Long flat rides to and from the trails is the only time i use my lockout. Anytime i'm off of pavement or doubletrack i unlock the fork and let it do it's work. The short/steep stuff is common down here too and i have forgotten and left the lockout on, noticed it pretty quick on the first whoop-de-doo.

 

I also could not use a lockout switch. I just get too hypoxic to remember all that stuff.

The Fox Terralogic works on its own...It is of course useful on climbs, but it also.

eliminates brake dive.

locks out when you stand and hammer in a really high gear, like to pass someone on the flats.

 

Not for me.

I was obessed with buying a bike with a lock out on the front cause I thought I was going to use it all the time. Turns out nope. I have turned it on maybe twice and the last time I forgot to turn it off. :eekster:

 

One of the features I thought was a deal-breaker for my new bike was lockout on the fork. Unfortunately, I have found it to be almost useless on the relatively flat area where I live. The trails here (central NC) are very rooty, with frequent short, steep ups-and-downs. Even if I could be bothered locking/unlocking the fork every 15 seconds, taking my hand off the bar would seriously risk me crashing since the roots are so big and pervasive. I don't want to deal with a pop-lock and another trigger. I'm probably going to upgrade my fork to a motion-control damper.

But I'm just curious, who uses their lockout, and do you only use it on steep climbs? Does anyone actually fiddle with their lockout trigger frequently on technical (bumpy) singletrack?

Personally I think lockouts are useless and adds complexity where it is not needed. I find it extremely humorous when people say they lock out their fork when they ride on the road. Because its normal to use 5" of travel or more while riding on the road I guess ?!?!?. To me you are locking out suspension that isnt working to begin with. Not sure why you would ever lock it out while offroad. Defeats the purpose of suspension doesnt it?
I think its a gimmick.

 

It really depends what bike you are using it on. I ride a hard tail single speed and i get out of the saddle to climb so I am always using it. If i was on a geared 5" bike i would probably not use it very often

 

It really depends what bike you are using it on. I ride a hard tail single speed and i get out of the saddle to climb so I am always using it. If i was on a geared 5" bike i would probably not use it very often

Point taken.

 

I use the lock out on my Cannondale F4 all the time when I am on smooth trails and on the way to the trails.

 

I have a hardtail it only seem to have an effect when stand and pedal hard
but its good to have.

 

its a crutch for forks with poor dampers.

i ditched lock outs and platforms completely and the bike is faster as a result.

 

I dont think Ive ever used a lockout, even on the road.

 

I ride a hardtail single speed with a Fox fork and I never use the lockout.
Maybe I am just too smooth?

 

I always forgot to unlock when I lock it in. LOL

Last time I forgot, I ended up with 'brain damage'. I suffered headaches for a week. Riding down on a regular trail I frequent, been think "Wow... The trails is pretty roughed out today... Must be the rainy season". It's so bumpy that I got blurred vision going down... LOL

 

Never Use It

I have it on two rides and never use it. I normally don't ride on pavment however. I don't consider it an important feature but I do think compression and rebound damping are and with the forks I have you don't get those two without lock out.

 

I've had a few weeks and a handful of rides on a 2011 Fox 36 RLC (on an Orange Sub Zero hardtail). The lockout isn't fixed, so there can still be some movement - how much depends on user settings - and I've actually found myself leaving the fork locked, mostly on a low threshold, for a lot longer than I would have expected. I only flick it off completely on descents and really appreciate the way the fork performs in lockout on ascents, even technical ones.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a FIT RLC fork. A gimmick? In this style, absolutely not. Worth the extra cash? That's between you and your wallet.

 

Having to adjust a fork all the time, that would be counter productive for me.

I do like having a lock out. I don't use it much. But it's good to have it when needed.

I use the lock out on steep long climbs or when I foresee that I will be pedaling standing up. My fork dives when I really hammer the pedals standing up. It feels like my knees are dropping away from me.

If there are any obstacles that would slow my momentum climbing, I'd rather have an active fork roll over rather than stall on a rock.

As for pedaling platform, I switch mine on anytime the climb goes over a minute. It could be in my mind, but the climbs are easier that way. Less energy is expended. When its really rocky and rooted, then its counter productive and I turn off the propedal.

 

I use the compression damping to dial out hand abuse, play with the lock out once in a while if I'm bored, always forget to unlock. This time of year the trails are pretty smooth and I find myself drawn to the RSS as a rule, less engineer, more pilot.

 

I Never use it. Long climbs, smooth climbs, or anywhere else. Never.

 

I use my lockout on steep climbs that are more than a couple hundred feet in length and are non-technical. That said, there are only two climbs like that in my area on two different trails so I'll use it once per ride. Its nice to have when you need it but pretty location dependent.

 

I really like the lockout threshold on the Reba I've got, and I use it all the time. I even sometimes ride smooth trail with it, and always ride on pavement with it switched on. But then again it's not a total lockout really.

 

Does anyone actually fiddle with their lockout trigger frequently on technical (bumpy) singletrack?

I do not. I generally don't fiddle with anything once I hit the trail. I certainly would not lock out my fork if I knew I was going to unlock it 15 seconds or a minute later. I might lock it out for a ride on pavement to the trailhead, but once on the trail I'm just going to ride the bike and not fiddle.

 

Use my lock out daily even on the flats.

 

So to all of those who lock out their suspension when riding smooth trails or on the road do you honestly feel that by NOT locking out your fork you would have a much more difficult time riding your bike? Is your pedal bob while riding on the road that bad? Is preventing your fork from moving what, an 1/16th of an inch, while hitting a small pebble on the road really slowing you down?

 

So to all of those who lock out their suspension when riding smooth trails or on the road do you honestly feel that by NOT locking out your fork you would have a much more difficult time riding your bike? Is your pedal bob while riding on the road that bad?

A "much" more difficult time? No. But I can notice a difference, more or less, depending upon which bike and fork I'm riding at the time.

In the grand scheme of things, I don't consider lockout to be a number-one feature. For example, I'd much rather have a Fox RC fork (if such a thing existed) than an RL model. I'd trade lockout for adjustable compression damping in a heartbeat.

 

So to all of those who lock out their suspension when riding smooth trails or on the road do you honestly feel that by NOT locking out your fork you would have a much more difficult time riding your bike? Is your pedal bob while riding on the road that bad? Is preventing your fork from moving what, an 1/16th of an inch, while hitting a small pebble on the road really slowing you down?

What experience do you have of riding my bike?

 

I actually enjoyed having lockout and used it a lot on my old Cannondale with a Headshok fork. Lock it when riding to the trailhead, when climbing, or when riding a mellow trail where the tires do a good enough job handling the rocks and roots. Let the fork bounce all it wants in long rock gardens, ledges, long rutted sections, or where the rocks and roots are too big to fly over with just tire compression.

My only real complaint was that I didn't like the knob on the stem. I would have much preferred a thumb switch near the shifter.