DETAILS

ADJUSTERS

All the forks in this test use hydraulic damping, where the oil flow rate can be adjusted to change the speed at which the fork compresses and extends. Some also have external end-stroke/air volume adjusters or lever-based partial and/or complete lockout switches.

AXLE

Most trail forks and front wheels now use hollow 15mm through-axles. Some simply screw into place, others screw in and then tighten with a cam, and others combine a screw-in axle with a clamping dropout.

CROWN

All the forks here use a single crown to join the lower legs and the steerer tube that slides into the frame. It’s not as sti as a dual-crown DH design but it doesn’t restrict steering lock.

SEALS

Good seals are crucial to keep the air and damping oil inside the fork, and stop grit, water and other potentially damaging contamination getting in from outside. The tightness of the seals has to be balanced with ease of movement to create a sensitive fork though.

SPRING

Metal coil springs used to be common in big-hit forks because of their smoothness and failsafe nature, but all the forks we’ve tested here use air springs for lighter, more easily-tuned performance.