giant?

You should be able to extend the travel on the front fork. 29ers come stock at 80mm of travel. Both the Reba and the Fox can be converted to 100mm. The Fox is easier as it requires less disassembly to do. I have done it on both forks. I just recently did it on the Fox 29er on my '08 Paragon.

Another option to raise the front end up, is to install a riser bar and/or a stem with more rise.

[stinkyrider]

longer travel fork and maybe shorten the stem if it still feels comfortable.

[Burner]

mtnbikej has it right, the best way IMO is to raise the travel on the reba from 80 to 100... simple takes 10 mins to remove a spacer (your lbs can do it for a minimal charge).

Plus, the Reba is a much better feeling fork at 100, IMO.

but you can always go the spacer, stem, riser bar route.

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by Burner

mtnbikej has it right, the best way IMO is to raise the travel on the reba from 80 to 100... simple takes 10 mins to remove a spacer (your lbs can do it for a minimal charge).

Plus, the Reba is a much better feeling fork at 100, IMO.

but you can always go the spacer, stem, riser bar route.

the Reba does feel better at 100mm

However it will increase the HA and may make the steering feel slower

[FPMXer]

Thanks for all the reply's. Does the fork manual or anything on line tell me how to remove the spacer. I'm mechanically inclined and would prefer to do it myself. I will also look into the bar riser and stem change.

[mtnbikej]

Originally Posted by FPMXer

Thanks for all the reply's. Does the fork manual or anything on line tell me how to remove the spacer. I'm mechanically inclined and would prefer to do it myself. I will also look into the bar riser and stem change.

Download the service manual from Sram's website.

[dudevf1]

I have a 2005 Fisher Montare 29er that is a regular MTB frame with Genesis geometry and that is sold as a dual sport bike, i.e., a 2.75" travel fork. I started riding more on regular trails instead of commuting with it and contacted Fisher about fork upgrades to the F29. They told me that this frame should be upgraded with the 100 mm fork and not the 80 mm that I had expected. So now I am having fun on the trails with a 100mm F29. I also switched from a flat bar with some sweep to a low rise Dh bar (27" width) and moved my seat back. I have zero feeling that I might go over the bars and the front end stays down and does not wander on climbs. I also shortened the stem. My expereince with the longer travel fork on the Fisher frame has been excellent but I had to tweak other components, too for personal preference fit.

[FPMXer]

I'm going to Sychopath next week to check out my options.

[allison]

Originally Posted by FPMXer

I'm going to Sychopath next week to check out my options.

You mean Cyco-Path?

Don't forget to check out ie Bikes as well. Just off of 215 at Los Alamos (east side of freeway).

If you are looking specifically for forks I don't know how big of a selection you will find at either!

Bars and stems they will have.

[FPMXer]

I removed the spacer today and it wasn't that bad. I put in fresh oil on the one side and jst waiting for my neighbor to get home to get some air in the tubes. My bike I was told should have come with a pump but it didn't... But I will go to the shop tomorrow and buy one along with another stem at a higher degree like 17* and see if I like it along with the added lift. I tried to ride at Santa Rosa Plateau yesterday and the gates were locked. So I just put in 10 easy miles around the house trails.

[Burner]

sometimes full suspension bikes will come with a shock pump... but for your tires? who ever told you that needs to pass me the doobie!

[Steven Jackson]

I halve 9 spacers on top of my stem, my g/f likes to sit on my handulbars

[dudevf1]

When I added the aftermarket 100mm fork to my Fisher 29er HT, I replaced the Bontrager stem 105mm, 10 degrees, with a Thompson Elite 90mm 15 degrees. I also replaced the Bontrager flat bar with a Monkeylite carbon DH low rise bar. I moved the seat back and it fits great.

[FPMXer]

Originally Posted by Burner

sometimes full suspension bikes will come with a shock pump... but for your tires? who ever told you that needs to pass me the doobie!

The pump is for the front fork. But I did realize after getting it back to gether that I put the top part in backwards. But I removed it and turned it around and it's all good now. I will hit the trials around the house and test it out. I did notice that the front wheel grabs the pavement more so now.

If anyone wants to remove the spacer in thier forks but is afraid let me know it's really easy. Just buy some beer and we'll get it done.

[allison]

I've never gotten a pump with a bike. When you buy fork separately they do sometimes come with a shock pump, but not always. My Fox fork came with one, but I don't think our Reba's did.

My Bonti carbon rigid fork didn't come with a shock pump either.

[FPMXer]

I'm going to buy a pump. My I-drive I had about 5 years ago came with a pump but it was a F/S bike. No worries.

I'll buy the pump that came with your rigid!

[FPMXer]

Well I took the bike to Cycopath and they traded out the stem from a 7* to a 17*. I rode it for an hour after climbing and decending some hills behind the house and it's much better on the decent. The 10* rise in the bars made a BIG difference. ALso with the added suspension travel I like bombing down the hills now. Best thing I have done to the bike yet!