What 100mm travel suspension fork to buy.....?

[auraslip]

I've got a frame on the way that takes a 100mm suspension fork. The problem is that 100mm travel forks start at $250. I however don't need a badass off road suspension system. Just a good fork for pot holes and bumps. Are there any less expensive forks, or what fork should I look for on ebay/craigslist?

 

[EVTodd]

I got a 100mm RST Gila Pro off eBay a while back. It was brand new for only $13 and that included shipping (or was it $16? It's been a while).

I know everyone dogs RST forks but I like them a lot so far (knock on wood). If you don't plan on beating the hell out of them they seem decent enough.

 

[Hillhater]

Unless you are a kamikaze off road downhill loony , you probably dont need a 100mm fork .
certainly for road use a 60 -80mm fork is enough,.. and usually cheaper.

 

[EVTodd]

Unless you are a kamikaze off road downhill loony , you probably dont need a 100mm fork .
certainly for road use a 60 -80mm fork is enough,.. and usually cheaper.

Maybe he wants to keep the geometry of the bike the way it was intended. I certainly wouldn't advise anyone to use a 60mm fork on a bike intended for 100mm.

 

[veloman]

Try to find an old used Rock Shox on ebay or CL. If you aren't using a front hub motor, then it will be much easier to find one that fits. Make sure the steerer matches the headset diameter, such as 1 1/8" is the most common, and if it's threadless or threaded (old style).

I have a Rock Shox Indy C fork on my ebike, and it soaks up the potholes great, especially if I have some weight up front (battery in triangle). That fork was low end back in 1998, and reffered to as "pogo-stick" feeling..... so my point is that it really doesn't matter what you get, as long as it doesn't bottom out easily.

I wouldn't spend more than $50 on a front sus fork for an ebike (unless you are building a 50mph ebike), just look around.

 

[D-Man]

Get a brand new one for like $100-$125 at jensonusa.com. Good closeout deals right now for 100mm forks.

 

[vanilla ice]

Try to get a take off from somebody upgrading a newer bike.. or another cheap option for new is suntour. I'd be flexible on travel, I don't think 20mm is going to make a noticeable difference. You can probably get something that will work for less than 50 including shipping if you shop around.

 

[Hillhater]

Unless you are a kamikaze off road downhill loony , you probably dont need a 100mm fork .
certainly for road use a 60 -80mm fork is enough,.. and usually cheaper.

Maybe he wants to keep the geometry of the bike the way it was intended. I certainly wouldn't advise anyone to use a 60mm fork on a bike intended for 100mm.

Well to be honest, i wouldn't recommend dedicated off road spec bike geometry for regular on road use either ! ( assuming this bike is for road use ?)
you do not need (or want for good handling) this long travel suspension, on roads, some suspension is good but too much can give problems.

 

[dogman dan]

Lots of suspension travel is a problem on the road if you are pedaling. Lots of energy just goes into pedal bob. But with a motor, you pedal lighter and smoother, and you can still have lots of travel. stiffening the preload helps.

It's going to take a motor right? Then you need to pay particular attention to whether or not the motor fits between the forks. RST and Suntour both make steel suspension forks with 80 mm travel that should fit a motor. You see them on the Schwinns and other entry level bikes like Trek 820's. In an aluminum fork, you can use anything you can find that fits the motor AND the pair of torque arms you will have to have. Anything from 80 mm to 140 mm will still fit ok. You can adjust ride height a few mm with the preload adjustment. Lots of forks have an oil drain plug on the bottom of the tube that may interfere with the torque arm. I have a rock shocks fork like that, but I could make it work with a few notches made in the torque arm. C washers too of course for alloy forks, or even steel ones made for QR hub.

Of all my forks, I really really like my marzocchi bombers. I got mine cheap on a used bike, but boy are good air shocks nice. Adjusting the spring rate with the pump is really nice for dialing in the shock perfect for what you are riding it on.

 

[EVTodd]

Well to be honest, i wouldn't recommend dedicated off road spec bike geometry for regular on road use either ! ( assuming this bike is for road use ?

Who cares? The guy didn't ask what kind of bike we recommend. He asked what kind of 100mm fork we might recommend for a good price.

 

[Hillhater]

The guy didn't ask what kind of bike we recommend. He asked what kind of 100mm fork we might recommend for a good price

Well not exactly if you read it again....

The problem is that 100mm travel forks start at $250. I however don't need a badass off road suspension system. Just a good fork for pot holes and bumps. Are there any less expensive forks, or what fork should I look for on ebay/craigslist?

just trying to give the guy some options ! :?

 

[friedwires]

i just picked this one up http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130429084177&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT i t works great

 

[Mark_A_W]

I think you guys should be looking at 150-200mm suspension forks



And please stop considering those cheap $hit forks/frames that alway pop up in discussion. You can get really decent 2nd hand forks for $150-$250.

 

[MitchJi]

Hi,

Maybe this?:
http://wheelworld.com/product/marzo...oem-7246.htm?gclid=CMqQlryKlaQCFQInbAodSH8pGw

Marzocchi
2008 DIRT JUMPER 3 (DJ-3) *OEM
Reg: $399.99
Closeout!: $149.99

Rock solid and affordable! The Dirt Jumper 3 will handle what you’ve got to give. It comes ready to launch with 100mm Travel and adjustable Preload.

Fork comes with 200mm Steer Tube.

*You may be asking yourself how we can offer such an incredible price. The answer is simple, this is an O.E.M. (Original Equipment Manufacturer) fork, or, a fork that was intended to be sold on a full production bike, but instead, for one reason or another, ended up in our hands at a great price, and we turn around and “fork” you a great deal! Enjoy, and tell a friend!

 

[Mark_A_W]

I've got a pair of them (earlier year, but basically the same).


They are very strong, but very heavy.

 

[dogman dan]

Read again, it's for street folks. And I sure see a front hub in the pic. And he doesn't want to spend much more than $75 I bet.

Ideally, he'd find one of the somewhat nicer forks off a Trek 820 on the used market. I do agree the 40mm type found on the wallmart $140 bikes are crap. No dampening at all. At least got to get one with oil in it, not one with a drain hole to let water out. And preferably one with a preload adjustment.

 

[chroot]

You could just keep looking on http://www.craiglist.org. I got 140MM decent Rock Shorx Tora front suspension for 75$ BRAND NEW!!!!! No joke :lol:

 

[auraslip]

I guess I should of explained my build:

Rear motor in a 24 inch wheel. Batteries frame mounted in the triangle. I figure the change in geometry from lowering the rear wheel an inch will be made up for by the extra weight and compression on the front fork from the frame mounted batteries. If not, the relaxed geometry will help handling at high speeds. Speed will be around 40mph.

 

[auraslip]

i just picked this one up http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWNX:IT

SR SUNTOUR XCR LO Mtb Suspension Fork 26" 1 1/8" NEW


Niccccccceeeeeeee. That seller has some damn good deals on low end components. I'll probably buy that fork, and some other stuff from their at the same time. Maybe even one of their $200 fixies for exercise =)

 

[vanilla ice]

That link didn't work for me but.. An SR suntour fork came stock on my Giant pedal MTB. Putting one on the tidalforce also. They have a wide product range like anybody, but many of them are very inexpensive, and even these lower models do seem to work ok. Especially for a non-offroader I think you would be fine with a $40 to $80 suntour from ebay or craigslist or wherever.

 

[torker]

Giant must have used a lot of those. My Rincon has an SR Suntour Xcr also. 80 mm I think, magnesium lowers. It works pretty good at 20 mph. on the street. And, I have 28 lbs. of lead in my triangle It wouldn't take much more weight or speed though.

 

[dogman dan]

Ahh, that's different. I had the front hub idea from the pic in your sig. So any decent alloy fork will be fine, provided it's not been cut too short to fit your frame. You sould be able to find something reasonable in 80 mm for $50 or so. Try to get one with preload adjustment. Just keep hunting on craigslist or Ebay.

 

[auraslip]

This article is a good intro to suspension forks.

 

[auraslip]

http://cgi.ebay.com/SR-Suntour-EPICON-RLD-MTB-Remote-LO-fork-100mm-EMS-Ship-/280530686232?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4150ee9118
Suntour epicon air $220 shipped
[youtube]Z_C8QkSTKnc[/youtube]
or

Suntour xcr coil $100 shipped
[youtube]WKzKiyPu844[/youtube]

I know suntour has a bad rep because of their shitty wal-bikes, but I think replacement parts should be easy to find since suntour is the OEM of mazorchi and the parts are the same.

 

[Mark_A_W]

Marzocchi's reputation has really gone downhill since they stopped manufacturing in Italy and farmed them out to Suntour.


But these forks will be fine, the downhillers have different requirements.