What 100mm budget fork to go for?

Darra8

Thinking about getting a suspension fork for my bike, but not sure which, if any of the budget end of forks are worth looking at. It has to have V brake bosses too. Don't want to spend more than 100 quid if possible, so second hand might be my only option. I know the rock shox tora isn't too bad, but which of the marzocchi are worth looking at?

Cheers,

Steve

ride_whenever

none of the zocchis hold a candle to second hand set of tora's...

bomberesque

reading your post I guess your current frame has a rigid fork on? If so, take care that the frame can handle a 100mm fork, the A2C is potentially 40-60mm longer than a non-sus corrected rigid fork which will stress the frame as well as dramatically changing the handling.

To check it, measure the A2C of your current fork; this is from the front wheel axle centre to the top of the crown where the lower race of the headset sits on the steerer. If it is around 445mm then you're OK. If its 400 or less then you have a non suss corrected frame and a 100mm fork will likely overstress the frame and kill the handling.

if you have that covered, then Tora is the way, I suspect. I'd not get a 2nd hand budget fork unless you're sure of where it comes from. It'll often be being sold as the seller has "upgraded" into which you can read "used the OEM fork until it needs servicing then decides to upgrade" and the service is unlikely to be worth the cost (a proper service can cost 70 quid....)

Darra8

Hi Bomberesque,

Thanks for the advice. I built the bike myself with, as you guessed a rigid fork. The frame is a merlin malt 1 which originally was sold with a 100mm fork. I bought the rigid that was suspension corrected to 100mm to match the frame, so I should be OK. You are probably right about buying second hand though...might try and find a new one.

Cheers,

Steve

ride_whenever

tbh, i've had two second hand forks now and neither have given me any trouble. I've got some tora 318 coils that work fine and i was keeping for when i send my forks off for servicing, pm me if you're interested.

Darra8

Just been looking at the weights of some of these forks, and they are over 3 lbs heavier than my alloy rigid. I think I might just stick with the bounce from my tyres, as I don't want a bike that weighs 31lbs :shock:

supersonic

Tora SL weighs 4.77lbs. Some recon airs are 4lbs, but you'll pay more.

Strong, light, cheap - pick any two ;-)

ric7481

any use ? http://www.cyclebasket.com/products.php ... 6s202p1677

Anonymous

Darra8 wrote:

as I don't want a bike that weighs 31lbs :shock:

MTFU and beast it.