Mountain Biking - Susp fork for a fat guy?

I'll be blunt-I'm kinda fat and looking for a fairly decent priced front susp fork for my GT Zaskar. I don't hammer too much, but I do ride it to work frequently. Any suggestions?? Thanks

How heavy are you?

If you're over 200 lbs, lean more towards a metal coil sprung fork vs. an air-sprung fork.

Then, you need to remove the stock coil springs and replace them with a heavier spring rate.

For most forks this is about $40 worth of materials. It'll make a HUGE difference!

20 mm axle is a bonus for big guys too:)

I agree with a2 & Mael, as usual.

Just make sure you get around a 75mm travel fork so you don't adversely affect your Zaskar's geometry. And that's the rub, since I have never heard of a short travel 20mm axle coil/oil fork.

Yea just be sure to change those springs to something stiffer. But, how big is big?

I agree with a2 & Mael, as usual.

Just make sure you get around a 75mm travel fork so you don't adversely affect your Zaskar's geometry. And that's the rub, since I have never heard of a short travel 20mm axle coil/oil fork.

Good point. Might have to look at a 2000 z1 or something

Well, I'm in the same boat as this guy. I was about to start a new post, but I'll just add it here.

I'm a big guy (6' 4", 280 lbs.) and I ride a Gary Fisher Marlin. I've been riding on the same stock shock (RST 281) for about 5 years. I haven't hit many trails so it hasn't bothered me too much, but this thing is JUNK. It bottoms out on almost every bump and then doesn't return.

Here is my dilemma: I am a poor college student, so my budget is no more than $200. I'd like to hit the trails more and also not bottom out going off curbs, haha.

What should I look for and where should I look for it? Is it possible to even find a shock that will support me well for under 200 bones? Anything's gotta be better than this RST!

Thanks! :D

Get a cheap Mz-comp I suppose.

Well, I'm in the same boat as this guy. I was about to start a new post, but I'll just add it here.

I'm a big guy (6' 4", 280 lbs.) and I ride a Gary Fisher Marlin. I've been riding on the same stock shock (RST 281) for about 5 years. I haven't hit many trails so it hasn't bothered me too much, but this thing is JUNK. It bottoms out on almost every bump and then doesn't return.


You don't want anything over 80mm of travel then. That RST 281 is supposed to be a 63mm travel fork anything much more than that and you'll screw your handling

wow...I guess if they wanted to, they could get a Marz 100mm and leave the stock springs...it'd have enough sag to put em where they should be.

A used DJ would fit the bill. That's one fork I can suggest for everything. Except eating spaghetti.

If you mainly ride to work, and don't ride on crazy rutted, rocky trails much, you could probably get a rigid fork instead. A good Surly one is probably under $100, and almost certainly lighter than most suspension forks would be. Most likely more durable also...