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New fork advice - is a lockout needed?

4505 Views 34 Replies 22 Participants Last post by stevenvl, 11 mo ago

aan

Discussion Starter · Jan 1, 2022 (Edited by Moderator)

Hey all, wondering what you think about this. I am looking for a new fork and I ride single speed about 50% of the time (the other 50% is bikepacking or general trail riding with an eagle drivetrain)...do you have any fork suggestions?

Is it worth it in your mind to get a fork/damper that has a good lockout? I usually lock my fork out when I am going to be standing for a really steep climb, to help prevent just bobbing that front end like crazy while mashing on the pedals.

I know the new SID has a lockout, but I don't think the Fox GRIP2 dampers do.

Singlespeed is still new-is to me, so I would appreciate any input from more experienced riders!

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1 - 20 of 35 Posts

BansheeRune

· #2 · Jan 1, 2022

Frankly, I do not use a lockout but some folks tend to do so.

CCSS

· #3 · Jan 1, 2022

The lockout on the new No Shox is awesome. I use it 100% of the time.

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AdamR83

· #4 · Jan 1, 2022

I had this dilemma with myself recently. I've ended up with a SID in 32mm flavour, and do notice the benefit of lockout when I use it.

Could I be without it? Yes. Do I enjoy having the option when I'm having to mash the pedals? Yes. Would I buy the same fork again given how small / neat and unobtrusive the lever is? Yes.

I also love a good NoShox, but find it quite hard to turn the lockout feature off, which can lead to my eyeballs nearly being jiggled out of their sockets at times

And vision is fairly important for MTB.

Reactions: 4

BansheeRune

· #5 · Jan 1, 2022

AdamR83 said:
I also love a good NoShox, but find it quite hard to turn the lockout feature off, which can lead to my eyeballs nearly being jiggled out of their sockets at times And vision is fairly important for MTB.

I ride by braille more often than not. I have a seeing eye bike!

Reactions: 4

vikb

· #6 · Jan 2, 2022

aan said:
Is it worth it in your mind to get a fork/damper that has a good lockout?

I never adjust my fork for climbs vs. descents. About the only time I adjust the damper is for a long paved ride. So I wouldn't bother with a lockout.

Reactions: 1

AKamp

· #7 · Jan 3, 2022

I am building up a new hardtail and just got myself a Sid Ultimate Brain. Hopefully it does the locking out for me and doesn't bug me too much. I guess I will find out.

Arek

· #8 · Jan 3, 2022

CCSS said:
The lockout on the new No Shox is awesome. I use it 100% of the time.

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Hey CCSS, what fork is that?

aan

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 3, 2022

vikb said:
I never adjust my fork for climbs vs. descents. About the only time I adjust the damper is for a long paved ride. So I wouldn't bother with a lockout.

I generally don't either, though I have noticed when switching to/from single speed, that on my SS bike I have to stand and really grind up some of our steep climbs here to have any chance at making it...when doing that the front end of the bike really dives repeatedly due to trying to really muscle the bike up. When I was looking for a new fork I realized how few of them even have a lockout anymore, other than dedicated XC forks it seems. Made me question if its really even needed for my application or not.

jct

· #10 · Jan 3, 2022

i have sid ultimate w/ lockout on my chumba and then have a no shox on my jabber. i do use the lockout feature on my SID but normally only on smoother climbs. it's either on or off. luckily the sid has a great mid stroke and i don't feel it hampers any of my technical climbing capability.

CCSS

· #11 · Jan 3, 2022

Arek said:
Hey CCSS, what fork is that?

It’s a Tandell boost 29er. Amazing bang for the buck.

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aan

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jan 4, 2022

jct said:
i have sid ultimate w/ lockout on my chumba and then have a no shox on my jabber. i do use the lockout feature on my SID but normally only on smoother climbs. it's either on or off. luckily the sid has a great mid stroke and i don't feel it hampers any of my technical climbing capability.

Thanks this is great input - when climbing out of the saddle do you feel the sid gives you enough support to really mash up climbs without it bobbing like crazy?

mack_turtle

· #13 · Jan 4, 2022

I can't remember the last time I switched my lockout on for a climb. I prefer the forgiveness of the suspension. the bigger reason is that if I lock out my fork, I forget to unlock it almost every time. so I end up charging through the chunk and boming down a hill with it locked and don't realize it until it's too late to stop and unlock.

Reactions: 3

AdamR83

· #14 · Jan 4, 2022

Sounds familiar, mack!

I was thinking about just this on my ride yesterday. I locked the fork out about 3 or 4 times on a ~20odd mile ride, and there were a few more times (with hindsight) I wish I'd locked it out but didn't. The climbs were all very fire-road-y though, not very tech.

@aan - I have my SID around 25% sag at the moment and I would say no, the fork bobs quite a bit when 'mashing' and the bike is noticeably more responsive to pedal inputs when locked out. If you up the pressure (to more like 15% sag) it will give a better platform obviously, but then of course you lose all that other good stuff. I have ridden quite a bit of rigid these last few years though, so perhaps my experience is a little swayed, and as always YMMV etc. etc...

CCSS

· #15 · Jan 4, 2022

mack_turtle said:
the bigger reason is that if I lock out my fork, I forget to unlock it almost every time. so I end up charging through the chunk and boming down a hill with it locked and don't realize it until it's too late to stop and unlock.

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard my squishy-front friends say that…. I used to say “me too,” but now it’s not even funny anymore

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aan

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jan 4, 2022

AdamR83 said:
Sounds familiar, mack!

I was thinking about just this on my ride yesterday. I locked the fork out about 3 or 4 times on a ~20odd mile ride, and there were a few more times (with hindsight) I wish I'd locked it out but didn't. The climbs were all very fire-road-y though, not very tech.

@aan - I have my SID around 25% sag at the moment and I would say no, the fork bobs quite a bit when 'mashing' and the bike is noticeably more responsive to pedal inputs when locked out. If you up the pressure (to more like 15% sag) it will give a better platform obviously, but then of course you lose all that other good stuff. I have ridden quite a bit of rigid these last few years though, so perhaps my experience is a little swayed, and as always YMMV etc. etc...

Thanks, Adam...good input. At this point I think ultimately I am trying to decide between a FIT4 or GRIP2 damper on a new Fox 34. I am really trying to decide if I will miss having a lockout-ish feature like the FIT4 has or not, primarily like you said for standing and climbing on long, steep, smooth climbs which are pretty common around here. Analysis paralysis!

Reactions: 1

jct

· #17 · Jan 4, 2022

aan said:
Thanks this is great input - when climbing out of the saddle do you feel the sid gives you enough support to really mash up climbs without it bobbing like crazy?

depends on how i have it set up and if i've checked the psi recently...which i don't. if i'm out of saddle and really pinning it, i'll lock it out if i remember. for slower tech climbs i leave it open because i like to pump the front to get over and or around obstacles.

as an aside... fox's FIT4 damper has the 3 lever adjustment for rigid/trail/full open and I used to run those types of forks for many years. the trail/middle position of the fork is what i'd ride SS most often around the Santa cruz mountains. due to pandemia, i couldn't get my hands on one earlier in 2021 so i got the Sid Ultimate. it's a great fork. maybe a touch more rigid. it's lighter. and with 2 positions only on the fork....slightly less to think about. i know you weren't asking for a comparison, but the SID ultimate and fox 34 target the same type of riding.

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aan

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jan 4, 2022

jct said:
due to pandemia, i couldn't get my hands on one earlier in 2021 so i got the Sid Ultimate. it's a great fork. maybe a touch more rigid. it's lighter. and with 2 positions only on the fork....slightly less to think about. i know you weren't asking for a comparison, but the SID ultimate and fox 34 target the same type of riding.

The SID was on my list to consider as well actually so I appreciate that. I want to 50/50 this bike for trail riding and bikepacking and I think I was just a little concerned about the SID being up to the task given how lightweight it is...no idea if that is accurate at all or not though!

mtnbikej

· #19 · Jan 4, 2022

I spent about 7 years riding the SS with using the lockout on the fork....then I tried it. On smoother climbs I will go to the Middle spot on my '16 Pike RCT.....it gives a bit of stiffness without feeling completely locked out.

Arek

· #20 · Jan 4, 2022

aan said:
Thanks, Adam...good input. At this point I think ultimately I am trying to decide between a FIT4 or GRIP2 damper on a new Fox 34. I am really trying to decide if I will miss having a lockout-ish feature like the FIT4 has or not, primarily like you said for standing and climbing on long, steep, smooth climbs which are pretty common around here. Analysis paralysis!

You do get a lockout with Grip damper as well. The way you put it sounded like you implied only Fit damper forks offer that.

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