Bicycle Mechanics - Fork Recommendations for $160 or less for Suspension Fork

Do you have any recommendations for decent suspension forks that are $160 or less?

Cross Country, 1-2 foot drops at most

If you're looking for something in the neighborhood of 80mm travel, in that price range I'd see if you can find a used Marzocchi Z2 from a few years ago on ebay. Wonderful, bomb-proof short travel fork. Different model names: Atom Race, Atom Bomb, Atom 80, etc. They're all coil sprung and oil damped. Replacement parts still available at Cambria Bicycle Outfitters. Best short travel fork ever made in terms of low maintenance, reliability, and buttery smooth suspension action in my opinion. In that price range, you won't find anything new that's close to the performance of a Z2 I don't believe. As with all used threadless forks, make sure you get one that has a steerer tube long enough-

I saw you were looking for a front suspension fork and I have one for sale. It's a like new (take off) RST Gila T6 100mm travel. $70 shipped. Wardie

I saw you were looking for a front suspension fork and I have one for sale. It's a like new (take off) RST Gila T6 100mm travel. $70 shipped. Wardie

that is kind of you to off, but i have not had good experiences with rst

my last bike had rst as well

i am looking for something maybe from rock shox, manitou or marzocchi, fox is probably outta my price range

i have been considering the Rock Shox Dart 3, or 2

Any older fork should work fine. Used with a rebuild kit is an option...

I have an '01 Z2 Atom race and it still works as nicely as the day I got it (for $700 CAD)

If you're talking new you're not gonna find anything worthwhile in that price range, absolutely definitely nothing along the lines of the Z2

2' drops on XC!

I have an '01 Z2 Atom race and it still works as nicely as the day I got it (for $700 CAD)


I've got that exact fork! :) They're awesome, indeed. All I've ever done to mine is change the springs to a heavier set and change the oil a couple of times, it's still as smooth as silk. I've owned air forks, elastomer forks, pfffft, give me my coil sprung Z2 Atom Race any day. My experience has been that anything with air in it will eventually leak, and elastomer forks are generally worthless for serious riding right out of the box-

Are these all that you are referring to all from Marzocchi?