When did front suspension start not being crap??

[Raging_Bulls]

Sure, the first suspension forks were a huge difference compared to a fixed one. However they were heavy and they simply didn't have smooth action or proper damping.

 

[highlandsflyer]

What you are doing is comparing apples to pears.

When they arrived, suspension forks were excellent within their limitations.

Never crap.

Once the concept had taken off, and there were manufacturers cashing in on the idea there were some crap forks.

Just like any product.

Ipso facto they were never crap, generally speaking.

 

[dyna-ti]

Without a doubt it's the introduction of bombers for me. A huge step up from anything that came before and although they're flexier and shorter travel, I think the actual suspension action compares favourably with modern forks.

I agree with this,though i remember my indy's seemed pretty supple after a years use

 

[FST4RD]

I think it depends on what you wanted...
I rode rigid for so many years, then for shits and giggles I borrowed a set of RST 180's and poped them on my bike. What great forks! No flex, worked just enough to take the shock out of the front of the bike. From memory they only had a spring in each leg and nothing else. Did what I wanted them to do.
I then moved onto Mag 21's, they were good... till I found that the stantions had bent right up by the crown, back to the RST 180's

I did get some Bombers when they came out and I agree they were a huge step up over everything else!

 

[FluffyChicken]

I ride a Mag 20 aggressive on trails. Its not bad. Tuned correctly and compensating for the fact that I'm riding a hardtail and have limited travel, it performs to my satisfaction.

The only real downside is when cornering at speed and on fairly rough terrain. But on a hard tail, its best to take it easy then anyway.

Same here but using the much better and more modern MAG21's still working today. Air/Oil and tunable, you just need to set them up.
Flexy, well you get use to it and to be honest I don't notice it. I do notice how harsh a rigid bike is though when I pop on one.
Oh and they where not heavy, modern forks are heavy from what I've seen.
But these where top end forks at the time.

They work and do the job and a load blokes/lasses are going to show you can still ride the peaks on ageing suspension.

 

[Agency_Scum]

Konaman beat me to it when he straight away said Marzocchi. Get some bleedin' springs in it innit?!

Raging_bulls made the best point I reckon. Short travel forks, modern internals with retro decal finish and canti mounts, charge £300 to £600 and the suspension companies would make an absolute killing! There'd be no tech R+D, the demographic is huge and of " an age " to have lots of disposable income....what a no-brainer!
Okay, hands up who wants to lobby Marzocchi to get this going?

 

[FST4RD]

Be better hitting up Rockshox?
Could try and convince them to make a 20 year anniversary model of the Mag21, Judy SL/XC/DH?

 

[Raging_Bulls]

I'm all for it, Agency_Scum. We should indeed contact Marzocchi and Rockshox, but I think we should do it as a group.
Perhaps we should get an admin in here, to see if Retrobike could officially get involved. That would increase the chances of success.

 

[FST4RD]

Do you think that Rockshox would still have all the jigs and moulds to make Mag21's and original Judys?

 

[Raging_Bulls]

Not too sure, but then again would we want them to be the same as the old ones? Suspension technology has advanced massively over the last 2 decades, so you might as well build forks that look like the old ones, but use modern internals.

Sure, the'll be some R&D involved due to the need to create a new fork, but they have all the knowledge and I'm pretty certain that they'll have most of the parts too.