4evrplan

I bent my fork, a Suntour M2000. What's the least expensive replacement fork that won't bend on me like the old one did? Are suspension forks even worth it at this price point? I read in another forum a recommendation for used 80mm Rockshox, Suntour, and TST. The least expensive new Rockshox I found was a Dart 2 for $80+, more than I care to spend.

stonebreaker

Check Ebay. I just saw a Dart 3 go for $60 on Ebay.

helmut

If $80 is out of the question, you might be better off going with a nice steel rigid fork, and upping your game a bit to handle it.

4evrplan

Is it more difficult to ride a rigid fork? Or, do you mean my old one bent because of the way I ride? I just figured it was a weak component.

4evrplan

I was thinking about getting a Dart (1 or 2). There's a lot of them on ebay, but I've got two questions first. 1) Will a Dart be sturdier than the Suntour M2000 and less likely to bite the dust when I wreck. 2) Can I mount my linear pull brakes to a Dart?

helmut

Rigid forks are a little harder to ride smoothly because they don't absorb your impacts. So, you have to pick your lines a bit better, and work your body to ease the bike a bit over bumps that your suspension fork might otherwise absorb. I can't really say whether the Dart will be sturdier, but I've heard they're good low-end forks. I believe all Dart models come with bosses for linear brakes. I would get the Dart 2 at least, and try to find a 3 from the start.

4evrplan

A friend is going to let me borrow a fork off of a x-mart bike while I save for a decent one. If I end up bending that one too, is pretty much any rigid steel fork okay, or would you recommend certain brands (or brands to stay away from)? Thanks for the advice.

nellyeff

I have Dart 2 forks on both my HT, 80mm, and FS, 100mm.
I was planning to upgrade the FS fork, but its been pretty good to be honest, so I've upgraded other parts first, like brakes etc..... It also has lock out, pre-load adjuster and a damping control, which all work well. I'll upgrade it once its goosed, but it does seem to be handling some pretty heavy abuse to be fair.
The 100mm fork doesn't have V brake bosses, but the 80mm one does.
I have a Giant Yukon FX3.

4evrplan

Anyone have experience with the Spinner Grind OS? https://www.crowcycleco.com/spinner-g...owcycleenglish

My LBS has the OS2 for $150, but this is way cheaper.

helmut

Surly 1x1 from Jenson. These are great rigid forks, and they're set up to mimic the geometry of an 80mm suspension fork. $53 and has disc tabs or removable bosses. Fits tires up to 2.7, which is fairly large.

Metzinger

Buy used. You may be able to find a 5-8 yr old Marzocchi on Ebay in your price range.
Way better than any Suntour or Spinner junk.

4evrplan

There's a Marzocchi xc 400 on the bay. The reviews are good, but would I be able to replace seals or get service? Someone on mtbr said they used ATF in it, along with other mods, and it worked better. https://www.mtbr.com/cat/older-catego...89_120crx.aspx I really am thinking about getting the Dart 1, just because it's so cheap. Should be at least as good as a rigid fork, right? The x-mart bike fork loaner didn't work out; it was threaded. Perhaps I'll use this down time to remove the paint from my frame.

Zephyr11

What are the chances of finding a 5-8 year old Marzocchi on eBay that's not clapped out? By the time you service it, you'd probably be better off something newer that's still in good condition. Get a rigid for now and save up.

kenhill3

I would be very careful about buying a used fork. JMO.

4evrplan

The Marzocchi xc 400 is new old stock. Do the seals on these things dry out and go bad on the shelf?

4evrplan

Are the steering columns on suspension forks removable? I'm having to discount a lot of options on ebay because they're not long enough, but I could maybe use my old steering column on a new (to me) fork?

EDIT: Not to mention some of them are threaded.

Metzinger

Seals don't dry out on the shelf.
Steerer tubes are generally not interchangeable. Absolutely not with the forks you've mentioned.

dminor 

Trying to decide if this gets Undertsatement of the Year Award or the Pointing Out the Obvious Award for 2009.

helmut

Wow! This is a such a great honor, I mean I have so many people to thank like... HELMUT, I'M REALLY HAPPY FOR YOU AND IMA LET YOU FINISH! BUT DENISMENCHOV HAD ONE OF THE MOST OBVIOUS STATMENTS OF ALL TIME! OF ALL TIME!

craigcraigcraig

you don't even know what award you got yet Kanye.

4evrplan

This is why I love this forum

Getting serious again for a moment though, can you clamp a threadless stem down on a threaded steer tube without tearing anything up? Will it mess up the headset to pass the threads through it (or will the threads even fit through the bearings)? Please excuse my ignorance, I'm just learning all this stuff.

craigcraigcraig

i vote for a rigid fork. cheap and simple then save up for a whole new bike that won't break on you. where in Texas are you?

4evrplan

Nacogdoches in Deep East Texas. It's a decent small town for biking, but nothing compared to Austin. I've been looking at listings for rigid forks too, mostly used or new old stock. It's a bit frustrating though because most of them are for road or cyclocross, or don't have V-brake studs, or just when I think I've found the right one, the steer tube isn't long enough, or it's threaded. How do bike mechanics stay sane with all the variety?

helmut

No. That's not the way it works. A threaded stem (or quill stem as it is called) is inserted into the threaded headset, and secured with an expander bolt. So no part of the fork steerer actually protrudes from the top of the headset.

Does your bike have a threaded headset? If so, your fork upgrade is going to be quite a bit more difficult because threaded systems generally use a 1" tube instead of the new 1 1/8th inch found on most threadless headsets. So you'd need to find a 1" compatible threadless headset, a fork with a 1" threadless steerer, and 1" stem to attach to it. Your best bet would be to find a good used threaded rigid fork. You might be in a bit over your head.

4evrplan

No it's threadless. That's why I was asking if I could clamp a threadless stem down on a threaded steer tube (assuming I can find one that's long enough). Logically, it seems like it would work, but there may be subtle issues I'm not aware of. Say for example, if the threads themselves have a diameter slightly larger than 1 1/8" and won't fit through the headset without tearing it up, or if the stem wouldn't be able to get a good enough bite on the threads of the steer tube to stay in place.