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Custom 888 dilema

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RVD604

Chimp
Nov 14, 2012
6
0
Hey guys,

My first post here. I have been lurking for quite some time since this is a good site with lots of great discussion.

Im fishing for support regarding my new fork dilema. I've been running a Marz 66 and am upgrading to a 888 for my demo 7 frame. Going low stack with the headset so i think it will run sweet geometry wise. Im not a racer but do ride whistler and freeride stuff on the north shore.

I just recently picked up a brand new custom built 888 for a good deal from the marz guys in Vancouver. It has the 2011 lowers with fitted and slotted bushings, but the original WC non tapered/milled stanchions and original RC3 cartridge. Assembled by the marz tech out of old stock.

Is this a sweet fork i will be happy with or am i torchering myself with the pictures of the 2013's?

I am a bigger guy at 220 without gear. It has a 6.5 Ti spring so i might be good. (old gen)

I want to mount this thing only when im sure im going to keep it.

Is there anything good that can be said about the non tapered stanchions? and the original RC3 cartridge?

Or do i pony up and get the 2013 for the extra investment, which i am hesitant to make.

Thanks
 
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miuan

miuan

Monkey
Jan 12, 2007
395
0
Bratislava, Slovakia
Welcome!
I've ridden the 2008 WC ATA back then, the boxxer team afterwards, and now the 2012 Evo Ti.
The EVO is hands down the best fork of them all. The 6.5 spring is spot on for my 175lbs. LSC adjuster works very well.
The RC3 was let down by somewhat sticky ATA cartridge, and the damping was hard to adjust, unlike the new Evo.
The Team was reasonably compliant yet overly complicated with little effect of the adjusters, and somewhat noodly.
I say if you are that heavy go for the 888 for the sole reason of sturdy chassis. No need to buy the expensive Ti, especially since the spring will be too soft for you - you will need the harder one for sure!
 
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gemini2k

gemini2k

Turbo Monkey
Jul 31, 2005
3,526
117
San Francisco
The 888 rc3 is a solid fork. Not mindblowing-ly amazing, but pretty good. Get a stiffer spring (the 7.7) and throw some thicker oil in there. I liked 15 wt maxima. That will cure some of the dive/lack of lsc problems. I have a bastardized 888 evo sitting in my garage like that. I think it has 2010 or 2011 lowers on it too with the old nickel stanchions. Good stuff. It is now my backup fork.
 
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RVD604

Chimp
Nov 14, 2012
6
0
Thanks guys!

Is it true that the older non tapered/milled 38mm stanchions would be a bit stronger?

Is the only difference between the RC3 and EVO cartridge the interal adjustability? Performance is the same?
 
gemini2k

gemini2k

Turbo Monkey
Jul 31, 2005
3,526
117
San Francisco
RVD604 said:
Thanks guys!

Is it true that the older non tapered/milled 38mm stanchions would be a bit stronger?

Is the only difference between the RC3 and EVO cartridge the interal adjustability? Performance is the same?
Click to expand...
Allegedly the older ones are stronger. But I think realistically the newer ones are just fine. I have the tapered ones on my current fork and don't think twice about it.

I believe the RC3's have a spring backed shim and the RC3 Evo's and beyond have a full adjustable shim stack.
 
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RVD604

Chimp
Nov 14, 2012
6
0
I just got back from the first ride on Mount Seymour. (night ride with lights) Fork felt pretty good and my bike handles nice with a dual crown.

I had trouble finding the rebound setting i liked. And ran compression full open. I was able to use 7 of the 8 inches but didnt do any big drops because it was dark after all.

Can i expect this thing to break in? It wasnt quite as plush as i expected. Still good on the big stuff but kind-of spikey. This is normal?

I also couldnt feel a difference between full open compression and full closed. That was weird.

Aside from that it felt like it could charge through the big stuff.

A great first run aside from getting a little lost and ending up on the golf course at the bottom hahaha.

Cheers
 
Lelandjt

Lelandjt

Turbo Monkey
Apr 4, 2008
2,512
826
Breckenridge, CO/Lahaina,HI
There should br an obvious difference in the compression adjustment range. If it feels too progressive (not getting full travel) let a little oil out of the damper leg from below the RC3 o-ring or just remove the o-ring for a big change.
 
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RVD604

Chimp
Nov 14, 2012
6
0
Thanks guys. I took the fork for another rip. Backed off the volume adjust and now its feeling good. I bottomed a couple of times due to rider error, and every time i did i added one click volume adjust towards further progression. Feels really good overall and inspires confidence. Now i just need to balance the front to the back. I think my RC4 is too linear right now.

Cheers!
 
gemini2k

gemini2k

Turbo Monkey
Jul 31, 2005
3,526
117
San Francisco
If you're bottoming a lot I would play around with the compression adjust. It does add some harshness but DEFINITELY makes a big difference for big hits and fast compressions.
 
Manifesto

Manifesto

Monkey
Aug 16, 2009
190
5
your moms basement
RVD604 said:
Thanks guys!

Is it true that the older non tapered/milled 38mm stanchions would be a bit stronger?

Is the only difference between the RC3 and EVO cartridge the interal adjustability? Performance is the same?
Click to expand...
I had the newer 2011 model and dented the stantion right in the milled part. If the guys at mz north van say its going to be good, it will be. Naz is a wizard.
 
R

RVD604

Chimp
Nov 14, 2012
6
0
There is a performance difference between the RC3 and the RC3 evo? I thought it was merely options to customize damping.....

And, now i keep hearing about how great the CR cartridge is, but is that not and RC3 cartridge inverted?
 
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tabletop84

Monkey
Nov 12, 2011
891
15
Everybody who's raving about the CR-cartridge being great haven't ridden one. It has a theoretical advantage but I never met anyone who actually rides it. That's probably because it wasn't in the oem-market and often the evo wasn't much more expensive. I wonder where the hype comes from.
 
jackalope

jackalope

Mental acuity - 1%
Jan 9, 2004
7,605
5,914
in a single wide, cooking meth...
tabletop84 said:
Everybody who's raving about the CR-cartridge being great haven't ridden one. It has a theoretical advantage but I never met anyone who actually rides it. That's probably because it wasn't in the oem-market and often the evo wasn't much more expensive. I wonder where the hype comes from.
Click to expand...
I've been riding a 55 CR (albeit, not a 888) for about 6 months now and it's worked quite well. Adjustments make noticeable changes, decent weight, goes up & down like a front bump stick should. I do wish it had hi and lo speed compression damping, but its the "entry" level model for the 55 and 888, so no surprise it just has compression/rebound/preload.

I wouldn't say it's better than a top line 36 by any means, but it costs about half as much. Like you, I haven't heard from anybody with a 888 CR, but if its like the 55, they should be satisfied.
 
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