What exactly do you get with a better suspension fork?
#1
Banned.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Home alone
Posts: 6,017
Bikes: Trek 4300 X 2. Trek 1000, Trek 6000
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
What exactly do you get with a better suspension fork?
(Please don't link to the Fork thread- already read it.)
I have entry level nysync forks on my two Trek 4300's. I mainly just ride on gravel and dirt roads. What benefit will i get by springing for a $300 fork as opposed to the one i already have? Thanks.
I have entry level nysync forks on my two Trek 4300's. I mainly just ride on gravel and dirt roads. What benefit will i get by springing for a $300 fork as opposed to the one i already have? Thanks.
#2
Lost in the Black Hills
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 5,725
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Ranger
(Please don't link to the Fork thread- already read it.)
I have entry level nysync forks on my two Trek 4300's. I mainly just ride on gravel and dirt roads. What benefit will i get by springing for a $300 fork as opposed to the one i already have? Thanks.
I have entry level nysync forks on my two Trek 4300's. I mainly just ride on gravel and dirt roads. What benefit will i get by springing for a $300 fork as opposed to the one i already have? Thanks.
__________________
Tomac Mountain Bikes | Light-Bikes l Magura USA | Industry Nine | Schwalbe Tires | Caffélatex
Tomac Mountain Bikes | Light-Bikes l Magura USA | Industry Nine | Schwalbe Tires | Caffélatex
#3
Wood Licker
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Whistler,BC
Posts: 16,966
Bikes: Trek Fuel EX 8 27.5 +, 2002 Transition Dirtbag, Kona Roast 2002
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 23 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Not always lighter weight. Generally the damping system (compression and rebound) is more suited to the riding style you select. On xc forks it is stiff at the top becoming, in theory, soft once you get past the first few inches. This would allow the fork to react to bumps but not react to peddle bobbing. On fr and dh forks we use a lot of sag. The fork needs to ramp up suitably to take a bit hit while also being active enough to take VERY fast bumps.
Being able to adjust those (rebound, compression, especially high and low speed and preload) allow perfect tuning of the fork for the rider. With cheaper forks you don't get very much of a damping system. Usually a small hole in the pumping rod, spring and some oil. All adjustments are done with oil and wrenches and for the really skilled, a small drill bit.
For the bigger forks you also get stiffer. My z150 is stiff, my 66rc is beasty next to it. My old monster T made my 66 look like a pinner fork. Xc forks tend to get light, Ti materials, minimizing weight for better xc performance. a 3in quality xc fork will feel as good as a 4 to 5 in crap fork. Quality suspension vs quantity
Now do you need a better fork. I don't know, do you notice a weakness in your fork. Are you going fast enough to notice its poor damping, are you going big enough to bottom the fork out while still needing the fork to be active. Do you need a fork that weighs 2pnds less than your current model. Does the fork flex if you hit a technical section. If you answered NO to any of these questions, than stick with what you have. I only upgraded when I could see my fork flexing. It would twist and shout all the way down the trail. I sold my exr really quickly and paid for something more suitable.
Being able to adjust those (rebound, compression, especially high and low speed and preload) allow perfect tuning of the fork for the rider. With cheaper forks you don't get very much of a damping system. Usually a small hole in the pumping rod, spring and some oil. All adjustments are done with oil and wrenches and for the really skilled, a small drill bit.
For the bigger forks you also get stiffer. My z150 is stiff, my 66rc is beasty next to it. My old monster T made my 66 look like a pinner fork. Xc forks tend to get light, Ti materials, minimizing weight for better xc performance. a 3in quality xc fork will feel as good as a 4 to 5 in crap fork. Quality suspension vs quantity
Now do you need a better fork. I don't know, do you notice a weakness in your fork. Are you going fast enough to notice its poor damping, are you going big enough to bottom the fork out while still needing the fork to be active. Do you need a fork that weighs 2pnds less than your current model. Does the fork flex if you hit a technical section. If you answered NO to any of these questions, than stick with what you have. I only upgraded when I could see my fork flexing. It would twist and shout all the way down the trail. I sold my exr really quickly and paid for something more suitable.
#4
Bike Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: South of Raleigh, North of New Hill, East of Harris Lake, NC
Posts: 9,622
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Specialized Roubaix, Giant OCR-C, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, Stumpjumper Comp, 88 & 92Nishiki Ariel, 87 Centurion Ironman, 92 Paramount, 84 Nishiki Medalist
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 68 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 37 Times
in
27 Posts
Originally Posted by Maelstrom
Now do you need a better fork. I don't know, do you notice a weakness in your fork. Are you going fast enough to notice its poor damping, are you going big enough to bottom the fork out while still needing the fork to be active. Do you need a fork that weighs 2pnds less than your current model. Does the fork flex if you hit a technical section. If you answered NO to any of these questions, than stick with what you have. I only upgraded when I could see my fork flexing. It would twist and shout all the way down the trail. I sold my exr really quickly and paid for something more suitable.
__________________
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
#5
Wood Licker
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Whistler,BC
Posts: 16,966
Bikes: Trek Fuel EX 8 27.5 +, 2002 Transition Dirtbag, Kona Roast 2002
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 23 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Generally when speaking of flex you can refer to lateral or torsional. The typical wheel in between the knees and twist will give you an idea of how flexy a fork is. Obviously this isn't a true indicator, simply a way of demonstrating how it can 'flex' during the ride. This is torsional, how much the wheel twists while riding, some forks have lots of flex and some don't. Some riders like flex, its like having side to side suspension, I am not a fan however.
Lateral is the movement of the fork side to side. No way to really test this but it does happen. Ride through a rock garden and watch you fork. There will be varrying amounts of play in the fork from side to side.
Lighter riders may not notice either, but myself at 270 riding dh really notices a difference between a 300$ fork and a 1000$ fork, for example. My old exr was so flexy it almost turned completely. The wheel was 90 degrees while my hands were still forward.
Also to elaborate on high end damping, you generally only notice large improvements when going really fast and/or exceptionally technical terrain.
Lateral is the movement of the fork side to side. No way to really test this but it does happen. Ride through a rock garden and watch you fork. There will be varrying amounts of play in the fork from side to side.
Lighter riders may not notice either, but myself at 270 riding dh really notices a difference between a 300$ fork and a 1000$ fork, for example. My old exr was so flexy it almost turned completely. The wheel was 90 degrees while my hands were still forward.
Also to elaborate on high end damping, you generally only notice large improvements when going really fast and/or exceptionally technical terrain.
#6
Bike Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: South of Raleigh, North of New Hill, East of Harris Lake, NC
Posts: 9,622
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Specialized Roubaix, Giant OCR-C, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, Stumpjumper Comp, 88 & 92Nishiki Ariel, 87 Centurion Ironman, 92 Paramount, 84 Nishiki Medalist
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 68 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 37 Times
in
27 Posts
Maelstrom, Many thanks for that excellent explanation. I have a low end fork, a Manitou Axel, that came stock on my Rockhopper. I've not noticed flex, but then I wasn't looking for it, but I will in the future.
__________________
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
#7
Flatland hack
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Nowhere near the mountains :/
Posts: 3,228
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Can you answer me a question about the Axel rocco?
Is it really squishy? Or does it feel stiff (hard to compress i mean)?
Is it really squishy? Or does it feel stiff (hard to compress i mean)?
#8
-- TREK RIDER --
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Sumwaresin, KY
Posts: 163
Bikes: Trek 4300
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Ranger
(Please don't link to the Fork thread- already read it.)
I have entry level nysync forks on my two Trek 4300's. I mainly just ride on gravel and dirt roads. What benefit will i get by springing for a $300 fork as opposed to the one i already have? Thanks.
I have entry level nysync forks on my two Trek 4300's. I mainly just ride on gravel and dirt roads. What benefit will i get by springing for a $300 fork as opposed to the one i already have? Thanks.
I bought a used Rockshox Duke fork for $100 with pump and it's a huge upgrade to my Trek 4300. I'm usually not down with buying used parts but it was owned by a guy that owns a LBS so it was in great shape as well as recently rebuilt.
#9
Bike Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: South of Raleigh, North of New Hill, East of Harris Lake, NC
Posts: 9,622
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Specialized Roubaix, Giant OCR-C, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, Stumpjumper Comp, 88 & 92Nishiki Ariel, 87 Centurion Ironman, 92 Paramount, 84 Nishiki Medalist
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 68 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 37 Times
in
27 Posts
Originally Posted by Flak
Can you answer me a question about the Axel rocco?
Is it really squishy? Or does it feel stiff (hard to compress i mean)?
Is it really squishy? Or does it feel stiff (hard to compress i mean)?
__________________
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator