Online Mountain Bike Shops
Will a Marzocchi 66 VF go on my bike?
Found a great deal online for a Marzocchi 66 VF fork but before i buy i want to know if it will even go on my bike? It has 150mm of travel and a 1 1/8 inch headtube 8 inches long. My bike is a 2010 Norco Katmandu. It currently has a sr suntour 100mm XCT on it and i am rater unpleased with it, Therefore I want to upgrade but i dont have a ton of cash to spend so i want to buy used. Also, is it worth trying to install the fork myself or should i just take it to a bike shop and pay? If it is. can i get step by step instruction on how to install it?
Any help would be great!
Here is the link to dee my bike:
http://www.norco.com/bikes/mountain/bc-trail/katmandu/
First think I would say is the stock bike has a quick release skewer and a newer 66 VF is a 20mm through axle so you would have to upgrade your front wheel… But if its an older one with a 9mm qr you will be fine.
If you don’t want to spend the money on the special tools to get crown race puller & installer have a shop do it (~$40 at my LBS). Your stock headset is really cheap so I highly suggest replacing it with your new fork so that will require a headset remover and headset press. Swapping a fork is not very hard. Make sure that the steer tube length on your bike is at least 8″ long. If your current fork is shorter, no problem you can either cut the new one down or add a few stem spacers (easiest thing to do). Your geometry will change a bit as you will be raising the bike about 2″. But the added suspension will be much nicer! (I went from 120 to 140 and am very happy)
The Crank Bros Iodine C headset will handle the 150 mm fork much better than the stocker and its only $50 (assuming you will be riding harder with bigger drops)
http://www.bikesonline.com/crank-brothers-iodine-c-direct-set-1-1-8-black-orange.htm
Tools needed: I listed the cheaper Sette brand stuff; good enough for the home mechanic that does one or two forks a year. Your friends will love you…
Headset remover $20
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/14607-325_SETHS5-2-Accessories-42-Tools/Sette-Torx-ST-1858M-Headset-Cup-Remover.htm
Headset Press $55
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/14606-325_SETHP5-43-Brands-215-Sette/Sette-Torx-ST-107-Bearing-Cup-Press.htm
Crown Race remover $30
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/16267-325_SETRR6-43-Brands-215-Sette-Products/Sette-Torx-ST-1859-Crown-Race-Remover.htm
Crown Race setting tool $40
Ok so to remove old fork put bike in stand or some way to hold it up, take off front wheel, remove brakes, speedo, etc. Loosen the stem bolts and take off cap bolt, there is a wedge in the headset so you need to just lightly tap the steer tube with a hammer to loosen the assembly. Be careful if your are reusing the headset to keep the bottom bearings from falling out (wrap in paper towel). Take your old fork and remove the crown race (if reusing be really careful not to bend) Install crown race on new fork put a little bike grease on the steer tube to lube the . Install fork, and reassemble headset, add stem spacers and stem (steer tube should have 1/8-1/4″ space between top of stem), tighten cap bolt just to the point where the headset is starting to bind, tighten the stem bolts and loosen the cap 1/2 – 3/4 turn. That is usually enough to ease the binding in the headset, if not loosen and repeat. Then install brakes, speedo, wheel, etc
If you are putting in a new head set while fork is out, remove old headset with headset remover; put a little grease in head tube and install new headset with installer. Then follow steps as above.
Ride buddy ride!
