A little update..
Its been built up a few months now and has put in a good few miles. Enough for me to decide a few changes need to be made.
Geometry is fine, I like the 100mm travel so no issue there, but I do find the performance of the old SIDs to be poor compared to the frame.
So where do we go?
The main problem with SIDs is the lack of torsional rigidity so ideally i need a stiffer fork. I also want no weight penalty so other 100mm forks from that period are out.
Heres the plan.
I'm going to change the head tube. Cutting out the tube and fitting a 1 1/8" headtube will really open up my options. I'm also going to change the geometry by 2 degrees whilst I'm at it.
Forkwise i will then have two options.
I have a late NOS 1 1/8th Big One Inch fork which I have extended to 420mm A to C by the use of a custom machined dropout. I wanted disc mounts but was unsure of the thickness at the bottom of the leg so I had some custom lugged drop outs machined. The original drop out was removed and the lugs slipped over the end and brazed into place. This has increased the forks length by 10mm and also provides a good solid mount for the disc.
This fork was originally intended for my Indy Fab which I have now sold on. It just needs painting now.
Second and main option is a new suss fork. I have become a real fan of Magura forks over the last year and the 140mm Thor I use on the Cotic is brilliant now Magura have fixed it. So I'm going for a 2011 100mm Durin Race. Just a shade over 3 lbs but very stiff with great damping. It will also be colour matched to the frame.
Obviously I will need a new headset and stem. Im going for a shorter 80or 90mm Hope stem in red to replace the 100mm Ringle and another red Chris King will take care of the headset duties.
Other changes are wheels. I have red Hope hubs to build up and I'm looking at different rim options.
Its a great bike let down by an average fork. With the planned changes it should be fantastic.
Until I find time to do the changes though I'm going to continue using it at every opportunity. Heres a few pics from last weeks nightride.