Ponderings of a good fork

[Crinkle]

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 .

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.

[Arty50]

All I know is that when it's late at night and I'm sitting on the couch watching TV, my VP-Free keeps whispering sweet nothings in my ear...

"You will buy me a 888 RC2X."

[crashnburn'd]

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.

Based on what you're saying, I'd suggest a Rock Shox Pike or Manitou Nixon. IMO, they're two of the best all mountain forks available. To be fair, I haven't ridden anything similar from Marzocchi or Fox though.

I have a Nixon Elite on my Heckler and love it. The Elite is the cheapest (retail around $500, but can be had much cheaper) of the three and is a coil sprung, 115/145mm rapid wind down. It seems to handle climbs well, even in the 145mm travel setting. Downhills it takes well and feels pretty good on some 4-5ft drops.

The Pike is a little cheaper than the Nixon, but basically the same travel/adjustment wise. I though it felt a little stiffer than the Nixon, but the on I rode was on a hardtail and I didn't really ride it much. I think it's also a little heavier.

Older Marzocchi Z1's (130mm) ride great and can be bought pretty cheap also. If you can afford it, don't buy anything without rebound and compression adjustment.

Or, if all else fails, just go for a Super Monster.

[uncle crud]

every fork has its (+) and (-) features. my thoughts...

Manitou makes great a fork chassis but needs a clue on damping and especially that silly SPV that basically kills all small bump sensitivity.

Marzocchi damping in HSCV and shim stack (i.e. 888 and 66 non-SSVF versions) forks is the best in the biz, if buttery smooth slippery fork action is your gig. For XC and trail riding they tend to do as much in&out as a porn movie, which can make them frustrating.

Fox coil/oil forks have a great feel that matches the feel of a Fox coil rear shock. Much better for XC and trail riding IMO, while still tunable to great performance in DH/FR apps.

Best forks (real world, not "on paper") available now:

Big single crown
Fox 36
Marzocchi 66 (but not VF versions!)

Dual crown
Fox 40
Marzocchi 888 (but not VF versions!)

Trail for light folks or smooth apps
Manitou Minute (careful with the SPV tuning, Jethro!)
Marzocchi Marathon series
Fox Float

Trail for avg or heavier folks, rougher apps
Manitou Sherman Firefly (same story, Jethro!)
Marzocchi AM series
Fox Vanilla

last thought: I have no time on RockShox forks since their 2d model year under the SRAM corp banner, which has resulted in definite improvements according to my shop wrenching friends bold enough to give RS a try after so many years of SHYTE SUSPENSION. of the RS offerings available now, my friends who've bothered to try them say that the Pike and Reba forks are doing very well.

[uncle crud]

If you can afford it, don't buy anything without rebound and compression adjustment.

this is equal to saying, "don't buy a Manitou".