Mountain Biking - Need recommendation for a new fork

Greetings,

I got an old Walmart mountain bike that I want to restore because the frame is real solid and fits me to a T. The part in most dire need of replacement on that beater bike is the fork... The present Suntour SR fork on the thing is an el-cheapo spring-cushioned unit that is not smooth at all. It sags way too much under my normal load (I weigh 250lbs.), and the extension is real sudden when I try to hop a curb.

The terrain I'm going to ride with this beater bike is urban. Lots of curb-hopping, light off-road use (mostly level terrain), no big downhill drops or hits so the shocks do not need that much travel, and I do not need disc-brake mounts. What I need most is smooth extension (rather than the sudden "sproing!" of the spring-cushioned cheapie). I have a $100 budget.

Any recommendations for particular brand/model of forks for these parameters would be greatly appreciated!

TIA for any help.

http://www.spinner-usa.com/sf_sport.html

Your better off saving the money up for the base line Specialized Hardrock.

Your better off saving the money up for the base line Specialized Hardrock.
+1

Don't waste your time on that WallMart bike.

Before any more of you give me that "don't waste your time on that Walmart bike" line, FYI I already got a Trek Fuel EX6.

However, I am not going to ride that Trek Fuel around the city doing errands and risk having parts like my seat post or quick-release wheels with Armadilloes stolen off of it (which is common even when you use a bicycle lock).

That is why I'm fixing up that old Walmart beater to make it at least minimally tolerable for urban use (since it has nothing of value on it worth stealing).

So again, TIA for any fork recommendations.

P.S. Thanks for the Spinner recs, EJ123. I'll be researching them in detail tonight.

marzocchi mz comps

You can't buy Mz-comps in the aftermarket.

A new fork might not even fit in the headtube of your bike. It may be a 1" steerer. Check this and get back to us. I wouldn't put more than 70 mm of travel on that thing, because I'm betting the current fork is probably about 40 mm of travel.

K well you can get some mz comps on ebay for around $50-$75

K well you can get some mz comps on ebay for around $50-$75
1. It's probably too much for the bike, it would throw off the geometry or just plain wouldn't fit in the headtube.
2. It would give a person reason to steal the bike. Thieves will steal anything with nice looking suspension.

Well, I looked at the existing fork.. It's an SR Suntour M2000, with a 1-1/8" threadless steerer tube, 50mm travel, for 26" wheels.

Yep, I didn't want a super-expensive nice fork because they'll most likely get stolen, which is why I'm looking for a decent sub-$100 fork. :D Something suitable for just jumping curbs, don't need lockouts or pretension adjustment or superlong travel.. As long as it's got a smooth extension and won't bottom out with a thump while a 250lb. guy is on it, I would be grateful!

Rock Shox Judy/Jett?

Beater bikes roxx your sox for errands.

which is why I'm looking for a decent sub-$100 fork. :D Something suitable for just jumping curbs, don't need lockouts or pretension adjustment or superlong travel.. As long as it's got a smooth extension and won't bottom out with a thump while a 250lb. guy is on it, I would be grateful!

Good luck...probably your best bet is to find a good used donor bike ...I see lots of good bikes at lawn sales for under $50 with good forks

BTW...good idea using a beater for urban use...I paid $72.96 (cdn) for a new MTB winterbike for commuting in the snow

RS judy

+1 for a Rockshox Judy or J1 or Dart.

How about a rigid fork?