120mm travel fork on a 90mm carbon 29er frame

[Rick64]

Hi,  I would really appreciate your help and advice please guys.

Has anyone put a 120mm fork on a China carbon hardtail with head angle geometry designed for 90mm fork. I would ideally like to use my existing  Reba RTL.

Thanks in advanced

Richard

[bxcc]

Which frame? I have 100mm SID on my WW 062 that I plan to bump to 120mm this winter. So I have no real input at this point. 

[ebruner]

I run a 120mm recon on a cs-057.  I trash on this bike like it's a trail bike and it keeps coming back for more.

[Rick64]

I'd like to build as light as possible so looking at Carbonspeed CS-041 or 256-SL in 17" or 17' 1/2. or Workswell WCB-M-062 WCB-M-096, what and who's frame do you recommend? I'm around 65kg and 5'-10" and want it for XC and light trail riding, I have a plate and 4 screws holding my lower back together so no big drop off's or jumps these days. Will use my Mavic Crossmax ST's and Sram GX 1-11. I'd like to get a frame around 1000g.

Thanks

Richard

[carbonazza]

Hi Richard,

I did thousands of km with the 3 frames. My order of preference is:

041: stiff and extremely stable when hammering the pedals.
The 27.2 seatpost provides comfort for the higher part of the frame.
Definitely my preferred of the 3.

062: the most playful on more technical terrain.
But it flexes too much when sprinting.
It is now my backup bike.

256: It was my first Chinese bike. And it sits between the two above, stiff but easy to corner too.
Unfortunately I did fall with all my weight on it last year, and a seatstay broke in 3 pieces.
I think it was more bad luck than a construction issue. The seatstay of the 062 are as skinny as the 256.
A friend has a 256 for 2 years now, he likes it so much, he bought another one second hand here on the forum.

As you may guess it quickly gets subjective or about impressions.
One thing sure, is that whatever frame you buy of the 3, you will be happy

I'm 5'10" too, and took always Large, with my 89cm inseam a 17 would put my seat far to high.

[Rick64]

Hi Cabonazza

The alloy frame I currently run is very close to the 17" for dimensions. My inseam is 84cm so would leave another 40mm in the seat tube and I slam my stem on the head tube. In your experience how much exposed 400mm seat tube is recommended? I think there should be close to 200mm left in the tube on a 17".

Another point is what BB do you guys go for? I was thinking PF30 but my local bike shop seem to think this is foolish on a carbon china (their very anti carbon imports) Whats your preference for BB.

Thank again for the help and advice 

[Rick64]

Hi BXCC
How do you rate the WW062? Its a nice looking frame, Ive asked WW for a price on in but can't decide on BB PF30 Or BSA.... Does the weight saving of PF outweigh the convenience of BSA....The BSA looks more solid, I have both cranks at home but don't like the bearing pre load adjuster on my GX100 1x, the BSA GPX is so easy to maintain and change for the sake of 100g penalty.... Why are you wanting to change to 120mm, have you looked to see how it will change the angles on the frame.

Thanks

Rich

[bxcc]

How do you rate the WW062? Its a nice looking frame, Ive asked WW for a price on in but can't decide on BB PF30 Or BSA.... Does the weight saving of PF outweigh the convenience of BSA....The BSA looks more solid, I have both cranks at home but don't like the bearing pre load adjuster on my GX100 1x, the BSA GPX is so easy to maintain and change for the sake of 100g penalty.... Why are you wanting to change to 120mm, have you looked to see how it will change the angles on the frame.

I am really enjoying the frame and I don't have any issues at all with it. I bought mine from Sobatostore on eBay. I went with the BSA as it is just simpler to use. 5 out of 7 bikes in my house are BSA with Sram GXP cranks as I like to keep things simple. I'm not sure if one is really better than the other, it's just my preference.

I want to swap it to 120mm mainly because I want to try it. It only takes a $30 airshaft and since my fork will be apart anyway, I figured why not. Realistically, it's a single speed and the 70.5 head angle is fine for where I ride and how i ride this bike. It should just put the HA at 69.5 which is still ins't really slack.

For the price, I think this frame is tough to beat. The geometry with the shortish chain stays is super fun for a HT. I honestly like it so much more than I expected. And at $350, it isn't a huge amount if you don't completely like it. One warning though, resale on chinese carbon frames sucks. But if my math serves me right, loosing 100% of $350 is still a LOT less than losing 50% of $1900, which is about average for a name brand frame.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sobato-29er-Carbon-Fiber-Mountain-Bike-Frame-BSA-MTB-Bicycle-Carbon-Frames-17-/162091443484?hash=item25bd67251c:g:Wr0AAOSwnNBXUPTp

[Patrick C.]

I've never sold a bike, but that's a good way to look at it.  If you lose 100% resale on the Chiner frame, you're still ahead after buying another Chiner frame

[Rick64]

How do you rate the WW062? Its a nice looking frame, Ive asked WW for a price on in but can't decide on BB PF30 Or BSA.... Does the weight saving of PF outweigh the convenience of BSA....The BSA looks more solid, I have both cranks at home but don't like the bearing pre load adjuster on my GX100 1x, the BSA GPX is so easy to maintain and change for the sake of 100g penalty.... Why are you wanting to change to 120mm, have you looked to see how it will change the angles on the frame.

I am really enjoying the frame and I don't have any issues at all with it. I bought mine from Sobatostore on eBay. I went with the BSA as it is just simpler to use. 5 out of 7 bikes in my house are BSA with Sram GXP cranks as I like to keep things simple. I'm not sure if one is really better than the other, it's just my preference.

I want to swap it to 120mm mainly because I want to try it. It only takes a $30 airshaft and since my fork will be apart anyway, I figured why not. Realistically, it's a single speed and the 70.5 head angle is fine for where I ride and how i ride this bike. It should just put the HA at 69.5 which is still ins't really slack.

For the price, I think this frame is tough to beat. The geometry with the shortish chain stays is super fun for a HT. I honestly like it so much more than I expected. And at $350, it isn't a huge amount if you don't completely like it. One warning though, resale on chinese carbon frames sucks. But if my math serves me right, loosing 100% of $350 is still a LOT less than losing 50% of $1900, which is about average for a name brand frame.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sobato-29er-Carbon-Fiber-Mountain-Bike-Frame-BSA-MTB-Bicycle-Carbon-Frames-17-/162091443484?hash=item25bd67251c:g:Wr0AAOSwnNBXUPTp

Hi hope you had a good New Year

I'm waiting to hear back from Sobatostore regarding a 17" 062 with BSA to see if they have one ready to ship, did yours come with 142mm axel or did you have to purchase separately? Its roughly $350 shipped too.

It will be interesting to see how your 062 sits with the 120mm, I'm trying to find out if I can drop my Reba RLT to 90mm.

[bxcc]

What year is your Reba? If you're not sure, look at the serial number. If I recall correctly, the first two is the week of the year, then there is a letter, than the 4 place is the year it was made. So 34T5XXXXXXX would be the 34th week of 2015.

And yes, mine came with 135qr dropouts, 142x12 dropouts and the 142 axle. It should come with the headset too. The headsets are cheap but mine has been holding up great.

[Rick64]

Thanks
Its 46T5XXXXXXX, Ive got a new Ritchey WCS headset on the fork so will reuse that! hopefully.... The only other purchase will have to be a 27.2 carbon seat post as my current frame is 31.6.

[bxcc]

So the Reba is relatively new then. That makes it easy. You just need a new airshaft and they run about $30. It should be about $50 in labor including an oil and seal change from a decent shop. Nashbar has a nice house brand carbon post for under $50. I have two of them and I prefer it's clamp better than the Chiner ones.

[Rick64]

Thanks Bxcc, sorry for late reply as I'm working away at the moment... Ill look into the airshaft.

[Rick64]

062 17" BSA frame ordered direct from Workswell today. $385 for frame and WSP006 400mm seatpost and shipping to UK.