Mootster
Member
Hello all,
I have a 2004 VaMoots SL 57.5cm stock geometry. I want to replace the Look HSC3 flexy fork with a new Enve/Edge 1.0 Fork. I am NOT sure the rake of the HSC3. What fork rake do folks like on their 57.5 VaMoots? Moots used to have fork rake recommendation on the web-site; I looked but couldn't find anything. The Enve Forks are expensive so I would like to do this once and be happy with the choice.
Thanks,
Earl
Mootster
Member
I found the Moots rake recommendation in the FAQ section see below:
SIZE OF FRAME Vamoots RSL Vamoots CR Vamoots
48cm 50MM 50MM 50MM
50cm 50MM 50MM 50MM
52cm 45MM 45MM 50MM
54cm 45MM 45MM 50MM
55cm 45MM 45MM 45MM
56cm 45MM 45MM 45MM
58cm 40MM 40MM 40MM
60cm 40MM 40MM 40MM
62cm 40MM 40MM 40MM
Has anyone tried a 43mm rake does that stablize or increase the steering of the VaMoots? Now that I see the 40mm recommended I think that's what my HSC3 fork rake is. It seems a touch sensitive to me, but it does descend very well, I can't really ride no handed for very long. Perhaps the 43mm would be a good inbetween.
Thanks again,
Earl
Mootster,
Stick with the 40mm rake. By going to the 43 it would do the opposite you think...it would make the bike handle quicker....
Stay with the 4-0.
Thanks,
Jon@Moots.
tbill
Member
Not sure when Moots will have their forks available, but if you are looking for an Enve fork, you might want to check out Enve's "dark deals"—they are selling the old stock, Edge branded forks for nearly 1/2 price. They have the 2.0 in a 40mm rake for $250. Unless you are super light, I would go with the 2.0 over the 1.0 in any case.
Satellite
Member
Mootster,
I would definitely listen to Jon, he knows his Moots.
I also have a VaMoots SL that has a 40mm raked fork. The bike handles very neutral to fast. I also have a Coupled VaMoots with a Easton EC90 which I believe has a 43mm rake, I can ride no handed no problems but the SL with the 40mm rake I have to pay attention. My SL is ‘03 and my Coupled VaMoots is ‘06. I know a few others ride 43 mm rakes on there 57.5 VaMoots.
Satellite
Mootster
Member
JonC, tbill and Satllite thanks for the feedback sorry to be a pain
I found the search function and read through some older posts. "tbill", wrote the VaMoots was built around the Reynolds Fork that is a bit longer than the Enve Fork.
Does the length change the rake of the fork?
Also one of the forum member "craig r" commented "I recently put a 43mm EDGE/ENVE 2.0 in my 57.5 Compact SL and I could not be happier."
Does the rake change between the VaMootsSL and CompactSL?
tbill, I actually bought the fork through the Enve Dark Deals thanks a bunch, but I ordered the 43mm rake. I contacted them back after JonC's information and they think they have one more left in the 40mm he is checking to see if the computer inventory is right.
If they don't have a 40mm I am wondering if I should try the 43mm?
Thanks again,
Earl
tbill
Member
Earl,
I think a lot of it is more theoretical than practical. As a technical matter, the shorter axle-to-crown height of the Enve fork will cause the headube to be a tiny bit lower, which would change the angle (steepen) ever so slightly, but the 5mm difference would only change the angle by a fraction of a degree. You could get the same result by changing the pressure in your tires, or by going to 25mm tires from 23mm tires. In my experience the 2mm difference in rake is also imperceptible—I have had Reynolds forks with 43mm and 40mm rake (as well as other forks with varying rakes) on my Moots and haven't been able to notice a difference. It's not like the bike suddenly becomes twitchy, or is less stable at speed, etc. Regardless of the fork, I have always found my Moots to be very stable and balanced, which I attribute to the fact that they have balanced geos, are super straight, and stiff in the right ways. Also, some of the differences we're talking about are also within the tolerances of the forks themselves (i.e., not every 40mm rake fork has exactly 40mm of rake). Curious if Jon agrees.
craig r
Member
Hi there, Yes I've previously posted on my experiences with different forks/rakes.
I have a late '03 build 57.5cm Compact SL(04 model).
The first fork I put in it was a Bontrager XXX lite 40mm rake. In hind sight it was just all wrong for the bike and because of the handling traits I'd come close to getting rid of the bike.
The next fork I put in it about two years ago was an Easton SLX 43mm. This fork transformed the handling. Finally I had a bike that wanted to turn corners and gave me back alot of confidence in the bike for racing and descending hills.
Then I went and test rode the new RSL. As i've also posted elsewhere the biggest difference for me between the RSL and the SL was the front end stiffness.
SO.. Instead of forking out(pardon the pun) for a new RSL I decided to try an EDGE 2.0 43mm in my SL first(because SLX's are somwhat flexy). WOW what a difference that made to the front end stiffness and handling characteristics(but with an extra 100+grams weight).
I simply could not be happier with the bike now. Sure I'd still like an RSL but not because I think its better just because its newer.
I must say that I would never go back to a 40mm rake again based on my experiences with the Bonty XXX lite(this fork was not one of moots recommend forks for the SL).
Cheers
tbill
Member
craig, my experience is similar to yours—different forks have different ride characteristics for sure. Imo, what you were feeling with the Bonty fork has less to do with its rake and more to do with how it's made. The Edge/Enve fork is much stiffer, but still very smooth (very Moots-like). I would suspect that if you tried the Enve in a 40mm rake you wouldn't be able to tell a difference.
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