[Castle]

I'm building my VpFree back up, I have a heckler with a '05 Z.1 built as a light freeride/trail rig. The free is my dh/shuttle/lift bike for the most part... My summer is going to be spent at a resort.

Should I build it back up with a 8" 888 with flat crowns or a 66?

There is quite a difference in price (almost double).... in favor of the 66....(I think this is what is tempting me the most on the 66)

However, I can get the 8" 888 with flat crowns a little lower than a 66rc.... (more travel, and probably closer to a 66 head angle)

the closest thread I can find that relates is http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=105323&page=2&highlight=888

It's 1:45AM and I can't sleep, I've been going back and fourth with this for about a month now, so I figured since I'm bored and up, I'd post it up and see what the monkies have to say!

 

[HRDTLBRO]

Budget? If you are willing to drop the coin on a 888 with flat crowns, go for it. If not, get the 66. The will have very similar performance, only the latter having 1" less of travel, and a bit less weight. I can't wait for Snowshoe this summer...

 

[Castle]

ok, well how about if it were your bike, you got the money for the 66 now, or just wait a little longer and get the 888 so really either is a option considering I'm not in a hurry it's cold as nuts here and they are calling for the wonderfull Winter Mix of Ice and Snow..

Def. looking forward to snowshoe, I'm tryin to figure out how to leave my current shop job for the summer and still have it when I come back in late aug.

 

[chicodude]

If It were MY bike? I'd save the coin and get the 888 with flat crowns........

 

[mobius]

888 with flats already you fagbot. stop being so indecisive.


btw.

http://www.marzocchi.com/Template/detailSpaForks.asp?IDFolder=113&IDOggetto=8455

 

[SuperSlow]

888 for the stiffness

 

[Smelly]

if the 888 with flat crowns is gonna be about a 66 HA, how choppered out would the bike be with a 66? cool as it would be having a 7" single crown on there, i'd say go 888 for the lower height and more travel.

 

[Sverre]

The 66 170mm. got 595mm a2c, and the 888 200mm. with lowers got 580mm. a2c. In other words, the headangle will be steeper with the 888.

S

 

[360]

the only reason i can see for getting the 66 is that its cheap, or if you fancy yourself as abit of a barspinner.

they' nearly as heavy as the 888(7 1/4lb) they're not as strong or as stiff.

So if moneys not that big of an object then it has to be the 888.

oh why not the 170mm version instead of the 8with flats?

 

[joelsman]

888 w flat crowns stiffer stronger more travel

crashing on a single crown can rip brake lines when the bars spin.

 

[Bulldog]

ONLY because you've already got a burly 6x6 bike, I'll say 888 for the extra travel. You may enjoy the slacker angles of the stock crowns. Unless you get a deal on flat crowns at purchase I'd try the stockers first. With flat crowns your VPF might feel like a longer travel version of your Heckler. To me that defeats a lot of the purpose in having two bikes.

As for all the people blowing smoke about the 888 being stiffer and stronger than the 66, for now they are full of crap. It's not a simple 1 crown vs. 2 argument, not on these forks. The 66 crown is MUCH beefier than the 888, with MUCH more clamping area = much stronger. The steerer is THICK steel, with a VERY THICK steel plug inside of that = much stronger. Those two features help to close the gap considerably. I won't argue that the 888 may win in ultimate strength/stiffness but I have no issues trusting a 66 with my safety.

 

[Castle]

yup, you get to swap out your crowns at the time of purchase w/ a upcharge, a trade of sorts.....

 

[Broken_Spoke]

Wouldn't you be able to take the bottom crown of the 888 flat crowns and put it on a 66. Just a tought

 

[Bulldog]

Wouldn't you be able to take the bottom crown of the 888 flat crowns and put it on a 66. Just a tought

No.

1- The crown is cyofit on the 66.
2- The lower crown of an 888 is MUCH weaker all by itself than the 66 crown.
3- The 66 gets its added height because the adjuster knobs need to clear the downtube when the handlebars rotate, requiring the crown to be arched.

 

[OGRipper]

Castle it's a tough call but stop beating yourself up about it, either way you will have a pimp ride, and chances are good that whichever way you go, you will at some point think maybe you should have gone the other way.

I will soon be in a similar state, only reverse - I've already got my vp-free built up with a 888 and go-ride crowns and am putting my heckler back together.

Since you already have the heckler I think you can push the free more into the dh/lift-assisted spectrum, meaning more travel and (arguably) more strength. To me that means go for the 888 with flat crowns. My free is basically a dh bike that happens to have two chainrings and a full seatpost and it sounds like that's the direction you're heading. Not sure about your riding conditions but the extra inch of travel will make a noticeable difference in rock gardens, landing big stuff, and in the steeps. Not sure how big you are but although it's true the 66 is plenty burly, you may notice a difference in stiffness, especially since you can run an integrated stem with the 888.

Yeah the long travel single crown is cool and maybe the wave of the future but the 66 is not that much lighter, will have an inch less travel, and ride taller. Unless you're prone to doing x-ups, tailwhips, and bar spins in the middle of dh runs, my vote is for the 888.

Or get the 66 and we can trade now and then, and have the best of both.

 

[biggins]

if it were my bike i would go with the 888. bizutch has a really nice one for sale for pretty cheap.

my reasoning would be that you already have the heckler set up as the single crown fight fr bike.

anything it cant handle should have a dual crown anyway.

 

[Castle]

OG thanks for the reply! You hit it spot on, I weigh 215 right now, normal weight is around 200....

The only way to not look back is to get both lol....

right now my vpfree does have two chainrings..... considering a SRS if setting up the DRS doesn't work as I want it too

Yes I have beat myself up a little about this, my last fork was a 170mm 888 and in the steeps the bike would get a little; well, steeper than I like. I felt like the 7" 888 at the 575 axle to crown would get a little further into it's travel than I wanted... just a hair shorter than I liked, the fork was dialed and loved it but I think it was just a tad shorter than I wanted.... (firm springs, low speed compression sleeve (liked the one whole closed best), raised 7.5 wt oil to max heigth)

I'm just gonna get the 888 and then save cash for the 66 to try it.... wont know until I try it.... grrrrr
I guess that should give some time to let some regular folks pound on em see how well they hold up... I'm sure they are fine...

I should invest in some damn hockey skates, my street is a solid sheet of ice! actually a old runner sled might be the best option!

 

[Castle]

if it were my bike i would go with the 888. bizutch has a really nice one for sale for pretty cheap.

my reasoning would be that you already have the heckler set up as the single crown fight fr bike.

anything it cant handle should have a dual crown anyway.

Word!

Biggins how you doin man? I read the thread on your job loss that's some wack sh*t! Didn't sound like you were to happy there anyway....

as soon as this weather breaks a little I'm gonna come down with my buddy Scott and go ride with a couple of hicks, I'll hit you up when I come down maybe we can do a park ride or hit up pisgah

 

[OGRipper]

Yeah well that's the beauty of RM, connecting people in similar situations. Glad to help. Personally I think there are few quivers as versatile as having a heckler and a vp-free. Unless you also have a blur, like me... :love:

Couple things I forgot to mention. If you get the 888, you should definitely get the LS compression sleeve right away. Without it the 888 dives a lot under braking and other times when you shift your weight forward (e.g., in the steeps). It's a few more bucks but transforms the fork, IMO. Given your weight you probably want at least one stiffer spring too, I'm a little less than 200 and feel like I'm on the line so at 215 or so the stock springs are probably too soft. Rock on, SC posse!!

 

[Castle]

yeah I'll def. get the LS sleeve (huge difference,I agree), and firm springs and all that good stuff, I'll probably just get the works, because after you add that stuff up with the upcharge on the crowns I'm only like 45 bucks short of the works and then all the work is done for you and it's dialed ...........

thanks for the replies!

 

[biggins]

Word!

Biggins how you doin man? I read the thread on your job loss that's some wack sh*t! Didn't sound like you were to happy there anyway....

as soon as this weather breaks a little I'm gonna come down with my buddy Scott and go ride with a couple of hicks, I'll hit you up when I come down maybe we can do a park ride or hit up pisgah

oh man im hangin in there. werd we'll get together and do some riding. we should check out salem lake in winston salem as well. There are pics i nthe southeast photo thread.

you gonn atry to make it to the southeast monkey gathering or the urban sprawl comp?

 

[Castle]

I'm still shooting for the monkey gathering for sure!

 

[kidwoo]

It's january. To me the 888 is worth saving for. And it's your full blown, lift serviced DH bike. I trust a stanchion with 2 spaced braces that can work a little more leverage on the lower crown using the upper to keep it together more so than a cryofit one piece. I've had mag lowers crack on a super t before as well as gotten play in a press fit 5" travel fox fork. DC is the standard for a reason in my mind. I just wouldn't trust the SC for the type of riding I do on my dh bike.