The spring component of the fork can be either an air spring or a coil spring. What is the difference between coil and air springs in a suspension fork? The spring is found in the opposite fork leg to the damper.Ĭhassis – The chassis of the fork houses the spring and damper, providing a strong and stable platform for the internals to work effectively and providing accurate steering for the rider. The stiffness of a spring is defined by its spring rate, the ratio of force per distance the spring is compressed. The spring stores the energy, releasing it when the fork extends, while the damper converts excess energy to heat.

Spring – The spring absorbs the energy created by an impact, isolating the rider from it. The damper is found in the opposite fork leg to the spring. The damper helps control the speed at which the suspension can compress and extend. The suspension fork has three main elements:ĭamper – The damper’s function is to convert the kinetic energy of the spring into heat energy, usually by forcing oil through adjustable ports. To lessen the impact of trail obstacles by absorbing their energy through its compression. While containing many complex components, a suspension fork has a simple function. Suspension fork FAQ What is a mountain bike suspension fork? Four things we learned from the 2021 fork test.The contenders – Which forks did we include in this group test?.How should I set up my suspension fork?.How to choose the right suspension fork for your bike.Will a stiffer fork make us faster or give us more control? To find out, we tested these burlier forks alongside the best 35 and 36 mm options in our group test, abusing them mercilessly on some gnarly Scottish terrain. Alongside the new Manitou Mezzer PRO, these bigger and burlier forks have made us ask whether stiffer forks are better. Of course, we mean the two suspension giants FOX and RockShox who have both released their new 38 mm platforms to complement their existing 35 and 36 mm enduro offerings. This year, instead of small evolutionary steps, some brands have taken a giant leap. Yes, there have been small revisions to some of the leading forks, but there has been nothing groundbreaking. For the last 2 years, it’s fair to say that not a lot has happened on the mainstream suspension fork scene.

Manitou tower pro 29er