Retro Bomber Z-2s on a modern frame?

[Neil G]

Yuo could also use a high stack headset (Cane Creek) to put some extra length on the forks

 

[JohnH]

I put a 100mm on a frame designed for 3" tops
It was horrible
Very twitchy,kept on feeling like the front end was going to wash out at every turn
I've a 75mm on now and it handles so much better

Thanks for replying, Dyna-ti. That pretty much describes my situation at the moment; I've got a set of Z-2s with 80mm of travel on a Saracen Sahara frame that shipped with forks that only had about 20-25mm of travel. Now it's not as terrible as it sounds, because the axle-to-crown distance on the Marzocchis isn't 60mm more than on the factory-fitted forks -- it's more like 25mm. But nonetheless, it does "lift the nose" of the Saracen more than was originally intended.

This has all come to a head because I want to replace my front wheel with one that will take a disc rotor. My LBS can fit a Mavic Crossride no problems, but that's going to mean that I'm riding with a front wheel that's brand new & black and a rear wheel that's silver and 17 years old.

To get a matching pair of Crossrides, I've got to have a frame that will accept a disc brake -- so I was wondering what would work with my Z-2s...

I ran my Airborne with 80mm forks - I wasn't happy with the handling.

Yeah, that's what worries me a little...

what about 80mm with ahigher a-c

Looking down the thread, I think that's what Neil G is about to mention...

Here it is John with aforementioned forks, think it was a 2004, but can't remember for definite

Thanks again Huntso, that does look like a fantastic bike! It looks as though one option is to get a frame made at a time when 80mm forks were common and 120mm forks weren't...

Yuo could also use a high stack headset (Cane Creek) to put some extra length on the forks

Now there's an interesting idea! I'll go and trawl around the net to see what I can see about that...

 

[JohnH]

Yuo could also use a high stack headset (Cane Creek) to put some extra length on the forks

Now there's an interesting idea! I'll go and trawl around the net to see what I can see about that...

I think I've found it, Neil...
http://www.canecreek.com/component-head ... s-3-plus-5

 

[Neil G]

Yep, that's the one...I used one of these to put the crown lower down on a set of forks to the adjusters would clear the downtube...worked a treat.