orange p7 - year and fork size help needed!

[ChrisFerg]

Hi all,

We recently picked up an old orange p7 from someone on here, which we're going to build up as a touring bike for my partner. I need to get forks for it, and while the guy we bought it from was really helpful I'm still a little confused about exactly what fork length I need (and how much it matters).

One problem I have is that I have no idea what year it is, so don't know what kind of suspension forks it was designed for. From looking at pictures online I have a feeling it's a 2001 (in which case I'm maybe in the wrong part of the forum!) but i'm not completely sure.

It was sold previously on here with pics: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=399916&p=2948995&hilit=orange+p7

and it has a frame number of MT80708238

if either of those are any help in identifying it!

Could anyone help with identifying what length of forks we would need to get for this frame? I'm relatively new to this and it's making my head spin a bit!

Thanks a lot,
Chris

 

[rwm1962]

It's a 1998 build - 1999 to market. 1st of the P7's with disc brake option. Not sure what fork size you'd need on that size but for suspension I'm running 70 - 90mm travel on P7's of similar vintage.

 

[hamster]

The earlier ones were 1" steerer but it will be 1 1/8" by 1998.

 

[ChrisFerg]

OK great, thanks a lot both!

Sounds like i'm looking for forks corrected for 80mm of travel, then, which I think is around 410-420mm. (That's basically what I was told originally, but i'd gone into a rabbit hole online and confused myself unnecessarily it seems )

Thanks again,
Chris

 

[hamster]

I agree, sounds right. One other thing - just make sure it's not forks with a tapered steerer.
Fox or Marzocchi would be my choice: Fox continued makking an 80mm fork for longer, Marzocchi becasue they are reliable, easy to service and have excellent spares support, even for old forks.