Forks

http://www.bike198.com/mtb-buyers-guide-mountain-bike-suspension-forks

What is the axle to crown measurement?

How much travel does it have?

Travel adjustments

Air or coil?

Travel adjustments

• • travel adjustment allows you to change the amount of travel on your suspension fork on the fly during a ride.You can change the bikes geometry on the trail depending on conditions. Want the bike to climb faster? Dial the fork down and attack the hill. Want the bike to be more stable on the descents? Dial the fork up and start slamming into every obstacle you can find.

  • There are basic fork adjustments that you need to be aware of (simplified greatly for use):

  • Rebound: Controlling how fast the fork recoils to normal position after a hit.

  • Compression: How fast (or slow) the fork compresses through its travel. Also the source of most manual lockout mechanisms.

  • Spring Rate: As mentioned before, controlling the amount of weight needed to compress the fork.

Axles

2008 was the year for thru axles. The standard quick release is making its way out of the mountain biking market, and soon it will only be available on small travel forks in the 100mm and under range (within the next couple of years). If you are looking at purchasing a new fork for your mountain bike, I would highly suggest going with a thru axle instead of the standard quick release. In most cases, the thru axle is actually easier to use than a qr.

BRANDS/MANUFACTURERS

As of the date of this article, I would stick to the following brands when choosing your new mountain bike suspension fork.

• • Fox Racing

  • Rock Shox (owned by SRAM)

  • Marzocchi Suspension (recent headaches in new lines should be ironed out now)

  • There are some promising units coming out of the Magura camp, so also be on the lookout for those forks in the near future. Manitou has taken a downturn in recent years, and most of the forks I have ridden recently are flexy in comparison with the competition. DT Swiss is coming to the market with an incredibly light line of forks, but as of right now…they still use the same Pace internals.

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/SubCategory_10054_10551_400205_-1_400002_400002

http://www.singletracks.com/blog/mtb-gear/upgrading-your-mtb-suspension-fork/

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Rock Shox

Reba: http://www.sram.com/rockshox/family/reba

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RIGID

Soma Groove Fork:

• 1-1/8" size headtube

• Geometry is based on a 440mm fork, and designed to accommodate 80mm (3.15") travel fork

• Soma Store - Fork: http://store.somafab.com/somtbridifo.html

• http://www.somafab.com/archives/product/crmo-mtb-disc-fork

  • 440mm (axle to crown) is designed for 26" wheel MTB's made for 80mm travel forks; 40mm rake; 1-1/8" 250mm CrMo steerer, $119

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KONA (Project 2)

KONA PROJECT II AH 26 DISC 440 BLK - Color: Black, Size: 26/ 1-1/8 440mm

http://www.cambriabike.com/product/kona_project_2_rigid_fork_black_26_1_1_8_440mm_disc_1081519113.php

Kona Project 2: 60-70$, ugly?, eyelets, crown hole, no disc tabs, 440mm, 1040g/813g(triple butted)

disc tabbed http://www.cycle-solutions.com/Project-2-26-P4797.aspx

http://www.cambriabike.com/shopexd.asp?ID=87429

http://www.bikeman.com/KON-P2MTN440.html

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SALSA Chromoto 26 Disc

http://salsacycles.com/components/cromoto_26_disc

http://www.bicycleoutfittersindy.com/product_p/FK0502.htm ($125)

• Suspension corrected for 80mm travel forks

• 100% Salsa Classico CroMoly

• Forward facing, stainless steel dropouts

• 1-1/8” threadless steerer (260mm)

• 445mm axle to crown, 41mm rake

• ISO disc tabs, disc only

• Tire clearance = 90mm

• Fender eyelets

• Black

• 1100 grams with full length steerer tube

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IRD

MTB CrMo Canti rigid 26" 440mm fork

96$ IRD 440, 40mm rake, black, unicrown, 907g, eyelets,

http://www.speedgoat.com/Catalog.aspx/Browse?Cat=C116&Prod=22806

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SOMA

$103 for Soma, canti, 40mm rake, 440mm length

http://www.niagaracycle.com/product_info.php?products_id=802955

http://store.somafab.com/socrmtbfoca.html

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SURLY

Surly Troll fork: http://classic.aebike.com/product/surly-troll-26-fork-1-1-8-threadless-black-sku-fk0098-qc30.htm

• 453mm axle to crown, 40mm rake

• • Mountain bike trail riding or trail biking is recreational mountain biking on hiking trails ("hike on a bike"), dirt roads and unpaved tracks, forest paths, etc. (pictured at right); it's also practiced in dedicated "trail centers", such as the scenic Slickrock Trail. There are "trail bike" designs for this activity.

  • Mountain Bike Touring is long distance touring on dirt roads and single track with a mountain bike. With the popularity of the Great Divide Trail, the Colorado Trail and other long distance off road biking trails specially fitted mountain bikes are increasingly being used for touring. Bike manufacturers like Salsa have even developed MTB touring bikes like the Fargo model. Mixed Terrain Cycle-Touring or rough riding is a form of mountain bike touring but involves cycling over a variety of surfaces and topography on a single route, with a single bicycle. The recent popularity of mixed terrain touring is in part a reaction against the increasing specialization of the bike industry. Focusing on freedom of travel and efficiency over varied surfaces, mixed terrain bicycle travel has a storied past.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_bike#Designs