Originally Posted by WestPablo

I think that we should only select bicycles based upon efficiency and their most practical application to our environment. Once we've determined the type of terrain that we're cycling upon, the decision to use a suspended fork should be made at that time and that time only. We shouldn't choose to use a suspended fork based solely upon popularity.

Suspended forks are usually avoided during bicycle trekking, due to their extra added weight and the amount of added energy required of the cyclist on distant tours. That's why we almost never see suspended forks on touring bicycles. If you image Google "Bicycles, Trekking", you won't be viewing any bicycles sporting suspended forks. That means that there's no common or practical use for suspended forks on Trekking bikes.

I think that the most efficient use for a suspended fork would be on a quality mountain bike, where it's suspended fork can be utilized more practically on gravel, roots, rocks, boulders, and terrain cracks. MTbikes can also be used more practically in perhaps even an urban setting where the road infrastructure has immensely deteriorated.

Of course, it would be absolutely useless to mtb in an urban area where streets and roads are well-maintained, and that's despite their popularity within any given region.