Mountain Biking - got a new bike, she needs a squishy fork

http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/5770/scout2fe5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/scout2fe5.jpg/1/w855.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img379/scout2fe5.jpg/1/)

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/4613/scout3sk2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/scout3sk2.jpg/1/w855.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img105/scout3sk2.jpg/1/)

i bought this bike for my self just before christmas. it will make a nice bike to let friends ride who have no idea what to do with gears. i dig it lots. it handles very well and can climb over large obstacles easily. i <3 my 29er

i was contemplating keeping it as simplistic as possible; rigid. its very very light (lightest of all my bikes) and i wasn't sure if i wanted to put the weight of a suspension fork on it. however i think a squishy fork would help me with LIGHT dirt jumping (minimal, 2ft or smaller jumps) and aggressive XC riding.

i was looking to spend around 300 bucks or so. i want a lockout and at least 100mm of travel. i saw a couple forks that met this criteria but they had really fat axles that im not familiar with. i was eying up this http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/FK301A06-Manitou+Minute+29+Absolute+08.aspx does that thing bolt on with an Allen wrench and replace the quick release axle and fit right inside the hub?

also the rigid fork doesn't have much head room above the tire, would a long travel fork ruin the geometry?
any good fork recommendations? i am not partial to a particular brand.

tora...not light, but excellent for that pricerange

I'd ride it out a bit more and then make the final decision. The Tora would be a great choice for the price, but for the weight and performance I'd get a Reba. I also have a friend with an older Ibis that he made into a 69er he uses a Willits http://www.willitsbikes.com/ fork. The WOW fork. He rides that bike on the local trail near here where the maximum drop off is probably 2 or 2-1/2 feet. But that's if you want to keep the weight low.
(http://www.willitsbikes.com/)

do you have a recommendation for a good internet retailer of suspension forks? i have an RST fork i don't use (thank god) it weighs damn near 10 pounds no joke. so my perceptions are slightly skewed. what is considered lightweight these days? under 3 pounds?

i was kinda apprehensive about putting one on it, i kinda liked the idea of having a full suspension mtb and a fully rigid one. i think i might get in some one on one time with it and get acquainted on the trail first. is it may yet? :(

I'd ride it out a bit more and then make the final decision. The Tora would be a great choice for the price, but for the weight and performance I'd get a Reba. I also have a friend with an older Ibis that he made into a 69er he uses a Willits http://www.willitsbikes.com/ fork. The WOW fork. He rides that bike on the local trail near here where the maximum drop off is probably 2 or 2-1/2 feet. But that's if you want to keep the weight low.
(http://www.willitsbikes.com/)

More apt to get a Tora for 3 bones than a Reba.

The Reba is nicer, but if on a budget, the Tora is a nice fork and can be made to work very well. I wouldn't get anything of a lesser level than that.

The Minute wouldn't necessarily be a bad fork, but you'd need a 20mm wheel built up which would totally negate it's lower price.

Or, scope out ebay to see what you can find. 29er wheels tend to be a bit flexier anyyhow, and a 20mm setup can alleviate that somewhat.

i think i'll go with the Tora fork the specs look good, and it fits the bill for me. i read a few reviews, and i hope the 2009 has improved some since the earlier models. but it does seem like Sram stands behind their products with pretty reasonable warranty coverage.

i might even order it from my LBS this spring since they get me great deals and i like to help the small buisnesses.

thank you so much for the input.

There are also some good deals on 07/8 Rebas now that the new and improved version is out.

The Manitou is a great deal and is probably better than the Tora, but only if you get a new front wheel as well, if stated.

That bike deserves a Reba IMO.