Ok so first a disclaimer. I've never ridden a bike with a carbon fiber fork. I do, however, have a bike with a steel and an aluminum fork. On torn up uneven city pavement the steel fork does dampen vibrations more than the aluminum. However any discomfort is neutralized by wearing a good par of gel cycling gloves. For what it's worth I'd get the 7.3 just because I don't like the blue of the 7.4.