Little-Acorn

I may be getting a Trek 7500FX hybrid bike, with aluminum frame and 700c wheels/tires. If I do, I'd like to get a suspension front fork for it. Most of my riding is on paved roads, some of which are bumpy, with occasionally going off on a dirt trail that's fairly smooth - no pounding up steep hills, boulders, or tree stumps for me.

My wife's 7500 has one of those RockShox Metro front suspensions. You can adjust the spring stiffness by turning a sort of key thing on the top of one of them.

Trek 7500s (without the FX) come with suspension forks, but 7500FX's have a regular (lighter) solid fork. The 7500s usually have a RockShox Metro fork. Apparently those have no actual shock absorber inside, just a spring, and they don't have lockouts (what are lockouts?).

Can anyone recommend a good not-too-expensive suspension fork for the 7500FX, that can accommodate 700Cx35 wheels/tires? How much do you have to pay to get one that has an actual shock inside (are they oil-filled?)? And, are lockouts a good idea? What other nifty features can be found on these front-suspension forks?

Am I wishing for more than I really need, with a suspension with a real shock absorber, lockouts, and a partridge in a pear tree?

kramnnim

The lockout...makes the fork so that it doesn't move up and down, so it's like a rigid fork.

Not many people using 700c wheels need suspension, so your choices are quite limited.

If you use disc brakes, you could use a 26" MTB fork...won't work with rim brakes, though.

Panthers007

I'd use a steel fork. Those are springy enough to absorb most simple bumps on the road. My 7.5 FX came with a carbon fork. Just as soon as it gives me one tiny excuse - hellooooo steel.

Wanderer

I'm gonna differ here - My Specialized Crosstrail has a lock out front suspension.

The suspension, when active, really is a much smoother ride over rough surfaces.

Granted, it is locked out 95% of the time (which is REALLY easy - even on the fly); but, when I use it, it makes a very BIG difference. Granted also, it really robs energy when you are pedalling hard, if it is active; but, if it's locked out, it's not an issue.

At 190#, + 15# of bolt ons, I keep the spring preload at max all the time - I can't imaging anyone leaving it totally springy....

When riding with my wife, or the Grandkids, I just leave it active all the time.

I spend most of my time on paved roads and paved MUP's, with occasional light singletrack, and some country gravel roads. I do about 8,000 miles a year on my bike.

The front suspension on my Crosstrail is by Neon. I like it!

KungPaoSchwinn

I emailed Trek 4 months ago for a recommandation for a 7000 series suspension fork for my FX 7.3,their response was that it will have a negative effect on the geometry on the bike.

Panthers007

Hey KungPaoSchwinn and all: We are trying to convince management the Hybrids need their own forum to recognize these highly popular bicycles. And as usual the roadie-toadies are stamping their feet and hurling their condemnation and telling us to throw away our hybrids and buy road-bikes.

We can use the help of all Hybrid-folks in posting our viewpoint. Come on down!

https://www.bikeforums.net/hybrid-bicycles/569402-hybrid-specific-forum-if-you-ve-already-posted-do-come-back-vote-poll.html