Never ride your retro with an unadjusted noleen fork.

[cnycl]

I replaced the marzocchi xc500 on my litespeed obed f/s with a noleen lte crosslink just to see how it differs from traditional forks. Before installing I gave the lte a full maintenance lubing bushings etc and left the spring on the shock loose (still compressing but on the very soft side). First full braking on the test run bike tipped over (I'm riding mtbs since 1990's and it is no more than three that I tipped over a bike) and after discovering that there is not enough compression I increased the compression on the spring which has btw correct size for my weight but jumping off the curb gave me the second tip over. Some more adjustment made it ok but that fork is totally unforgiving.

Anyway I lost my confidence and I think it will take time to get used to it. Something I never experienced this hard on other suspension forks even unadjusted. Probably because of the geometry of lte so first impressions for noleen is a little scary for the moment.

Cheers.

 

[02gf74]

You saying you went over the bars twice!!??

Well i m not familiar with the make/model but am surprise a fork can do that.

 

[fitzroybikeco]

I hear you, I had one on my bike for a while, was ok but as soon as I went down a steep drop it folded. Did it twice in the same ride. Needless to say it is no longer on the bike.

 

[spokes]

Re:

That shouldn't happen. Yes it's important to set things up properly but I've been riding and raced with crosslink forks since 1998 and never had that happen. That's not the fork, it sounds like you've got a problem. Why would it throw you over the bars? Is your wheel locking on full compression?

 

[dyna-ti]

Re: Re:

That shouldn't happen. Yes it's important to set things up properly but I've been riding and raced with crosslink forks since 1998 and never had that happen. That's not the fork, it sounds like you've got a problem. Why would it throw you over the bars? Is your wheel locking on full compression?

Might just be hes not used to the actuation :? (big words tonight )

Might i ask Spokes an opinion on properly set up canti's

 

[cnycl]

Re:

Actually in the first run the spring was very loose and the moment I braked, it folded in and this action made the front wheel lock. However even a small jump from the curb made me tip over again and this had nothing to do with the brake or the locking front wheel (I guess). It was sunset when all these things happened yesterday so I'll check the bike again under light for any wheel scrubs etc.

Aside from the tipovers I like the way the suspension works, it is almost similar to the telelever front on my bmw bike and really couples well with the rear suspension so I'm not convinced yet to ditch it but It really hurts to fly over the bars.

That shouldn't happen. Yes it's important to set things up properly but I've been riding and raced with crosslink forks since 1998 and never had that happen. That's not the fork, it sounds like you've got a problem. Why would it throw you over the bars? Is your wheel locking on full compression?

 

[jimo746]

Re:

Sounds like either the shock is broken, or you should have adjusted it properly before riding, or it may be the wrong size fork (steerer) for your frame.

Only once have I had a problem with Crosslinks, a large drop off and the shock compressed to the point that I could hear the lower linkage rub on the tyre as it bottomed out on it.
It sounds like this may be what happened to you, but much worse, it bottomed out so much that it actually stopped the front wheel.

I'd wind more preload onto the spring and try again.

Make sure the spring us rated for the riders weight.

Make sure the shock and spring are not damaged.

Make sure the fork is the correct sized one for your frame & headtube (the Crosslinks came in different steerer sizes, it needs to be correct to get the right angle for the parallel linkages to work properly.).

 

[spokes]

Re:

"Might just be hes not used to the actuation (big words tonight )

Might i ask Spokes an opinion on properly set up canti's "

??? Surely without helpful opinions this forum is pointless???

Here is another opinion

Check you've used the correct critical measurement when you fitted the fork. This is the distance between the bottom link and the top Ulm. If this is wrong it will move the fork through the wrong angles during travel.

 

[cnycl]

Re:

Critical measurement is correct I checked it. Spring is the red one which is correct for my weight and both spring and the shock is fine.
First tip over is totally related to me since I left the spring unintentionally loose. Second tip over is again related to lack of adjustment (and me not getting used to the fork) to an extent.
With the recent adjustment the fork seems to ride fine, what surprised me is an unadjusted fork may lead to a serious injury if you are not careful enough. Marzocchi XC500 did not do that it just rides poor unadjusted but safer.
I'll recheck everything to avoid a future crash on the ground again.


Thanks for all replies.

 

[jimo746]

Re: Re:

what surprised me is an unadjusted fork may lead to a serious injury if you are not careful enough.

Lesson learned

Thankfully you were not playing with a loaded gun..... :shock: