I just wonder about the change of geometry.
This is a shame. Although I’ll be happy with anything in the 19-20 range.
I guess I could try the fork for $800 and see if that satisfy the needs.
@Kactusdog
You’ve got the gist of it! Indeed running an XDR free hub on a Boost DT240 hub. New endcap was sourced from Wheelbuilder.com at the time I ordered the free hub body. I honestly didn’t check if they were the same, as I wanted an extra anyways, so I could simply pop off the cassette and free hub assembly to swap on a standard XD Eagle cassette for the other MTB.
The stock Force Wide chainring is offset by 8mm, to achieve a 47.5mm chainline for gravel bikes. So by running a 3mm offset chainring, chainline measures right around 52mm, and would increase to 55mm with a zero offset ring. Both have worked just fine for me, probably largely as a result of a “not giant” cassette, and rather long chain stays. This gives the chain plenty of length to absorb the angles a bit.
Full disclosure, I’ve actually pulled the XPLR rear derailleur and levers/brakes off… I just don’t get along with the Sram levers at all… So, since I can’t wait for 12x GRX Di2, I’m doing a bit of a hacking together of Ultegra 8170 levers, M8000 calipers, and a RD-7150 rear derailleur. I’m going to try it with the XPLR 10-44, as I really like that range. Shimano has always been pretty conservative with their rear derailleurs, So I’m thinking I can get the 105 rear derailleur(rated for 36t) to handle the 44t. I have both a Flat Top Rival chain, and a Shimano 12 speed chain that I’ll try, as well as some T-Type pulley wheels that I can swap onto the 105 rear derailleur, as I’m thinking that will be the main issue with the flat top chain.
DJ is definitely compromising on one of the fits a bit, although he’s always had a weird fit, with his saddle ran slammed forward. I don’t know the exacta mount of reach I’d try to compensate for when moving to a drop bar from a flat bar, as this is a new realm, but in my estimation, I’d say 60mm shorter reach would be in the zone. You do gain some reach back by the narrower width that your hands are, but its not massive(~ 20mm of that reach in moving from 760mm contact points to 400mm contact points). So with that said, it would be tough for me to run this sized down Epic with flat bars. Seeing as I’m already running a 90mm stem, I’d need a 120 or 130mm stem. Obviously this is all relative to your preferred fits, and I definitely run long and low on my fits, including a pretty extreme 100mm stem on my Large Epic Evo.
5 Likes
Isn’t this possible with mostly every fork by adding travel spacers?
No not really. Modern forks use a replaceable length air spring that are only made in 100-200mm lengths typically.
I haven’t followed specific models in a while, but some at least used to offer travel tweaks for some models.
Part of it comes from the goal of offering a single fork chassis design that can be set to more than one travel with relatively quick internal changes rather than full shift swaps. So you really need to check specific models of interest to see what may be available.
“2016 32mm FLOAT forks can be travel adjusted by replacing the air shaft assembly.”
The only modern forks I know of that allow changes via travel spacer are, some DVO Forks, Manitou forks, and SR Suntour. Maybe it would have been shorter to say that Rockshox and Fox don’t offer this feature.
1 Like
That was my key point, that it varies with brand and model. It may well be less common but it still exists.
The only Boost-spaced short fork I’m aware of is the MRP Baxter gravel fork. 60mm travel, 50mm/2" tire clearance, 456 AtoC. It’s not the lightest at 1400g (vs 1200-1300 for the RS and Fox gravel forks).
If I had the budget and space for a dedicated monstercross, I’d probably go custom steel, built around the Fox 32 Taper Cast.
Basically this, but with geometry for a drop bar…
1 Like
That’s kind of what I was getting at… lol. I’m not sure I’d be willing to venture out beyond these two…
Unfortunately they aren’t normal boost… They’re one of the few doing the whole “road boost” thing(12x110). Although I suppose you could run a 15mm to 12mm sleeve. I did so on a non-boost wheelset years ago, and I know there are 110mm versions of these sleeves. But again, you’re really limited in tire clearance(maybe you could squeeze a 2.1" in there) and kind of negating the MTB aspect of the bike.
Ironically, Manzanita cycles is a local builder…
Most new hubs, you’d just swap the end caps (assuming it’s somebody like DTS or I9 where there are end caps available for most combos).
And I haven’t seen any of these gravel forks in person, so no idea how much extra room they might have for a 2.1-2.2”.
Though based on the other tire thread, pretty sure I’d want room for a 2.3 as they seems to be the size that gets the fastest-rolling rubber/casing/etc (vs 2.1-2.2 or 2.4). Though that’ll change over time.
1 Like
Just did a quick search and it does look like DT offers end caps for at “MTB Boost” front wheel to move it to 12x110 “Road boost”… Good thinking! That “standard” is so obscure still that I hadn’t really looked into it at all.
Regarding clearance, I have a Rudy, which they rate for a 50mm tire, same as the Baxter, and while it just barely fits a low knob 2.1" tire with a few mm’s of clearance, it doesn’t even come close to fitting a knobby 2.25", without considering any mud clearance. So they’ve got some work to do there yet.
Same for I9. They just don’t sell them that way. But, the hub shell is the same (other than width), so the road/non-boost 12mm endcaps fit the mountain/boost hub shell.
I haven’t checked any other brands, but suspect any that do a mix of similar road and mountain hubs will be the same.
Road boost is the same spacing as mountain boost (110mm wide), just with the smaller axle.
I’m surprised the MRP gravel fork has that standard - the only bikes I’ve seen in the wild with road boost as Specialized e-bikes (my wife has one).
That’s a bit of a bummer, clearance for a 2.35 shouldn’t add much/any weight.
But, this is definitely a niche segment of the market. Like, I have a “lightweight” hardtail (production 853 steel, so nowhere near as light as an Epic HT) that does everything a monstercross does, just without the noodle bar. I keep thinking about swapping it to drop-bar, but by the time I obtain levers and sort the brakes (since kits are mostly FM and my bike is PM), it’s not cheap.
If I didn’t have the hardtail, I’d be torn between an Epic HT like you built OR a custom like the Manzanita. And I’d probably go drop bar because why not, but really what I have works fine and is sub-25lbs, so it’s not costing me much performance-wise.
Also, just realized I’ve seen your Epic HT elsewhere (Paceline). Thought it looked familiar. I’m over there are just “Alistair”
looked at the current batch of gravel suspension forks, can’t get over how close they are in weight to my existing 34 Step-cast (would be even closer to the 32 SC version).
some sort of modernized lightweight
headshock type gravel fork with between 50-90mm of travel, and carbon legs etc would be sick
1 Like
£400 or $500 for the lot at the moment.
Frame will take a 40t front.
I’ve got an old sram force 1x groupset and an old set of 25mm carbon xc wheels with a broken rim that I could lace to some aero gravel rims.
I know this forum isn’t a fan of open mould imports and I’ll probably die but for some reason I can’t seem to stop myself.
3 Likes
i have the 27.5 version of that fork on the way, from the measurements shown it would be better for my planned use with 40-45mm 700c, and get the lower axle-to-crown height I want.
Will be fork #3 for optional use on the ti adventure bike I am building this winter.
fork 1 - Fox 34 SC with 100 and 120 air shafts
fork 2 - 500mm A2C Seido BPC bikepacking fork.
Booster Front Hub Spacing Kit - Center Lock – Problem Solvers for converting front CL hub from 100x12 to 110mm spacing, with 5mm width 12mm ID spacers from JJBP. been working good so far
Not sure if this is similar geo to yours, but it does have that nice 450-ish axle to crown. This is probably what i’ll pick up. Especially the for the price.
Just found this amazing item on AliExpress. Check it out! $83.20 35％ Off | 2022 RYET MTB Fork 29er Thru Axle 15x110mm Carbon Mountain Bicycle Fork 1-1/8"-1-1/2" MTB Carbon Framework mtb 29 Carbon Fork
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mtFkI6y
Cannondale does that (sort of)., Lefty Oliver.
30mm only travel, about as heavy as a fox 32 SC, hub interchangeability an issue for me…
never ridden one though