What are some of the best 26" MTB forks for rim brakes?

[tombrown788]

As per title. Just curious as I shop around the marketplace. The best I've seen so far are the RockShox SID line from 1998 to 2010. Anyone know of any other specific models to look out for?

Bonus question: What are some of the best rim brakes? XTR V-Brakes and Magura are on my short list. Any others to look out for?

 

[brocklanders023]

You could still get canti mounts on the mid 2000's Pace RC39's. If you can find a decent set they are great forks.

 

[brocklanders023]

Like these.

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/pace-rc39-2007-forks-new-old-stock.429228/

 

[pebble]

Avid Ultimate or speed dial Ti?

 

[hamster]

I'd go with Avids over XTR any time. They don't have the needless complexity of the parallel push mechanism which seems to do nothing other than add weight and cause screeching. SD25 is my favourite - it's very light too.
Overall Maguras win for ease of maintenance (none needed EVER) and braking performance.

 

[was8v]

Very early XT parallel push but turn the arms around they don't squeal.

Parallel push is vital to maintain perpendicular pad contact, otherwise they "arc" in and dive under the rims as they wear.

Forks wise... old forks are all rubbish in comparison to new, dampers have come on such a long way.

I'd go with a 2007 fox float. Or the latest marzocchi you can find. Maybe you can retro fit a modern damper to a Reba?

 

[was8v]

Actually look for a Manitou R7 withe the ABS+ absolute+ damper (red knob on top).

https://www.shockcraft.co.nz/r7-100-mm-with-v-brake-bosses-red-white-manitou.html

 

[was8v]

Some references to back up my brake claims:

reverse the pad holders on the front brake to prevent squeal.
https://forum.cyclinguk.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=84065&start=0
Sheldon's v brake notes https://www.sheldonbrown.com/canti-direct.html

 

[hamster]

Parallel push is vital to maintain perpendicular pad contact, otherwise they "arc" in and dive under the rims as they wear.

And yet people have made canti brakes for almost a century without parallel push.

I agree that it's a refinement, the problem being in practice that there are 4-8 more wear points, and the linkages inevitably slacken. The diving problem is effectively designed-out by the thin pad.

If you like them, fair enough. To me they are typically Shimano: an over-complicated solution to a non-existent problem. Just like front indexing, dyna-drive pedals, Octalink...and a fair few more.

 

[ishaw]

Fork wise, I've managed to get by with Vs and modernish forks:

32mm Sids. World cup carbon CSU and internals, v lowers from team forks.

32mm fox rlc fit damper with v lowers.

In both cases I had to build them myself, but using new forks and replacement lowers with v mounts but I'd assume at some point you could buy the variants as standard, they just weren't around when I needed them.

Pace rc39 with the v implants are also lovely forks (and i also have a set of these).

You could also get 32mm reba world cup forks with v lowers. I think I still have a set of these, though I swapped out the disc only lowers for a set from a team or sl version.

I don't know much about manitou, but there's a set for sale on here with v lowers, six iirc.

I did also have a set of marzochi marathon forks with v lowers. I bought them NOS, I think they were from around 2007 ish, great forks, lots of adjustments. Long gone now.

If you want to go left field, noleen crosslink or amp f3xc or f4blt. Spares are a challenge but interesting forks and light as.