Fork Advice

Murph100

OK I've just got to the 2K KM mark on my Viner Magister ( probably a only months cycling for some of you I know ), and I'm really happy with it except for two things :

One

From day 1 to the present, its impossible to ride hands free, like suicidal, twitchy aint in it. I could virtually do the the Healy Pass handsfree on my old MBK, also thinking it must be me, I tried a mates Cervelo RS and steady as a rock, rain gear changes no problem etc.

Two

When braking on poor surfaces, I can see the forks flexing, throw in some steep downhill and it starts to judder and next thing ... speed wobble, which I can get under control, knees clenched against the top tube, arse off the saddle etc BUT I dont want to have to do a Frank Spencer impersonation down every steep hill with a crap surface, especially since I live in Kerry !!!

Yes I checked the headset, and its fine, no movement, smooth action etc.

So I was thinking a new fork might solve this, as the one I have is a fairly cheap oem one ( Deda Reb 07 I think ). Possibly decreasing the rake a bit might sort it out.

I'm a bit hesitant to go messing with the geometry but if a simple fork change did the trick, it would be ace ( and cheaper than a new frameset )

Anyone done this, or have any advice ?


Cheers

Lumen

Got a geometry chart? Can't find one using Google. Not much mention of Magister at all.

Cevelo RS not a great comparison, since it's supposed to have more relaxed geometry.

Twitchyness acceptable, but crazy braking not. Assuming you got it from Epic, have you asked them?

That fork is only £80, but not very light so doesn't look underspecced.

Murph100

The Magister was a ltd edition 2008 Magnifica, different paintjob and a few other bits, but still the same Nero Corsa frame, Viners own rear triangle and as far as I can tell a Deda Reb 7 fork.


Here is the Magnificas Geometry chart:

https://us.v-cdn.net/6034073/uploads/attachments/171345/86439.jpg

Lumen

Gets a decent review here, and check out the comments from vinerbikesuk!

I'd speak to the dealer (Epic?) and Viner UK directly and see what they say. I've had dealings with Epic and they were great.

Either the bike is set up badly or you need to work on your mad skillz

Murph100

That review was of the new Magnifica ( Where did they think of the feckin' names ??? ). The previous model was the Nero Corsa derivative like mine, except with a Deda Black Drive fork.

https://us.v-cdn.net/6034073/uploads/attachments/171345/86441.jpg


This is a Magister with the REB Fork :

https://us.v-cdn.net/6034073/uploads/attachments/171345/86441.jpg


Yeah the guys at Epic are Ace, but the one drawback is that they are not down the road so I could drop it in to them, no regrets in the slightest though, great bike, great price, great guys !!

I did at first think it was me crap skillz but after 2K km of hammering around on all sorts of crap roads, I would have hoped to have developed something !

Just was looking for a quick fix or maybe something obvious .... apart from no skillz :pac:

BTW Lumen The Mich Pro 3 Grips are MEGA, stick like sh!t to a blanket in the wet, rolling resistance not quite as good as the regular Pro 3s.

Lumen

Murph100 wrote: »

Just was looking for a quick fix or maybe something obvious .... apart from no skillz :pac:

OK then, maybe your forks are on backwards. :pac:

Good to hear about the tyres, I'll have to pick up another one and have a play.

Murph100

Lumen wrote: »

OK then, maybe your forks are on backwards. :pac:

Good to hear about the tyres, I'll have to pick up another one and have a play.

Or get one of these in the meantime

http://performancedownhill.com/dimensionunicycle24street36halum6cranksred.aspx


..........hmmmm reverse forks............

Lumen

Murph100 wrote: »

Or get one of these in the meantime

http://performancedownhill.com/dimensionunicycle24street36halum6cranksred.aspx

LOL. I chucked my unicycle last year as it hadn't seen any action in a while. Not very practical for long rides, and despite managing a few multi-km rides on it, I still don't have the skillz to do no-hands on my Cayo.

Murph100

That must put us in the same league as Pantani so then.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnRH5Sic_Rk

Lumen wrote: »

I still don't have the skillz to do no-hands on my Cayo.

Lumen

Murph100 wrote: »

That must put us in the same league as Pantani so then.

at Stephen Roche's commentary on that one.

victorcarrera

Murph100 wrote: »

One
its impossible to ride hands free, like suicidal, twitchy aint in it.
Anyone done this, or have any advice ?
Cheers

As you are experienced at hands free try this to see if there is any improvement.
1.Adjust saddle to the rear extremity setting.
Now try handsfree with majority of your weight on the rear of the saddle and least weight on the pedals.
If this works you may be too big for the frame.
It may also be the saddle position. You should be able to grip the front of the saddle between your thighs.

2. Instability can sometimes be caused by a short stem so:
With hands on the drops the front hub should be hidden behind the handlebar.

3. If the stem angle causes handlebar to be too high relative to the top of the steering tube this may cause handsfree instability, so try flipping the stem and or lowering the shifters and the handlebars.

victorcarrera

Murph100 wrote: »

One
its impossible to ride hands free, like suicidal, twitchy aint in it.
Anyone done this, or have any advice ?
Cheers

As you are experienced at hands free try this to see if there is any improvement.
1.Adjust saddle to the rear extremity setting.
Now try handsfree with majority of your weight on the rear of the saddle and least weight on the pedals.
If this works you may be too big for the frame.
It may also be the saddle position. You should be able to grip the front of the saddle between your thighs.

2. Instability can sometimes be caused by a short stem so:
With hands on the drops the front hub should be hidden behind the handlebar.

3. If the stem angle causes handlebar to be too high relative to the top of the steering tube this may cause handsfree instability, so try flipping the stem and or lowering the shifters and the handlebars.

Murph100

Yes Victor, I spent many years of my wasted youth wondering why bikes needed handlebars at all, sure they only added to the weight. As I said, its not a problem on other bikes, just this twitchy one.

Again also had all sorts of saddle positions, bar heights/angles and stem lengths whilst dialing in final position, and the same 'problem' existed throughout.

To be honest i couldn't give a crap about the no hands bit, its the ' juddering flexing forks downhill braking on poor surfaces' bit that I'm trying to solve, I was thinking though both issues might be related.