In on fairness somebody buying a budget bike with low end fork wont give 2shits about the weight of the fork, when they are just out for fun on a sunny day.
also ridiculous to say beginners should be using a rigid fork. No one would go for a second ride if they tried trail riding with a rigid fork for their first ride because there would be so much discomfort.
Richard Cornish back in the day i used to RACE a mountain bike without any suspension. Pretty damn fun and effective. Still love ciclocross bikes also. A bad suspension is way worse than no suspension.
That is not a cheap fork. You should have used a properly cheap fork. One of those that cannot be maintained,taken apart. Those are the real garbage. This is a fine entry level fork. There are much worse things out there.
I agree, I rode the Suntor XCM for three years and liked it. Very easy to maintain and service. You can also replace the coil spring with a softer or more firm one, Suntour makes both options. I agree that it is heavy though, which was the reason I replaced it eventually.
I've tried a Suntour XCM but found I got a smoother ride on a pogo stick. I'd rather be rigid than be equipped with a coil sprung fork. That said, Suntour XCR 32 Air forks are good value! Rebound dampening is incredibly important for me with suspension forks, more so than the suspension itself.
When Walmart finally makes it to Poland, he should re-do this video with an actual cheap fork. The Suntour fork on this bike alone is probably the same cost as an entire Walmart bike.
Gyengye Gabor you couldn't be more right. I have this fork on my bike and I'm just a casual rider and it is a great fork for my riding skill. Getting a mountain bike with a high end fork is going to cost at least $1500 if not more which is out of the price range of all but the serious riders.
Lessons learned: 1. You don't need a fork because you're not hardcore enough with your casual riding. 2. You need a 600 dollar fork because you're too hardcore and you'll give up if your fork weighs an extra 2 pounds. --- WHAT?? You just sound like you're trying to justify why your fork costs more than my whole bike? Lessons I would teach: A cheap fork can significantly reduce vibration and roughness, even get you out of trouble if you have less than perfect technique, making your weekend ride that much more enjoyable. Your skill level will limit your riding more than your bicycle fork for all but the most enthusiastic of riders, and when you get to that point you'll know it. ENJOY YOUR CHEAP FORK AND GET OUT AND RIDE!!!
J My 1st fork: 1998 Rockshox Judy SL (high end) My 2nd fork: 1999 Manitou sx carbon (high end) My 3rd fork: 2006 Rockshox Judy J2 (entry level) My 4th and last fork: 2008 SR Suntour XCM (entry level) 10 years since then and still fine :)
This is not a cheap coil fork, it's an entry level fork. It is designed to increase confort, not to go faster, and for a beginner this is the best solution possible to get confident with rough trails at low speed. And also this suspensions don't need maintenance
you will be doing a lot of maintenance on this suspension fork if you ride in the cold xD or else itll become a rigid one with the extra weight of the suspension and frozen oil xD
I have a suntour xct, a really cheap fork. 26er, cheap disc brakes that are not very powerful. I am 54 years old, 6'3" , 215 lbs and have a 22 in Diamondback frame. Some air in the tires and lube on the chain... life is good I love riding that bike. I don't want to get off after I start riding. Old guys like simple.
ratoneJR Younger dudes like simple too. I'm just 27 and have a pretty much equivalent setup to yours, except with v-brakes. I use it to commute to work and back every day in a route with a few rain-gutted dirt roads, and it works amazing. I can spin on my baby pretty much forever, and leave many fancy 29er pedalmashers in lycra and jersey eating dust.
I'm a 18 years old and I like cycling even though there's no trails near in our area I still do it as an exercise. My frame on my bike is an old Schwinn frontier 650 bought 10 years ago along with WTB tires which still function perfectly and also my newly bought suntour XCM bought for about $65. I live here in Philippines which doesn't offer a lot of trails for bikers.
I have the same fork on a Claud Butler Stone River 26" bike made in 2009! I bought it used off Gumtree. I have taken the bike to Wyre Forest, Peak District, Malvern, Cannock Chase. It has been on very harsh and bumpy trails and I can hear the suspension really struggling. Yet the bike lives. No issues with the suspension whatsoever, it functions as it always did!
anybody with a brain on the matter would take the rigid fork over a cheap susp fork. the RST or what ever brand will fail in about 2 years of actual offroad use. and most people won't drop the cost of the bike almost to add a NEW quality fork. rigid saves about 3x the weight and is solid and predicable.
because people are clueless, if you are a sunday rider and you don't hit hard trails, and lets be honest most mountainbike users NEVER do, you are better off with a rigid fork.
@@MaximumEfficiency don't hit the hole, then. I ride a fully rigid bike on real trails and you just have to pick smooth lines. I would rather my rigid fork than a pogo stick.
sorry but you're wrong. I'd rather have a “lower end fork" than no fork. I have a Giant Rincon that had a Suntour XCM fork that I did a 20km race through challenging single track... oh yeah I'm physically fit too. I don't just ride easy trails. I recently upgraded that fork to a Rock Shox TK Silver 30 and I am okay with a coil shock. I can't afford an expensive air shock. My theory is use what you can afford and be grateful for what you have.
Matthew Brocke i stopped at "20k". it's raining outside and i just did 50k in a full rigid bike (i have alot of forest around my house). i also do road and cx and never needed any kind of suspension. the only "suspension" i want to get is a seatpost. very usefull in mtb.
what's your point?? some bikers want suspension, some don't. what did you mean 'I stopped at 20km?' I do more than 20km, but last year was my first mountain bike race. My point was that he was a bit arrogant in what he said in regards to cheaper suspension forks. People buy what they can afford. I'm on a budget and save up (sometimes for months) for upgrades but I still love to bike. I'm proud of my bikes cause I bought what I could afford and used what I've been blessed with.
If you are on a tight budget then no suspension is the best way to go. Cheaper, no maintenece and alot more durable. Now, if you think you need a suspension in order to ride 20k, you probably don't have enough skill. And most people say that suspension is mandatory when it's them that never rode a full rigid.
My bikes also have some upgrades, but a suspension fork would be the last thing i'd change. A dropper post, better wheels, converting from 1x7 to a 1x10 drivetrain, a lighter and larger riser bar, some light one finger brakes, a shorter stem...
Whatever dude. You don't know me or the skill I have. I prefer suspension over a full rigid, you're the opposite and that is cool. Don't dis someone cause you don't agree with them. I live in New Brunswick, Canada where we have a lot of mountainous and hilly terrain with a lot of rocks and roots. The place I rode my 20km was in Elgin, NB and like I said it was my first ever mountain bike race.
I don't get the point of this video. it's like saying your samsung J1 budget phone is no good, you need a galaxy s8 when all you really need is a phone to make calls, SMS do some light gaming and Facebook. this is why some beginners get turned off at cycling because of know it all people that forgot how it was to start out.
The point is not between J1 and galaxy s8, but was : hey try the nokia nokia 1100 instead. There are a lot of places where a rigid bike will be prefered(or i will prefer it any way): around town, in the park.
@@ivonakis A Nokia 1100 is not a smart phone, in the same way that a rigid fork has no impact absorption. The video uploader is just feeding his ego by making this video.
Yes it would be nice if we all could buy brand name components. But the reality is regular people buy what they can afford, not what they want. Many bicycle you tubers are out of touch with reality. They review bikes that are simply beyond the reach of normal folks. Drooling over the latest tech is nice for a while. But how is that relatable to week end warriors and enthusiasts.
I would rather have rigid forks than cheapo suspension forks. You can get older marzocchi dual crown forks pretty cheap, but they are *not* rubbish. Always buy an older second hand professional grade item rather than a new cheapo item. Also, a rigid fork will work great, and will weigh very little.
Ahh shut up, lay off the alcohol, cigarettes, junkfood, etc and other bad habits poor people generally have and you'll afford the more expensive stuff in no time.
Heavy cheap fork is better than nothing. Please come and ride a rigid bike here in south africa on a beginners trail and then we will see you change your pitch. Damn elitists
I own a bike that has a Suntor XCT fork with lockout. I actually like it. Personally I think the real cheap forks are the ones that come from department stores. No pre-load, no adjustment, no lockout... pure garbage. I'm by no means a hardcore rider, nor do I claim to be. Personally buying a full suspension/front suspension bike from a bike shop is 100 times better than buying a pile of junk from Walmart. Yes, I do agree that the XCT/XCM is not the greatest of forks out there, but it's defiantly better than what is offered at a department store. It's a great entry level fork. Just don't do anything stupid on it and ride with care. You'll be fine. Happy Trails!
exactly, the XCT/XCM forks are not great, but not terrible, if you can manage to get a XCR 32 in your budget it is actually a pretty decent fork for the price, coil, but has a lockout, preload and rebound adjustment
I've actually been pretty impressed with the level of budget coil forks these days. When I was younger I had a bike with one and it really was a pogo stick.... Now a lot of oem forks have coil strength tuned to the bike size, and at least some sort of real rebound damping (even if you can't tune it). For sure, more money gets you a way nicer fork, and even budget air forks are way nicer. All I am saying is that in my experience, the newer oem forks at bike shop level, like the suntour xcm and xcr actually feel pretty good.
Budget bikes designed for beginers. I think this bike and the fork is wery good if you want to begin MTB. With a rigid fork the bike won't be comfortable. This fork is designed to block vibration and bumps.If someone is not a beginer, he or she will buy a different model. However if we go back about 10 years, this bike is maybe on the top of the range. Locout fork, disc brakes etc...
Theoretical Cyclist if a rigid bike isn't confortable, you're doin it wrong. use your arms and legs to pump the bike on rough terrain. if you can't do it, there's no reason to buy a suspension bike.
Johnny Wolf A bike with a suspension fork is more comfortable as a rigid one. This is the main feature of a suspension fork, to make the riding more comfortable. And that is why the rigid bike is less comfortable as the suspension one.
Theoretical Cyclist for a guy with "theoretical" in the name you really don't know much about theory or pratice. suspension is usefull when doing enduro or downhill, not for "casual" rides. i do xc, cx and road, and never felt the need for a suspension. if anything, riding without one made me a better rider. try getting a fatter tyre, its a way better solution if you need absorsion.
Johnny Wolf You may try a suspension bike. I think it will make you faster. And after that you won't talk bullshit about suspensions. Or you can live in the stone age and ride on boneshakers. I ride on a rigid gravelbike, but I used a several rigid bikes and I know the difference.
I went to the trail with my used budget bike that I bought for $75 bucks and got a good exercise had a cr ap-load of fun. if your not a professional racer, then I recommend getting a decent best bang-for-your-buck bike you can enjoy for a few years
Totally disagree with the first point, that it is useless. It isn't useless, it takes some bumps and soaks in which a rigid fork won't. If someone doesn't want a rigid fork, buying a rigid fork is bad advice as it just puts everything on the rider. All the bumps are felt to the rider's hands and arms which would make it really awful for leisure riders. A coil suspension fork would cushion those bumps and they do work, not as good as the air forks but they still work for the budget.
v1d300 not only are they unstable, they also require alot of man work. so called "leizure" riders are like 90% of car owners : they don't know shit about fixing. it's easier to learn the skills to soak the bumps instead of buying a new fork every 500km. you'll need the skills in a hardtail or an fs anyway.
This is obviously an outdated video, but I have some thoughts. My Trek Marlin 5 came with an SR SunTour coil fork like many entry level mountain bikes. I rode it hard for three years, working all the way up to black diamonds (Helena, Montana, USA... These are some pretty extreme trails). Also, let's set the scene: I moved to Helena, found a huge and amazing mountain bike community, and bought a bike to ride. The fork? It's fine.... Ish. I agree with other commenters that my fork for my 112 Kilos is the same as the little kid on the same bike. No good. But I think my favorite thing about it is, I've completely taken it apart and rebuilt it a couple times. It gave me the confidence to work on a fork. I've now owned a Polygon Sisku T8 for a few months with a Fox 34 (IT'S AWESOME!) And I've worked on it already too. The SunTour fork really got me into the sport well. My Fox 34 costs more than my entire Marlin 5 did at the time. Without the SunTour, I wouldn't be a mountain biker.
I have a budget MTB that runs on similar forks like these. 3 years and 7000km later, they still work fine. Done a dozen or more trails. Got them serviced just once for around $30. I rode a hybrid with a rigid fork for a week and ended up with vertigo. My doctor told me that it was likely due to the constant shocks that were going to my neck and shoulders. I would never trade my budget forks for no forks, if anything they are great value both money and health wise.
I have been MTB for 10+ year's with a relatively cheap bike w/cheap fork as you would call it & it's still going strong w/none of the issues you describe...even if it did I don't think it really matters as long as your enjoying the bike #I❤mycheapbike🚵
There is a lot of flex with budget forks & 29" wheels but I would say starting at lower range bike & working way up has made me a better rider & some riders have all the gear & no idea.
Well, as a mtber who jumps on a daily basis, we say starting on a low end Hardtail is essential to learn to jump right, and kind of also a right of passage
I have this fork and I have a budget bike (Raleight Talus 5.0 - 2011), and let me tell you, the first problem is not quite a problem, because 1 kg more when you are not the type of cyclist who are racing all the time does not matter. I just get used to the weight of my bike, my equipment and my own weight and train that way. For me, this budget fork it's better than nothing at all. The other disadvantages may be true, but getting used to how your bike works can be solved a little. Sorry for my bad english. Nice video btw.
hey just because u have money and can afford an expensive bike and fork doesn't mean that we, who can only can afford a budget bike are fat and un fit, and don't ride anything that needs suspension. I kick the trails and hit as many technicals as I can. sorry I'm a hard working middle class citizen
Yeah, I embrace my brokenness and tell myself that when I can afford a lighter fork I will be in better shape for running the extra weight. But they make me hold back from fear of advancing beyond their capabilities and hurting myself. But...suntour does have an upgrade program which I would love to take advantage of..ups and downs of getting into mtbiking I suppose
Wife and I have Marlin 6 with suntour forks. They get us out and having fun on both on road and off road scenarios. Were not interested in going fast, or racing, but just enjoying the outdoors. In my opinion there great for that, fresh air, good ride, and good value.
Yeah but you see the clue is in the name 'cheap' they obviously not going to be the best are they, they are designed for beginners on a budget, and i'd much rather ride a cheap fork than a rigid.
Damm i rode bmx fake Chinese full sus bike KTM hard tail with front shock that costs only 35 dolars ! They have lock ablitlity and even poor daming rigid all in same trail they are fairly poor 2.5km trails and the how much i enjoyed KTM is just ahh cant be told meanhile i fealed every bigger bump with rigid or bmx there are some good cheap forks guyd ...
the reason budget bikes have suspension forks is because most mountain bikers start riding on trails with the same bike they started with, i have a $500 bike that has a fork and i am riding black diamond trails because i don't have the budget to get a new bike and if it didn't have suspension it would limit me even more than it already is
There's a difference in having the skill to push the bike to its limits and a casual rider. That fork wouldn't last a day with me(DH). For beginners going wider tire and tubeless would be much better choice.
The first MTB I bought as a beginner was a hardtail with a Rockshox coil fork. I still have that bike and I don't regret buying the bike nor the fork mainly because they coil forks are more maintenance free. These days I only use that bike for short trips when visiting the neighbor, short strips of terrain and as a gravel grinder. When I bought the bike I was looking for something that work year in year out without excessive maintenance. Adding some air in the tires, lubing the chain and give that bike a wash now and then is all that is needed. It was a great beginners bike and a sprinting board to get started with the MTB hobby just to see in what direction I wanted to go and what kind of bike suites my style of riding best. These days I use a rigid Fatbike as the main MTB/adventure bike. For my type of riding I woudn't waste my money on an expensive FS bike mainly because those narrow tires doesn't that work well on sand and wet spongy terrain found in my area and in places where I prefer go.
thank you very much! very informative for me. this was my question exactly what is difference between and you answered very well. i wanted to hear no just technical difference but practical feeling riding difference. have a great riding mate!
its a suspension fork. don't deture people from these they are a LOT better than nothing at all. some people just want a causal riding bike without breaking the bank.
I have a SR RAIDON, and I think is the best option for low price and his benefits (air, rebound, 32mm, aluminium components) the only problem with mine is after 2 years have a little movement between bottles and stanches
He's right about those forks because I had one and it snapped in half while I was riding. I would recommend replacing it with a Markhor Manitou air fork. What a difference !
No, dude, that's just not right. There will hardly ever be a scenario where someone will have available for "testing" a particular bike with both rigid forks and cheap forks - there simply isn't a price incentive for any retailer to do that for you. The other thing that makes this video pointless is that there almost isn't a good "middle ground" in the market: a nice suspension fork that doesn't cost around us$700 or more. I have a SR Raidon air and it's almost just as bad as a "cheap" coil one. In my opinion, when it comes to forks, you either have the money to buy a good one (and yes, it IS worth it) or you don't. If you don't, you're definitely stuck in "it's better than nothing" land...
My raidon is not bad at all vs my Rockshox 30 RL Golds. the RS travel better an way much less but the lock out on them really suck vs the raidons and once i realised the raidons work better at 100psi and bellow i actually like them but mine are Gold version. And despite them not showing the two kinds, there is.. As i own a bike shop and i've seen the two versions. The Bizango (Halfords) some times come with the cheaper chrome stachions and they are marked Raidon and that version is awful over the gold stanchions. scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/16463574_10210944267579272_898990770810077216_o.jpg?oh=9bedf9559e870aaa2bd2d9e523b14429&oe=59254459
Ip Har however, you can get a top-end '90s fork for peanuts, and those can be pretty good. Manitou/marzocchi/pace are all decent forks. Buy a lightly used one, strip & rebuild, can be good as new.
all 90s forks are 26ers though. A rigid with the widest tyres your frame/fork can fit does really well on anything that isn't TOO gnarly. better in my opinion than a crappy 80mm travel 3kg fork
I've been riding on a budged KTM with XCM 100's for about 8 years and never had a problem with those forks. You said the people who buy budged bikes don't even need forks, but why? I bought a cheap bike and use it almost entirely on a very rough terrain. Of course I wanted a bike with full suspension but those start at like 1.5-2k, so if I don't have enough money to buy a bike with "proper forks", that means I don't even need forks?! I really enjoy riding downhill but I can't afford something that expensive. Then you talk about bodyweight: "a lot of riders weigh 100kg"?! Average bodyweight is around 75kg and as some others have mentioned, you can still replace the springs with stiffer ones and if you won't ride "hard", you don't even have to do that. At 81kgs I don't have any problems with my "budget bike". Next thing: weight of the forks - cycling / mountain biking is a sport, in other words: physical activity and if you're not prepared to work then rather stay at home and watch TV. If a 100kg guy struggles with bike that's 15kg, instead of 13kg, then I think it's obvious why he weighs 100kg - and it's certainly not due to his muscle mass. When I started biking more seriously I was at 70kgs, with an all steel bike that weighed 18kgs, and everytime I wanted to go downhill, I had to first cycle up hill. I never used any lifts or a car to get to the top of the track but I was still able to do it and if someone at 80 or 100kgs can't handle a bit heavier bike, then maybe they picked up a wrong type of sport. And I'm not hating on you or your video, I'm just expressing my opinions. Have a nice day!
I am 55 and have been riding my Bianchi hybrid for 30 years everywhere - far and wide, hill and dale, road and trail. I am ready for suspension even if it's cheap.
Thanks for the video. You are a good presenter. I found that really useful. Yes I may have to keep my budget 20 year old Marin fork, if I can get it to actually move again. One of the disadvantages. It has ceased up. But at least I now know what the limitations are. Many thanks.
Chuck Norris I know what you mean. It's hella fun yeah....but then there's the pain in the wrist 😂 . On the first day riding a rigid fork mtb I felt as if I'm riding a 26 inch bmx bike 😅
But will adding a cheap fork at the softest settings prevent the front wheel hub e-bike spokes from bending less or at all vs the straight aluminum thin fork it came with? I'm on 700c.
This is a proper decent fork. I rode it for 2 years, lovely and reliable. im now running rock sox Air solo its much better, but it costs nearly triple of this one. I would recomment these suntour xcm xct and xcr forks all day for recreational woods rides all day.
I'm contemplating between a 29er with coil sping and a 27.5er with air spring. Is it cheaper to get a new fork or new rims and tires next year? I'm thinking the former.
Guess what! Not everybody can afford expensive bike, fork and parts in general. People should start from somewhere. I have XCR 32 120mm and it works fine for now and for me. I just have clean it and lube it. I can`t afford fork for 1/2 or 2/3 cost of my whole bike. When I get money, I will buy a better buy with air fork. And I still will try myself on a race. You just need to know how to ride and develop your skills.
What carbon seat posts do you recommend or what should I look for? I have an $2,000 XC hardtail carbon frame MTB and I am getting into XC racing. I also like to get out in the trails with friends having fun. I seem to feel every bump in the trail with my alloy seat post.
You have a brand new mountain bikers subscriber love your quality in your videos I've learned a few things so I can put something towards my vlog thank you very much
Private X Neither are roads in Brazil. Either you get a hardtail, ride slow on a rigid, or ride fast on a rigid and risk losing control from how much your front wheel is getting bumped off the ground. Worse if, like me, you're a fat rider and can't run low pressure on the tires for fear of pinch flats. I have a literal no-name budget front fork on my bike, and I love it. It's got just enough travel to help me maintain control.
How a fork can be useless? I mean, people who wants to be able to get out of the asphalt will need a fork. This is actually a pretty good one. I think you have quiet high stadards and I'm sincerely, truly happy for you. But ATM, most people can't afford a 1500$ bike. Your video is interesting because it points out what are the differences between a low price XC and a high quality one. But it's a bit annoying i that you seem to have a patronizing point of view about those bikes. They are really great. I'm happy that some companies are trying to give the best bikes for the lowest price, and may be you should be too.
AtoBan Well said. And depending on where you live and the traffic infrastructure thereof, a cheap budget fork is WAY better than a rigid even (or especially) on the tarmac. Potholes and crude patches are a thing, people!
@@anomien6346 maybe they don't oil or clean the stanchions? I have a cheap suspension fork that is almost 15years old but it's still usable because I've cleaned and oiled it always
This looks like an older version of my set up. Marin Bobcat trail3, from 2019. I've been trying to destroy it on Galbraith near Bellingham, WA. I just had the bottom bracket and rear tire replaced, but the forks are solid and usually help me stay upright on the trail. I'm not using it on big jumps (I don't do them and don't want to). For climbing and single track it's a great setup. I will look into getting something lighter and with rebound, as the budget allows. Thanks for the info!
I purchased a new Aventon Level E Bike in Mar 2022, it has the cheap zoom fork, after about 2 weeks the front fork makes a clunk sound when going over some bumps and it's pissing me off, it does not do this when it's locked out though, does anyone know what the issue is? Or even an upgrade fork the would fit this bike? Thanks John
Are we not going to address that you changed your youtube name? To be a sick biker does not sound very appealing. Or have you gone from being a shybiker to a sick one? That said thanks for the videos!
I have this fork but then with 30mm stanchions But if i pul on my handelbar you hear a litlle knock ing sound on the moment the stanchions cant go out further Do you also have that
Keep in mind though people that are with a bike like this are thinking it’s amazing which it is. It is better than a k Mart Walmart bike with a crap suspension fork that won’t compress or won’t lock out
Just got a Trek Marlin 5. It has SR Suntour XCE 28, coil spring. Every time i pull up the fork drops about 1/2 " and i can feel it slam. Is this how all shocks behave ? Im considering to replace the fork with something rigid.
i still have a Sr suntour on my GT and 2 years later works well..Why buy a Air fork who need maintencen every 1 month? Sr suntour, Aluminium, Shimano Acera for life
gfrp I run a med range Manitou coil fork. Although you definitely do not need to perform maintenance every one month. It's more like 6 months where you check the seals and replace around 1 year. SR suntour forks are garbage, they shouldn't be called forks, they should be called pogo sticks.
I have a 9 year old cross country dual suspension and it uses a coil suspension fork with variable adjust height. I haven't done maintenance on it since purchasing the bike stock and the rebound and adjustments work just fine. Even my shock for the real by fox runs smoothly without a service. Air forks are just lighter and offer a more precise adjustment.
i wish i have seen this video earlier, i am 84 kilos and i got a budget, 250$ mtb with non adjustable, non locking, front suspension... i can now feel everything in the road and my hands are taking the strain a lot,.. is it easy to convert to solid?
The specialized roll with a set of mtb bars and a set of xc tires is a fantastic rig. Highly recommend it, especially with the microshift advent clutch drivetrain. Punches way above its weight as an off road vehicle while remaining an extremely comfy commuter.
Hello i have the problem. Can you please help me, when i push them in they wouldnt come back up, and it just blocks like that, and i need to pull them up to get them back, and they wont even go in after some time, and also they are hard to pull in. Some people told me to that i need to rub them with hard paper, and wd-40 but i dont know if that would damage them, idk what to do pls help me. I drive TREK XCALIBER 8, with suntour xcr fork.
on my e-bike, it has some cheap fork, can't find any brand or numbers, but even with the preload at max, it still sags when i ride --- I'm not a bike person , but would it be possible to open the fork, and install some kind of spacer under the cap, so that the preload adjustment would do more?
do rockshoxs coil forks have the same problem? i have them on my giant talon 2 and cant figure out why the suspension feels no existent when i come down from a wheelie.
i have a cheap chinese ebike I just bought with I'm sure a very budget fork. I've found that when I don't have it "locked out" meaning if I do not turn the right side nob all the way clockwise till it stops and there is no fork movement, I start having all sorts of noise and clicks coming from the front end. Is there something wrong with the fork? Spring all twisted or something? Its a brand new bike wonder if it got knocked around in shipment or I should ask them for a new one. I ride mostly street but like to do alot of rail trails where it would be nice to have a little suspension but I guess with the fat tires its not nescessary, but I did pay for the feature :(
True. I have a Voodoo Soukri that was 400. (In a good budget) and my coil spring from the inside of my Santour suspension completely popped out in the process of a bike jump track. I later put in some old Rock Shox that I had laying around and they work great ^^
id like suspension so when i go down a rocky road i don't bounce around. I wont be going mid air at any time just going down a path that at the most has little rocks in the way.. what suspension would you suggest?
I'm curious how would you fix a cheap fork (suntour) when its dirty and doesn't spring up and go down as easily, it looks dirty but I'm not sure. Not mine, I got a nice Norco range, thank you very much.
I have a SunTour SF17 Coil fork on my trekking bike. I will never go back to my old bike that had a fixed one. The ride comfort is 10 times better, I don't have my wrists hurting anymore on long roads.
with a little elbow grease and some wherewithal you can either change out the coils, or even add in some spacers to try and tune the front suspension if there are no compression or rebound adjustments. absolutely entry-level forks, are just that. I think in a lot of ways it is a selling point for the beginner or casual mountain bike rider.
Cool video, thanks @SickBiker ! Is it normal for the Suntour XCM 32 coil spring fork to make "clunking" noises when going over rock-gardens, small drops etc.? I have this suspension on a Kellys Tygon R10 eMTB which we originally bought one each with my wife so that we can go on nice trips in nature with our son riding in a shotgun seat (for which its perfectly fine) but I found myself really enjoying MTB and very quickly started to really pickup skills and push the bike and I am just wondering whether I have now reached a level that I need a "real" suspension or there is perhaps something wrong with my fork?
Hey y’all just got a bike that has the suntour m3030s, I heard they weren’t great. Should I replace them and if so what do u recommend that is budget friendly but not get laughed off the trail? Thx!
even biking or pavement (canadian roads) it feels so uncomfortable if i use lock out.. my hand and arms were sore afterwards (even with super squishy grips) and having the fork helps alot. also they did a test and with no rebound had faster speed records so whats the point
Yes cheap air fork is definitely a lot better espetially if you weight no more than 70 kg. I had XCM fork which was replaced later with Epicon later. I am a slim guy and XCM worked only when go up or down on pavement. It didnt work in mountain either. Acually no big difference from the rigid one ( before that I had another bike with rigid fork). With Epicon my bike was about 13.5 kg instead of 14.7 kg and it worked. Nowadays I do not ride on a mountain anymore so I am looking for a bike with rigid fork and tyres about 2.0 inch. Actualy I think the tires make the ride comfortable enough for me.
In on fairness somebody buying a budget bike with low end fork wont give 2shits about the weight of the fork, when they are just out for fun on a sunny day.
And its even more exercise if you have to move more weight so win win.
also ridiculous to say beginners should be using a rigid fork. No one would go for a second ride if they tried trail riding with a rigid fork for their first ride because there would be so much discomfort.
Richard Cornish back in the day i used to RACE a mountain bike without any suspension. Pretty damn fun and effective. Still love ciclocross bikes also.
A bad suspension is way worse than no suspension.
mic01 ooo
That's so true
a wise man once said: ''the best bike is the bike you have, or the bike you can afford.'' my whole life runs on a budget. So budget fork eez good.
Shimo Fuchi or just save money with rigid forks??
rigid fork is better than this type of forks
@@nextgengaming9367 basically no budget mountain bikes now come with a rigid fork.
Exactly
@Michael H i agree so much
That is not a cheap fork. You should have used a properly cheap fork. One of those that cannot be maintained,taken apart. Those are the real garbage. This is a fine entry level fork. There are much worse things out there.
I agree, I rode the Suntor XCM for three years and liked it. Very easy to maintain and service. You can also replace the coil spring with a softer or more firm one, Suntour makes both options. I agree that it is heavy though, which was the reason I replaced it eventually.
I've tried a Suntour XCM but found I got a smoother ride on a pogo stick. I'd rather be rigid than be equipped with a coil sprung fork. That said, Suntour XCR 32 Air forks are good value! Rebound dampening is incredibly important for me with suspension forks, more so than the suspension itself.
if the choose is a sub$350 fork or a rigid fork. i'd rather have the rigid. its more reliable and predictable and mostly maintenance free.
When Walmart finally makes it to Poland, he should re-do this video with an actual cheap fork. The Suntour fork on this bike alone is probably the same cost as an entire Walmart bike.
Gyengye Gabor you couldn't be more right. I have this fork on my bike and I'm just a casual rider and it is a great fork for my riding skill. Getting a mountain bike with a high end fork is going to cost at least $1500 if not more which is out of the price range of all but the serious riders.
Lessons learned:
1. You don't need a fork because you're not hardcore enough with your casual riding.
2. You need a 600 dollar fork because you're too hardcore and you'll give up if your fork weighs an extra 2 pounds.
--- WHAT??
You just sound like you're trying to justify why your fork costs more than my whole bike?
Lessons I would teach: A cheap fork can significantly reduce vibration and roughness, even get you out of trouble if you have less than perfect technique, making your weekend ride that much more enjoyable. Your skill level will limit your riding more than your bicycle fork for all but the most enthusiastic of riders, and when you get to that point you'll know it. ENJOY YOUR CHEAP FORK AND GET OUT AND RIDE!!!
j.1👍Exactly.well said
J I
J My 1st fork: 1998 Rockshox Judy SL (high end)
My 2nd fork: 1999 Manitou sx carbon (high end)
My 3rd fork: 2006 Rockshox Judy J2 (entry level)
My 4th and last fork: 2008 SR Suntour XCM (entry level)
10 years since then and still fine
:)
if your going to mountain bike the point is it's going to be hard but fun. it can't be fun if all your doing is buying the cheapest parts.
i ment the most expensive parts. :)
This guys just mad cuz he spent 1000 pound on rock shox and now realises there’s no difference
EXACTLY
You will recognise air spring immediately
😂😂
This is not a cheap coil fork, it's an entry level fork. It is designed to increase confort, not to go faster, and for a beginner this is the best solution possible to get confident with rough trails at low speed. And also this suspensions don't need maintenance
All suspensions need maintenance, including this one.
you will be doing a lot of maintenance on this suspension fork if you ride in the cold xD or else itll become a rigid one with the extra weight of the suspension and frozen oil xD
I have a suntour xct, a really cheap fork. 26er, cheap disc brakes that are not very powerful. I am 54 years old, 6'3" , 215 lbs and have a 22 in Diamondback frame. Some air in the tires and lube on the chain... life is good
I love riding that bike. I don't want to get off after I start riding. Old guys like simple.
ratoneJR
Younger dudes like simple too. I'm just 27 and have a pretty much equivalent setup to yours, except with v-brakes. I use it to commute to work and back every day in a route with a few rain-gutted dirt roads, and it works amazing. I can spin on my baby pretty much forever, and leave many fancy 29er pedalmashers in lycra and jersey eating dust.
I like heavy front forks so it don't rare up going up a hill.
I'm a 18 years old and I like cycling even though there's no trails near in our area I still do it as an exercise. My frame on my bike is an old Schwinn frontier 650 bought 10 years ago along with WTB tires which still function perfectly and also my newly bought suntour XCM bought for about $65. I live here in Philippines which doesn't offer a lot of trails for bikers.
I'm 6'2"/ 50/ 220 and ride a 2011 MONGOOSE tyax elite 21" with a suntour xcmLO suspension fork ,I love it.
I have the same fork on a Claud Butler Stone River 26" bike made in 2009! I bought it used off Gumtree. I have taken the bike to Wyre Forest, Peak District, Malvern, Cannock Chase. It has been on very harsh and bumpy trails and I can hear the suspension really struggling. Yet the bike lives. No issues with the suspension whatsoever, it functions as it always did!
I think 99% of people would prefer cheap suspension over ridged forks
anybody with a brain on the matter would take the rigid fork over a cheap susp fork. the RST or what ever brand will fail in about 2 years of actual offroad use. and most people won't drop the cost of the bike almost to add a NEW quality fork. rigid saves about 3x the weight and is solid and predicable.
because people are clueless, if you are a sunday rider and you don't hit hard trails, and lets be honest most mountainbike users NEVER do, you are better off with a rigid fork.
or another way to put it; if the sus-forks are on a $400stock bike, they are for looks only! many even have warning stickers about off-road use.
you can hit a hole and regret not having any suspension
@@MaximumEfficiency don't hit the hole, then. I ride a fully rigid bike on real trails and you just have to pick smooth lines. I would rather my rigid fork than a pogo stick.
sorry but you're wrong. I'd rather have a “lower end fork" than no fork. I have a Giant Rincon that had a Suntour XCM fork that I did a 20km race through challenging single track... oh yeah I'm physically fit too. I don't just ride easy trails. I recently upgraded that fork to a Rock Shox TK Silver 30 and I am okay with a coil shock. I can't afford an expensive air shock. My theory is use what you can afford and be grateful for what you have.
Matthew Brocke i stopped at "20k". it's raining outside and i just did 50k in a full rigid bike (i have alot of forest around my house). i also do road and cx and never needed any kind of suspension. the only "suspension" i want to get is a seatpost. very usefull in mtb.
what's your point?? some bikers want suspension, some don't. what did you mean 'I stopped at 20km?' I do more than 20km, but last year was my first mountain bike race. My point was that he was a bit arrogant in what he said in regards to cheaper suspension forks. People buy what they can afford. I'm on a budget and save up (sometimes for months) for upgrades but I still love to bike. I'm proud of my bikes cause I bought what I could afford and used what I've been blessed with.
If you are on a tight budget then no suspension is the best way to go. Cheaper, no maintenece and alot more durable. Now, if you think you need a suspension in order to ride 20k, you probably don't have enough skill. And most people say that suspension is mandatory when it's them that never rode a full rigid.
My bikes also have some upgrades, but a suspension fork would be the last thing i'd change. A dropper post, better wheels, converting from 1x7 to a 1x10 drivetrain, a lighter and larger riser bar, some light one finger brakes, a shorter stem...
Whatever dude. You don't know me or the skill I have. I prefer suspension over a full rigid, you're the opposite and that is cool. Don't dis someone cause you don't agree with them. I live in New Brunswick, Canada where we have a lot of mountainous and hilly terrain with a lot of rocks and roots. The place I rode my 20km was in Elgin, NB and like I said it was my first ever mountain bike race.
I don't get the point of this video. it's like saying your samsung J1 budget phone is no good, you need a galaxy s8 when all you really need is a phone to make calls, SMS do some light gaming and Facebook. this is why some beginners get turned off at cycling because of know it all people that forgot how it was to start out.
The point is not between J1 and galaxy s8, but was : hey try the nokia nokia 1100 instead. There are a lot of places where a rigid bike will be prefered(or i will prefer it any way): around town, in the park.
@@ivonakis A Nokia 1100 is not a smart phone, in the same way that a rigid fork has no impact absorption. The video uploader is just feeding his ego by making this video.
Yes it would be nice if we all could buy brand name components. But the reality is regular people buy what they can afford, not what they want. Many bicycle you tubers are out of touch with reality. They review bikes that are simply beyond the reach of normal folks. Drooling over the latest tech is nice for a while. But how is that relatable to week end warriors and enthusiasts.
Sitou Dien completely agree with you!!
I would rather have rigid forks than cheapo suspension forks.
You can get older marzocchi dual crown forks pretty cheap, but they are *not* rubbish.
Always buy an older second hand professional grade item rather than a new cheapo item.
Also, a rigid fork will work great, and will weigh very little.
Ahh shut up, lay off the alcohol, cigarettes, junkfood, etc and other bad habits poor people generally have and you'll afford the more expensive stuff in no time.
Rigid forks are cheap
bigballer wow.
Heavy cheap fork is better than nothing. Please come and ride a rigid bike here in south africa on a beginners trail and then we will see you change your pitch. Damn elitists
You have bikes in africa?
They're all stolen.
Bikes? oh i thought this video was about riding lions...
Ps, have you heard of Greg Minnaar?The guy with 20 world cup career victories? Jip his is a South African...
dontbothermewithchannels the way you speak proves that you are 100% Ignorant
I own a bike that has a Suntor XCT fork with lockout. I actually like it. Personally I think the real cheap forks are the ones that come from department stores. No pre-load, no adjustment, no lockout... pure garbage. I'm by no means a hardcore rider, nor do I claim to be. Personally buying a full suspension/front suspension bike from a bike shop is 100 times better than buying a pile of junk from Walmart. Yes, I do agree that the XCT/XCM is not the greatest of forks out there, but it's defiantly better than what is offered at a department store. It's a great entry level fork. Just don't do anything stupid on it and ride with care. You'll be fine.
Happy Trails!
exactly, the XCT/XCM forks are not great, but not terrible, if you can manage to get a XCR 32 in your budget it is actually a pretty decent fork for the price, coil, but has a lockout, preload and rebound adjustment
I've actually been pretty impressed with the level of budget coil forks these days. When I was younger I had a bike with one and it really was a pogo stick.... Now a lot of oem forks have coil strength tuned to the bike size, and at least some sort of real rebound damping (even if you can't tune it). For sure, more money gets you a way nicer fork, and even budget air forks are way nicer. All I am saying is that in my experience, the newer oem forks at bike shop level, like the suntour xcm and xcr actually feel pretty good.
Budget bikes designed for beginers. I think this bike and the fork is wery good if you want to begin MTB. With a rigid fork the bike won't be comfortable. This fork is designed to block vibration and bumps.If someone is not a beginer, he or she will buy a different model.
However if we go back about 10 years, this bike is maybe on the top of the range. Locout fork, disc brakes etc...
Theoretical Cyclist I used a hi-ten steel bike with rigid forks as a beginner.
At least rigid forks are rigid.
Theoretical Cyclist if a rigid bike isn't confortable, you're doin it wrong. use your arms and legs to pump the bike on rough terrain. if you can't do it, there's no reason to buy a suspension bike.
Johnny Wolf A bike with a suspension fork is more comfortable as a rigid one. This is the main feature of a suspension fork, to make the riding more comfortable. And that is why the rigid bike is less comfortable as the suspension one.
Theoretical Cyclist for a guy with "theoretical" in the name you really don't know much about theory or pratice. suspension is usefull when doing enduro or downhill, not for "casual" rides. i do xc, cx and road, and never felt the need for a suspension. if anything, riding without one made me a better rider. try getting a fatter tyre, its a way better solution if you need absorsion.
Johnny Wolf You may try a suspension bike. I think it will make you faster. And after that you won't talk bullshit about suspensions. Or you can live in the stone age and ride on boneshakers. I ride on a rigid gravelbike, but I used a several rigid bikes and I know the difference.
I went to the trail with my used budget bike that I bought for $75 bucks and got a good exercise had a cr ap-load of fun. if your not a professional racer, then I recommend getting a decent best bang-for-your-buck bike you can enjoy for a few years
Totally disagree with the first point, that it is useless. It isn't useless, it takes some bumps and soaks in which a rigid fork won't. If someone doesn't want a rigid fork, buying a rigid fork is bad advice as it just puts everything on the rider. All the bumps are felt to the rider's hands and arms which would make it really awful for leisure riders. A coil suspension fork would cushion those bumps and they do work, not as good as the air forks but they still work for the budget.
v1d300 not only are they unstable, they also require alot of man work. so called "leizure" riders are like 90% of car owners : they don't know shit about fixing. it's easier to learn the skills to soak the bumps instead of buying a new fork every 500km. you'll need the skills in a hardtail or an fs anyway.
I bought a 15dollar suspension fork yesterday.. meeeen ,,better a hard ass coil fork than a rigid fork
This is obviously an outdated video, but I have some thoughts. My Trek Marlin 5 came with an SR SunTour coil fork like many entry level mountain bikes. I rode it hard for three years, working all the way up to black diamonds (Helena, Montana, USA... These are some pretty extreme trails). Also, let's set the scene: I moved to Helena, found a huge and amazing mountain bike community, and bought a bike to ride.
The fork? It's fine.... Ish. I agree with other commenters that my fork for my 112 Kilos is the same as the little kid on the same bike. No good. But I think my favorite thing about it is, I've completely taken it apart and rebuilt it a couple times. It gave me the confidence to work on a fork.
I've now owned a Polygon Sisku T8 for a few months with a Fox 34 (IT'S AWESOME!) And I've worked on it already too. The SunTour fork really got me into the sport well. My Fox 34 costs more than my entire Marlin 5 did at the time. Without the SunTour, I wouldn't be a mountain biker.
I have a budget MTB that runs on similar forks like these. 3 years and 7000km later, they still work fine. Done a dozen or more trails. Got them serviced just once for around $30. I rode a hybrid with a rigid fork for a week and ended up with vertigo. My doctor told me that it was likely due to the constant shocks that were going to my neck and shoulders. I would never trade my budget forks for no forks, if anything they are great value both money and health wise.
it aint Walmart, so don't wine about it
You want some chess with that whine?
Aaron Brand wow, now that I know how to spell things after 2 years, looking back on this comment makes me feel a bit dumb lmao
A_Gill_Be_Fishy all in good fun! Hopefully it’s good for a laugh.
I would recommend the XCR, as it has magnesium lowers and also rebound adjustment!
How much is it USD
I have xct what's that?
@@alexpopescu3696 not sure u gotta check online
@@tbertram88 it's x3 better than xct
What abt xcm
"...they are usually not so fitt" [...] 1 kg less will be much better for my wife..."
You will have to sleep on couch this month ;D
I'm an idiot for thinking there would be useful advice in this vid
Yes
Y1AN1
Make that two idiots.
Make that 3
I have been MTB for 10+ year's with a relatively cheap bike w/cheap fork as you would call it & it's still going strong w/none of the issues you describe...even if it did I don't think it really matters as long as your enjoying the bike
#I❤mycheapbike🚵
There is a lot of flex with budget forks & 29" wheels but I would say starting at lower range bike & working way up has made me a better rider & some riders have all the gear & no idea.
Well, as a mtber who jumps on a daily basis, we say starting on a low end Hardtail is essential to learn to jump right, and kind of also a right of passage
Yeah, and learning how to fix your own bike is also way less scary if your bike cost 700 bugs instead of 7000 bugs+.
I have this fork and I have a budget bike (Raleight Talus 5.0 - 2011), and let me tell you, the first problem is not quite a problem, because 1 kg more when you are not the type of cyclist who are racing all the time does not matter. I just get used to the weight of my bike, my equipment and my own weight and train that way. For me, this budget fork it's better than nothing at all.
The other disadvantages may be true, but getting used to how your bike works can be solved a little.
Sorry for my bad english. Nice video btw.
I got a 2001 marzocchi bomber air fork with 80mm of travel and I just overhauled it. Going strong for 16 yrs now! It has magnesium uppers too :)
hey just because u have money and can afford an expensive bike and fork doesn't mean that we, who can only can afford a budget bike are fat and un fit, and don't ride anything that needs suspension. I kick the trails and hit as many technicals as I can. sorry I'm a hard working middle class citizen
Yeah, I embrace my brokenness and tell myself that when I can afford a lighter fork I will be in better shape for running the extra weight. But they make me hold back from fear of advancing beyond their capabilities and hurting myself. But...suntour does have an upgrade program which I would love to take advantage of..ups and downs of getting into mtbiking I suppose
I have the XCM34 for my cube e-bike and trust me it rides perfectly even on red sticker trails that are very technical and challenging.
Wife and I have Marlin 6 with suntour forks. They get us out and having fun on both on road and off road scenarios. Were not interested in going fast, or racing, but just enjoying the outdoors. In my opinion there great for that, fresh air, good ride, and good value.
so what buying a gravel road bike is more ideal for beginners
Obviously you should ride xc and downhill with a gravel bike, dude. What the hell are you thinking? /s
Yeah but you see the clue is in the name 'cheap' they obviously not going to be the best are they, they are designed for beginners on a budget, and i'd much rather ride a cheap fork than a rigid.
It seems like for a lot of bicycle "elitists", any fork that is less than $500 is cheap.
Damm i rode bmx fake Chinese full sus bike KTM hard tail with front shock that costs only 35 dolars ! They have lock ablitlity and even poor daming rigid all in same trail they are fairly poor 2.5km trails and the how much i enjoyed KTM is just ahh cant be told meanhile i fealed every bigger bump with rigid or bmx there are some good cheap forks guyd ...
the reason budget bikes have suspension forks is because most mountain bikers start riding on trails with the same bike they started with, i have a $500 bike that has a fork and i am riding black diamond trails because i don't have the budget to get a new bike and if it didn't have suspension it would limit me even more than it already is
There's a difference in having the skill to push the bike to its limits and a casual rider. That fork wouldn't last a day with me(DH). For beginners going wider tire and tubeless would be much better choice.
The first MTB I bought as a beginner was a hardtail with a Rockshox coil fork. I still have that bike and I don't regret buying the bike nor the fork mainly because they coil forks are more maintenance free. These days I only use that bike for short trips when visiting the neighbor, short strips of terrain and as a gravel grinder. When I bought the bike I was looking for something that work year in year out without excessive maintenance. Adding some air in the tires, lubing the chain and give that bike a wash now and then is all that is needed. It was a great beginners bike and a sprinting board to get started with the MTB hobby just to see in what direction I wanted to go and what kind of bike suites my style of riding best.
These days I use a rigid Fatbike as the main MTB/adventure bike. For my type of riding I woudn't waste my money on an expensive FS bike mainly because those narrow tires doesn't that work well on sand and wet spongy terrain found in my area and in places where I prefer go.
Sharju sharju.👍I am exactly the same
thank you for taking the time to go through all that
thank you very much! very informative for me. this was my question exactly what is difference between and you answered very well. i wanted to hear no just technical difference but practical feeling riding difference. have a great riding mate!
its a suspension fork. don't deture people from these they are a LOT better than nothing at all. some people just want a causal riding bike without breaking the bank.
True👍
I have a SR RAIDON, and I think is the best option for low price and his benefits (air, rebound, 32mm, aluminium components) the only problem with mine is after 2 years have a little movement between bottles and stanches
He's right about those forks because I had one and it snapped in half while I was riding. I would recommend replacing it with a Markhor Manitou air fork. What a difference !
I love how he imagines the user of the budget bike as an overweight unfit user lol
No, dude, that's just not right. There will hardly ever be a scenario where someone will have available for "testing" a particular bike with both rigid forks and cheap forks - there simply isn't a price incentive for any retailer to do that for you.
The other thing that makes this video pointless is that there almost isn't a good "middle ground" in the market: a nice suspension fork that doesn't cost around us$700 or more. I have a SR Raidon air and it's almost just as bad as a "cheap" coil one.
In my opinion, when it comes to forks, you either have the money to buy a good one (and yes, it IS worth it) or you don't. If you don't, you're definitely stuck in "it's better than nothing" land...
My raidon is not bad at all vs my Rockshox 30 RL Golds. the RS travel better an way much less but the lock out on them really suck vs the raidons and once i realised the raidons work better at 100psi and bellow i actually like them but mine are Gold version.
And despite them not showing the two kinds, there is.. As i own a bike shop and i've seen the two versions.
The Bizango (Halfords) some times come with the cheaper chrome stachions and they are marked Raidon and that version is awful over the gold stanchions.
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Ip Har however, you can get a top-end '90s fork for peanuts, and those can be pretty good. Manitou/marzocchi/pace are all decent forks. Buy a lightly used one, strip & rebuild, can be good as new.
all 90s forks are 26ers though.
A rigid with the widest tyres your frame/fork can fit does really well on anything that isn't TOO gnarly. better in my opinion than a crappy 80mm travel 3kg fork
I've been riding on a budged KTM with XCM 100's for about 8 years and never had a problem with those forks. You said the people who buy budged bikes don't even need forks, but why? I bought a cheap bike and use it almost entirely on a very rough terrain. Of course I wanted a bike with full suspension but those start at like 1.5-2k, so if I don't have enough money to buy a bike with "proper forks", that means I don't even need forks?! I really enjoy riding downhill but I can't afford something that expensive. Then you talk about bodyweight: "a lot of riders weigh 100kg"?! Average bodyweight is around 75kg and as some others have mentioned, you can still replace the springs with stiffer ones and if you won't ride "hard", you don't even have to do that. At 81kgs I don't have any problems with my "budget bike". Next thing: weight of the forks - cycling / mountain biking is a sport, in other words: physical activity and if you're not prepared to work then rather stay at home and watch TV. If a 100kg guy struggles with bike that's 15kg, instead of 13kg, then I think it's obvious why he weighs 100kg - and it's certainly not due to his muscle mass. When I started biking more seriously I was at 70kgs, with an all steel bike that weighed 18kgs, and everytime I wanted to go downhill, I had to first cycle up hill. I never used any lifts or a car to get to the top of the track but I was still able to do it and if someone at 80 or 100kgs can't handle a bit heavier bike, then maybe they picked up a wrong type of sport. And I'm not hating on you or your video, I'm just expressing my opinions. Have a nice day!
That is me all the way.
My rebound is blocked, i have got the same fork. What can i do?
What about the RockShox XC32 G2?
Any good?
Came with my Trek Mamba 2013 Gary Fisher Edition.
Is that a good bike?
Recreational Riders Do Not Care About Weight.
It seems like almost all reviewers think everyone races competitively.
I am 55 and have been riding my Bianchi hybrid for 30 years everywhere - far and wide, hill and dale, road and trail. I am ready for suspension even if it's cheap.
Lughnerson No it will make you a weak old man if you give in. You will come to rely on it and your bones will become weak.
@@michaelcondrey3510 yeah continue use rigid on your slowly weakening bones as you age
my fork suspension is stuck, and the tightening/loosening dials are broken. Can this b efixed or do i really have to buy a new bike.
Thanks for the video. You are a good presenter. I found that really useful. Yes I may have to keep my budget 20 year old Marin fork, if I can get it to actually move again. One of the disadvantages. It has ceased up. But at least I now know what the limitations are. Many thanks.
But some people are broke do you have any advice for them
get a job, lazy bum
@@japacapa what if they are underage???
Solid fork is nice if you dont have very fast and difficult trails. Makes even small rocks just so much more fun!
Chuck Norris I know what you mean. It's hella fun yeah....but then there's the pain in the wrist 😂 .
On the first day riding a rigid fork mtb I felt as if I'm riding a 26 inch bmx bike 😅
But will adding a cheap fork at the softest settings prevent the front wheel hub e-bike spokes from bending less or at all vs the straight aluminum thin fork it came with? I'm on 700c.
is Suntour Raidon 29 AIR RL 100 mm a good fork???
yeah they put cheap suspension forks, better to have a fully rigid, but you can't get one....
WaveRiderMusic btwin rockrider 300. full rigid for 120 bucks in decathlon.
This is a proper decent fork. I rode it for 2 years, lovely and reliable. im now running rock sox Air solo its much better, but it costs nearly triple of this one. I would recomment these suntour xcm xct and xcr forks all day for recreational woods rides all day.
I'm contemplating between a 29er with coil sping and a 27.5er with air spring. Is it cheaper to get a new fork or new rims and tires next year? I'm thinking the former.
Sweeet thank man! Very informative video, found it relatable to my bike too. :)
Guess what! Not everybody can afford expensive bike, fork and parts in general. People should start from somewhere. I have XCR 32 120mm and it works fine for now and for me. I just have clean it and lube it. I can`t afford fork for 1/2 or 2/3 cost of my whole bike. When I get money, I will buy a better buy with air fork. And I still will try myself on a race. You just need to know how to ride and develop your skills.
Petar Nikolov Dude Xcr 32 is a nice fork....it's better than rockshox entry level
Heavy means bombproof
What carbon seat posts do you recommend or what should I look for? I have an $2,000 XC hardtail carbon frame MTB and I am getting into XC racing. I also like to get out in the trails with friends having fun. I seem to feel every bump in the trail with my alloy seat post.
You have a brand new mountain bikers subscriber love your quality in your videos I've learned a few things so I can put something towards my vlog thank you very much
Our roads here in Philippines are just not designed for rigid forks.
yep
Private X
Neither are roads in Brazil. Either you get a hardtail, ride slow on a rigid, or ride fast on a rigid and risk losing control from how much your front wheel is getting bumped off the ground. Worse if, like me, you're a fat rider and can't run low pressure on the tires for fear of pinch flats.
I have a literal no-name budget front fork on my bike, and I love it. It's got just enough travel to help me maintain control.
Riding on the roads in the Philippines on a rigid MTB is fun as long as you can handle it.
Same in spain
How a fork can be useless? I mean, people who wants to be able to get out of the asphalt will need a fork. This is actually a pretty good one. I think you have quiet high stadards and I'm sincerely, truly happy for you. But ATM, most people can't afford a 1500$ bike. Your video is interesting because it points out what are the differences between a low price XC and a high quality one. But it's a bit annoying i that you seem to have a patronizing point of view about those bikes. They are really great. I'm happy that some companies are trying to give the best bikes for the lowest price, and may be you should be too.
AtoBan
Well said. And depending on where you live and the traffic infrastructure thereof, a cheap budget fork is WAY better than a rigid even (or especially) on the tarmac. Potholes and crude patches are a thing, people!
Tons of my friend got cheap bikes with these forks and they all have problems
@@anomien6346 maybe they don't oil or clean the stanchions? I have a cheap suspension fork that is almost 15years old but it's still usable because I've cleaned and oiled it always
Top 10 Everything they do clean it and oil on a good fork only needs to be done yearly
This looks like an older version of my set up. Marin Bobcat trail3, from 2019. I've been trying to destroy it on Galbraith near Bellingham, WA. I just had the bottom bracket and rear tire replaced, but the forks are solid and usually help me stay upright on the trail. I'm not using it on big jumps (I don't do them and don't want to). For climbing and single track it's a great setup.
I will look into getting something lighter and with rebound, as the budget allows. Thanks for the info!
I purchased a new Aventon Level E Bike in Mar 2022, it has the cheap zoom fork, after about 2 weeks the front fork makes a clunk sound when going over some bumps and it's
pissing me off, it does not do this when it's locked out though, does
anyone know what the issue is? Or even an upgrade fork the would fit
this bike? Thanks John
Are we not going to address that you changed your youtube name? To be a sick biker does not sound very appealing. Or have you gone from being a shybiker to a sick one? That said thanks for the videos!
He's sick all the time. Some slang is just lame.
oh my "the weight" lmao 😂 i would give no shits what it weighs anyways more weight stronger you get...
I have this fork but then with 30mm stanchions
But if i pul on my handelbar you hear a litlle knock ing sound on the moment the stanchions cant go out further
Do you also have that
Is it also possible to buy the cheap bike and just upgrade the fork? What's the recommended good replacement upgrade for SR Suntour XCM 120mm fork?
His trek shorts are more expensive then the bike
Keep in mind though people that are with a bike like this are thinking it’s amazing which it is. It is better than a k Mart Walmart bike with a crap suspension fork that won’t compress or won’t lock out
How is the Suntour SF16-XCT-HLO-DS?
How I know wich suntour fork is good and wich not? 🤔
Just got a Trek Marlin 5. It has SR Suntour XCE 28, coil spring. Every time i pull up the fork drops about
1/2 " and i can feel it slam. Is this how all shocks behave ? Im considering to replace the fork with something rigid.
i still have a Sr suntour on my GT and 2 years later works well..Why buy a Air fork who need maintencen every 1 month? Sr suntour, Aluminium, Shimano Acera for life
gfrp I run a med range Manitou coil fork. Although you definitely do not need to perform maintenance every one month. It's more like 6 months where you check the seals and replace around 1 year. SR suntour forks are garbage, they shouldn't be called forks, they should be called pogo sticks.
gfrp try riding a bike with a rockshox pike or fox 36 then try to compare it with the suntour again. you will know why we want an air fork.
suntour makes good forks too
eEt4s Sure they do, their higher end air forks are decent although I've never ridden one, so take it with a pinch of salt.
gfrp it is recommended on both shitty forks and high end forks to perform monthly maintenance but no one bothers with either
I think you mean dampening and not rebound.
I have a 9 year old cross country dual suspension and it uses a coil suspension fork with variable adjust height. I haven't done maintenance on it since purchasing the bike stock and the rebound and adjustments work just fine. Even my shock for the real by fox runs smoothly without a service. Air forks are just lighter and offer a more precise adjustment.
i wish i have seen this video earlier, i am 84 kilos and i got a budget, 250$ mtb with non adjustable, non locking, front suspension... i can now feel everything in the road and my hands are taking the strain a lot,..
is it easy to convert to solid?
To be honest I found this video a complete waste of time. You didn't make any valid reasons as to why these forks are bad. It's great for a beginner.
Considering how hard this stuff is to compress its bearly useless on the trails, and having a lockout on it is so much useless as well !
Yes. It´s purpose is more to look good rather then work well.
The specialized roll with a set of mtb bars and a set of xc tires is a fantastic rig. Highly recommend it, especially with the microshift advent clutch drivetrain. Punches way above its weight as an off road vehicle while remaining an extremely comfy commuter.
what fork do you recommend for a 2013 specialized camber 29 ? I am starting to look now now and would like to hear what you think
Got to love elitists.
Hello i have the problem. Can you please help me, when i push them in they wouldnt come back up, and it just blocks like that, and i need to pull them up to get them back, and they wont even go in after some time, and also they are hard to pull in. Some people told me to that i need to rub them with hard paper, and wd-40 but i dont know if that would damage them, idk what to do pls help me. I drive TREK XCALIBER 8, with suntour xcr fork.
Coil vs air fork, which more durable and easir to maintain?
very informative, thank-you 👍
on my e-bike, it has some cheap fork, can't find any brand or numbers, but even with the preload at max, it still sags when i ride --- I'm not a bike person , but would it be possible to open the fork, and install some kind of spacer under the cap, so that the preload adjustment would do more?
do rockshoxs coil forks have the same problem? i have them on my giant talon 2 and cant figure out why the suspension feels no existent when i come down from a wheelie.
i have a cheap chinese ebike I just bought with I'm sure a very budget fork. I've found that when I don't have it "locked out" meaning if I do not turn the right side nob all the way clockwise till it stops and there is no fork movement, I start having all sorts of noise and clicks coming from the front end. Is there something wrong with the fork? Spring all twisted or something? Its a brand new bike wonder if it got knocked around in shipment or I should ask them for a new one. I ride mostly street but like to do alot of rail trails where it would be nice to have a little suspension but I guess with the fat tires its not nescessary, but I did pay for the feature :(
I need to find a decent fork for my specialized hardrock... Any suggestions?
i have the exact same fork from my new bike that i got it 4 days ago... so far so good for me for city/urban riding.. havnt tried offroad yet..
True. I have a Voodoo Soukri that was 400. (In a good budget) and my coil spring from the inside of my Santour suspension completely popped out in the process of a bike jump track. I later put in some old Rock Shox that I had laying around and they work great ^^
I just bought a new 29er and the sun tour xct and I want an upgrade for the fork. I'm thinking of upgrading it. Any recommendations?
id like suspension so when i go down a rocky road i don't bounce around. I wont be going mid air at any time just going down a path that at the most has little rocks in the way.. what suspension would you suggest?
at 4:00 there is some way to fix it? with around 150Km mine is going bad.
I'm curious how would you fix a cheap fork (suntour) when its dirty and doesn't spring up and go down as easily, it looks dirty but I'm not sure. Not mine, I got a nice Norco range, thank you very much.
I have a SunTour SF17 Coil fork on my trekking bike. I will never go back to my old bike that had a fixed one. The ride comfort is 10 times better, I don't have my wrists hurting anymore on long roads.
with a little elbow grease and some wherewithal you can either change out the coils, or even add in some spacers to try and tune the front suspension if there are no compression or rebound adjustments. absolutely entry-level forks, are just that. I think in a lot of ways it is a selling point for the beginner or casual mountain bike rider.
Cool video, thanks @SickBiker ! Is it normal for the Suntour XCM 32 coil spring fork to make "clunking" noises when going over rock-gardens, small drops etc.? I have this suspension on a Kellys Tygon R10 eMTB which we originally bought one each with my wife so that we can go on nice trips in nature with our son riding in a shotgun seat (for which its perfectly fine) but I found myself really enjoying MTB and very quickly started to really pickup skills and push the bike and I am just wondering whether I have now reached a level that I need a "real" suspension or there is perhaps something wrong with my fork?
Hey y’all just got a bike that has the suntour m3030s, I heard they weren’t great. Should I replace them and if so what do u recommend that is budget friendly but not get laughed off the trail? Thx!
even biking or pavement (canadian roads) it feels so uncomfortable if i use lock out.. my hand and arms were sore afterwards (even with super squishy grips) and having the fork helps alot. also they did a test and with no rebound had faster speed records so whats the point
Yes, the fork may help. Just take care of it, especially by cleaning the seals and putting some Brunox on the uppers.
what about cheap air forks? they usually weigh as much as a cheap coil fork. but are they really better in terms of performance?
Yes cheap air fork is definitely a lot better espetially if you weight no more than 70 kg. I had XCM fork which was replaced later with Epicon later. I am a slim guy and XCM worked only when go up or down on pavement. It didnt work in mountain either. Acually no big difference from the rigid one ( before that I had another bike with rigid fork). With Epicon my bike was about 13.5 kg instead of 14.7 kg and it worked. Nowadays I do not ride on a mountain anymore so I am looking for a bike with rigid fork and tyres about 2.0 inch. Actualy I think the tires make the ride comfortable enough for me.