Poll: Solid forks are for retro-losers.
 

Why? When so many quality suspension forks are out there?
Must be some reason? or are you guys just too cheap, fed up with low end junk suspension?

Rabid readers want to know! My first poll so bear with me.

Ain't no poll here. You didn't start one. :rolleyes:
I like the idea of a rigid fork for the street, but I'd prefer to have one off road.
http://img149.exs.cx/img149/4756/Poll.jpg

This have anything to do with another thread? Hmmmmmmm. ;)

All my forks are made from hollow tubes. I do however, prefer rigid forks on my single speed, and definately for riding pavement/road. On normal singletrack, I like rigid forks because of no flex, they are more responsive to rider imput/body english, and I have to (try to) pick a cleaner line to ride fast. No dive when braking, for some reason that irritates me. Easier to bunnyhop as well. Overall I just like the solid feel.

But if I'm doing anything agressive or at higher speeds, I prefer the full suspension mush ride.

This was all probably said in the other thread anyhow...

Sorry, got caught up with the questions.
I included the 'polls are stupid' for you Raiyn. ;)

It's all a matter of personal choice, obviously. That said, the best riders I know all ride rigid some of the time.

EDIT: by best, I mean they are exponentially far far far better riders than the ones that don't ride rigid ever. Make of it what you will.

I would do it, but the same reason I don't ride on bmx bikes. My wrists couldn't take it. Too much carpel tunnel reaction. My djer is very close those, so stiff it takes a serious hit to make it move. Which is how it should be for jumping :)

I like the retro feel of a solid fork, but i realise that it isnt always practical for a ride, i would however consider swapping out my suspensnion fork on my XC rig, but thats my own personal preference, i also like the feel of a solid fork for street and jumping, dont ask me why though...

What fork are you running on your ToP Mael? Im running and DJ2 and thats pretty stiff and takes a pretty hard hit to move the bugger...

Guess I better explain why I ride a solid. I usually ride an old ATB.
Chromoly, made VERY well.
The solid fork is very well mated to the frame and running it solid keeps the bikes weight in ballance and down to 21 lbs, good for a full chromoly bike.

The fork never funks up in the bush, no parts to funk up.
I also like my axle point fixed as I run very hard\ fast into corners and do not like any shift in the axle position. The bike rolls out and over better I feel. Any compression towards the bars is better transferred to the front wheel as a push, with a suspension fork -this energy will be lost. >I'm talking through my hat<...maybe...

My frame is pretty flexy, designed that way. A suspension fork makes the ride soft and unresponsive with THIS frame.

Most mtn HT frames I'd run suspension if Aluminium. Steels o.k not.
I like both for different bikes\ terrain.

dj 2 xtra stiff spring, air full...like I said...besically a rigid (but obscenly heavy)

To be honest it is likely how you ride and or you have had poor suspension before. Otherwise dh and mx bikes (bikes taking corners signifigantly fast and sketchier than xc bikes) would constantly loose traction. If setup right I image a suspension fork would actually be better, not worse :)

Not traction though it relates to what speed you can corner.
The speed through the turn, I crank through the turn.
Riding platforms and being in an xc (less upright) I find any ballance change (wheel position changing) brings me more upright and my arms bend.

On the solid fork I remain low and push the bars foreward, power through the corner.
Being a light guy and a light bike, traction is not always there, and am looking foreward to riding more FS downhill.
Most of my shock absorbsion is in my upper arm and shoulders.

I allow the bike to move under me and force it down, if the wheel moves when I do this -my body weight moves slightly foreward.
Not a good idea with my xc bike with the long stem.

I need a new bike for some of my riding.
Yes it just might have a fancy suspension fork. I doubt i'm needing dually yet.

The supa-nice suspension forks i've tried have all been on loaners so i've not run them in a hard\fast way. Not for fear of damaging the fork = >the bike.

Yes I stack occasionally. But only on my bike.

I have a fork that's almost a rigid now, but it just makes impacts worse when it moves, since it rebounds really hard.

I'll probably get a rigid, save a few pounds, and not miss the crappy, unexpected travel of my RST.

Of course, I could spend $280, get a Black Elite with V-brake mounts and ETA, and use that as a rigid when it suits my fancy... or I could get a Surly rigid fork for roughly $80.

Here ya go...
http://www.avalanchedownhillracing.com/mtn10.html

That's a suspension fork. $3695.00

:|

Sorry personal vernacular. I think of straight blade forks as 'rigid'.
And I like the sound of 'solid'.
Rigid makes me think of getting wood.

I also call single ring drives mono-ring. I just make it all up as I go along.

Hollow tubes you say.....

I picked "Different strokes for different spokes." as I think that's the closest selection that represents my viewpoint. I like them all. Sometimes I like full-rigid for that "connected" feeling and sometimes I like full-suspension. I have never owned a hardtail although I've ridden quite a few of them... including my wife's. I find that each type of bike gives the rider a different experience even on the same trails and I am all about diversity.

I agree.. whatever makes you happy and whatever you enjoy most. I kinda like my suspension fork, even though it's not exactly high-end by any stretch of the imagination.

my bike has a old shock that i never took care of its super hard now almost no flex so now i get a rigid ride and and guys who ride shocks think im cool. yup i had it planed all along