Mountain Biking - Desperate upgrade needed. Please help!

Ok, retired marathoner here.. hooked on singletrack now for 6 mos. I'm a good athlete w/ good reflexes, timing, strength and eye sight for this sport. The only crashes I tend to have are when I'm tired and it only happens when I hit something(that I don't anticipate my front fork..not being able to roll over) and then go over the bars. Takes me by suprise everytime. I have a Diamondback Topanga hardtail that I'm told has decent components for it's price(450) and I don't have the cash right now to move to the next level.(Fisher Hifi plus what I want..) I have been told that the single biggest thing I could change to help me would be my front fork. If so, please suggest some fork models I should look for on ebay that would be compatible. And what to look out for in buying a used one vs new...............Or anything else you might suggest I could change to bridge the gap for another year or so. Just got my first scaffoid break(wrist) Need to do something. Thanks so much in advance. oh..and here what my bike looks like: http://newjersey.craigslist.org/bik/861329256.html SIGNED-44yr old who still thinks he's 25..

I would probably upgrade to a Rock Shox Tora series. As for used/new, this is a part that takes a pretty good workout and usually its not much of an issue. BUT the biggest thing with suspension forks is being able to take a close visual inspection of the Crown, fork brace and Stantion Tube to see if there was any hard hits taken.

I tend to shy away from something that is in direct contact with the rider and the ground. Derailleurs, shifters, brakes is another story.

So IMHO I would buy new for a suspension fork.

Any other model forks you'd suggest? Will this one you suggest be compatible w/ my bike? For sure?

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/FK402A01-Marzocchi+Xc+700+Tst2+Eta+07.aspx

Ok, retired marathoner here.. hooked on singletrack now for 6 mos. I'm a good athlete w/ good reflexes, timing, strength and eye sight for this sport. The only crashes I tend to have are when I'm tired and it only happens when I hit something(that I don't anticipate my front fork..not being able to roll over) and then go over the bars. Takes me by suprise everytime. I have a Diamondback Topanga hardtail that I'm told has decent components for it's price(450) and I don't have the cash right now to move to the next level.(Fisher Hifi plus what I want..) I have been told that the single biggest thing I could change to help me would be my front fork. If so, please suggest some fork models I should look for on ebay that would be compatible. And what to look out for in buying a used one vs new...............Or anything else you might suggest I could change to bridge the gap for another year or so. Just got my first scaffoid break(wrist) Need to do something. Thanks so much in advance. oh..and here what my bike looks like: http://newjersey.craigslist.org/bik/861329256.html SIGNED-44yr old who still thinks he's 25..
what is your question?

mx

What kind of riding do you do? That will determine the kind of fork you might want.

For what it's worth, my vote is for you to just keep riding it, then upgrade the bike when you have the money (start saving) and a good deal comes along. Replacing a low-end fork with another low-end fork isn't going to do much for you.

Have a diamondback topanga and do technical singletrack. What for would you recommend for the issue I'm describing.(upgrading my current intro bike in areas that will make the biggest difference.) Example, What type of front fork would make a huge difference from the intro rock shox I currently have that wont roll over anything?

I have an '04 Topanga frame and just put a Tora 318 on it. The fork is on sale at Performance. I also had a 10% off code. I have only put about 10 hours on it but so far it works well. It is heavy but rides smooth. I weigh 195 pounds and run 160 psi. This is on the low end for my weight. If you get an air fork get a pump. The fork lockout is great for riding to the trail. My Tora 318 weighs 4.7 pounds. I was hoping it would weigh the claimed weight. My old Manitou was over a pound less but had less travel. The Reba line is the same for with Aluminum down tubes so they weigh about a pound or more less. But cost more.

For the money a good fork but heavy.

Tora 318 (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=25531&subcategory_ID=5231)

Edit:

I see your bike has disc breaks. If you get a Marzocchi XC 700 you won't have to buy the rim brake posts. These are separate. I looked at a XC 700 in the Jenson store. It should be lighter but I thought there were too many bad reviews. Others with this fork will pipe in.

Would that change the fork you recommend here? Anything else on this bike you would switch out that would be a huge difference in ability to climb/hop? Wider handlebars? Other lighter componants?

My suggestion would be to not go over the handlebars anymore.

Yea, better forks won't do much if you are just hitting things when you are tired and going over.

Unless you want to spend $1000+ on a DH fork that'll push your weight so far back you can't flip over going straight.