balrog687

Hello!

I'm looking for a suspension fork with very low maintenance for my surly ogre.

1 1/8" steering
80/100/120mm coil spring
open bath (is this better for low maintenance?)
32mm stanchions
51mm offset

The closest fork I've found is the rock shox 30 silver TK and the RST Omega TNL 29er

The RST model has 32mm stanchions, 51mm offset and weight 2470g
The rockshox model has 30mm stanchions, 46mm offset and weight 2322g

is there anything better/stronger/lighter? I think Rockshox is better.

What do you think??

Regards

fietsbob

Leaving the stock fork is Lighter , Better? You want a $600+ suspension fork? theyre out there

I see data* on stock axle to fork crown race distance ,
if you increase that you lower the head tube angle degrees and change the Trail.


*468 here https://surlybikes.com/bikes/ogre/geometry
with you and whatever gear you have strapped to your handlebars the sag -preload distance
of the fork should be close to that distance.

Leebo

Coil for 29ers? Far and few between. Look for 34mm stanchions, others might be squirmy, depending on rider weight and gear. Air are lighter by far. Strait or tapered head tube?

Rob_E

I think it's a straight head tube. And, if I understand it properly, fietbob's concerns are mainly relevant if you go for suspension larger than 80mm. The bike is designed to run 80mm suspension, so I assume the geometry would not really change.

But I would also say that suspension forks do not appear to be common or generally appreciated as part a touring set-up, so you might not find the answers you need in this section. There is a mountain biking section and there's whole mountbiking forum (mtbr.com) where there's probably a whole lot more information on suspension forks to be found.

Good luck. I have a desire to put a suspension fork on my Troll, too, but not for touring. I suspect that I would switch back to the stock fork for touring.

Tourist in MSN

Whatever you get, try to also buy a second headset bearing race so you don't have to move the race from one fork to the other when you switch forks. Also you might want to get a second star nut.

I found a pretty good RockShox but a lower quality model that was nearly new on Ebay, I think I paid less than a third of new. Keep an eye out for used. Although mine was not a high end model, I have been quite happy with it. I did not put on a Surly, it is on a Thorn, my frame is designed for 100mm suspension, 26 inch wheels.