F29 vs Reba Race 29

[Zippo]

I'm torn between the two. It seems each has it's pros and cons. I love Fox Shox, and tempted to go with the F29 (even though it's nearly half a pound heavier) but the remote Pop Loc lockout on the Reba is really enticing and a strong selling point, and I hear that people love the Reba if not just for the Pop Loc feature. I've scoured MTBR and other ride reviews on both shocks and still can't decide. BTW I'm building up another SS 29er and the plan is to have one that's light and rigid, and one a bit beefier with front suspension.

EDIT: According to listed specs on sram's and fox's sites the weights are nearly identical. The 26" Reba is a half pound lighter.

Reba Race 29 1783 grams = 3.93lbs
Fox F29 1760 grams = 3.88lbs

[BrewMaster]

I love my Reba Race 29 and the Pop Loc has a lot to do with that. I've ridden the Fox F29 80 and enjoyed it a lot too. You can't really go wrong with either one.

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by Zippo

I'm torn between the two. It seems each has it's pros and cons. I love Fox Shox, and tempted to go with the F29 (even though it's nearly half a pound heavier) but the remote Pop Loc lockout on the Reba is really enticing and a strong selling point, and I hear that people love the Reba if not just for the Pop Loc feature. I've scoured MTBR and other ride reviews on both shocks and still can't decide. BTW I'm building up another SS 29er and the plan is to have one that's light and rigid, and one a bit beefier with front suspension.

Just picked up a Fox yesderday and plan on doing a review in the next few weeks.

One thing I can say is that I have been riding Reba's for 4 years and they have been great.

Why change to the Fox you may ask. I am also a Fox fan and a compulsive bike builder. Not like that degenerate Fo$hizzle but.......I have issues

[Zippo]

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like I can't go wrong either way, and perhaps I'll let the Pop Loc sway me towards the Reba... Any issues with the Reba remote clearing the frame?

[ghixon]

I ride the F29 80mm on the GF SS Rig and love it. The Rig that I tested had the Reba and it felt great as well. The custom offset on the GF F29 makes the Fox a bit more responsive over the Reba, but is only available on the 2008 Gary Fishers exclusively.

Think about how much you lock out your current fork while you're riding now. Personally, I don't lock out the Float on my FS at all so it wasn't an issue to me. I also never lock out the F29 either - I usually run 70 psi in the F29 and I don't notice too much bobbing under load.

[foofighter]

Depends on the frame but my zion has an additional 9mm spacing to clear the frame

[tbowren]

I could see the pop loc giving the edge toward the Reba, however when locked out, the Fox feels much more LOCKED.

Less important would be the geometry of the bike. Keep in mind that for a given travel, the Fox will be slightly lower and quicker turning because of the increased offset. These are small things which you can deal with either way, but depending on the frame one might suit you better than the other.

Have you decided on a frame?

[station]

also isn't the fox like $700 and the reba $350?

[1x1clyde]

I have them both and have never used them so I don't think I can help you out..just remember Black matches everything and no White after labor day

[Zippo]

Originally Posted by tbowren

I could see the pop loc giving the edge toward the Reba, however when locked out, the Fox feels much more LOCKED.

Less important would be the geometry of the bike. Keep in mind that for a given travel, the Fox will be slightly lower and quicker turning because of the increased offset. These are small things which you can deal with either way, but depending on the frame one might suit you better than the other.

Have you decided on a frame?

Hmmm...the Reba is still a bit spongy when "locked"?

Frame? For sure! Another 20" Ventana El Comandante. I'm going to give Sherwood a call in a bit.

[dstepper]

I have been on the 29 Reba since July. I can't say I love the fork but it gets the job done. I would like to replace it but nothing seems to be that much better to be worth the extra expence...still waiting for the 29 Pike.

Dean

[Bert]

Have you looked at or considered the WB? I have one on my hard tail and I am very pleased with its performance. Does not require the rider to manually lock out the fork and it is still pretty plush. I personally think it is the best of both worlds and would be fantastic on a singlespeed.

bert

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by ghixon

I ride the F29 80mm on the GF SS Rig and love it. The Rig that I tested had the Reba and it felt great as well. The custom offset on the GF F29 makes the Fox a bit more responsive over the Reba, but is only available on the 2008 Gary Fishers exclusively.

Think about how much you lock out your current fork while you're riding now. Personally, I don't lock out the Float on my FS at all so it wasn't an issue to me. I also never lock out the F29 either - I usually run 70 psi in the F29 and I don't notice too much bobbing under load.

I use the pop lock alot on the SS and not so much on the FS rig. The Fox is going on the FS rig

[FoShizzle]

Originally Posted by Zippo

Frame? For sure! Another 20" Ventana El Comandante. I'm going to give Sherwood a call in a bit.

good call on the frame

[Zippo]

Originally Posted by DeeZee

I use the pop lock alot on the SS and not so much on the FS rig. The Fox is going on the FS rig

there's a Reba Race 29 on ebay for $339 right now, ending in 8 hours. watching...

[dudevf1]

Originally Posted by Zippo

I'm torn between the two. It seems each has it's pros and cons. I love Fox Shox, and tempted to go with the F29 (even though it's nearly half a pound heavier) but the remote Pop Loc lockout on the Reba is really enticing and a strong selling point, and I hear that people love the Reba if not just for the Pop Loc feature. I've scoured MTBR and other ride reviews on both shocks and still can't decide. BTW I'm building up another SS 29er and the plan is to have one that's light and rigid, and one a bit beefier with front suspension.

I have never ridden the Reba so I have no opinion. I got a great deal on an F-29 in December and have been very happy with it. It seems no different than the other Fox forks that I have ridden on 26" bikes. I have never used poploc but reaching down to use the lockout on the F-29 seems pretty easy to me. But it wouldn't matter to me if it came without a lock out.

Although I love my F29, unless there is something seriously inferior with Reba performance, it would be hard to justify the nearly double the cost of the F-29 for the aftermarkets, especially for the budget concerned.

[papisimo11]

I thought I'd never say this but since SRAM has taken over Rock Shox, they have improved exponentially.
I have 3 Reba 29er forks and they have worked flawlessly. If you adjust the blow off valve correctly, it will feel completely "locked" out.
I've 2 Fox forks, a F100X and an RLT100. Both worked ok, but the seals became leaky. The Fox forks are high maintainence, period.
Changing the oil and servicing a RS is much easier than Fox.
Go with RS.
paz afuera

[Jordansrealm]

I have heard of a good number of Reba's leaking and zero problems from Fox's. I have a Fox F29 80 that was converted to a 100 and love it. Plush....

[Zippo]

Originally Posted by papisimo11

I thought I'd never say this but since SRAM has taken over Rock Shox, they have improved exponentially.
I have 3 Reba 29er forks and they have worked flawlessly. If you adjust the blow off valve correctly, it will feel completely "locked" out.
I've 2 Fox forks, a F100X and an RLT100. Both worked ok, but the seals became leaky. The Fox forks are high maintainence, period.
Changing the oil and servicing a RS is much easier than Fox.
Go with RS.
paz afuera

thanks for the feedback. big thumbs up!

[Chewyeti]

Originally Posted by foofighter

Depends on the frame but my zion has an additional 9mm spacing to clear the frame

really? The compression / pop loc hits the frame on my zion 737 (L size)

Rockin the casbah has a zion 737 with a reba, AND a cane creek + 5 headset and it still touches....