Worth getting a cheap suspension fork for MTB?

axisus · September 2023

I'm a month into doing a hilly 20km round trip to work and back these days, and rather enjoying it (whilst the weather is OK!). I didn't want to use my best bike (an old Kona Kula Deluxe) as I lock up for an hour and a half of gym and swim on the way to work, so I dug out the remains of my very first ever MTB - an old Raleigh Tigershark. I considered scrapping it a few years ago as the gear changers had bust, but I'm glad I didn't.

So, I've been getting into riding it and gradually upgrading to better saddle, handlebars, other bits & pieces, put a good set of wheels on, and It's a good ride, but, it has no front suspension so it's a bit jarring at times.

I'm wondering about getting some cheap suspension forks, secondhand off of eBay. I don't plan on spending much, but will cheap ones just be a waste of time?

I also have no clue about the right sort or how to fit them, so I would have to look into it a fair bit. All I know so far is that I have 26" wheels and v-brakes.

Offset · September 2023

It's a good job WP (White Power) only make motorbike suspension, otherwise you could have found yourself on the receiving end of a 'WTF' thread

mrkb · September 2023

Headset sizes have increased over the years so you’ll need to know what size your frame has, suspect that will limit what’s viable to fit your frame. Old forks used elastomers for spring and damping so we’re pretty reliable, more recently it’s moved to air pressure (so seals might be an issue with older air forks).

The other option is to go for wider more flexible handlebars, but again bars have got larger in diameter, so your existing stem might limit what’s available.

ewal · September 2023

I wouldn't bother with suspension forks especially just for a commute. I'd maybe consider tyre width and pressure. No need for the tyre to be rock hard.

MooseAboot · September 2023

came here to say this ^. cheap forks will be a massive weight penalty

Headphones · September 2023

Cheap shocks invariably have cheap bearings and flap about when more than five mniutes old (often from new).

That said - it really makes for an entertaining commute!

Teetonetal · September 2023

Do not bother with suspension... Will add a ton of weight and almost no benefit, even if you can find something to fit.

Johnnyseven · September 2023

Won't puttinh suspension forks on an MTB not designed for them raise the front end up massively? Why not trawl eBay for a flexstem, that's a blast from the past ;-)

mrkb · September 2023

Johnnyseven said:

Won't puttinh suspension forks on an MTB not designed for them raise the front end up massively? Why not trawl eBay for a flexstem, that's a blast from the past ;-)

Flexstem was scary…… downhill braking, loaded up the stem and it dived even lower as you struggled to not go over the bars…. Happy days!

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Worth getting a cheap suspension fork for MTB?

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