Since i'm a roadbike's fanatic , i started to think is the same way.
My actual fork is this: RST gila+plus remote lock on 80mm
and it is just awful...

I mean , yes is an entry level fork but other products with that range of price will works better.
Is not "that sensible" at all , and mostly is working the 50% of his 80mm.

Maybe is the trademarks or maybe is becouse this model has the elastomer insted of the spring.

When i got my mountainbike i was pretty happy becouse i was thinking the elastomer's system is better than spring.... and is not as expected.

On ebay i found some pretty nice forks (non-suspended), cheeper as well (some at 90$ others at 200$).



Back on the days when i was racing i was a weight-focused guy , so i can reduce the bike's weight a bit..

But i think is not a great decision since the weight is still eavy becouse is a full alloy bike with entry level parts (old deore and cheaper mavic wheels).
... i mean , the bike is not that light at all.. is that correct to save weight on an important part as this?
Also i think a well made fork will cost the double of that price , i don't really trust the cheeper-carbon made in china.

So , what are you doing in my case?

- Keep that ugly fork;
- Buy an entry level fork (maybe a rockshox powered by springs);
- Buy the cheeper carbon fork;

Edit 1:
I don't think i'm going to replace soon , since actually i have more (money's) outputs.

Edit 2:
Here my bike [Link].

The only forks worth upgrading to are the air suspended forks. All spring and elastomer forks will perform very similarly unless one is built for a smaller rider vs. larger rider.

You could forget carbon and just go with a steel rigid fork. It is still going to be lighter than the fork you have now. Like corrado says if you are going to upgrade to another suspension fork you really need to go to air to make it worthwhile. You could always go used.

Steel or alu will be fine but this style is just awful https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/S3IAAO...lGu/s-l500.jpg
the bad news is i can't buy any air fork with +/- 100 euros.

Oh! i was thinking they works in the same way.


thanks guys for the advices.

Aluminum would beat you to death. I was thinking more like a Surly Karate Monkey fork or Salsa Cromoto Grande Rigid fork.

The difference isn't in the spring, coil or air, the difference is in the dampening mechanism. Air sprung forks are easier to adjust for a given rider's weight, you change the air pressure. While coil sprung forks may require to change you the spring itself. That and the fact that air sprung forks are lighter has gotten coil forks out of fashion for anything but gravity riding.

I think the RockShox 30 Silver wit coil springs is still worth getting over an RST Gila.

I've been using a cheap eBay carbon fork (X-Lite brand) on my Kona unit.

Untitled by tk_1971, on Flickr

No problems so far, and I actually ride through rough stuff that some of my hardtail riding buddies walk through.

I got a Suntour Epixon through aliexpress for less than $200. Remote lockout (Which I LOVE!) and adjustable damping.

I got to give this fork a good workout in a trip out west. I took all the abuse I could give it with ease. I easily got my moneys worth. Its way better than the cheap Rockshox that came on the bike.

I'm buying another one for the next bike build.

-SP

Like speedy25, I found a KILLER deal on a 160mm travel X-Fusion Sweep 34 for $235 for the new Black Plague build I am doing. You can find really great deals if you are patient enough to wait for them to circle around.