[Closed] Rigid forks - worth persevering with?

Fatter tyre on the front, lower pressure.

Just get some suspension. It makes the bike so much better at handling rough terrain.

Too much gnarr for the rigid forks eh, bubs.

If you are really giving it the beans then it might be time to put suspension on. I've always liked Rebas, used to be a simple reliable fork but I think I heard quality is not good lately. Sids are lighter and have better damping on some models but possibly a little more flexy and obviously more expensive.

Is this a technique thing

possibly

or are these some of the compromises of going without suspension?

yes. if the lack of control and comfort outweighs the advantages of lighter weight, get some suss forks.

And to take a recent example. Steve Day started the world champs 24 solo mtb race on rigid carbon forks, then switched to a bike with boingy forks on for exactly that reason. He won the SS cat, came 6th overall. Clearly a decision that worked for him!

I've always liked Rebas, used to be a simple reliable fork but I think I heard quality is not good lately

really? 🙁 Just told my bro to get some. They arrived yesterday from Germany.

I am hardly a gnarpoon but if I take weight off the forks to float obstacles I lose grip and if I weight the forks for grip I take a pounding or occasionally the wheel even gets "locked" by the root or rock in question. I have got fully sprung bikes and so it may just be a case of the right tool for the job but it feels like these should be great for groomed places like Swinley or the North Downs if I can get this grip/float thing sorted. I will try a wider rim and fatter tyre if I can find some in the shed (Nobbies aren't too skinny though).

Technique can mitigate it a bit but really, rigid forks are bumpy as hell. That's why suspension was invented. Bigger tyres, flexible springy steel, carbon bars, it's all nichemongering. If it's rough and you want to go fast, you need suspension.

I have a rigid bike, which I love - because I love pedalling it. Standing up and heaving on the pedals is brilliant because the bike is rock solid and a great platform to work against. I learnaed to slow down on the descents, and it was fine until I went to Cwmcarn at the weekend and got battered. The descent is long enough and has enough small rocks that my hands were agony at the end. Ridden it hundreds of times on a suspension bike too. And I used to be a rigid die-hard back in the day, only got my first 63mm sus forks in 2001.

Most definitely horses for courses. There are times when my rigid bike is perfect (like long 50/50 on/off road valleys adventures) and when it's wrong (long rough rocky descents).

I've always liked Rebas, used to be a simple reliable fork but I think I heard quality is not good lately

really? Just told my bro to get some. They arrived yesterday from Germany.

I hope not in that case then, I should have put the [i][u][b]think[/b][/u][/i] more like this, as it's only a vague recollection and I can't remember the full details or origin. I assumed the OP would do their own research on that comment and should have been clearer.

OP I think it's definitely the right tool for the job, I have my bike set up SS and rigid for mostly cruising tow paths and fire roads right now. When the time is right the Rebas will be going back on.

Rebas and Sids (32mm ones) use the same chassis,just different internals.
BIG front tyre on a wide rim helps.But it's a different technique to get the best out them and at some point you have to accept the limitations.
After a VERY long time with rigids on the ss I'm going to give suspension a try,mainly because I've got a set of forks sat there doing nothing.

Neil, no worries, done now anyway. They'll look good on the bike, and that's the main thing.

Rebas v SIDs. From memory, possibly a bad memory of incorrect facts, the stanchions are shorter to save weight, so there's less overlap in the lowers. And part of the internal difference is to get away with less oil, (weight again, obvs) so maintenance is needed a little more often.

Might be worth a quick look in the lowers as there has definitely been mention recently of new Rockshox forks being assembled bone dry.

I bought Reba Rls ridiculously cheap.
Then bought a RCT3 damper.Ali shaft and dual flow rebound (at trade) and voila...SIDS 😀

Got rigid on my SS great fun but only if the going is fairly easy overall for me. Got a set of Rebas on the hard tail had them for about 7 years they're still good.

Love my sync ti with niner carbon forks, run bontrager XR4 2.3 tyres at about 22psi and feels great, I have also got some 100mm travel marzocchi's that I sometimes swap over for a treat!!!

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Expensive, fugly (you don't see then when you are riding) but exactly what you need

Light weight 60m of travel to "absorb the trail"

www.laufforks.com

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But now with flat bars

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