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Fox and Rockshox have created a new segment of mountain bike suspension forks. Are Float 38 and ZEB with its massive 38-millimetre stanchions really the measure of all things for enduro bikers? And who actually builds the best all-mountain fork?
At the end of a long suspension fork test day, many a colleague feels as if they have just boxed Mike Tyson for twelve rounds. Their wrists are aching, their heads are buzzing and their jaws are creaking. Even if the large-stroke enduro and all-mountain forks can take a beating - the countless descents in rough terrain wear out even the most hardened colleagues. Testing one of the most expensive and complicated components on a mountain bike is no easy task. We tested six enduro forks with 170 millimetres of travel and four all-mountain models with 150 millimetres of travel and can reveal one thing right at the start: No matter how rough the descent was, we didn't lose our tooth fillings with any of our test forks. However, differences between the individual forks were still clearly noticeable. Because the interactions between the spring unit, damping cartridge and the chassis of a suspension fork are so complex, we had to look closely to find the reasons for the different working methods and therefore the specific strengths of each product. That's why we tested each fork in addition to our practical test four different laboratory tests have it tested. This is the only way to objectively evaluate a mountain bike suspension fork.
The complete suspension fork test in the Enduro and All Mountain categories from BIKE 3/2021 with all the information, overview tables and grades can be found as a PDF in the download area below:
The test costs 1.99 euros. Why not free of charge? Because quality journalism has a price. In return, we guarantee independence and objectivity. This applies in particular to the tests in BIKE. We don't pay for them, but the opposite is the case: we charge for them, hundreds of thousands of euros every year.
MTB ENDURO SPRING FORKS (160/170 mm)
- DVO Onyx SC D1
- Fox Float 38 Factory Grip 2
- Manitou Mezzer Pro
- Marzocchi Bomber Z1
- Rockshox ZEB Ultimate
- SR Suntour Durolux36 R2C2
MTB ALL-MOUNTAIN SPRING FORKS (150 mm)
- Cane Creek Helmet MK2
- Fox Float 36 Factory Grip 2
- Marzocchi Bomber Z2
- Rockshox Pike Ultimate
