| Just about every mountain bike these days comes | | | | A little dial on the fork is much easier but only more |
| with front suspension forks and they are the most | | | | expensive forks will have this. |
| important mountain bike components you should look | | | | Compression |
| at. If the bike you are looking at does not have front | | | | This is the opposite of rebound and is the speed on |
| suspension forks you are probably looking at a | | | | the way down. You won't find too many forks that |
| hybrid, a touring bike or a road bike. | | | | let you adjust this so don't worry about it too much. |
| Coil Sprung Forks | | | | As long as your fork is set-up for your weight you |
| In general a coil fork is ideal if you have a tight | | | | don't need to worry about compression. |
| budget or are after an all-round bike. They are your | | | | Brands |
| most reliable choice and are more easily serviced. | | | | When looking at mountain bike components, and in |
| They are easily adjusted and tuned. | | | | particular forks, stick to the major brands like Rock |
| The main downside is the extra weight they have | | | | Shox, Fox, Manitou and Marzocchi. They have more |
| due to the steel spring inside the fork. However this | | | | money for research and development and build |
| also means they are usually made tougher. If you | | | | better and more reliable forks. |
| want to do DH racing, lots of jumping or just like to | | | | Brake Mounts |
| throw your bike around then this is the fork for you. | | | | If your bike does not have disc brakes, keep in mind |
| Air Sprung Forks | | | | that you might want to upgrade to disc brakes in the |
| Air sprung forks are lighter than coils but are also | | | | future so look for disc brake mounts. |
| more expensive. These days they are getting more | | | | Upgrading |
| reliable and are a great choice for a XC rider or | | | | If you are thinking about upgrading your forks then it |
| someone who wants LOTS of adjustability on their | | | | is a good idea to upgrade when you buy your bike |
| fork. | | | | rather than a few months later when you have |
| As long as you have a shock pump you can change | | | | saved up a bit more money. |
| your air sprung fork from 0psi to around 300psi in | | | | Why? |
| very little time. | | | | If you are getting a new bike the cost to upgrade to |
| Preload | | | | a new fork is usually the difference in wholesale price |
| Preload is the amount your springs are compressed | | | | between your current forks and the ones you are |
| when they are fully extended. A coil sprung fork will | | | | upgrading to. If you play your cards right you can |
| come with a minimum preload on it. If you turn the | | | | usually get them to install them for you free of |
| grooved cap at the top of the fork clockwise you | | | | charge. |
| can add preload to it. This means that the spring is | | | | If you upgrade your forks a month or 2 down the |
| being pressed down and makes your fork feel firmer. | | | | track you will have to buy the new forks at retail |
| Rebound | | | | price (usually a couple hundred dollars more) and you |
| Rebound is the speed at which your fork springs | | | | will usually need to pay to get them fitted to your |
| back up when you push it down. It is good if your | | | | bike. |
| fork has a rebound adjuster but not essential. More | | | | So think hard about whether it is worthwhile delaying |
| advanced riders like to set their own rebound but if | | | | the purchase of your new bike until you have saved |
| you are only an amateur rider you will be fine with | | | | enough money to be able to upgrade your parts |
| the factory settings. | | | | when you purchase your bike. It could save you |
| Many suspension forks these days can now be | | | | hundreds of dollars. |
| adjusted by changing the oil weight in the fork legs. | | | | |