Mountain Biking - Bang for the buck fork

Hey Guys,
I don't know much about mountain bikes but I do know that I miss not having any squish on the front of my GF Tassajara. The bike came stock with a Manitou Axel Platinum fork with 100mm travel. Well slowly but surely it has self destructed. The Dampening knob on top of the fork is totally locked up and the fork is almost rigid. I doubt the fork is worth rebuilding.......or is it? Assuming it is not worth the time and expense to fix , what is a good quality replacement fork that wont break the bank? All my money is in my road bike so unfortunately my mountain Bike has to suffer. I weigh 175 pounds and do general Cross Country riding with some visits to a indoors park that has some fairly big drops.

Bang for not much bucks = adequate.

//http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/16797-315_MARMZ8-3-Parts-59-Forks/Accessories/Marzocchi-MZ-Supercomp-Suspension-Fork-2008.htm

Bang for not much bucks = adequate.

//http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/16797-315_MARMZ8-3-Parts-59-Forks/Accessories/Marzocchi-MZ-Supercomp-Suspension-Fork-2008.htm

I am ok with adequate as long as adequate does not equal junk. For comparison the feel of the Manitou Axel when it was in it's prime was just barely adequate.......

marzocchi mz
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/FK303A09-Marzocchi+Mz+Supercomp+08.aspx

rockshox tora
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/FK405A11-Rock+Shox+Tora+302+Coil+U-Turn+Fork+07.aspx

I am ok with adequate as long as adequate does not equal junk. For comparison the feel of the Manitou Axel when it was in it's prime was just barely adequate.......

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/FK405A01-Rock+Shox+Dart+3+Fork+07.aspx

I have not ridden this one, yet. I bought it the other day as a replacement to a Dart1 on a beater bike/commuter/girlfriend bike I'm building. What made me buy it was the lock out. Hopefully it won't suck too bad. It got decent reviews at MTBR, check it out (http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/2007_forks/product_128135.shtml).

I think your choice will really depend on how much money is too much for you.

I think your choice will really depend on how much money is too much for you.

Both The Dart and that Marzocchi may fit the bill. I was looking be somewhere around $200.00.

I also meant to tell you to look at the forks people were upgrading from in those reviews. Nobody was coming from a top quality fork, so keep that in mind.

Good luck.

I also meant to tell you to look at the forks people were upgrading from in those reviews. Nobody was coming from a top quality fork, so keep that in mind.

Good luck.

Thanks. I am not sure where my Axel falls in the hierarchy of OE forks but I am guessing they are equal to what those other guys are coming from. I am going to try to contact Answer tomorrow and get there opinion but like I already said, I was not a big fan of the forks as new so I think now is a good opportunity for a slight upgrade.

Around $200 I would go for a RS Tora or Marzocci MX. Both are good solid forks that usually sell new for that much and both are much better than an Axel. Btw, I can't remember any Axel that was rate good in user reviews. People really seem to hate them.