What were the nicest-looking decent suspension forks?

[Pierre]

The curse of retrobike: I now have a long-term bike project that I'm assembling, mostly in my head at the moment. I've got an idea which frame, which cranks, brakes, levers, hubs, rims... but I'm not really sure about which forks to go for.

I've owned a few flavours of Rock Shox, but you couldn't really call them pretty or elegant; I had a USE S.U.B. that was interesting but not retro enough; I had a dog-ugly pair of Manitous BITD. I think the nicest-looking I've owned were a pair of Pace RC36s, and I regret selling those.

So, I'm thinking around a '95-97 build, which were the best-looking forks, in your opinion? Of course, riding well is also important!


: P

 

[mechagouki]

Judy fsx are a good looking forks. I also like first year SIDs, but a bit late for you and too flexy for anyone over about 170lbs.

Manitou 4 is a good looking fork too, not outstanding functionally though.

 

[FluffyChicken]

I like the look of Rockshox and Manitou forks from that era and not particularly a PACE or Marzocchi fan.

Really a lot depends on what bike they are going on, some just look wrong.

 

[Pierre]

I'm thinking of a skinny steel frame like a Saracen Kili with the wishbone rear (just wondering if the Ultra, in titanium, had that wishbone too) and Machine Tech V-brakes. I'll use some cranks I had from my old Marin Team Ti, can't remember what they are but they look like modern Tune cranks. I'll use my old Icon titanium bar ends and probably a Syncros stem I've got.

I'm going for aesthetically pleasing stuff that rides well. It doesn't have to be super-light and I'm not going to hammer it, but I plan on riding the bike rather than just looking at it. I'm around 75kgs so I'm no whippet, but I'm not super heavy either.

...and I'm spending too much time on here looking for ideas!

 

[mechagouki]

...and I'm spending too much time on here looking for ideas!

It's a disease for which there is no cure...

 

[ishaw]

Amp forks I think are by far the best looking forks, as well as being damn light too.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I also like girvin/noleen crosslink forks too.

The early use suspension forks are also nice looking, especially with their trick crown.

Pace is also a nice looking fork for it's time I think. RS, Manitou etc are all samey looking, though the early cnc stuff is nice.

 

[LQQK]

Have a look at the White Brother SC90s too.

 

[johnnypie13]

sus forks

Girvin vectors are always head turners

 

[yo-Nate-y]

Re: sus forks

Girvin vectors are always head turners

....cuz they're fugly

 

[kerryn]

Have a look at the White Brother SC90s too.

I had a pair of SC90s. Nice looking but crap forks. They required way too much servicing.

I prefer my current pace RC36 EVO II with no decals. Super cool looking but perhaps a few years too new for you.