what suspension can i fit to my kona AA without ruining it?

[the beaver]

im currently on project2s and my first offroad ride in 10 years on rigid forks brang me straight back down to earth with a bump.
im keen not to upset the geometry too much im looking for a short travel fork but something a bit newer rather than retro..
also ill remove decals or repaint if it looks garish with a new fork.
any suggestions?
im sure there are many people on here with a retro frame and modern fork..?
thanks, beaver

 

[BobCatMax]

Z1's

 

[petitpal]

I'm currently going through that very debate myself - although I'm working with a GT. What I've found out so far is that the key is axle to crown height. If you google it for the sort of forks that your frame ran BITD then look up the sort of modern forks you're thinking about and see how they relate. There's loads of reference charts around on the net if you look; my links are on my work's PC at the moment (usefully) but I'll post a few handy ones tomorrow for you.

Personally I'm working with a maximum of 80mm travel and that'll still alter the geometry quite a bit, from what I've read anyway.

 

[cce]

i'll let you in on a secret

Kona kept on using that geometry on the kula until really recently

the kula came some years with 100mm forks although they did fit a shorter stem to balance the handling a bit

to keep the feel you have though - no more than 80mm

 

[Whatleymeister]

There's loads of reference charts around on the net if you look; my links are on my work's PC at the moment (usefully) but I'll post a few handy ones tomorrow for you.

Here you go matey - http://faqload.com/faqs/bicycle-com...ke-suspension-fork-axle-to-crown-measurements

 

[velomaniac]

I find forks with about 60-70mm travel work well with most of my 90's retro kit that may have originally come fitted with rigid forks. I did fit 80mm travel forks to a Diamondback topanga with a shortish stem, worked OK but moved my weight too far back for good climbing.

 

[jamswinna]

Judy SL's would be killer...perfect height range too