Ponderings of a good fork
I haven't read enough into the subject to speak knowlegeably about forks. I know the basics. It seems that the newer forks are coming with more and more adjustments (rebound, dampening, lock out, shortening the travel for climbs). Now we are faced with even more choices, such as; remote lock-outs and through axel forks, but what truely makes a great fork? Why would a fox be better than a marzocchi, than a manitou, than a boxxer. You have DJ, DH, XC, race XC, race DH, freeride.
Hell there are so many variations these days. You can get air-spring, dual-air, coil-spring, yada yada. It seems that they have made the forks for such specific uses, there almost isn't a "do-it-all" for or I should say "all-around" fork. The technologies are great, don't get me wrong, no one would have thought of a dual-crown 10" fork 5 years ago on a bike with pedals. Who knows maybe they did. Everyone rides differently and there is no substitute for pedal time on different forks, but its tough to find time or enough bikes to get out on that have all the different forks. A fork tester for a mtb magazine would be pretty sweet job i guess :rolleyes: .
But put yourself in todays buyer's shoes. Where do you draw the line price wise? (as much as you can afford i guess). Is there such a thing as too many options? (the case of the original 5th element shock comes to mind, in difficulties of tuning it) I had a knowledgeable rider friend who got a the Talas RLC a year or so ago, it took him weeks to get that thing dialed in right and he knows what he was doing. I suppose its about trial and error.
You could go the other way I suppose. A friend of a friend has quit suspension all together and now rides nothing but 29'ers. His current bike a 4g custom rigid 29'er. Don't worry, i like the plush ride and control of a FS to ever go that direction.
I supose there are more ramblings than questions here. Looking into all the options available is just straight up mind boggling. Frustration also comes to mind, that I won't be able to buy the "best" (a 36 RC2 would kick ass) or get out to try all the fork options available on the frame that I want.
When it all boils down, what you want directly corresponds to how and what you ride. Me? Aggressive XC, airs up to 4', fast descents and technical trails (rock gardens are fun, up or down). Weight isn't that big of an issue, but it has to go up well. I currently have lock out, but never use it. Adjustable travel is available in just about every fork these days, so no worry there. Price definitely an issue.
Some will be better than others, something will be better than what I buy, which is more than I can afford. In the end I know I'll be happy no matter what with 2 wheels and some dirt.
