Best suspension forks from the '90s?
- Thread starter setspeed
- Start date
Pace forks are fine. As with most older forks, cheaper models aside, if set up properly they work as intended, bearing in mind the shorter travel over modern forks.
Personally always been a fan of Judy's, though Mozo's are a slightly better version, and Girvins in J mode are really nice around these parts with all the rooty singletrack.
Personally always been a fan of Judy's, though Mozo's are a slightly better version, and Girvins in J mode are really nice around these parts with all the rooty singletrack.
MattiThundrrr
Kona Fan
I have a set of Specialized FS air spring oil damped. They're a version of Mag21. Fantastic retro shock as long as you keep in mind that it's retro. I'd also love to try an Amp Research system, heard good things about them.
grey-beard
Orange 🍊 Fan
I never had any issues with Judys, raced the DH for many years and had a couple of pairs of xc too.
This is a tough one, as while modern forks are better in almost every way, some retro forks were very good for their time.
My favourite and regretfully sold retro fork is the Judy fsx. Looks great and worked really well stock, but was improved by either adding springs, slapping in Judy DH cartridges for rebound and compression damping, or the icing on the cake, ecko sport air dampers. Swapping out the stock brace for a carbon stuff one and the ti bolts from a Judy sl to take it to another level. You could go even further and go for an after market crown too. Judy Sl or DH too.
Other great forks were givin/noleen carbon crosslinks or as someone has mentioned, amp f3 or BLT.
An overlooked fork imho was an rst xmo. Lighter and stiffer than a sid, with ecko sport air damping.
Never had a set, but liked the look of and sound of the manitou efc.
Another sold regret was a lawwill leader 3.
I've always heard good things about marzocchi bombers, bomb proof and reliable plushness for their day.
Sid's were nice but flexy.
Not sure of the timeline but pace rc36 in various guises, the evo3 with ti nitride uppers looked great, the red eddy Irvine edition was cool looking too. The pro class 2 was also a nice fork, and rc38 air force, though these may all have been later.
My favourite and regretfully sold retro fork is the Judy fsx. Looks great and worked really well stock, but was improved by either adding springs, slapping in Judy DH cartridges for rebound and compression damping, or the icing on the cake, ecko sport air dampers. Swapping out the stock brace for a carbon stuff one and the ti bolts from a Judy sl to take it to another level. You could go even further and go for an after market crown too. Judy Sl or DH too.
Other great forks were givin/noleen carbon crosslinks or as someone has mentioned, amp f3 or BLT.
An overlooked fork imho was an rst xmo. Lighter and stiffer than a sid, with ecko sport air damping.
Never had a set, but liked the look of and sound of the manitou efc.
Another sold regret was a lawwill leader 3.
I've always heard good things about marzocchi bombers, bomb proof and reliable plushness for their day.
Sid's were nice but flexy.
Not sure of the timeline but pace rc36 in various guises, the evo3 with ti nitride uppers looked great, the red eddy Irvine edition was cool looking too. The pro class 2 was also a nice fork, and rc38 air force, though these may all have been later.
rentedmule
Old School Hero
The Girvins were great if you liked going over the bars frequently - they looked great but were nasty on a trail.
I agree that the Bombers felt best but were heavy. I like my Englund Total Air Judy SL's.
I agree that the Bombers felt best but were heavy. I like my Englund Total Air Judy SL's.
