1997 Spesh Rockhopper front sus question

[Bicycle Addict]

I have a '97 Rockhopper and a set of Rockshox XC32's and I am wondering how much around 40mm rise in front end height will hurt the feel/config of the bike, I got the fork cheap it is the 2015 model and unused, checked other retro bikes and the hike in top tube height with some is up around the 100mm mark which is crazy.

My plan is to purchase 2 headsets using a crown race on the original rigid fork and the second crown race on the Rockshox, meaning I can commute on the rigid fork with slicks then simply change the fork and put on some knobblies and head out on the weekends.

Please excuse the crappy inside pic, I will upload a better one tomorrow.

 

[Bicycle Addict]

Anyone?
I am thinking it will be fine, although not wanting to buy a second headset if not needed.
At the most I think my chain stay will end up parallel to the ground which going by bikes seen on here seems acceptable.

 

[Bicycle Addict]

Before,and after
Pic 1 is after
Pic 2 is before
Weird ?I do not know how that happened.

 

[Bicycle Addict]

I am thinking it will be fine with flat bar.
Anyone?

 

[k-rod]

try it, you'll know soon enough (looks as though it'll work fine)

 

[Bicycle Addict]

Yea, Thanks for the response when I was setting up the bike I noticed that the bottom bracket only rose about 10 mm off the ground which I think will be suitable.
I have seen some negative feedback about older bikes with 100mm travel, although this frame config has the front pretty high already.

 

[Cookielad]

With a 100mm fork, you should be ok. Also, by the time you have some 'sag' in place the difference will be reduced further.
As a frame, they're designed with a 80mm fork. I've had both on mine, an 80mm and 100mm (Same frame) and they both where ok.

 

[FSXStumpy]

My wife rides a '97 Hardrock AX, originally purchased new for her, rigid. Recently she took a real shine to MTB, so I've been upgrading it as she finds new wants...

It's now wearing 7spd STX shifters, Deore derailleurs, xtV's rear, Avid disk front....

First suspension fork that went on it was an 80mm RS J1 (5.5# of crap pogostick, but it was free!), and it handled fine with that. After a year and a half, she bent the lowers and the front axle on a badly landed jump....

Now, it wears a 100mm Magura Asgard fork with lockout, a fairly sweet working piece. Handles very nicely indeed, with about 25mm of sag and the oil levels tuned. I suspect your Rockhopper's geometry isn't too far removed from the HR's (probably slightly more aggressive), so I'd expect you'll have no trouble with a fork in this class.

I need to do up a build thread on that little yellow wonder...

J