New Hardtail Front Fork Question

[DanCup]

Hi All,

Looking at getting my first 'decent' MB. It'll more than likely be a hard tail and will most definately be brand new due to utilising work's 'cycle to work' scheme.

Budget is upto around £700, ideally don't want to spend any more than that.

I've been doing a considerable amount of research online and noticed the Specialized Rockhoppers always come out well within this bracket. However having gone into a local Evans the guy was quite dismissive of the aforementioned bike and suggested a Trek (4900 D I think) due to a superior front fork. Air release or something. Apparently not many models around this price range had this?

Please could someone comment on the fork in question (if I've been clear enough?!) and offer a slightly better understanding and potential bike suggestions.

Thanks,
Dan

[Gazzab]

I have a Trek 6700 and like it albeit the frame sizings etc are diffrent to specialised (I also have a stumpjumper - but I am not comparing the Full suss with the hardtail! The frame sizes and shapes and fit are different between comparable hardtails afaik). So I would compare the two for fit and feel before considering which has the best fork etc..

[anonymous-user]

lower spec bikes have coil springs or air assited coils, higher end bikes have air dampers.

in very simple terms, the difference is the increased ability to tune the air damper compared to the coil springs which have a pretty basic preload/rebound mechanism.

being a pessimist Trek have probably specc'd the bike to hit a price point so a gucci fork might mean cuts elsewhere?

[Watchman]

Air spring with oil damper is the best fork IMO. It should be lighter than a coil sprung fork by enough that you'd noticem

I haven't decided whether a lockout is worthwhile yet even though I've got one. I don't have *just* a hardtail so I don't have to compromise.