The Best Budget MTB Suspension Forks for less than $250
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- čas přidán 10. 04. 2020
- www.bikingroots.com
@bikingroots
#bikingroots, #budgetforks, #budgetmtbsuspension
The Suspension Forks talked about in the video below (some links may be affiliate links to help support the channel. Thanks for your support!)
*These links are for the general type of fork but you will need to confirm your specs before you order. Remember when choosing a fork there are different options, so please confirm the following:
- Straight or tapered steerer tube
- Wheel size (26, 27.5 (normal or plus), 29)
- Amount of travel needed (generally stick with what the bike was designed for but +/- 10mm shouldn't be a problem.
- Hub type: 9x100mm Quick release, 100mm thruaxle, 110mm boost thru axle
- Confirm the maximum allowed tire size of the fork as well.
Rockshox Judy Silver TK 27.5 (100mm or 120mm) 29” (100mmn) - Check out our site for availability. If not in stock, you can still support us via Amazon, link below as well. Compare pricing w/ Recon though because lately prices have been pretty similar. Recon is better, so if you can swing it, go Recon.
Judy links:
bikingroots.com/products/rock...
amzn.to/3QJ8RXT
Rockshox Recon RL - $250 but sometimes more and sometimes less. Sometimes you can find brand new takeoffs on ebay.
bikingroots.com/products/rock...
www.amazon.com/RockShox-Recon...
Manitou Markhor - $222, sometimes less. Lots of available sizes for different bikes
amzn.to/34w8qrp
Rockshox 30 Coil.
amzn.to/2RvLiCG
Suntour Raidon (like in the video)
amzn.to/3a2D9f2
Suntour Epixon (in video)
amzn.to/2xo0hr9
Headset for 2020 Marin San Quentin 1
amzn.to/3cbSV8Y
External cup adaptor to convert straight steerer frame for tapered fork
amzn.to/2wwNKkS - Sport
If you are looking to buy the Rockshox Judy Silver TK fork in either 29 (100mm) or 27.5 (100 or 120), we currently have some available for purchase on our site (see link in the description)
Where can i bought it?
good budget wheelset?
Freaking swanky. Looking for a fork to upgrade my walmart bike with not right now, but whenever I outgrow the current fork.
77uy
i have an rockshox judy but it has a preload and no rebound, it looks about the same as the rockshox xc30 in the video but mine has judy stickers and silver stansions, i bought the bike from a local bike shop so i don t think they changed the stickers and selling it as an judy but it is an xc30, on their site it says is judy solo air
Hi, you put out some down to earth videos. Thank you for taking the time to share with us. I know the covid-19 situation has been good for bike sales, but also made it very hard for bike stores to get inventory. I am wishing you the best. Keep up the great work.
Hey thanks! Appreciate taking the time to write that. Yes I’ve been swamped the last 2 months! Which is why I haven’t been able to make very many videos. Thanks again and take care
This video was exactly what I was looking for. Super good info! Thank you
Oh good, glad you found it useful. Thanks for the comment
I said it once and i'll say it again. You Sir are a GEM in the world of LBS. Thanks for the vid. Looking to upgrade my Tokul 3 forks.
Ha! Thank's David 😀
world of pounds
My man from Axum group!
Great video. Thanks for posting and I’m glad you are in the Houston area.
Thanks for your comment and glad you liked it. Have fun on our trails 😀
One of the best videos on forks,very informative and good advice.
Just ordered a set of Judy's to replace my XCM's.
Thanks! Oh nice, hope they work out for you!
Great info! I’ll be upgrading my GF’s stock Suntour XCR coil in a few months and the RS Recon air will be an excellent step up.
Nice, have fun!
Good real world content for those of us trying to get the best we can get on limited funds. Relevant for me because I was looking to upgrade from an Experion to the Recon, and wondering if that upgrade would be worth it, since they are both lower end air forks. The rebound response on the Experion leaves much to be desired, but forthe time being at least it's an air fork that won't bottom out on me at my current riding level.
Thanks for your comment. Yeah I think it would be worth it unless you can find a reba or revelation takeoff for cheap but i know it can be tough sometimes to find. The rebound is definitely better on the rock shox. Also, since it is still a pricey upgrade, I’d evaluate the rest of the bike and if you don’t plan on changing drivetrain or anything then it could be a nice upgrade. If you plan on putting more cash into it after the shock just make sure you price out a new bike on sale because sometimes you’re better off on a clearance or demo model with everything you may want. Take care
@@BikingRoots Quick question: My friend rides a Marin bobcat trail 4 from 2019. Does that model have a tapered head tube, like on the San Quentin, with a straight steerer tube on the Fork? Thanks!
Ps: Great videos!
H Sklar straight tube, but with an lower headset - external cup like the Hope H-EC44/40 will make it possible
Good quality video, very informative and genuinely surprised with the low sub count. Looking forward to putting on a Recon RL soon on my Diamondback Atroz!
Thanks! Nice yeah that will make a big difference for you and I think you’ll like it. Appreciate the support and good luck
Great content for those newer to MTB parts. Very few people go this in depth and most youtubers are riding high end sponsored bikes.
thank you for taking the time to comment. I appreciate it. Take care
I picked up a Suntour Aion 35 Boost from Chain Reaction for a touch less than $200 shipped. They are take offs but an AMAZING deal for the price.
Nice, thanks for sharing. I’m yet to try one. How do you like it thus far?
@@BikingRoots I love it. At the same price point I was look at the RockShox Judy Silver. I really didn't like how skinny the stanchions were on it and wanted something beefier so I was just about spend about $200 more on a RockShox 35 when I found the Aion. I don't have the rebound noise with mine but I've heard from others that they are prone to it too. I can't complain either way for $200 though.
Nice, glad it worked out well for you. Yeah I agree it looks tougher and sturdier. Hope you have fun with it
link please, cause i dont even see a Aion35 anywhere on chainreaction...thanks in advance
@@catalysts17az38 It went out of stock.
www.chainreactioncycles.com/suntour-aion-35-boost-forks-2018/rp-prod194871
Extremely helpful! Thanks a million
Thanks, glad you found it useful!
Awesome channel! Subbed and will hopefully get to visit your shop soon. Didnt realize there was another shop close to where i live!
Thanks for the support! Glad you are close. Let me know if you need anything. Take care
Finally a review for xc30 coil type😁
Glad to see someone looking at the bottom of the barrel. I can find all kinds of reviews on fox float's and similar, but I am as far from a pro as one can be and just want to have fun on my bike without the fear of snapping a fork in two. So i really like this review as you make it fair like real life use.
Thanks for your comment! Yeah we like the high end stuff too but also realize that for most people they will be fine and need to have options on the less expensive side. We need to do an updated video on this as some products and prices have changed. Hopefully will happen soon. Take care!
got a markhor to replace the suntour xcm on my rockhopper, and it made such a huge difference. The weight difference alone completely transformed how the bike rides. After getting a feel for the markhor on trails and some jumps im really impressed with how nice it feels for still being on the low end of forks. I love my bike now!
Nice! That's awesome glad to hear it made a big difference for you. Appreciate the comment and info
I have te same idea to replace my fork!!!
Did you set the fork to 120mm or 100mm???
Nice job, very informative video.
Thank you
Thanks! Glad you got something out of it, no problem. Take care
8:38 exactly what I was looking for, Thank you
Oh good! It can get a bit tricky finding out your head tube inside diameter and some have indentions so you may have to modify the lower cup adapter to make it work. Good luck
Extremely helpful, thank you
You’re welcome! Let us know if you have any questions
Thanks for the tips
No problem! Let me know if you have any questions
Excellent reviews.
Thank you, appreciate the support
Thanks soooo much man I cant begin to tell you how much you helped me. Its confusing I've been mtbing for a year but all bike shops near me are busy and dont cater to MTbers. I will message you.
Thanks for your comment, glad it helped! Let me know if you have any questions. Take care
Gotta love anything budget bike upgrade right. My ZTZ forks are a cheap knock off, but at $109 they have done me just fine. I will say that you opened my eyes when I go to the next level up with that $170 fork. My upgrades surpassed my bike's worth a long time ago lol. Thanks for the video liked and subscribed.
Thanks for the comment. Glad those ztz forks are working out for ya. If they work for what you need and you have fun out there, then no need to upgrade now. Take care and thanks for the support
The Manitou fork is great, it brought a whole new life to my GT Verb, and theres an option to bring the travel up, or down by 20mm, so it has a potential range of 80-120 mm,
Thanks for the comment and glad it is working out for you. Yeah thanks for clarifying the options for the travel. I haven’t tried adjusting any yet.
nice content! good luck sir
Thank you for the support!
My bike came with a suntor xcr air fork . I have had it for a year and half and has worked well . I have did maintenance on it which was very easy to do .
Nice, glad it has worked well for you. Thanks for sharing
Never thought I'd be looking at bike shocks videos , but I just bought a used Trek 930 and it has a xcr 0-11series. I am more into touring / gravel , no jumping or down hill. But now I looking 😎😁
Ha! Well even with touring/gravel, it’s nice to have some squish in front but that’s me! Good luck in your search!
Great video. I was thinking of buying the epixon but I’m thinking twice now lol
Some are fine, but others have that harsh rebound. May just be my luck with them so up to you!
I have used the rockshox recon rl for about 1/ half year now and put it thru alot of abuse and number of trips to Arkansas and even coller mtb and its holding up fine
Nice! Glad it has worked out well for you. Jealous, I want to go up to Arkansas! Hopefully soon
NIce video!, don’t forget to mention you can run a tapered fork in any straight steerer tube. Cane creek ec44 will do that.
Thanks, yup I mentioned it briefly but should have explained it better.
love the deity pedals just picked a pair made right here in Nampa Idaho!
Cool! Thanks
It's nice to see a site that doesn't test the $$$$$ cream of the crop only. Great job. My kids presented me with a a Markhor for my 2005 S C Superlite and it functions well on a bike with 30K+ off road miles.
Thanks for the comment, yeah we try to cover everything since we have a wide variety of riders and people just getting into the sport. Wow, 30K off road miles, that's really good! Nice, hopefully some sweet memories on that thing. Take care
I've been using a Recon RL for 3 years now, and as long as you keep an eye with the regular maintenance every air fork should have, they work really well, it's the default fork I recommend to anyone who's spending around $250, my wife has a Scott Scale 970 which came with a Rockshox 30 Silver air and it doesn't work as nice as the Recon, despite being an air fork.
The only reason I'd take this fork out, would be to replace it for a Reba RL.
Thanks for your comment and insight on the longevity of the Recon. Glad to hear it has worked well for you. Also, thanks for the info on the 30 Silver air. Yeah a Reba RL would be nice and sometimes I've seen some on sale for a good price.
nice video and you gained a New Subscriber. I am thinking about changing out my rigid fork on the Troll to a 100mm air suspension .
Glad you liked it and appreciate the support! Yea, change out that rigid, so much more comfortable! At least for me
Great video
Thanks!
I can vouch for the rockshox recon. This is amazing takes everything I throw at it
Nice! Glad to hear. Yeah for the price it isn’t bad for most. It’s been doing well on my ebike
Biking Roots i think I paid 195€ for it. And I’m seeing the Reba airs in 27.5 for 130€ right now from a couple eu parts stores. That’s a deal there.
Thanks for the informative new video. It would be good to add consider the type of brake mounts on the new fork to the list.
Thanks for the comment. Yes I would agree especially on older bikes that may have v brakes which I assume you are referring too?
@@BikingRoots yes, especially as you are discussing ways to upgrade lower priced bikes
Phil So thanks, sorry that was my bad. I’ll see which ones offer that option because there are a couple if I remember right
I’ve taken my suntour xct fork on some trails that definitely aren’t light cross country
Nice, yeah I know many that have done the same. Some are fine with it while others complain right away.
Biking Roots oh I complain but it’s all i have at the moment until i get a much nicer bike like a trek remedy or a canyon spectral
I took one of these cheap low-end unbranded forks with no adjustment at all that you find on Walmart Bikes and it was shit.
Yeah same here. 2015 rockhopper with suntour xcm forks. I just left basically the same comment on another reply.
Stay away from the xce, mine is totally fucked. It has like 5mm play at the seals
Nice review ride safe
Thanks, you too!
Had an xcm on my bike for like 6 years, rode the crap out of it, anyway stantions wore down and it became wobbly, I got the Judy Air for €150 and no complaints, verrrrry smooth feel
Nice, glad to hear! Thanks for sharing
Just ordered a judy silver, it is replacing an old marzocci dj2 and can't wait to put it on when it comes
Nice! Hope it works out like you want. Good luck
I've been riding one of the cheap Ebay air forks for about a year now. The brand is Krsec. It replaced a suntour xcr. Made my bike feel way better, and it's held up to abuse I was sure would have broken it(3-4 ft drops, cased landings on smaller jumps, ect). Not thinking I'd hit massive jumps or do any down hill racing with it. For my riding level though, it works.
Ok, that is some good info and I'm impressed it has held up with that kind of riding! Thanks for letting us know especially in comparison with the XCR. Stay safe and thanks again for the comment
Finally someone makes a good video explaining how to upgrade your forks. Thank you. Can you explain what mm travel goes best with the different head angles please?
Thanks for your comment, appreciate it! Good point. Generally speaking, the more aggressive/slack head angles these days give you better stability and confidence when going down steep descents and seem to now be in the 120mm and up travel range and can be 64mm-66ish. XC or trail riding usually consists of more steep head angles 67-69ish range. These days though XC and Trail bikes are getting more aggressive with more slack head angles and more travel. There is more to it than that though and I’d recommend contacting the bike manufacturer for some recommendations when upgrading. Usually you can go up 10-20mm without it changing the ride too much but any bigger and it could drastically change the feel and handling of the bike. It depends what type of riding you are looking to do. Sorry not sure if that helps or not. If you have other questions let me know!
The new fork looks really good, making the bike look high end imo.
Thanks for your comment, appreciate it!
I've just upgraded from basic suntour entry level forks in good condition to Judy silvers and I'm really happy with it. I've only ridden a few very high end bikes and the silver feels more than halfway to the expensive bike from what I started with.
Thanks for the response. That’s nice to hear that you are happy with it. Yeah when I go back to these forks on some bikes yes you feel the difference over high end stuff but for someone getting into it or trying to keep costs down, you can still have a ton of fun out there and they are much more capable and reliable than the forks I grew up with!
@@BikingRoots no worries. Just wanted to add my experience to the good content you make. It probable that I just went from McDonald's to Wendy's and haven't experienced a higher quality burger, so I don't know what I'm missing with the better components.
Thanks appreciate it! I like the burger analogy!
This is a good video, wish i would have found this sooner. Im kind of debating if i want to upgrade my talon 2 to a airfork or get a full suspension mtb. Only thing that's keeping me from upgrading my bike is that a full suspension is more maintenance.
Thanks for the comment! Good question. So, yes a full suspension does have a bit more maintenance because you have an additional suspension component and linkage/bearings, but they are a lot smoother so depending your goals and where you ride, may be worth it. If you plan on keeping the hardtail, then an upgrade could improve it and make sense. If you are thinking of selling it, you probably won’t get a lot of your investment back on the cost for a new fork.
Gold content.... Thanks!(1 year later)
Thanks, appreciate it!
I was able to pick up a new 2019 model Diamondback Atroz 3 with recon fork for $1,225. It's my 1st MTB. Hopefully a good starter bike. I was happy to see it get good mention in this video.
Sweet! Congrats man. Yeah you’ll have a great time on that bike. Make some memories
Sr suntour also has a trade up program. I’ve had great luck with suntour air forks on my last three bikes.
Yes, thank you, I forgot to mention that and I believe that’s why they put their low cost stuff on so many bikes. Which ones did you get and what were your favorites?
@@BikingRoots does that mean I can trade my old cheap fork and pay a bit less for a air fork?
I'm interested in this as well I'd like to upgrade my suntour
@@Rob_Ferreira I checked and you have to have the purchase history proving you bought the bike. And I think the maximum discount is 100 dollars
YES! Thank you for making this video, I am a new rider in mountain biking and i just bought my first real bike! But I am outgrowing the current fork and need an upgrade. Since im new into the sport I also do not know much about the parts and specs. Also is there certain sizes of forks, and how do i know what travel I should get? note: I am 5"9 and only weigh 130 pounds.
Usually you want to stay around +- 10-20mm of what the bike was originally came with. There are a few things you need to know as mentioned in the video but you mainly need to know your wheel size, straight or tapered head tube, quick release or thru axle, air fork.
I have a 2009 Recon Air/motion control that is still going good and has never been rebuilt. Im a Clydesdale, and it hasn't broken yet.
Oh nice that's good to hear! Glad it has worked out and thanks for sharing
I have the rockshox judy fork and I highly recommend it
Awesome, thanks for the comment!
Super stoked I came across your channel! Very informative and honest. My riding was sidelined for about 7 yrs and since this shitty pandemic, biking has been one of our families saving graces. Current rig is a 2009 specialized pitch comp FS. My pike 327 u-turn fork is bottoming out halfway through its travel when set to 140mm. Straight 1 1/8 steerer with a maxle 20. Any suggestions on what to do? Sram said the service kit has not been produced since 2012’. Im assuming a budget friendly 26” 140mm travel 20mm through axle 1 1/8 steerer is a tough find. Can you bushing the front hub to accommodate a 15mm? Any help would be amazing! Cheers
Ps we love Cleary bikes. We’ve had geckos, hedgehogs and now two owls. Great bikes and great customer service!
Thanks for the comment! Glad you are able to get back on the bike despite the circumstances. Hmm, let me search my distributors and see what I can find for you. Yeah may be tough but Ill check. Cool you had Clearys and glad you like them!
new sub, just realized we are in the same city!
Oh cool! Thanks for the support! See you on the trails
Well done and thank you! I just found the recon for $210 on Amazon
You’re welcome! Oh sweet, that’s a good deal, good luck and hope you enjoy it
@@BikingRoots I got the 100mm do know if it’s possible to increase travel on that fork? Thanks in advance
No, I don’t believe you can… at least very easily
@@BikingRoots cool thanks
My Markhor QR is much stiffer than my Recon 15mm hollow skewer, but both work well.
Really like the Manitou. I put one on my GT Agressor. I've since upgraded bikes, but my girlfriend has been using the GT, and the fork is still holding up after 3-ish years of solid use, (trail and park).
Thanks for your comment and feedback. Oh that’s great to hear! Yeah I do not have that much time behind one so glad to hear they are built tough. Thank you!
GT aggressor uses straight steerer tube right?
@@marcusclement5251 yeah, straight 1 1/8" on the Agressor. The GT Avalanche uses a taper (I believe).
Worth mentioning boost and non-boost also perhaps when considering hub width
Sorry I thought I did in the video, but maybe I forgot! Yes very important
I rode a Raidon for a couple years. It had some quirks but all in all I think it was decent. I never had that issue you pointed out with yours.
Thanks for your comment. Hmm, well maybe I got a bad one? It’s weird because I read of others with my same issue so I’m wondering if there was a bad batch? Glad to hear yours is working well. Thanks for letting me know, I’ll look more into it.
I also have a raidon that makes that noise. It's the cartridge for the lockout. The bolt that holds it in place inside the stantion came loose on every ride after using the lockout the first time. Remove the lockout cap, remove the lockout screw(funny looking allen key with a unusual head) there is a hollow 5mm bolt. Tighten that bolt and make sure your lockout stills works. Noise should be gone. Suntour ended up sending me a new cartridge(which made the same noise). Other than that it's been good to me on my Marin Bobcat Trail 9.4
Oh nice. Thank you so much for sharing. If I have time tomorrow I will give it a try!
What I did was bought a 2019 marlin 5 and spent another $400 cad on used parts to upgrade it to a point where it rides like a dream. 2012 Reba's fuel air, pedals, shorter stem, tires, rear derailleur, wireless speedometer and a few other little things. I bet you that $400 that it rides nicer than any $1000 cad bike out there.
The forks and pedals were the first to get replaced. I got like 20mm of travel out of those crap spring led weight forks.
Nice upgrades! Glad you could make it pretty sweet. Hope you make some awesome memories on it!
Thanks for the video, so many reviews just concentrate on the high end stuff that cost double what most normal folks spend on a bike.
Thanks Paul for your comment. Yeah suspension prices can be tough for newcomers to the sport to wrap their heads around. I’m hopeful that the nicer stuff will continue trickling down to what most people can afford. Take care!
Biking Roots that’s kind of the position I’m stuck in. I don’t have a lot of money to spend on a mountain bike, I live in South Florida and have some really fun flow trails but they’re basically flat and the largest drops I have to deal with are about 18 inches so I don’t need a “modern” “slack” mountain bike but it’s hard to find something of decent quality that’s not way overkill for the kind of trails that I have around me, when I’ve test ridden various newer bikes They honestly made the trails kind of boring
Oh darn, that's not good. What bikes have you tested so far?
Biking Roots Initially I thought I might be looking for a full suspension bike so I tried a Specialized Stumpjumper and Marin Rift Zone (I tried the stumpjumper at a trail in Broward County Florida called quiet Waters Park, I tried the rift zone at Jonathan Dickinson State Park) it was immediately apparent that full suspension was completely overkill for the trails I have and my skill level. After that I had a chance to try a Marin San Quintin at Jonathan Dickinson park. I immediately liked the rear end and how it pedals but it was ridiculously stable for the trails I ride, so stable that it felt sluggish to me. I worry that mountain bikes have become so capable but so slack that I might have missed out on the kind of bike I’m looking for by not purchasing five years ago or so. I’d love to build up a nice Hardtail frame like my red line but unfortunately it seems like the frame geometry that I like kind of went out of style with straight headtubes so 🤷♂️. I suspect that the next bikes I will end up test riding will be more cross country type of bikes. I’ve been eyeballing the Niner SIR 9 and AIR 9 online (and the All-City Electric Queen, but it seems like it may be slacker than I want), they seem like they might be what I’m looking for I just need to find somewhere I can test ride them. I found other bikes I think I might like (like Surley Karate Monkey) but most of them seem like they are geared more towards bike packing and being “super versatile” that they end up being heavier than I necessarily might want
So having just done quite a bit of fork research myself, the Suntour Epixon is a $400 fork and so a level up from $300 Raidon, but both way overpriced for their performance. I thought the Markhor was going to be my choice for upgrade until my calculations of a website's weight in grams had it over 4lbs. Needless to say, I much appreciate you throwing them all on the scale!
Thanks for your comment and no problem weighing them. 4lbs isnt bad in my opinion for the price. The epixon has smaller stanchions than the raidon but maybe I’m looking at older models and maybe they’ve changed them since these came out. I’ll have to investigate more. Thanks
At 3:15 is the fork I bought to replace my old one. I use the bike to do wheelies and tricks like deathspins around my city ( London ) They feel really good. Very smooth they fit good and look nice too ( when you take off the stickers lol )
Thanks for the comment and glad it is working out for you. I may have to try one out soon and take off the stickers! Ha
dude, i need a best budget wheelset video...Just got into mtb biking and your videos help!! At the point where I'm.didn't
My message got cut off sorry. after watching your derailleur videos. i went to my local bike shop to buy some wheelset and they act like they was to busy to help. kinda felt like they didnt want to help cause i didn't buy a my bike from them. Thx for all your help, your videos are very educational
Thanks for your message, and I apologize about the delay. Sorry they were not willing to help. I know inventory on everything is strapped right now. Yeah it is tough to find good budget wheelsets sometimes but depends on your needs. That is a good idea as wheelsets are a big expense. Let me see what I can come up with that can help. A lot of manufacturers have their own built up at the factory which is why they can get the bike built at a certain price.
I purchased a Marin San Quentin 1 in Jan this year and converted it to 1x10 and replaced the XCM with a Suntour Radeon Air love the bike and fork is great on it. Great minds think alike.
Thanks for your comment and that’s awesome that you did those conversions, glad you like it. Yeah, we just got our 1st 2021 San Quentin 1 this week and they have a 1x9 drivetrain now with a clutch (which actually works well as I’ve used it on other bikes) but it still has an XCM up front so super heavy. I think I have another Radeon Air I’ll throw on it very soon! Have fun with the San Quentin and stay safe
nice video
Thanks!
I bought some $130 Bucklos 120mm air forks on Amazon. Just wanted to see what they were like for a review video. To my surprise they are really good. Not just good for $130 but really good in general for a entry level air fork. On par with any of these models. Rode them pretty hard a few times for a video and had no issues, they rode real nice. Almost shocked at how good they are for the price.
Thanks for the comment. Haven’t tried Bucklos fork but I may have to give it a try. Good to hear some positive feedback. Do you know if they have compression adjustment and/or offer replacement seal kits for them? If someone was keeping them long term I’d be concerned about servicing them. Of course at that price you may just put a new one on lol
@@BikingRoots there's rebound adjustment and lockout. As far as seals Im not sure. I kind of doubt it but I could be wrong. I think forks like this you get one to three seasons out of and toss them in the garbage. I will say it rides just about as good as it's expensive counterpart. Really lightweight with pretty good build quality. Very impressed.
Good info. Yeah I agree with you on the timeframe. Thanks I’ll have to try one out soon and see what I think.
Hi there. Love your video and information. The video comparison more towards branded absorber. May I ask what is the difference between lower budget absorber which is non branded compare to a branded absorber. The prices different in my country is very sustaintial.
Cheers 😊
Hello, thanks for your comment and question and sorry for the delayed response. From my experience which isn’t a ton with the non branded or generic forks, they can be ok but usually don’t have oil in them and just use grease, long term longevity is also a big question. I would say most of them because of their construction put warning stickers that they are for casual riding only which for me I like to do more than just casual riding. They may be good and I need to test more of them though, but that’s my experience with them
@@BikingRoots thank you for your input. Have a great day
Found out in spite of my huffy coming with a will stem it has a 1-1/8th inch steer tube, which gives me a lot of potential for parts when I outgrow the current rigid fork (though I do wish the rear had innate disc brake mounts, at least I don't think it has mounts since it came with a quill and is marketed as a comfort bike.)
Huffy labeling it as a special edition in spite of the only soecial thing being the color. I will show you what the special edition SHOULD have been (thumb shifters, better fork, better brakes, an eight or nine speed.) Already put a new crank set on and swapped from the stock 44tooth cog to a 32 tooth.
Almost want to go for a brown leather saddle and grips gi ej the sage green frame.
Cool, congrats and hope your build goes well and you enjoy the bike
The suntour epixon in this video has remote speed lock out. This means you need to buy a remote lockout lever specifically for suntour forks to operate the lockout. This makes it better than the raidon when on the fly and unable to reach down to the fork to lock it out.
Thanks Daniel for the explanation, sorry I didn’t explain it very well. Appreciate it
Great video got a gt pro aggressor need a better fork it has the basic sun tour xct
Hello and thank you for this kind and real video comparison. I have Cube Nature bike and it came with cheap 63mm SR Suntour coil fork, I would like to go for Manitou Markhor with 100mm of travel.
What do you thind is that too much, will it change my position on the bike?
Thanks for your comment and question. Nah go for it, it will improve the bike a lot and shouldn’t throw it off too much
Biking Roots thank you 👍💪
Strange...my Epixon doesn't sound crunchy like that. Probably low damper oil.
I believe the difference between the Suntour Epixon and Raidon are: 32mm vs 34mm stanchions and available in QR vs through axle only. They have the same adjustability for air pressure and rebound. I especially like the travel adjustability from 80mm to 130/140mm on both.
Thanks for sharing. Yeah maybe i can fix it or I got a lemon 😁 . My raidon is 32 and my epixon is 30 but maybe there are other versions. Thanks for the info, appreciate it. I’ll keep messing with them and see if I can improve them
Thanks for the fantastic video. I'm new to mountain biking and picked up a Cannondale Trail 8 2021. Would the RockShox Judy silver be a solid upgraded fork on this bike? I'm doing green and maybe blue trails, not just gravel.
Thanks for the comment and question. Yes it would be a great upgrade to replace the Suntour that it comes with. Either the 29” version which is 100mm or if it a 27.5 then either the 100 or 120mm version. Good luck!
@@BikingRoots Thanks so much!
I got an x fusions fork for 170 and it works really well.
The rc32?
I Want Die nah I was gonna get that but got it in the wrong size. I saw it in person it seems nice but I got the enix, it's really similar though.
As someone who had a suntour xcr which had to be replaced after a year because i bent the head tube beyond repair after landing weird, i would absolutely recommend upgrading to the suntour radon. It's actually crazy the difference it makes.
Thanks for your comment. Glad you are having better luck with the raidon! It definitely seems tougher, I just maybe have to get used to the rebound or mine is defective, we shall see. Take care
@@BikingRoots I've seen sr suntour epixon with black stanchion on eBay and Amazon for $200 do you know if there any good
Adred films thanks for your comment. I’ve used a few epixons and some have been better than others. My issue is with the harsh rebound on some when you pull up on the fork to go over a root or curb. The rockshox and manitous are better in my opinion but your call.
@@BikingRoots ok cheers
Hi, I found you while I was researching forks for my bike. You have great videos and you're down to earth. I just started getting into biking again after many years and picked up a Hyper 29 E-bike. The factory forks are terrible but it's a lot of fun and I'm getting some good exercise. I'm riding mild trails in Southern Arizona and need a recommendation for forks in the $250 budget range . I'd rather spend $300 on a decent fork than $150 on a fork that won't last or work properly. I'm 275 lbs and dropping so I would like to get air forks. The frame has a tapered head tube but I've been told the fork upper tube is straight so it would probably require different bearings to run a taper. The front wheel has a standard big box store bolt/nut axle(not quick release), can the axle be converted without replacing the hub? It has cable disc brakes. Thanks for the great channel and any advice!
Thanks for your comment and support and sorry for the delay. We just moved to a new shop and we are behind on stuff! Congrats on getting back into the biking game. Oh nice, I grew up in Tucson so love the trails over there and where I started riding. For your size and on a budget, I’d probably go with the Recon for around $250-260. Since you have the threaded front wheel, I’d go with the straight steerer recon which we have in stock (100mm travel). (just transfer over your crown race reducer from the old fork onto the new one. You can’t change the hub to quick release unfortunately (or at least not easily), but you shouldn’t need to with the QR forks. The bolt should have enough clearance on the lower legs to tighten down so you should be fine. That would be the least expensive way to go. From there, the prices go up quickly if you go with a tapered fork with a thru axle and then you’d have to upgrade your front wheel so probably not worth it. Hope that helps and makes sense! Take care
@@BikingRoots Sage advice, thank you for your thoughtful response!
For 250 i would try to get a 2015-2018 rockshox pike if you need 150\160mm or RebaRL Dual Air uturn 80/120 140mm, or a sid 100mm.
You get a really good shock used...
Yeah if you can find one that has been serviced and in good shape that would be a good option. For this comparison I wanted to just have new forks only but yeah you have to keep your eyes open. Sometimes you can find some sweet deals. Thanks
Here in Ecuador, Rockshox Judy Silver came with internal problems. Mechanicals tell me 8 / 30 have problems in rebound system. I go for the Epixon 2021, "much resistant than Judy, 0/30 problems" and go perfect for me: all Mountain, Trail. Perfect rebound system, fully functional and it don't give me the sound or sensation that you show in video, I thing you just need to set air pressure and set rebound. Recon is another story
Thanks for the comment and opinion. Weird that there have been issues with the rebound. The new Epixons may be better than the old ones or maybe I just had a bad batch of them
@@BikingRoots probably yes! Thanks for your video, was a cool guide
I think its always best to buy the best bike you can from the start instead of buying a cheaper model and upgrading. When you buy the bike as a whole package you are getting a much better deal than buying the parts separately. The best is to buy the best model bike you can to have the least amount of parts that would need to be upgraded. Also when going from a lower model of a bike to the next model up of the same bike most times it's not just the fork that will be better on the next model up but also things like the brakes and drivetrain, etc.
Spend a little more upfront to save money down the road. Also try and get a bike with a Tapered head tube if possible as there are less and less options each year for straight steerer forks since it's considered an outdated design for mountain bikes now. Straight steerer doesn't offer the same strength as a tapered one.
Thanks for the comment and the good advice! I totally agree
I just got the rockshox 30 silver TK for my talon 3.
Nice! Hope it works well for you
@@BikingRoots I'm sure it will be night and day above the crap suntour xtc on there now...has the yellow warning label so it's pretty useless lol. I'm gonna attempt to install new forks myself. Have all the tools, just never done it before. But that's how ya learn! 👌
for under 250? epixion FTW! in 120mm or 100mm options....you also have tapered or straight steerer options...Good vid bro!
Thanks for the comment
I love my epixon.
It's great for that price.
@@OfficialFedHater it's a great fork for the price...LIGHT and I also have the remote lockout... it's just a great fork
I HIGHLY recommend the manitou
Great, good to hear! Thanks
I've heard great things about them too. Thinking of getting either Manitou or Fox. I currently have a 2004 Kona caldera which came with, marzocchi exr bombers coil suspension which have been great but i think i should upgrade to air. I mean i just powder coated and upgraded a few things so I was thinking of getting a new suspension.
I’ve just bought a manitou markhor and sent it to my LBS to fit as the steerer tube was a bit of a bugger to fit. I am super curious about the manitou, it’s replacing a 5 year old rock shox gold tk 100 29, which was also a good fork. Wondering how it’s going to compare...
Can you make a video on how to adjust a suspension fork to help those of us new to mountainbiking? In keeping with the budget focus, it might be good to show how to get the best from forks with steel springs as well as those with air springs. I also suspect a lot of newbies will have the simpler forks that don't have as many forms of damping (or any) like the Suntour XCM on my Tokul 1
Thanks for your comment. Yes I have in the works a video on that. I didn’t think to do it for the coil spring ones like the XCM so thank you. Stay tuned
@@BikingRoots I'm looking forward to it.
I have to look into a better shock my current bike has a sr suntour xct 28 75mm of travel I'm looking into a 100mm fork might be better
Thanks for the review on some nice beginner forks. I currently have the San Quentin 1 and I also have a 2017 Rockshox Pike RCT3, the headset kit you recommended is out of stock on amazo, do you have any other headsets you could recommend me?
Thanks for your comment. Ah darn. Sorry. Umm let me see what I can find. I’ll get back to you on it
Biking Roots thank you so much !
Still looking for one? If you are i believe i found an alternative. The dimensions are all the same and I could potentially drop ship it to you. Send me your info at www.bikingroots.com/contact.html and ill see what i can do
good video. question: i noticed the suntour (raidon) fork looked to have more travel: did / would that have any noticeable affect on geometry?
Good catch. I’m going off memory, but I believe the San Quentin 1 has 120 and the 2 and 3 have 130. I think the Raidon was 130mm. General rule is +- 20mm is the max recommended to not change the geometry and durability designed by the engineers.
Thanx for the info. I just recently bought a used hyper havoc pretty cheap. I looking at turning it into a mullet with a 27.5 front and keeping the rear at 26. Will the rock shox Judy support the 27.5?
Thanks for the comment and congrats on the Hyper. 27.5/26 mullet, sweet! I’m not too familiar with the havoc but looking at pics it has a quill stem (or at least stock it did) so you need to make sure the frame head tube is 1 1/8 in diameter. Then I recommend getting a threadless stem that just clamps onto the fork steerer tube (they work better and most modern bikes have them now). Other than that, yes it should work
Hi there, I’m upgrading/side grading!? From a 5 year old Rockshox tk gold 100mm 29 to a manitou markhor. Found the rockshox was relatively good, but over rougher stuff/ridden harder it was quite lacking compared to my pike which eats everything so well! I am very curious how a manitou will handle compared to the bigger companies, especially with those thinner stanchions. Do you have experience with the tk gold in comparison to the markhor? I would be curious as to your opinion. Thanks for doing the video!
Thanks for your comment. Hmm I don’t think I’ve ridden the TK gold but have tried the markhor and yari and lyrik which basically longer travel Pike. I would say it would be a side grade to go to the markhor. It works well but in comparison to the nicer stuff you feel the difference, but also pay for it as well. The recon gold or reba come to mind though I know they are a lot more
Re installing a tapered fork in a straight steerer headtube, this is only possible if the headtube is zero-stack. If your headtube is EC34 with external bearing cups you're out of luck.
Hmmm, thanks for the comment and insight.
Please do a detail video on judy silver
Ok thanks. Still riding it to see how I like it but yeah i may be able to do a more in depth review
Thanks for this great video. I'm planning on upgrading my cannondale trial 7 with the judy silver tk, Do you think its a good upgrade? and will it fit? It comes with a SR Suntour XCT(Straight)
Thanks for the support. Yeah if you primarily do XC riding and aren’t big guy, I think the Silver TK air is a good option (when we can get it back in stock). We have some on order but won’t be in until September. If you have more cash and need something stiffer, the Recon RL is another option just $80 more. We just received a few of those
@@BikingRoots Thanks for the reply! I don't really know if i need something stiffer since I'm really new to this, the more extreme thing that i do with it is a XC/Light Enduro combination, you can look up @pistamtbbotanico on instagram so you know what i'm talking about. Again, thanks for everything.
Hi!
I have a question. Could you use shocks designed for 29ers on a 26er? I have a 26in mtb and want to get a rockshox judy that is for 29in. Would that work?
Thank you!
Good question. You could use it yes but it can throw off your head tube angle and potentially change the way the bike handles substantially. I’d go 27.5 before 29 and just be prepared to have a slack front end
Great video, learned a lot. Do you recommend getting a cheaper bike for example I am debating between a Giant Talon 2 29, Talon 3 29 Specialized Rockhopper 29 or cannondale trail 5 and then changing the components? Was thinking of getting Shimano Deore components for the bike that I choose to get. Doing research before I buy anything, don’t want to make a mistake. Looking for a bike to go on trails. Any help would be appreciated.
Good questions. Right now for the money the new specialized rockhopper 29 comp is hard to beat with a nice advent 1x drivetrain for $750. Then all you would need would be a new fork. Unfortunately it can get a bit tedious comparing. Drivetrain can easily be $150-200 just for parts and then you have to install it (or pay someone else). If you already have tools then you don’t need to factor that in. In summary compare the drivetrain, brakes, tires, and rim widths against each other and see which one is a better value then factor in upgrades. Sometimes you are just better off buying the nicer model. Good luck!
@@BikingRoots Appreciate the information will be taking a look into that one. What do you think about the Cube Acid 29 Hardtail Bike? please let me know it has amazing components and specs for the price.Only thing have to get it shipped from the UK. I have been doing research before spending the money.
Thanks for the vid! How much of a difference would offset make? I believe my current RockShox XC32 coil is 46mm; I’m looking to replace with manitou markhor (48mm offset for 9mmQR) or machete (41mm listed but waiting on manitou to confirm its 41 9mmQR). I’d prefer the beefier machete but am wondering if I should stick to markhor for the closer offset.
Thanks for your comment. Honestly I think you’ll be fine with either of those offsets. It does make some difference but those are pretty close. I’d ignore the offset and choose the machete probably since it has bigger stanchions I believe and so hopefully stiffer
@@BikingRoots gotcha thank you so much for the info!
Hello! I just bought a GT Aggressor Pro and I wanted some advice on a new fork. Which fork do you recommend? Best budget friendly fork. Thank you!
Personally I’d go with a 100mm or 120mm Judy Air TK. We just got some in that we will have available soon on our site. $170 plus some shipping probably. Stay tuned.
Product review and question here. I put a RockShox Recon on my '04 Giant NRS-2 this spring to replace my 80mm Manitou Skareb Elite. I thought the Elite was bad because it wouldn't hold air but low and behold, a quick review of the online owners manual indicated that the air chamber might be out of oil...it was. My fault being that I'm the original owner. Oh well, it is going on my wife's old NRS-2 that is getting converted to hyd disks for my daughter. Fast forward a few months of trail riding and I am really happy with the Recon. It is very smooth and I appreciate the extra 20 mm of travel. On the travel note, picking up the extra 20 mm is a bit beyond what you recommend and likely means I'm a bit more slack than stock. Is this actually a bad thing on an older bike that is not slack to begin with?
Thanks for the comment, I used to have an nrs-2! Cool. Nah you’re good with 20mm, but if you go more than your geometry and handling could be affected negatively but depends on the bike
@@BikingRoots Awesome, thanks. Now I have to determine going sag or no sag on the rear. There seems to be some debate on this for the NRS-2's.
What do you think about the rst dirt fork? I just bought a verde with that fork and it seems pretty decent. It has a hard spring in it I guess and rebound control
I don’t think I’ve personally ridden a bike with that fork but it looks to be similar to many of the Suntours with a coil spring. It will probably work for now but if in the future you decide you want to keep the bike and upgrade, I’d look into a good air fork. Shed some weight and add more tunability and control
I have a 2021 Ktm ultra fun with a suntour xcm rl 100 travel and I have taken it to normal trails and it’s fine except it doesn’t have low speed compression and it’s kind of rough
Thanks for the comment. Yup it will work just not as smooth and over time people seem to start having play in the stanchions and at least here in Houston, TX rust on the stanchions.
Installed a RockShox 30 Air fork on my dirtjumper that used to be on my hardtail but can't really pump it up rock hard.
Yeah, it probably isn’t meant to be on a dirt jump bike, you can lock it out pretty well but yeah it may not be enough for your needs