Originally Posted by
ColinL
entry-level bikes have basic forks that work fine for bike paths and very light trails, but there definitely is a threshold where forks become MUCH more viable for technical trails with drops, jumps, roots and rocks.
in North America, that threshold is nearly always occupied by a Rockshox Recon or Sektor fork. All of the entry-level Suntour and RST forks, as well as Rockshox cheaper than a Recon such as XC28, Dart and XC32, all have very unsophisticated dampening and very little useful adjustment.
what I've noticed is that the hardtail market is being squeezed down. very, very few hardtail bikes have a Recon or better unless they are over $1,300 and then you have the Giant Trance X3 and other entry-level full suspension bikes that not only have that fork, but they also have effective rear suspension at ~$1,600.
*however*, if you buy a basic hardtail you can upgrade the fork and still have spent less than $1,300 if/when you find the fork inadequate.
As well as basic trails may also look at basic MTB Trail Centres with small drop offs, berms etc but not big drop offs or jumps I'm not that brave lol.
On my own bike the shocks arent as efficient as they were and on a canal towpath I felt every single bump but they have got better with some greasing and TLC.
Will look out for those forks on bikes I look at, prob expensive as you say tho.