Change to Rigid Front Fork?
 

After much thought and some recommendations on posts here, I have decided to change out my Rock Shox front suspension fork for a Tange Rigid Cro-Mo fork. I had originally installed this on my lastest commuter buildup from donated parts off another bike because it was just like new and worked fairly well. On my commute I have a small amount of off road that doesn't really work the shocks so I figured the extra weight and chunky appearance had to go. I will be installing this within the next few weeks after it gets a paint job. What are your thoughts on that? Mistake or Not?

I'm thinking of the same thing but I haven't done anything about it. Yes, it will be lighter, more responsive, and for me, it allows me to switch to a disc brake on the front if I want to.

Yeah, the disc would be better for snowy and wet conditions. I thought of that too but I don't have any trouble with my V-brakes using the Aztec pads.

The other concern I had was that suspension forks are all about 2 in. longer from the dropout to the bottom of the crown as compared to rigid. I think there is some sit in sag on the front that brings it down close to the rigid but not sure yet. I just hope it doesn't throw off the geometry of the front end.

I would look for trails that worked the shock more:thumb: Breaks up the monotony.

Yes, I switched out mine for a Kona Project 2 fork. Way lighter and more responsive. I'm really happy I did it.

I used to have a full suspension mountain bike that was dedicated for serious off roading but my youngest son took that one over.:cry: I agree, more trails are fun for the commute to work but I am limited to what I have now on my commute route. I guess my main reason for the swap was to see if it would make the bike more efficient for commuting on pavement and gravel and if front suspensions really take that much away from the bike as far as speed, handling or acceleration. Any ideas on that?

I have two mountain bikes with rigid forks, love the handling and the feel. I have never enjoyed bikes with suspension, it's unneccessary for commuting... even for very rough singletrack off road trails I prefer a rigid fork.

Ah, you are thinking too much about the 'to work' part. Think more about the 'from work' when you have more time to explore.

And make the moocher kid get his own bike;) Or at least don't let him take your bike without getting an upgrade first:thumb:

Stay classy, San Diego.

don't overthink it ... coming from a guy with front sus RS ... i like it and it absorbs that bumps that loser roadies don't have to deal with.

can you employ a lock-out?

Get classy, Europe.

Ah exactly! I will have to remember that. You are the bike riding scientist for sure. LOL.

I'm curious to what kind of "scientist" (s)he is?

Unfortunately it doesn't lock out

modify it

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=11331

here is a picture of the kit "in the wild"

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=298249

I started commuting on a hard tail MTB years ago, and switched out the suspension fork for a rigid fork after a while. Honestly, weight and clunky appearance never crossed my mind, at issue for me was the rigidity. I was very glad with the change, particularly on a few spots where I would stand up and pedal and no longer felt so much energy going into the shock.

Watch the axle-to-crown height. You can get rigid forks (sometimes called "suspension-corrected" or similar) that are made to set up pretty well with frames that were designed for the taller suspension forks. Droy45 is right in his post that the geometry can be an issue, but you can get past that with the right rigid fork, they are not all shorter.

Interesting OP. I am struggling with the same decision myself. However, I have a front fork that will lock out the suspension.

I keep locking it out, not really liking it, and going back to the working suspension. I'm about to give up on the idea of a rigid fork. I really don't ride any off-road, other than greenways/hard pack. I do have a few blocks of my commute that is old concrete with lots of places coming apart and bad expansion joints.

I have the adjustment cranked up so the fork is not mushy. It's pretty firm, but it still takes a bit of the chop out of the bumps and cracks. Overall, it just seems to smooth out the ride.

Let us know how you like the swap.

I personally feel that BF really underestimates that choppy(i)ness of a commute due to bad pavement/road. I get the distinct feeling that people ride road/race-bikes to work and deal with "****" that shouldn't. But, then again, we tend to be civilized over here, and roll with suspension forks because the cobblestone tends to be hundreds/thousands of years old.

LoL. And I thought it was because I was old!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1mgYW9HcuQ

I did it on one bike. Don't forget the brake cable will need a stop.

I don't know what kind of fork my frame takes as I got the frame and built it up myself using what I had and that suspension fork was kind of standard so I am thinking that a standard rigid fork would be ok too. What I mean by standard is that most rigid forks measure all about the same unless its a special item.

Shades of grey here. Sure, you're right, "most" rigid forks are normal rigid forks. But there are plenty of longer rigid forks, called suspension corrected forks, that are "special" but not rare. It's basically a second standard, and readily available. If you're going to replace a sprung fork, at least get one of those and you'll be close.

me as well, both fendered and racked, one with studs, one without.