Luke Rainbird Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Evening all After being messed about by a few different sellers, I'm still in need of some new vee brake forks. Ideally I'm after some Urbans, but it doesn't seem anyone has any second hand and I can't really afford to go new so I'm looking for something a bit cheaper. Trials-Uk have Neon forks available for £50, which is just about in my price range, however I've not heard much about them Chatting to Dan on MSN earlier, he tells me that a few sets have been sold, and nobody has had to contact him about them braking, however the dropout looks a little delicate to me From what I can see, the forks are lightweight and cheap, however the dropout issue I mentioned puts me off slightly and they're only available in gay or gash colour options (not that a spray won't sort that out though) Has anybody got any experience with these forks? (I'm specifically looking at the 26" only) Any help/reviews would be awesome, and I'm open to other suggestions too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mat Smith! Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 try asking that chris (zhi) to get you some, take 2-3 weeks or something if you can wait that long, but gets at like half the price, just an option. never even heard of neon forks or seen them, but pretty sure theyll just be as good, have you tryed asking rich pearson about vee urbans? he had some abit ago.. Matx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted June 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Thanks for the quick response I love you I've already been off the bike since before the DJ ride (over a month now) so want to get things sorted asap really. If I go new I'd also rather buy from the UK, for both warranty reasons and to support the guys that are supporting us I don't think Rich has the forks any more, and seem to remember them having a steerer a fair bit shorter than I could do with (he was running them on the Pure with a low front end, I'm running an '04 frame plus spacers etc) Neon forks are here: Dropout (not totally convinced by the welding from this either): Pictures (obviously) ripped from T-UK, hope you don't mind Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mat Smith! Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 ahh reet, they do look seriously weak, way too skinny at the drop outs, the colour is gash and as you said the welding doesnt seem too good, have you thought about getting some magura forks and running adaptors? thats what im starting to do once i get some adaptors sorted out. what forks did you run before? Matx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sponge Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Luke, i bet you've heard the expression: "I can't afford to buy cheap" For those that need explaining , it basically means that buying budget cheap components= more expensive in the long run since you keep breaking them sooner etc.. etc.. That being said, a set of more well-known Echo Urban or Pure/Control forks would be better. Since they are pretty damn light these days anyway. Also on paper they are much much better than Neons?... Echos have: 9mm CNC disc mount (not that you need it but anyways), super thick alu steerer, pressed and welded join.. rather than crappy bonded steerers. A set of Echo Pures/Controls cost 70/75 pounds... with a decent warranty and pretty good reputation behind it (yes... I know some people have snapped the backward magura mount versions... but that speaks for itself really?... but you're going for the V version so you're not risking it as much). Plus, they come in either black or silver... which saves you stripping away the gash gold or blue of Neon (which would void Neon's warranty if you changed the colour remember!) All in all, it'd better to get some simple Echos of some sort. Since the time and money you'd spend on getting the Neon forks stripped and painted will end up being more than the Echo forks cost. I hope that made sense? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spode@thinkbikes Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 The quality on those don't look much worse than the Urbans - ever seen the welding/build quality up close? They do the job, and I like the way they feel, so I ride them - but I'm not all that convinced on their strength! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted June 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Sponge: Yep, I know exactly what you mean. £50 is still £50 I don't have at the moment, hence trying to find something cheap at the mo. I would love to just grab a set of Urbans but at £80 that's around double what I can really afford. Maybe I'll have to beg borrow and steal and see what I can swing I have the paint etc here that I'd need if I were to get the Neons, so that's not really an issue The Neons have a 6 month warranty, which I assume is probably the same as the Urbans? I'm definitely keener on the look of the Echo forks, as well as the tried and tested strength over the years, and the steerer etc! The quality on those don't look much worse than the Urbans - ever seen the welding/build quality up close? They do the job, and I like the way they feel, so I ride them - but I'm not all that convinced on their strength! I was going on the way things look in the picture. If you're running them but not sold on strength that may swing it a little, are they particularly flexy or anything to ride? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spode@thinkbikes Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Sponge: Yep, I know exactly what you mean. £50 is still £50 I don't have at the moment, hence trying to find something cheap at the mo. I would love to just grab a set of Urbans but at £80 that's around double what I can really afford. Maybe I'll have to beg borrow and steal and see what I can swing I have the paint etc here that I'd need if I were to get the Neons, so that's not really an issue The Neons have a 6 month warranty, which I assume is probably the same as the Urbans? I'm definitely keener on the look of the Echo forks, as well as the tried and tested strength over the years, and the steerer etc! I was going on the way things look in the picture. If you're running them but not sold on strength that may swing it a little, are they particularly flexy or anything to ride? I run them on both my bikes and I've not had a problem. But Tall_Rob (my house mate) seems to either snap them or get them creaking like crazy really easily. I'm not saying what I'm saying to put you off the Urbans - I think they are good forks (if a little flexy). It was more a point of saying, perhaps the Neons aren't that bad. However, I would still steer clear of the Neon's because I've not heard great things about the brand as a whole, and Urban's are fairly tried and tested, so you know where you stand! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted June 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 That's great, really appreciate the honest comments Given the choice, I would always take the Urbans anyway, but I suppose I'm really trying to find out if the Neons would be suitable if I can't quite scrape the funds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladd Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 That's great, really appreciate the honest comments Given the choice, I would always take the Urbans anyway, but I suppose I'm really trying to find out if the Neons would be suitable if I can't quite scrape the funds echo vee urbans £50 posted off 'zhi' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted June 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 If I go new, I'd also rather buy from the UK, for both warranty reasons and to support the guys that are supporting us Joey Mahem/other Neon riders what's the weld quality etc like on your Neon frame? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liam-pantera Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 the drop out looks identicle/similar to the ones that come on monty 221 ti and pr forks and ive ran both and they were fine , in all honesty the forks look of a nice quality and the fact we havnt herd of any breaks can only be a good sign . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted June 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 the drop out looks identicle/similar to the ones that come on monty 221 ti and pr forks and ive ran both and they were fine , in all honesty the forks look of a nice quality and the fact we havnt herd of any breaks can only be a good sign . We also haven't heard of anyone running them Newer ones look much better: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted June 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Also just spotted that these have a 415mm length, probably not what I'm after really Hmm Any nice trials shop owners/manufacturers fancy donating cheap Urbans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grant_hundley Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 That being said, a set of more well-known Echo Urban or Pure/Control forks would be better. Since they are pretty damn light these days anyway. Also on paper they are much much better than Neons?... Echos have: 9mm CNC disc mount (not that you need it but anyways), super thick alu steerer, pressed and welded join.. rather than crappy bonded steerers. You forgot to mention the shitty fork legs that bend easily... A set of Echo Pures/Controls cost 70/75 pounds... with a decent warranty and pretty good reputation behind it (yes... I know some people have snapped the backward magura mount versions... but that speaks for itself really?... but you're going for the V version so you're not risking it as much). Any magura mount forks break a lot easier than vee forks The 07/08 echo forks are just aweful, the fork legs aren't made out of U6 alloy anymore (Dan ko said this...) so they are really flexy and break easy. I dont hook or tap and i broke my old urbans in less than 3 months, got another set off warranty and 3 weeks later they have bent already. Sorry i gotta do this, Luke. Told you that you should've bought my fattys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
!!()`/D Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 Was gonna buy these forks a few weeks back, but then i saw the KOT Stock forks on Tarty for £10 more,Linky Link. brilliant forks glad i spent the extra cash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will4eva7k Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 (edited) If you wanna get Neon works, get the new ones - they are Black or White. I do Neon for Australia, and the new forks definitely seem the go. The disc mounts are different, the steerer tubes are thicker (4.2mm as to 3.xmm), and dropouts dont look like crispy as the old blue/gold ones. Edit: Oh, and by the way, the new forks i measured come to: 400mm legs, 45mm sweep, and i dont know whats light or heavy to you, but they weigh 887grams. Edited July 1, 2008 by will4eva7k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted July 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 The new Neon forks definitely look a lot better (look being the key word of course) and if they're down to a more standard length then they do sound great, however as far as I'm aware nobody has them in the UK which rules them out Kot is just about affordable, though with added length and lowered rake (415mm, 40mm) might do weird things to my sexuality? Higher front end/BB, slacker head angle, similar wheelbase I assume? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonMack Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 The new Neon forks definitely look a lot better (look being the key word of course) and if they're down to a more standard length then they do sound great, however as far as I'm aware nobody has them in the UK which rules them out I'll let you know about the quality of welds when i get mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will4eva7k Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 I ordered 3 sets of Neon forks, and i must say, all the welds seem to be very good compared to the set urban and control forks my bro and i have. Didnt think about take close up pics, but they seem to be great quality. The welds on the 20" frame i have are very nicely done too, i can take some pics of those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted July 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 May I ask why you ordered 3? Anyone got experience with the KOT fork? Seems pretty sound, from what I can dig up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonMack Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 If you wanna get Neon works, get the new ones - they are Black or White. I do Neon for Australia, and the new forks definitely seem the go. That's why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted July 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 My bad, shud of payd moor attenshunz in scule Hopefully got something sorted now, but would definitely be good to hear more user reviews of the neon/kot forks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
!!()`/D Posted July 2, 2008 Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 May I ask why you ordered 3? Anyone got experience with the KOT fork? Seems pretty sound, from what I can dig up Ask in about a weeks time when i get my new frame then ill tell you because i have them at the moment but im waiting for my new base ta26, i have them in my hand at this moment i time, look like they have been qaulity built, i have the V/disc straight ones (v brake bosses can be removed) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will4eva7k Posted July 2, 2008 Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 This is only pic of the forks i have taken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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