Does anyone know the exact length of Psylo SL's (set at 125mm) from axle to crown? I know everyone say they're long, but 'cos I like them so much, I fancy fitting a pair anyway, so I need to do some sums as to how much it'll screw up my head angle.
Nah, 'fraid i don't know, but I do know that fitting longer travel forks to my bike did change the handling, but i got used to it very fast, and don't find it a problem.
Kev, are you talking about steerers when you say steel or aluminium?
The main downsides with steel steerers are weight and rust. My Z1 steerer is rusting away slowly. I have taken it out and cleaned it a few times, but it still happens while i'm not looking.
Alu steerers may flex a bit more, but i guess it depends how much you actually care about that kind of thing!
Star nuts are a little bit easier to stick into alu steerers IIRC...
but on the other hand you're probably just talking about frame materials to try and keep the thread going, eh? I don't think that will find you an answer somehow!
You could try asking Paul Iddon - he has 2002 Psylo SLs on his RFR03, and bloody nice they are too.
Seeing as you're reading this Kevin, gf is coming up on Saturday afternoon for the christening on Sunday so can't manage a day's riding on Saturday I'm afraid. Some other time then, I'll try to ring you tonight anyway.
I put Psylo XCs on my small Orange P7 which is happiest at about 80mm travel and they were fine, but I ran them at about 110mm. However, I sold them and put on some 130mm Z1s and the handling is suspect - it is fine for pointing down steep stuff but they are too long which is why I'm off to try to sell the Bombers and go back to Psylos. I reckon you'll be able to live with them!
Andy, you could put the bombers down to 100, by changing the springs (including the rebound springs.)
I've just put my Z1 CRs from 100 to 130 and it sure feels weird... will be doing some DH in the next couple of weeks so will stick with it, but i might put them back after that. The steering feels a bit vague really on the flat. (sorry, journo speak, i know!)
Doing some sums isn't going to tell you how it feels to ride?
If your in that market think hard about the alternatives: I've just fitted a pair of ZI MCR's to my XC Marin ( against the advice of any bike shop i asked - and Marin i might add. They all said don't exceed 100mm it'll be way to slack. ) Bollox - i took the risk as i wanted to go faster on gnarly descents. As has been said, they immediately felt "different" - obviously. They sit much higher, feel less direct ( but hey, that's not a problem as your riding style just adapts )and would certainly be more wobbly on steep ascents. The last problem is neatly taken care of by the lock down mechanism which does so on compression, thus shortening the fork length. I don't know what you are using at present but i went from the stock fork at around 80mm to 130mm and i thought i'd made a BIG mistake at first. But point them downhill and the difference is just awesome. This fork is ultra plush and will eat direct hits to rocks the size of footballs.
The Psylos argueably look like a better piece of engineering but you aren't looking at your forks as you hammer down on the edge. Also..... read the reviews - its the Zokes that cut the mustard on the trail.
Look what happens when you ask a simple question on BM. Will some one please just measure them for me!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH And, no, I don't want Z1's cos I want all the adjusty thingies on the crown to play with.
p.s. MBR quote "U-turn adjuster is fragile" translated does this mean "we played with it endlessly to see if we could break it - and we did" lol!