Mountain Biking - Is a front suspension lockout totally necessary?

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Harleyrider18
05-14-05, 07:55 AM
I'm really having a hard time deciding between this f400 and the rockhopper. Its the lockout feature on the f4oo thats making it difficult. How necessary is it? How often do you think i would actually use it? Is the bob on the rockhopper so terrible if I was riding around town I would hate the bike? Please help thanks

troie
05-14-05, 08:08 AM
Totally necessary is rider dependant. I use mine everytime I climb, everytime. Then again I have 120mm fork and the front bob would kill me if I left it off.
Dannihilator
05-14-05, 09:11 AM
It isn't needed, and it has been proven over the last couple of years.

phantomcow2
05-14-05, 09:38 AM
Its not necessary, but its a huge positive if you do a lot of climbing
troie
05-14-05, 10:06 AM
It isn't needed, and it has been proven over the last couple of years.

Where?
Maelstrom
05-14-05, 10:34 AM
I don't use it. Lots of xc love it, I do use spv valving in my bighit. Not a lockout per se but is really useful on my big ole bike to get up stuff.
phantomcow2
05-14-05, 12:03 PM
I think lokcout is a good thing to have, it helps tremendously when on the road and of course climbing. Usually though im too lazy to flip the switch so i dont bother. but my sid only has 80mm of travel anyways.
Maelstrom
05-14-05, 12:05 PM
I have that eta adjust on my z150. Its cool but doesn't work well in the riding conditions I ride in. Inconsistent ups and downs without a lot of prep time to reach down and flip it. Remote flippy would kick ass but otherwise, I have used it 3x I think
Drunken Chicken
05-14-05, 12:53 PM
I have that eta adjust on my z150. Its cool but doesn't work well in the riding conditions I ride in. Inconsistent ups and downs without a lot of prep time to reach down and flip it. Remote flippy would kick ass but otherwise, I have used it 3x I think
I tried my friend's MX Comp ETA with remote lockout. Pretty sweet. :)
Al.canoe
05-14-05, 01:02 PM
I never use my front/rear lockouts to climb. The only time I use my lockouts is when I ride very smooth forest service roads or pavement, which is not often as I have a road bike. If you ride around town a lot, you might like the lockout.

Al
cryptid01
05-14-05, 03:18 PM
I have both rear lockout and marzocchi eta on my enduro and seldom use them.

It's not a significant enough advantage to base a complete bike purchase on, that's for sure.
hebrew_rider
05-14-05, 03:42 PM
I occaisionally use it, and as long as your not racing, it is not completely necessary
mtnbiker66
05-14-05, 04:55 PM
My fork is 125 and no lockout. I got it that way becuse I knew I would never use it.It's not a problem to get it up the hill.
Cornish_Rdr_UK
05-14-05, 04:58 PM
When i did XC i got away without it, and probably wouldnt have used it that much anyway, if your using a bigger fork, EG my Sherman, it will be a pig uphill so I will use the lockout, but for an 80 or 10mm fork, its not needed.
Harleyrider18
05-15-05, 08:22 PM
thank you all for your help and suggestions. I appreciate it.
bwolmarans
05-28-05, 01:47 AM
I like lockout. While it's not a problem to get up the hill without it you can always go faster with lockout.