I'm building my bike up slowly, but surely. The fork has got to go. It's a real cheap Spinner Edge fork that just doesn't stack up to what I'd like. I knew this buying the bike, but it's one thing I've put off upgrading for a long time now.

I'm in a dilemma between air vs coil, but I've read a lot about them. I have the air shock I'd like to get in mind, which is a Rock Shox Recon 351 Solo Air. It's available with a 20mm thru axle (which makes sense for me to grab while I'm upgrading the fork anyway). 130mm travel, black in color, and in my price range of ~300 dollars.

I'd like a very comparable coil fork to look at, just so I can further bounce between the two forks. Is there any type of fork you can suggest me that has the following parameters?

- Around 120mm travel (my bike was 120mm stock)
- 20mm thru axle option
- Available in black
- Available for 300-ish
- Available with 20mm thru axle
- Coil suspension
- Disc brake mounts required
Thanks guys!

For 300'ish....................oooooo, can't think of any new but used you may find a nice one. Most in what you want that would be a decent fork are around $500'ish.

There has to be something. The most common thing I read about air vs coil is air is more expensive. If I have a winning air fork here @ 300, I should be able to find a coil fork that is at least comparable to it, even if it's a bit over 300...

Coil..............over air. Let me think and look and get back.

Dude............the only thing I could come close to in a coil spring at 100mm black fork with a 20mm axle is at Blue Sky where I bought my Marzocchi Bomber. Here is the link and it is sub $300:

https://www.blueskycycling.com/produc...e-302-Fork.htm

But it has no lockout from what I see. I like a lockout fork with rebound adjust and compression adjust.

I also found a 160mm fork but that may be too much for your frame depending. It is a Marz and is over $300 at $320 which is not bad:

https://www.blueskycycling.com/produc...55-RV-Fork.htm

What if the price got bumped to 350? Do any other options open up?

Not much depending on what your looking for. If you are open to an used fork maybe on such places like E-Bay or Craigslist or even the classifieds here on the forum. If you need 120mm travel; IS disc specific; 20mm axle; lockout; preload; and compression I think new buy you may have to get around $425 or so. But you never know from all the online retailers who may be having a great sell going on or trying to unload new old stock. You just have to go and look for these things and do searches to find it.

If you are open to a used fork you may find a great deal. This one on E-Bay may fit your need and is new uncut steerer tube as well but is a air fork but has 20mm axle and is black with disc brake specific: https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=220554063255

Man you just have to look and see what you can find.

I think my biggest problem is I don't know that much about brands of shocks and which ones I should focus on and which ones I should avoid. Clearly Fox and Rock Shox are pretty good, but Fox having all white forks is pretty barf-able, so they're out of the picture. I've only stuck with Rock Shox options cause it's the only other brand I'm familiar with. Do you have any suggestions for other brands I should check out?

What kind of bike is it? The Recon that you posted and the Argyle that someone suggested are very different beasts...one being more XC/Trail oriented and the other a DJ. If you like the Recon but want a coil, what about a Recon U-Turn? Another option is to look for a used Fox Vanilla/TALAS or RS Pike (just make sure it's in good condition). I'm sure Manitou and Marzocchi have stuff, but I'm not familiar with either line, outside of the Marzocchi DJ, which is more similar to the Argyle.

This is my bike:

https://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/B...port&Type=bike

The Recon U-Turn looks good, but I have yet to find it available with 20mm thru axle.

So your XC riding for the most********** The Tora would be a great compliment to that bike.

Does the Tora have a 20mm axle option?

I did a scan of Google shopping for rock shox maxle (maxle is their 20mm axle) and all I found were air forks. Is there a reason 20mm axles with coil forks are hard to come by?

Don't know if it also comes as a coil but any reason if the price is in your budget why you dislike a air fork??? The one I linked above on E-Bay is a Tora in black with 20mm axle but is a air fork.

Ever try a air fork??? I have a Marzocchi 44TST2 Bomber that is a air loaded fork and love it.

Man who catch fly with chopstick - do anything!

I'm beginning to think I should just take the air fork. I guess I was a little spooked by air forks due to some faulty seals I've read about here and there on the forums. I just called the bike shop and their recommendation before I even brought it up was a solo air Recon, which is one I was considering from day 1.

I'll probably just go this route.

Found this on Google shopping @ an even better price than the ebay one

https://www.amazon.com/RockShox-Tora-.../dp/B002ITL8O8

Is the Tora a good fork? This one might be one I end up grabbing. Unless the Recon @ 299 is more worthwhile.

A helical or coil fork uses the spring as the compression mechanish of course. I know alot of folks believe this type of fork is more consistent in it's compression but I have found a air fork while has a plushier feel reacts just as quick on trail riding as any. Plus the fork can be tuned to rider style by increasing pressure. But just keep it in tolerance of what the manufacturer recommends.

Yup... and a faulty seal can be replaced... i'm sure the new fork has a warranty also.

My Marz has been put through the test in the past month over some tough technical single track and not a issue what so ever. In fact, my wife's coil fork has more residual oil on her stachion tubes after a ride while mine are totally clean. But they are two different companies we ride however. But I tell you, air is the way to go in my book. Just pick up a decent little fork pump. I bought a Sette from PricePoint for like $17 and it works great.

Recon U-Turn has a Maxle Lite

Coil fork will have more linear travel than an air fork, so many people say it's a smoother and better ride. I ride an air fork and like it for its adjustability (not that it's *that* hard to replace a spring, but I can fine tune the air fork better).

How do the Tora forks compare to each other? I see 302, 318, SL, etc... what do they all mean, and how are they different?

EDIT - PS, can you guys recommend me a decent 26" front wheel with 20mm axle hub? Cheaper the better, but of course I don't want something that's bottom of the food chain. I currently have Sun Rhyno Lite rims with Deore hubs and I'm a fan of them. Something comparable would be nice... It's just hard finding a single wheel. It's like buying the left shoe without the right...

I have a fork question also. Sorry Roasted, not trying to steal your thread. Although it seems like youre done with it. I was looking into gettin a bike with a 80mm travel fork (Fuji Thaoe Comp with Dart 3) but from research it seems that the Darts are bottom end. How much would the bikes geometry change if I was to put 100mm fork on it? Thanx.

P.S. Roasted you can have this thread back after Im done with it.

You KNOW what I would say . . . .