Originally Posted by
lothian
Turns out, the suspension fork on my mountain bike is entry-level, pre-loaded coil, pos. After a bit of research I'm persuaded a new fork is my Next-Big-Expense for this bike. To save money, I plan to shop used. I'll Google the various specs, features, tech of each make and model that piques my wallet. My present concern, though, is: How does one evaluate a used suspension fork, particularly in light of the fact that used forks are typically no longer installed on a bike. Caveat emptor.
Suggestions? Advice?
Buying something that can still be serviced and rebuilt is a good idea. If you're looking on eBay or something like that, I'd just ask the seller straightforward questions: Do you know if it works like it should? When was the last time it was serviced? Does it hold air? Leak oil?
If all the answers sound good and the seller has a good rating, you probably still have a 30 percent chance that you'll spend $150 to $200 putting new seals on it or some other service. So just add at least $50 in your head to whatever you'd pay for a used fork.
Looking for a NOS fork on eBay is not a bad idea; you might be able to get a big discount, especially if you're looking for a 26" wheel, or a straight steerer, or something like that.
Finally, I would consider a suspension corrected rigid fork. If your old fork was useless, your bike will ride just as well -- better, actually -- with a rigid fork.