Mountain Biking - Which fork to ride

Well I know this has been asked 1000 times but I want to get opinions on forks. I am a large rider who at the best of times is 6'5 and 230 and in the worst of times can be 260ish. I enjoy freeride/xc. This means I ride technical trails that can sometimes peak out to a downhill track.

I currently ride a Kona Roast and love it but plan to do some upgrade this fall including the fork. I would ask in other forums for recommendations but the intelligent responses generally lack. I enjoy a plush ride with something that should be adjustable for dropping and extreme descents. I wouldn't mind a lockout but I tend to be a power rider who can usually power his way over things using his legs only. I would say my price range is 800 - 1000 canadian.

Thanx for any assistance. Oh and I will buy older models if th suggestions warrant it. So if you know a 2001 fork that rules please suggest. Thanx.

Try a Fox Vanilla R. Those are definatly heavy duty fork. I have a Float RL and absolutely love it. The action is smooth, and stutter bumps don't exist. I've seen the Vanilla R go for about 450 (american)

I say go with any of the Marzocchi Z1 forks. They are very stiff and plush and depending on wich one you get have all the adjustments you will need. I like either the Z1 freeride or the Z1 Drop-in. What ever fork you get make sure that you get springs for Clydsdale riders. If you find the forks on sale they will be around 300 to 350USD. I ride Marzocchi and I my self am 6'2 270#. You will blow the seals if you do lots of big drops or jumps due to your weight but they are easily replaced. I would not suggest RoxShox or Manitou, from personal expieriance on my own bike and with friends they tend to not hold up quite as well. The only other fork I would suggest would dito what Peter said, FOX. Very strong and reliable.
Slainte:beer:

I second dirtbikedude's suggestion. Look into Marzocchi forks, especially the Shiver. Two freeriders I know both use the Shiver on their bikes, one has a Giant DH Team and the other rides an AC 1. They both changed their OEM forks.

Ok I do agree with marzocchi. I would love to try fox but they aren't carried up here and would be a pain to get repaired.

I do a lot of xc style riding as well (trails can be deep in the woods) From what I heard shivers aren't adjustable and suck badly on small bumps due to the inversion.

Try one the other Marzocchi forks here:

http://www.marzocchi.com/eng/spa/products/fork2002/aggro.asp

Yeah I have the exr. Not stiff enough. I need a really plush ride that can take a 6'5 250 pnd guy riding in whistler, squamish and the north shore. aggro xc just won't take that abuse. Shivers are GREAT if I was a pure freerider but I do ride a bit of xc.