Upgrade the Blur or move on...

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05-21-2006, 08:09 AM
kchri

Upgrade the Blur or move on...

xpost from MTBR...

For awhile now I have been contemplating more fork travel on my Blur. I feel the need to break the 100mm barrier and have been tossing around the idea of trading out the 100mm for something in the 130mm range such as the Talas. I'm concerned that changing the geometry of the bike my make it less 'desireable' to ride with the larger fork, but I could be worrying over nothing. I don't want to lose the fast, agressive nature the bike has now when flying down singletrack, but I do want greater bump absorbtion and more comfort when rolling steeper lines.

Has anyone installed a fork greater than 100 on the regular blur and what were the results? Is this a dumb@ss thing to do or should I just opt for another bike with greater travel? I am not a heavy rider (165 lbs) so I don't think frame distruction is an issue, but I am not sure.

Any feedback???
05-21-2006, 09:59 AM
marshalolson

do you regularly bottom out the rear shock?

if yes, sell the blur and get something else.

if not, toss the talas on there. 30mm will only slacken the h/t angle 1/2 - 2/3 of a degree. no biggie. maybe toss a 20mm shorter stem on there to compensate and ditch a little spacer stack height.
05-21-2006, 10:20 AM
flowtron

Quote:

Originally Posted by marshalolson

if not, toss the talas on there. 30mm will only slacken the h/t angle 1/2 - 2/3 of a degree. no biggie. maybe toss a 20mm shorter stem on there to compensate and ditch a little spacer stack height.

Plus, You can dial down the TALAS to 90mm if you want for climbing, then run it at whatever you want for descending. It s agreat fork, I like the feel of it better than the FLoat forks.
05-21-2006, 12:59 PM
Particle

<SPAM> or you could go the budget option and buy my '03 Z1 and see if you like the 130mm before going for the spendy talas :D It has ETA as well so essentially you can climb it in 100mm mode (w/ 30mm of active travel).

http://tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53852
05-21-2006, 01:54 PM
Darkside

Don't listen to these computer jockies, a 130mm fork will not only make your Blur ride like crap, it will also void the warranty. The Blur is an XC race bike, sounds like you need something a bit more substantial.
05-21-2006, 01:58 PM
Darkside

Quote:

Originally Posted by marshalolson

do you regularly bottom out the rear shock?

if yes, sell the blur and get something else.

if not, toss the talas on there. 30mm will only slacken the h/t angle 1/2 - 2/3 of a degree. no biggie. maybe toss a 20mm shorter stem on there to compensate and ditch a little spacer stack height.

1" of fork travel roughly = 1 degree at the headtube.
05-21-2006, 04:53 PM
Particle

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkside

Don't listen to these computer jockies, a 130mm fork will not only make your Blur ride like crap, it will also void the warranty. The Blur is an XC race bike, sounds like you need something a bit more substantial.

Umm yes the current Blur XC is a XC-race oriented frame. The classic Blur is considered more of a trail bike, altho on the shorter travel end of things. Matching a 130mm fork w/ a 100mm rear end would make the bike slower-steering, more stable, and more fun.
05-21-2006, 05:11 PM
Darkside

Quote:

Originally Posted by Particle

Umm yes the current Blur XC is a XC-race oriented frame. The classic Blur is considered more of a trail bike, altho on the shorter travel end of things. Matching a 130mm fork w/ a 100mm rear end would make the bike slower-steering, more stable, and more fun.

The Blur Classic/XC has always been 115mm of rear travel, mr. expert.
05-21-2006, 07:41 PM
Particle

you're right, I just don't really pay that much attention to anything less than 5" ;) but seriously unless you are racing XC on it, I don't see 130mm really 'screwing up' the geometry.
05-21-2006, 07:46 PM
L8APX

I have a talas on my blur and at 125mm it pops up on steep climbs and slows down the quick side to side feel in tight turns. cool thing about the talas is you can tweek the travel to your likes. I run around 110ish now and it rocks. thats my answer, good luck.
05-22-2006, 07:25 AM
kchri

Thanks guys...

No I don't bottom out enough to worry about it, but it is happening more and more now that I think about it. More air pressure should solve this as I have room to play.

I know the geometry will be slightly changes, I was just worried whether it would have enough of an effect to make the bike less rideable. Finding out that there are others who have done this successfully is what I was looking for...

Particle, I noticed your fork on Gear Swap. Doesn't the Z1 weigh in at like 50 pounds? I would be concerned about making the bike too front heavy...
05-22-2006, 01:00 PM
Particle

Quote:

Originally Posted by kchri

Particle, I noticed your fork on Gear Swap. Doesn't the Z1 weigh in at like 50 pounds? I would be concerned about making the bike too front heavy...

Yep it is built for strength, not XC lightweight. Just depends which way you swing... ;)
05-22-2006, 02:23 PM
brettf

I ride the original Blur at 125mm travel up front and love it. It'll slacken the headtube ever so slightly and give you some more suspension to blow through. I think it technically voids your warranty to go beyond 100mm of travel (or whatever is recommended) though....
05-22-2006, 02:30 PM
freshies

i am having the exact same delima....got the orignal Blur in 03 (before they did the XC and LT versions), has 4.5" of rear travel, and I run a Fox Float 100 up-front....funny thing is, when I got this bike 3 years ago (I was coming from 8 yrs ona steel Yeti hard tail w/like an 80mm Marzochi up-front and V brakes) I wasa blown away and was convinced this was the only bike I would ever need....now, I am longing for more travel fore and aft...i am considering selling the frame and fork and getting the Intense 5.5 w/the Fox Talas, and then just recycling my current XTR Disc kit on to that....or do I just get a new 120mm front fork?
05-22-2006, 02:54 PM
powderboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by freshies

i am having the exact same delima....got the orignal Blur in 03 (before they did the XC and LT versions), has 4.5" of rear travel, and I run a Fox Float 100 up-front....funny thing is, when I got this bike 3 years ago (I was coming from 8 yrs ona steel Yeti hard tail w/like an 80mm Marzochi up-front and V brakes) I wasa blown away and was convinced this was the only bike I would ever need....now, I am longing for more travel fore and aft...i am considering selling the frame and fork and getting the Intense 5.5 w/the Fox Talas, and then just recycling my current XTR Disc kit on to that....or do I just get a new 120mm front fork?

Go all the way to the 6.6 if you're going to upgrade the Blur. The 5.5 isn't a substantial enough change from the Blur, I think.

I rode the Intense 6.6 at Interbike and didn't want to give it back... hands-down the best all-around bike I've ever swung a leg over. That's what you want man!
05-22-2006, 05:00 PM
freshies

Quote:

Originally Posted by powderboy

Go all the way to the 6.6 if you're going to upgrade the Blur. The 5.5 isn't a substantial enough change from the Blur, I think.

I rode the Intense 6.6 at Interbike and didn't want to give it back... hands-down the best all-around bike I've ever swung a leg over. That's what you want man!

you are an evil man :FIREdevil yeah, just saw this frame at the LBS and was drooling...that thing looks reeallllll nice.
05-22-2006, 08:46 PM
kchri

Thats it...I'm selling the Blur and getting a Nomad...
05-23-2006, 04:32 PM
freshies

Quote:

Originally Posted by kchri

Thats it...I'm selling the Blur and getting a Nomad...

shoot me a PM with deets of your sale, as I plan on doing the same and am not sure what to ask for a Blur Anno Frame and the Fox Float 100...3 yrs old each, both in great condition...
05-23-2006, 06:51 PM
Natedogg

Quote:

Originally Posted by freshies

you are an evil man :FIREdevil yeah, just saw this frame at the LBS and was drooling...that thing looks reeallllll nice.

Agreed! Ive never ridden one, but they sure are nice. I could use my VPFree as freeride heavy duty trail riding and build up a nice 6.6 with a light-ish spec and use it for xc/trail. Mmmmmmm.

Just happens to be one for sale over on BustedSpoke... wish I had the loot--that color is sick, too.

http://www.bustedspoke.com/Forum/vie...65b499bc8baf44

Nomad sure aint a bad choice, but that tube is azz ugly I tell you what.
05-23-2006, 09:40 PM
AKWL

TALAS?

I've got a buddy who is riding this years TALAS 36. He's complaining about excess friction in the TALAS system killing his small bump compliance.

He's experienced enough to know about break-in periods.

He spoke to the Fox guys and supposedly the TALAS system has six different seals in it holding the whole thing together. The plain vanilla forks have only two. Most of the Pros riding the TALAS _supposedly_ have had the TALAS system taken out and ride with fixed travel!?

Can anybody confirm or refute?

FWIW, I have a Manitou Minute with the infinite travel adjust lever on the handlebars bars. I like the fork, but it is a bit light for me (210 lbs) and where I end up riding (the easy sections of North Vancouver). For climbing, the travel adjust is very nice.

If you can live with the extra stiction adjustable forks supposedly have, an adjustable fork is probably the best answer. Big downhill, flick it into full travel mode, fun singletrack - 100mm mode. Big climb, no travel.