Comments on: 2009 Fox Vanilla 32 RLC 15QR Fork Review

By: 2009 Santa Cruz Blur LT Bike Review - FeedTheHabit.com

2009 Santa Cruz Blur LT Bike Review - FeedTheHabit.com — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 07:13:51 +0000

[...] for a 140-160mm fork (140mm Fox Vanilla RLC 15QR as [...]

By: Jason Mitchell

Jason Mitchell — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 01:01:49 +0000

Cool… if the axle-to-crown is identical handling should be good then. I assumed it would have had a longer rake, but not so eh? Lock and load man!

By: John

John — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 23:44:13 +0000

Jason, thanks for the quick reply. I measured the Marzocchi and it seems to be exactly 510mm axle to crown (same as the Vanilla). Measured from center of skewer (wheel removed) to rear top of crown its right at 510mm. I understand that I can have a spacer installed to lower travel from 140mm to 120mm. Will this lower Axle to Crown 20mm or will it maintain the 510mm? I understand climbing may be an issue but I’m certain it’ll be vastly improved to the old Marzocchi. Your excellent article convinced me to give 15mm T/A a try. Thank you. John

By: Jason Mitchell

Jason Mitchell — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 20:43:09 +0000

John… I’m not super-familiar with the Enduro 130, but 20mm change in travel (and potentially a different axle-to-crown height regardless of the 20mm travel difference) might make things a bit wonky.

That’s a killer deal on the fork+installation, but without any travel adjustments, I think you might have a bit of steering flop on technical climbs. It may descend well, but I’d be concerned about climbing.

By: John

John — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 20:32:02 +0000

Jason, I have a ’05 Spec Enduro 130 w/Marzocchi EXR Race 120mm Fork. LBS has a used ’09 Vanilla 32 RLC 140mm 15 QR for $350 installed. Upgrade path was to bias XC but the Vanilla Fork seems too nice to pass up. I wanted a 2010 F120 FIT 15 QR but they’re pricey. I am concerned about the geometry changing on the bike. I don’t have the experience to know if I’ll have issues/problems with the Vanilla. Any insite will be appreciated. Thank you. John/Folsom CA

By: Jason Mitchell

Jason Mitchell — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:05:21 +0000

Don’t fear the 15QR… it’s stiff and solid. I can’t really tell the difference between it and a 20mm Maxle Lite. There may be a difference on paper, but I’m not feeling it on the trail.

You could PUSH the Pike… indeed.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:37:22 +0000

Thank you Jason. I just can’t get my head round a float fork with even longer travel than the previous 9mm qr that wont be flexy.

The 15mm qr cancels out the flexy nature of the 140mm 9mm qr…so you then extend the travel an additional 10mm …surely the extra 10mm puts the forks back abit/cancels out the stiffer axle and makes it more flexy like the old 140 fork (in theory?!).

A thought……buy the Pike and at its first service….PUSH them. It’ll then be on a level playing field with the Fox.

Thank you again.

By: Jason Mitchell

Jason Mitchell — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:36:09 +0000

Mark… glad I can help you out and I’m glad I can be a resource.

Regarding your dilemma between the Fox 32 FLOAT and Vanilla or the RockShox Pike 454, all three forks are superb. Granted you do weigh nearly 40 lbs more than I, but I’m confident each of those forks will work well for you.

As you can see in one of my above comments, I was chatting about the Santa Cruz Blur 4x and the need to have an adjustable fork to keep the front-end down while climbing. On paper, mind you, I can’t see how the 4X climbs worth a darn without an adjustable travel fork. Again, I’ve never ridden one, but I can’t see it being all that fun unless you can drop the front end down.

That said, I have full confidence in the RockShox Pike. I owned the 2006 PIke 454 and it was one of the smoothest forks I’ve owned. Very light, very responsive and super-plush. I dig the feel of Fox forks and am a huge advocate of their suspension, but don’t discount RockShox. Their forks are solid and the Pike is no exception. I think you’d enjoy it.

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:15:12 +0000

Hi Jason, thank you for your review which I have read and reread and reread…I can’t really find reviews for the 15qr forks online.

My dilemma- For roughly the same price I have been offered new on special the following:
2009 Fox 32 Vanilla RLC QR15
Fox 32 Float RL 150mm QR15 (OEM- open bath/none FIT)
and…
Rockshox Pike 454 coil Uturn.

I am relatively heavy (210lb) and ride some technical/rocky trails.

I also have a Blur4x – Neither the Fox’s have travel adjust but the main thing is…..when the trail heads down does the Pike get overwhelmed compared to the dampening on either the Fox’s? I’d happily live with the Pike if it doesnt feel like your hands are being shaken off compared to the Fox’s…

By: Alec

Alec — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:37:09 +0000

No worries Jason, will do. should be good to go in about a month. fingers crossed it lives up to it’s reputation.