can i use my aliminium hardtail 4 FR?
kona kula 130mm rockshox tora
You can. That Kona model is actually is designed to handle general trail riding beyond XC (it has geo characteristics of an AM bike), but I wouldn’t go sending it off anything more than 5 ft (unless the landing area is really good). Just beware your limits as a rider, as it doesn’t have the Rear Suspension to help smooth out the trail–you often have to ride very skillfully and smoother so you remain in control. Hitting bumps that you’re not prepared for, while going at a very fast speed, may throw you off balance.
I’d recommend pads and some friends to ride with. Who knows when something breaks, like the wheels. They may help and the pads give you some confidence to allow you to let loose and feel safer trying stuff you wouldn’t normally try. Plus, in the winter, they serve as extra warmth.
I ride my HT all over despite people saying I’d do better with suspension. I just prefer to be on the edge of control, since it gives me a rush and doing so on techy AM trails at moderate speed is enough to do that for me.
Note that some of your parts aren’t really built for abuse. The Toras don’t have large diameter stanchions to help keep it stiff. The forces of hitting rocks at speed will surely cause it to flex and give your bike an “unconfident” feeling (a wobble or a bounce, hard to keep it straight as it jitters/wanders as you try and maintain balance). The wheels are probably the most important part of your bike apart from the frame and suspension… the tires need to grip so you can climb, corner, and brake without slipping and the wheels need to be stiff to keep your bike from going where you point it and not wander about or fold (“taco”) on a rough landing. I personally wouldn’t worry about it. If you get your skill to a point that it outpaces the bike’s parts, it gives you a good reason to upgrade. A decent set of meaty/grippy tires (Ardent and Nevegal are fairly popular–wider/fatter the better with, 30psi +/- 5psi), Stan’s Flows rims, and a 32mm stanchion fork (Reba would be a fine choice for price/performance/longetivity) would be prime upgrades.
Update: Actually, the Tora might be good enough. I read that it’s 32mm and the lower end Darts are 28mm. 35/36 is the next step up and that’d be probably overkill. I think it’s fine for speeds hardtails can handle.
Also, where are you riding and what do you consider FR? FR to some is Red Bull Rampage (those who live in technical mtns), while to others it’s simply riding on any big mountain that may have lift service, even if it’s just fast fireroads–in betweeners just say it’s a mix of everything, slopestyle dirt jumping, non-competitive DH, AM, wandering off the trails riding rough stuff… would help to answer if you gave more info.
RockShox Tora 2011 Overview
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Rock Shox Tora Service Kit $34.48 |
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Rock Shox Tora U-Turn Spring Assembly X-Firm New $25.99 |
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RockShox TORA 318 Fork 100mm $0.99 |
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Rock Shox Tora 302 Solo Air 130mm fork Rockshox $31.00 |
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Rockshox Rock Shox Tora Fork 29 29er G2 Offset Gary Fisher Solo Air 9mm QR 1-1/8 $100.00 |
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RockShox Tora TK 29er Fork 100mm travel Used $199.99 |
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RockShox Tora TK Coil MTB 26″ Tapered Fork W/Remote 120mm 1 1/2 Disc OEM/New $81.00 |
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TORA 302 ROCKSHOX FORK $45.00 |
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2007 Rock Shox Tora 318 Air -No Reserve- $21.50 |
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Rockshox Tora 29er fork $32.00 |
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RockShox Tora 289/302 Rebound Damper 125mm Turnkey $30.16 |
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RockShox Tora XC/Recon Silver Remote Upgrade Kit $49.57 |
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RockShox Tora XC/Recon Silver Remote Upgrade Kit $66.54 |
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RockShox Tora TK Coil 100mm WHT/RED fork $115.00 |
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TORA 302 ROCKSHOX FORK $175.00 |
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ROCK SHOX Tora G2 Air 100mm 26″ Mountin Bike MTB Fork 1 1/8″ Silver $299.50 |
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RockShox TORA UTURN NEG SPRING, COIL 11.4310.260.000 $9.94 |
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RockShox Tora XC/Recon Silver Remote Upgrade Kit $58.99 |
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RockShox Tora SL MTB 26″ Suspension Fork 80mm 1 1/8″ Disc Alloy Black New $229.99 |
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RockShox Tora 289/302 Rebound Damper 125mm Turnkey $35.91 |
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CANNONDALE new 2009 mountain bike F4 sell for 300 $$ less (9fs4z) Rock Shox Tora $699.00 |
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RockShox Tora TK Coil MTB 26″ Suspension Fork 100mm 1 1/8″ Disc Alloy Black New $245.99 |
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RockShox Tora TK Coil MTB 26″ Suspension Tapered Fork 100mm 1 1/2 Disc White New $199.99 |
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ROCKSHOX TORA XC/RECON SILVER REMOTE UPGRADE KIT $54.00 |
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RockShox RS TORA 302 SL MTB Fork 100mm Manual Lockout / Rebound / Preload Blue $149.99 |
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RockShox 2009-11 Reba 2010-Curent Tora 2011-Current Recon 20mm 29er lowers (blk) $215.00 |
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New Rock Shox Tora Air Tube $26.99 |
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New Rock Shox Tora Air Top Cap $24.99 |
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Rock Shox 2007 Tora 289 / 302 Service Kit Seals New Genuine RS Part $20.99 |
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New Rock Shox Tora U-Turn Negative Spring. Coil $18.99 |
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Rock Shox, Tora Fixed Travel Top Cap, Spacer & Spring – Medium Spring $26.99 |
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New Rock Shox Tora Fixed Travel Top Cap Spacer & Spring – Firm Spring $26.99 |
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Rock Shox Tora / Recon / Revelation Fork Lower Leg Silver No Brk Boss New Spare $126.20 |
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New Rock Shox Tora Recon Revelation Fork Lower Legs Dropout w Brake Posts Silver $97.40 |
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New Rock Shox 120mm Spring/Spacer For Tora Coil – Medium/Red $22.99 |
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RockShox TORA DECAL KIT 05 $16.18 |
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RockShox 32.0MM LOWER BUSHING – MANY FK FOR REBA/PIKE/TORA/RECON/REVEL $5.88 |
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RockShox 32.0 MM UPPER BUSH. MANY FORKS REBA/PIKE/TORA/RECON/REVELATN $7.35 |
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RockShox TORA SERVICE KIT $19.05 |
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RockShox TORA TOP CAP/SPRING FIRM $20.63 |
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RockShox TORA/RECON/REV LOWERS POST BLK $139.19 |
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RockShox TORA MC COMP DAMPER, REMOTE 11.4310.155.000 $50.79 |
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RockShox TORA/RECON/REV LOWERS PST LT B $125.68 |
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RockShox TORA 80 FIXED COIL SPR SHAFT $23.81 |
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RockShox TORA AIR SPRING 80-130MM $33.33 |
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RockShox TORA/RECON/REV LOWERS POST SIL $125.68 |
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RockShox TORA 302 COMP DAMPER TK RM ADJ FOR REMOTE ADJUST $36.51 |
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RockShox TORA 318 MC REBOUND DAMPER $36.51 |
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RockShox TORA COMP DAMPER STANDARD $52.38 |
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RockShox TORA AIR TUBE 11.4310.257.000 $23.81 |
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RockShox TORA REBUILD KIT $49.21 |
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RockShox TORA 289/302 TK REBOUND DAMP 125MM TURNKEY $30.16 |
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RockShox TORA 302 COMP DAMPER TK ST ADJ FOR STANDARD ADJUST $33.33 |
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RockShox TORA MC CSU AL STEERER $138.95 |
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RockShox TORA 100MM FIXED SPRING SHAFT 11.4311.379.000 $23.81 |
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RockShox 2009-11 Reba 2010-Curent Tora 2011-Current Recon 20mm 29′er lowers $215.00 |
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29ER MOUNTAIN BIKE FRAME SET ROCK SHOX TORA TK 29″ 29p3 $254.95 |
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29ER MOUNTAIN BIKE FRAME SET ROCK SHOX TORA TK 29″ 29p3 $274.95 |
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RockShox Motion Control/Turn Key Knob Aluminum $16.90 RockShox Adjuster Knobs & External HardwareItem SpecificationsFitsRockShox Suspension ForksManufacturer Number114015240000… |
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RockShox XC32TK – Coil 100mm 26-Inch 9mm 1-1/8-Inch Rim/Disc (Black) $191.00 RockShox XC Suspension ForksSteel steererTurnKey damper features externally adjustable rebound and lockoutItem SpecificationsColorBlackWeight2354gBrake Usage F/RFrontCrown Race30.0Brake TypeDisc,CantileverWheel Size26″Fork Travel100mmFront Hub Spacing100mmFront Axle Type9x1SpringCoilWheel Mount Center Offset0mmLockoutCrown MountedDefined ColorBlackS.H.I.S. Clamp Diameter28.6Item NameXCSteerer Type… |
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RockShox Recon Silver TK – Coil 100mm (Black) $212.93 RockShox Recon Silver Suspension ForksMedium weight spring installedItem SpecificationsColorBlackWeight2227gBrake Usage F/RFrontCrown Race30.0Brake TypeDisc,CantileverWheel Size26″Fork Travel100mmFront Hub Spacing100mmFront Axle Type9x1SpringCoilWheel Mount Center Offset0mmLockoutCrown MountedDefined ColorBlackS.H.I.S. Clamp Diameter28.6Item NameReconSteerer TypeStraight… |
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RockShox PopLoc Adjust Lever Left Side $69.24 Levers onlyItem SpecificationsFitsRockShoxFork RemotePoploc Adjust… |
