888 7" vs 8"

[gral]

Hi there,

I'm looking at putting a 888 on a Speccy BigHit but I think it will make it too tall for my riding style.

Can someone give me any info on the following:

- how much lower is the 7" version...is it a full 1" lower than the standard 8" version?

- what about versus the Go-Ride drop crowns...any thoughts on plus/minus of each?

- 7"/8" same internals?

- can the 7" be retroactively upgraded to 8" (as I heard there is a way of converting the 8" down to 7")?

- price of 7" vs 8" vs. buying 8" now (I have a month in Whistler in July) and converting to 7" once I get back home...thoughts?

thanks muchly

[spookymilk]

ask illomatic about the 7" 888, he had one (got stolen :flame: ) The Go-Ride crowns are apparently very expensive but do the trick, they are also only available in silver so they kind of spoil the stealth look of the 888 and they look a little blocky. Risse also makes lowrider crowns for the 888, and they're available in black but I think they're just as expensive. So, if you have the dough and don't mind the looks of either, the crowns would be your choice if you still want the 8"

[atb]

all 888's can be converted from 7" or 8". rise racing also makes a lower crown set that i think you can get in black.

[caspar]

Check this link for what can happen to a BH w/ 8" 888.
Most of the thread is in Danish but the pics tell it all.

http://www.mtb.dk/messageboard/board.php?board=5&laes=96524&side=1#laes

This is from our "local spot" , the Vanga skiresort in southern sweden.
Bjarke cracked his BH w/ 8" 888 on this newly built huck.
He overshot the landing a little bit and touched down on the dirt.

Cheers

[Incorrigible]

Just FYI, my 888 doesn't actually go to 8" anyways. Max is 7 1/2 ". I would suppose the 7 " would get you just over 6" of real travel, max. Yes, the front is raised a bit on my bb7, but not that noticeably. The integrated stem makes everything so stiff at the front end that steering is actually better than with a Super T.

[illomatic]

I had a 7" 888 for a couple short months (before it was stolen) and LOVED it! Better feel than anything else I tried - Monster, boXXer, Slider + - with the exeption of maybe the Shiver, although the added stiffness and decreased weight made an overall better fork.

The internals are the same as the 8" version. Travel is actually less than 7" (6.8") but it's smooth and buttery without feeling short on travel. Never had a problem with it bottoming or feeling harsh. IMO 170mm is the perfect amount of travel for most DH and Shore applications.

It's exactly 1" lower than the 8" and is 3mm higher than a Shiver.

A word of advice: It's cheaper to get the 7" version rather than convert an 8" either using different crowns or a travel reduction kit. I got mine for $1198 CAN with tax and shipping (to Victoria) from bikeroom in Van.

I definately would have replaced it, but didn't have the money.:mad: