Best bike suspension forks according to redditors
We found 23 Reddit comments discussing the best bike suspension forks. We ranked the 19 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 23 Reddit comments discussing the best bike suspension forks. We ranked the 19 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
What you need is one of these forks and then get a steerer to suit. You should be able to get it all from Amazon.
If you google RST no steerer it should show up a few sites, unfortunately you still cannot get a better brand fork, but an RST may be better than what's on your wally. Might be a better investment to just buy a better used bike mate.
I wouldn't worry too much about the head tube size thing. I worried about it myself but then I realized, they sell decent forks in straight 1 1/8" -- like this Rockshox 30 Gold TK air fork. If I wanted any nicer of a fork I should be looking at a new bike anyway, and the better bikes and forks are all tapered.
It would be great if you could buy one perfect cheap frame and have unlimited upgradability, but you have to start somewhere. While it's not ideal, you can take a straight 1 1/8" fork and use it on your new tapered frame. Not sure how well that works but they make headset kits for it.
The axle sizing and straight headtube kinda limit your options. Amazon has a few good options like this: https://www.amazon.com/RockShox-RECON-Suspension-Fork-100mm/dp/B07BF3SVTS/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=rockshox+recon&qid=1565493358&s=gateway&sr=8-3
Or this: https://www.amazon.com/SR-Suntour-Suspension-Straight-Standard/dp/B07PJGXXVH/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?keywords=suntour+epixon&qid=1565493419&s=gateway&sr=8-8
https://www.amazon.com/DNM-USD-8-Downhill-Mountain-203mm/dp/B01BIQMZRA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=dnm+usd8+fork&qid=1565222035&s=gateway&sprefix=dnm+us&sr=8-1
Dnm usd-8
Manitou Markhor is probably your best bet. 100mm travel air fork that comes in 29" straight steerer and QR. It's not high end, but it's nicer than the spring fork that you've got on there and should let you ride many miles before you outgrow it. By the time you do, you'll have a better idea of what you are looking for in a bike/fork and will probably have upgraded.
Otherwise, you're going to be looking used for an older Fox/RS fork I suspect.
https://manitoumtb.com/product/markhor/?cat_id=23
https://www.amazon.com/Manitou-Markhor-100mm-Travel-Matte/dp/B07197D9LW
Amazon has a screaming deal (289 at this time) on a sid right now. Go 120, for rock shox at least it comes with a shim to shorten it if you don't like it.
this should do it for you:
https://www.amazon.com/SR-SUNTOUR-Mountain-Bike-100mm/dp/B00K2PFMI8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1498722510&sr=8-3&keywords=mountain%2Bbike%2Bfork&th=1&psc=1
you'll need this to thread the handlebar stem onto the fork tube
https://www.amazon.com/FSA-Hammer-Headset-34mm-Headtube/dp/B003J7XCRO/ref=pd_bxgy_468_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B003J7XCRO&pd_rd_r=1H9XRKVB74WPERW31VHC&pd_rd_w=iNjqW&pd_rd_wg=m2Lw5&psc=1&refRID=1H9XRKVB74WPERW31VHC
Here ya go: https://www.amazon.com/Suntour-Suspension-threadless-steerer-travel/dp/B00O2T7R2E
Pic: https://imgur.com/a/V1VS3D2
Edit: Just realized you might not have meant suspension forks. Anyway, hope it helps regardless.
This is some great advice. Just what I was looking for. That's about the amount of money I'd be comfortable spending on a fork upgrade, and all the reviews I could find are raving about it being 'best bang for the buck', which is just what I was looking for. Sure there are probably $500-1000 forks out there that would be amazing but the bike was $900, who would do that?
Saving up for a new bike as another commenter said is just out of the question for the time being, so a solid $230 to get a good performance boost from the suspension is key. Out of curiosity though...
This is what I'm looking for?
http://www.amazon.com/RockShox-Suspension-Bicycle-Turnkey-Aluminum/dp/B00V8SAU3A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1449701659&sr=8-2
I assume the '100' means '100mm travel', which is what my bike's geometry currently has, the poploc is awesome and I'll gladly throw $30 for that feature, but the top of the fork looks really long! Is that a standard size or something, or will I need my LBS to do some work on this before I can install it myself?
Thanks for fielding all these questions man -- I really appreciate it! A few more reviews and I've got my finger on the trigger to pick this up :)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CW90VTM/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1
120mm with adjustable pressure for $120... That's less than several solid forks I was looking at a while back.
Just put a rockshox recon rl silver on my rigid Karate Monkey. Has steel uppers so not going to win any weight awards at 2089g but responds nicely. https://www.amazon.com/RockShox-Recon-Silver-Fork-Adjustment/dp/B06XTLG4M3
Upgrades are badass man. I went with a pretty entry level air fork because the one that came on my bike in 2011 had a recall in like 2013 and they stopped doing claims so I said screw it and went with the RockShox Recon Silver TK. I wanted a new fork since I bought the bike so it was something that was for peace of mind (safety) and upgrading.
With MTB being a sport where you get out of it what you put into it I wanted to make sure I was consistently going riding before putting a ton of money into it. I love how many little things you can change, make you understand and enjoy the sport more. I'm really into working on stuff and I like to work out so the bike is a nice little hobby that fits perfectly in my wheelhouse.
You can still get a NOS RockShox Recon Silver TK fork in straight 26" with canti bosses. It's basically the guts on a Reba on a steel-stanchioned fork, meaning that it's actually air coiled and all that. Travel will likely be greater than your frame is designed for, but that's going to be the case with literally any fork you buy which was made in the last ~15 years.
After that, I think your only choice is going to be something vintage.
I would check out the Rock Shox XC 28 or XC 30 both are pretty cheap and will be way better than the suntour you have now. I wouldn't spend any more money on the suntour if it's already breaking apart.
If you're looking low end, I'd suggest this over the Suntour. It at least as lockout.
I was looking at this fork, which looks to be compatible:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07197D9LW/?coliid=I10DIWLL71GHCH&colid=2THLH30ZELFYV&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
For the price-point that goblin bike is gorgeous! The fork alone is like $400. I will definitely consider it for purchase.
This is it. My review is the four star review. My only beef with it is that the full lockout feels almost more than full rigid. It's great when you're riding on smooth pavement but when you hit any kind of bump you feel it even harder.