what should one do with an owned-from-new K2 Proflex?

hello. Came across this site after starting to fettle a new one owner (pre-me) Touristique, a remarkably smooth and quiet thing.

I've had my K2 Proflex 4000 from new and its been very well treated. Mostly XT, with a Carbon rear quarter and the crazy Noleen Smartfork.
Its 1999ish and on dragging it out recently, I noticed the front fork unit probably is starting to suffer; the smarkshock battery gave up a few years back. My biking mate suggested 'sell it and get something more useable' but now I'm starting to fettle the BE, I wondered if I could modify the K2 so it could be continued to be use for fast cross country, and be lighter still. Perhaps even a solid front fork, accompanied by the rear suspension spring being screwed up tight so it is quite hardtail-ish too.
Do I keep it and if so what would you do to it so it won't break down if dragged off to Wales? All the suspension is original.
or... What would I replace it with if I sell it?
I haven't got the time or inclination now for constant tinkering; or to be adapting units and fiddling to get them to work...

The fork battery is just one of the square ones and easily replaced if you wanted to. Failing that, you could just get a modern suspension fork, it will just bolt right on as your frame has a 1 1/8 steerer. The biggest challenge would be finding a good fork with v mounts as they are no longer made, but it's not impossible of course, there are plenty of used ones out there.

You could get a rigid fork, you just need to make sure it has an appropriate axle to crown measurement to avoid messing with the bikes handling.

I have seen a few of these forks modifies to take a modern rear air shock, or you could buy a risse unit which are made specifically for these forks.

I used to have the carbon version of these forks and really liked them. If you decide to part with them, keep me in mind.

Good luck with whatever you do and merry Xmas.

many thanks - that starts to give me some ideas.
On this rear shock, is it likely to fail soon too, and what would be the lightest most maintenance-reduced option for that. Preasumably the spec is determined by the mount sizes and the 'resting' length of the unit??

I wouldn't mess with the proflex too much, if you are going to change that much its maybe not the bike for you anymore? If you are wanting something light with no or not much travel, sell it. The money from this would buy a decent (and lighter) fully rigid or hardtail.

Either get the shocks serviced, there was a ohlins dealer/service place and they serviced a noleen nr2 a couple years back or get a couple coil/air shocks with the same eye to eye (190mm poss, common size). A fox vanila or rp2. A few options there

If you do decide to sell and get a modern bike I have dropped you a PM regarding one I may sell, its a carbon full sus 29er

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If you want something better, then sell it a get a carbon 29 fs or hardtail.

Sadly a 17 yr old proflex wont get a huge amount of money, £300 if you are lucky.

I have an xp8 that has been converted to disc brakez (z1 fork) and air shock conversion at rear which bring its into the 21st century but cant compete with say a scott spark.

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A modern(ish) air shock at each end is what i'd be looking at, it will bring the performance up to date and save a chunk of weight at the same time. Fox RP23 are good and reliable, see if you can get the right eye to eye and stroke length.

thanks for that. I've actually just pushed the button on sending the original front shock to Nulife, Noleen specialists, in Denver, CO. They giving me good rebate and the standard non-smart front shock, rebuilt and with an upgraded spring weight as a direct no-cost swap, is heaps less weight than the smartshock (which I assume they will be rebuilt and sell to someone who REALLY wants one... at appropriate cost!)
The rear unit, a piggyback one, he advised to swap out the spring for the longer one they used at the end of the run, but other than that he said they were pretty bulletproof and not to touch it.
Ryan at Nulife seems to really know his stuff on classic bikes and ben sensible with advice - i.e. dont spend money unless the stuff needs replacing, unless there is a sensible upgrade.

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Got to say I loved my 4000 the best rear shock I used was a 3 way manitou swinger I now ride a 29er giant and apart from disc brakes I miss the proflex apart from trying to source parts you need to check out the proflex forum I think it is called I riders proflex lots of good info on there