Potential Fork Upgrade

[balexander87]

A friend of mine has offered to sell me a spare fork he ended up with for what I feel is a really good price. I'm just trying to decide if I need to upgrade. Hoping some folks here will have some advice.

Currently, I'm running a 2011 RockShox Recon Silver (solo-air) on my 2011 Rockhopper. The fork I have the opportunity to buy is a 2007 RockShox Reba Race (dual-air) off a Fisher, so it'll be the G2 geometry I suppose. Does anyone have any experience with this model of the Reba? What would be the biggest advantages over the Recon? I've only had this bike for a few months, and in that time, I've not been unhappy with the fork that's on it. Is this a case of stick with what your have if you're happy, or a case of "you don't know what your missing"?

Any and all input is greatly appreciated

[EmoHawk22]

I have a 2008 Reba Race on my bike currently. While not the same year, I believe they are internally the same fork. I am also using the G2 version on a non-G2 bike. The biggest difference that I've noticed is that it changes the geometry of the bike slightly, resulting in slower cornering but slightly better approach to obstacles (roots, rocks, etc). It's been a super easy fork to maintain - I've changed the oil and seals once, just to say I did it. Once I got the air pressure set for me, I've not had any second thoughts about it.

Like you said, it is a nicer fork, but yours isn't "bad." Your major concern should be whether or not the G2 offset will change the handling characteristics of your bike too much for your liking. I'd ask if I could try it on the bike for a ride or 2 (since it's your buddy's fork) and see what happens.

[amadkins]

You certainly don't need to upgrade. If it were my money, I'd target wheels as my first upgrade. My approach in the past has been to figure out what I'm comfortable spending on wheels, and then multiplying by 1.5. Forks don't seem to offer the same punch as wheels given the same dollar amount.

[balexander87]

Great input!! Thanks I was hoping there'd be someone with some comparable experience. I think you highlighted my primary concerns. Unfortunately, this buddy of mine lives in St. Louis... so getting it for a few quick rides won't be terribly easy :-/ Will have to see if he'd be willing to hold on to it for a few weeks until I can get a chance to get down there and try it out.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

[balexander87]

You certainly don't need to upgrade. If it were my money, I'd target wheels as my first upgrade. My approach in the past has been to figure out what I'm comfortable spending on wheels, and then multiplying by 1.5. Forks don't seem to offer the same punch as wheels given the same dollar amount.

I'm not sure I understand your formula. What do you do use the 1.5x wheel cost for? I interpret it as you'd spend 50% more for a fork than you would wheels, but I'm not sure that's right. For reference, I'd be getting the fork for substantially less than $200.

Edit: I also have no idea what I should expect to pay for a decent wheelset upgrade :-/ Here's what I have now (stock wheels):

[utabintarbo]

You certainly don't need to upgrade. If it were my money, I'd target wheels as my first upgrade. My approach in the past has been to figure out what I'm comfortable spending on wheels, and then multiplying by 1.5. Forks don't seem to offer the same punch as wheels given the same dollar amount.

I'm not sure I understand your formula. What do you do use the 1.5x wheel cost for? I interpret it as you'd spend 50% more for a fork than you would wheels, but I'm not sure that's right. For reference, I'd be getting the fork for substantially less than $200.

FWIW, if you can get a Reba for "substantially less than $200", you should do it. It is likely that you could sell your recon and recover almost all of the cost of the Reba, a MUCH nicer fork. Just make sure the steer tube is long enough.

As to that formula, I think he is saying one should expect to pay 50% more than one is comfortable with when buying wheels.

[balexander87]

Hmm, good point. You can tell I'm new to this whole scene. Didn't even consider the fact that if I got this fork, I'd then be the one with a spare one to sell.

Wheels are something that I would eventually like to upgrade, but I'm still in the learning mode in that area. Don't know what to look for, what's good, and what's not. Another topic for another time, perhaps?

[balexander87]

So, it turns out the 2007 model was pre-G2, so maybe it won't have as much of an effect on the geometry as I suspected. It's looking like I'm going to take the leap. Thanks for the input everyone.

[300hp]

your recon is solo air, which is really easy to maintain and work on/ The reba is dual air, which, while more "tunable" is a big pain to rebuild and service when compared to the solo air. For 2012, rockshox brought solo air back to the reba an revelation, fwiw. You could make a sustantial upgrade by getting a motion control cartridge for your recon so you could have platform and compression dampening. Should cost you like $50, and is a drop in upgrade

[balexander87]

So is the difficulty in rebuilding/servicing the only issue? If so, I'm not terribly concerned. I'm somewhat mechanically inclined, and relish a good challenge

[iamkickstand]

So is the difficulty in rebuilding/servicing the only issue? If so, I'm not terribly concerned. I'm somewhat mechanically inclined, and relish a good challenge

well that depends, if you are like 300hp you would prefer to spend $50 and upgrade your recon because you like to fiddle.

If you are like iamkickstand you would rather buy the reba, sell your current recon and call it a was, because you don't like to fiddle.

Neither option is a bad option, it just depends on which cat you are. If only I could get 300hp to move in and be my full time bike mechanic...

[amadkins]

As to that formula, I think he is saying one should expect to pay 50% more than one is comfortable with when buying wheels.

This.

[balexander87]

Decisions, decisions!! Who knew there were this many options!?

[mihalko1]

Additionally, if this 07 Reba you're considering hasn't had its seals and oil changed in its lifetime, or in the last 2-3 seasons, count on needing to do that ASAP. Manufacturers typically recommend an interval that comes out to every two years or so (often sooner) depending on how much ride time its seen. This kind of service will run you $80-100 at most shops, more if they opt to outsource the work to SRAM or QBP. Something to consider, in that your Recon will not "require" this service for another season or so. My $0.02 as someone who rides a Reba and has rebuilt several...you aren't making that substantial of an upgrade here, other than gaining anodized stanchions vs. polished chrome.

[balexander87]

What would it cost to rebuild it myself? I see a Reba rebuild kit for $23. I guess there's some cost for the oil.