XC mountain bike forks - reccommend me some

[Mr Gear]

These look OK. I just need to check my steerer-tube length. The oil leak is probably an easy fix with them off the bike.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

[john_p]

P-Jay said:

It's the crown to axle length that's important, not the travel per-se. Check out the higher-end versions of your bikes (with the same frame) if they're running 80mm or more travel forks you'll be fine.

It's a Raleigh, I don't think there are any higher end versions

What will I actually gain from changing the forks? It's basically all I've used so have nothing to reference against..

[P-Jay]

john_p said:

P-Jay said:

It's the crown to axle length that's important, not the travel per-se. Check out the higher-end versions of your bikes (with the same frame) if they're running 80mm or more travel forks you'll be fine.

It's a Raleigh, I don't think there are any higher end versions

What will I actually gain from changing the forks? It's basically all I've used so have nothing to reference against..

Nowt wrong with a Raleigh! Lots of things a better fork will bring:

'Plushness' a personal fave word of mine, basically how 'nice' it feels, almost intangible.

A good fork should keep the front wheel connected with the ground as much as possible (unless you don't want it to )so in that respect like Car or Motorbike suspension give you the best grip possible, but at the same time it'll also take the 'buzz' out of the ride, ether making it more comfortable or less fatiguing - depending on how 'hardcore' you want to sound ha ha.

It'll bounce about less when you're pedalling making it more efficient and easier to pedal, weigh a lot less, again helps efficiency and also let you turn harder and faster.

Flex less, again, helps steering and 'feel'.

How much of that is of any worth to you, and how much of it is noticeable depends more on how aggressively you ride and how good you are more than how much you spend.