Mountain Biking - Picking out a decent fork

I have an 03 hardrock chromo and i would like to get a decent fork for it and it has an 80mm fork and most of the ones I am looking at have around 100mms of travel so I would just like to know what is a safe size to get. i also want some suggestions as to what I should get for a decent good bang for my buck 300 and under but something lower would be nice, the marzocchi mx comp eta really caught my eye because it was rated 5of5 on mtbr.com and it is only 244 on jensonusa.com.

Thanks, Greg

You won't be disapointed with that fork. Not at all. IMO. The most recent fork I purchased was the 04 Manitou Comp Black (100-120 mm travel) and have been very happy with it. A 3-4' drop would be about the tallest I've taken this fork down. Very flat in my part of the country so I ride alot of XC and even street on this bike. I put that fork on my Fisher Joshua X1 and it was a great match.

The only warning I would give you is that if you get a fork with alot of travel it may throw the balance, center of gravity, etc out of whack. The 120 mm setting is a little bit too tall for my tastes- but when I need it- it's there.

Yea using my own judgement I think that a 20mm difference wont be too much but thats just me, does anyone else have a differing opinion on it? And yes that fork will be perfect for me because I could put it down to 80 mm travel compressed so it has less bobbing because most of my riding is on the road on my paper route but dont be alarmed people, I still love to ridein the woods near me. Oh and What is the allen screw on the bottom of my shocks i hjave currently and what does it do?

Thanks, Greg

A 20mm increase should be fine. It really shouldn't throw anything off that much.

20mm would be fine but I wouldn't go up more than that.