Kona hoss with Fox Vanilla 32 140mm fork?

Question

Hello, I am a Kona Hoss owner and I would like to upgrade my front suspension. The hoss is a really strong bike with a strong frame. The bike came with the Marzocchi Dirt Jam Comp 100 mm fork, and the kona guys tell me that they do not suggest me more than 100mm of travel, but I am thinking in the Fox Vanilla that has a very short axle to crown length (510 mm, and the dirt jam has 490mm). I am not an expert, but I thing that 20 mm is not too much difference, and I listened some guys who bought forks with 130 and 140 mm of travel for their kona hoss and they are really happy now. What do you thing about it?. I only want a more versatile bike, and aggressive XC bike. THANKS!!!

Answer 1

Previous models of the Vanilla could be lowered by using shims, from 130 to 100mm travel, I don't know if current Vanillas be lowered that way.  Worth looking for.

There are also some very good options for dirt jump at 100mm travel.

Answer 2

Mirage is right....stick close to the specs that the frame was designed for.   It's made for a 100mm fork.  You can go slightly longer, but 130mm (5") is the max.  If you don't do any jumps or rough riding (and by that, I mean that if you only ride really easy, smooth trails), you could put a longer fork on the bike, but it's going to handle like *c**p* and you'll probably hate the changes.  Going 1" longer than spec is still safe for the integrity of the head tube welds and won't change the geometry drastically.  You'll notice a little slower steering, but you may like that change.   Really, though....stick close to 100mm.

Kona does make good frames and most of them are really tough and well-designed.  The Hoss isn't anything special, though.  Even though it's a Kona bike, it's still a cross country frame, so don't start believing that it's intended to take the abuse that a rider would typically give a bike equipped with longer travel forks.  That's a recipe for disaster....hopefully not injury.  

Enjoy the bike and the new fork if you find one you like!  Ride the h**l out of it!   :o)

Answer 3

The new fork travel is WAY too much. Adding 40mm of height will set the head tube angle back and put real stresses on the frame, not to mention throwing your weight to the back and making the bike harder to handle.

The last thing you want to do is make an XC bike hard to handle!

Your axle to crown measurement is also skewed but it isn't your fault. The companies measure from/to different parts. Even if it were correct, the fork when bottomed out would reduce the bottom bracket clearance by almost an inch (1"=25.4mm)- another thing we don't need when riding aggressively.

So, bottom line is if you decide to go for it don't get angry at Kona when the head tube separates from the frame. It will have been your fault.