Mountain Bike Forks

February 5 2010 by admin in accessories |No Comments

Mountain Bike Forks – Explained & Examined

Executive summary on Mountain Bike Forks by T.C Molloy

Mountain Bike Forks

Just about every mountain bike these days comes with front suspension bike forks and they are the most important mountain bike components you should look at. If the bike you are looking at does not have front suspension bike forks you are probably looking at a hybrid, a touring bike or a road bike.

Coil Sprung Forks

In general a coil fork is ideal if you have a tight budget or are after an all-round bike. They are your most reliable choice and are more easily serviced. They are easily adjusted and tuned.

The main downside is the extra weight they have due to the steel spring inside the fork. If you want to do DH racing, lots of jumping or just like to throw your bike around then this is the bike forks for you.

Air Sprung Forks

Air sprung forks are lighter than coils but are also more expensive. These are a great choice for a XC rider or someone who wants lots of adjustability on their bike forks.

Preload

Preload is the amount your springs are compressed when they are fully extended. If you turn the grooved cap at the top of the bike forks clockwise you can add preload to it. This means that the spring is being pressed down and makes your bike fork feel firmer.

Rebound

Rebound is the speed at which your fork springs back up when you push it down. It is good if your bike fork has a rebound adjuster but not essential. More advanced riders like to set their own rebound but if you are only an amateur rider you will be fine with the factory settings.

Compression

This is the opposite of rebound and is the speed on the way down. You won’t find too many bike forks that let you adjust this so don’t worry about it too much. As long as your fork is set-up for your weight you don’t need to worry about compression.

Brake Mounts

If your bike does not have disc brakes, keep in mind that you might want to upgrade to disc brakes in the future so look for disc brake mounts.

Brands

When looking at mountain bike components, and in particular bike forks, stick to the major brands like Rock Shox, Fox, Manitou and Marzocchi. They have more money for research and development and build better and more reliable forks.

Checkout my other guide on Kona Stab Supreme 2010

Mountain Bike Tires

February 5 2010 by admin in accessories |No Comments

Mountain Bike Tires – 26″ or 29″

Executive Summary about Mountain Bike Tires by P. Gitu and JJ Servant

Mountain Bike Tires

In most cases, the wheels of these bikes have about 26 inches to 29 inches. Therefore one ought to know the size of his/her bike’s tire before buying.

Mountain bike tires are generally available in different types of patterns. Examples of tire patterns available include; snow studded, fully knobby, slick street tires, rear -specific, front specific and street tires with a center ridge and an outer tread.

Mountain bike tires are available in different brands and types. For instance, there are tires designed specifically for dry or wet weather.

How to Choose a Tire for Your Mountain Bike

One of the most important components on your mountain bike is your tires. Most mountain bike riders look for light weight, strength and traction in a tire and many advanced riders even have multiple sets of tires for different riding conditions.

So what tire is right for your mountain bike and riding style?

Tire Construction:

Consider a Kevlar bead or folding tire – A Kevlar tire weighs an estimated 60-80 grams less then a conventional none folding tire.

Riders Body Size:

Consider your body size. If you are heavier you might want to consider a wider tire.

Terrain and Tread patterns:

For hard packed terrain consider a narrower and smooth tire. As an example a tire that is 1.8 to 2.0 wide. For loosely packed terrain consider a knobby tire. For muddy terrain consider a narrow tire.

Checkout my other guide on Full Suspension Mountain Bike

Kona Stab Supreme 2010

February 1 2010 by admin in Bike |No Comments

Kona Stab Supreme 2010 – World Champion

Executive summary on Kona Stab Supreme 2010 by B. Priyambodo

Arguably the most talked about bike from Kona’s line up is the Kona Stab Supreme. The Stab Supreme sets the bar as Kona’s high end downhill bike, and for 2010 it has not only lost some weight, but got some component changes, and frame refinements that make it a contender on the downhill scene for the 2010 race season.

Kona Stab Supreme 2010

Changes

Major Changes:
Reduced frame and component weight
-3 pound weight savings – 39.5 lbs final weight

Tapered 1.125″ to 1.5″ headtube
-Added strength with minimal weight penalty

New cold forged swing arm, yokes, head tube and bottom bracket
- Cold forging adds rigidity and durability.

New chainstay
-Lighter, and slimmer width wise.
-Added x brace internally for added rigidity.

Minor Changes:
New clear coat finish
-Can save up to a full pound off a frame
-Scratches are less noticeable

Component Changes:
RockShox Boxxer World Cup fork and Fox RC4 Rear Shock
32″ Gravity Light Bar

Visual Changes:
Cleaner graphics, less flashy paintjob
Still kept a good component color match going on

Checkout my other guide on Downhill Mountain Biking

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