RockShox

Reba RL Solo Air 100 Fork - 29in

It isn’t the lightest XC fork on the market. It isn’t built to put anyone on the podium in a World Cup event. The Reba RL has achieved XC rock-star status because of its unheard-of reliability, simple maintenance, and affordability. So if your short-travel or hardtail wagon wheeler needs to be freshened up, the RockShox Reba RL Solo Air 100 29in fork is an excellent option.

This particular version of the Reba employs a 100mm-travel Solo Air spring. This proprietary SRAM technology means that as you inflate the air spring, pressure is adjusted automatically in both the positive and negative springs, providing a smooth, balanced ride. This trait is reinforced by the Motion Control damper, which provides adjustable rebound, as well as an external low speed compression adjuster, which can be fully closed to function as a lockout for smooth climbs.

The Reba’s distinctive chassis is built to provide an ideal blend of stiffness and low weight. That makes the 32mm aluminum stanchions an obvious choice. While forks of a more aggressive demeanor have gone to larger stanchions, the penalty in terms of weight and bushing drag mean that many riders are better served by the smaller stanchions. A tapered aluminum steerer tube packs extra surface area into the crown interface, enhancing stiffness. Moving down the fork, the Power Bulge lowers are immediately noticeable. You see, that raised section accommodates for larger bushings, and larger bushings mean more precise steering. It all adds up to a package that goes where you point it, without any fuss.

The Reba RL employs the post mount disc brake standard, which has become all but universal in the past few years. It allows you to run rotors from 160 to 200mm with the correct adapters. It accepts a 15mm front hub via the Maxle quick-release thru axle.