What Is A Mountain Bike Fork?

What To Look For When Upgrading

Every mountain bike will come with a fork—unless you’re just buying a frame and building from there…or a unicycle—so when you’re looking to upgrade, it is important to know a few things. Firstly, every bike frame was engineered for a certain amount of travel from the front suspension. This means that if you buy, for example, a Specialized Stumpjumper Pro, it comes stock with a FOX Float 34 Performance Elite fork with 140mm of travel. If your fork has started to fade on you, or you just wanted to upgrade to another product or brand, you need to look for a fork in or around 140mm of travel. The main warning we can offer is to never go farther than 20mm higher or lower than the original fork travel. This will alter the geometry of the bike and impact the overall performance and even the safety of the bike’s structural integrity.

Secondly, you will also need to make sure the fork that you are changing to is the correct size for your bike wheel size; not all forks are made for 27.5” tires or 29” tires. There are still some 26” forks out there as well, so ensure that the fork will fit your tire.

Finally, you must consider brake size. With the introduction of new technology and riders often using one bike for all their endeavours, brakes have become larger and more versatile. While it is possible to match a fork made for a 180mm rotor to a 220mm rotor (with an adapter), it would be much harder to downsize. So, make sure that the brake mounts on the lowers of the fork are suited for your current brakes, or it may be time for either an update or an adapter.

Manufacturers And Some Industry Notes

If you are completely new to the mountain biking world, which a fair few people are these days, then it helps to know a little bit about the industry and any “gossip” that goes on behind the scenes. This may help explain why certain products are priced the way they are compared to competitors.

FOX acquired Italian manufacturer Marzocchi in 2015, so as a company, FOX has continued as the producer of “higher” end models of forks and offer them at a premium price. The Marzocchi division is focused mainly on the “mid-range” forks, which are high quality but at a more economical price point. The bonus is that you get the technologies from both companies combined, which gives riders access to high-quality products at a greater variety of prices.

The acquisition of Marzocchi by FOX makes sense when you also know that in 2012, several members of Marzocchi’s suspension team left to create their own brand called DVO (the DVO Diamond D1 is featured on our list). As a result, quality at Marzocchi plummeted around this time after a number of higher-up engineers jumped ship and the company changed to overseas manufacturing.

RockShox, a major player in the suspension world, is owned by SRAM, and if you read our article about SRAM, you know that SRAM has been recognized for being technologically savvy and innovative (both good things in the world of mountain biking). The SRAM family also includes brands like Zipp and Quarq, high-performance brands that will likely share technology and information, optimizing the performance of everyone in the family and promoting long-term innovation.

Manitou is owned by Hayes Bicycle, a company that manufactures disc brakes and is the exclusive supplier of Harley-Davidson motorcycle brake systems, a bit irrelevant but a fun fact nonetheless! Manitou was acquired in 2006, combining a brake company with a suspension company. With all of this said, how do all of these mergers, acquisitions and other business-esque words impact the performance of these products? Let’s find out.

Best Mountain Bike Forks Review 2021

The Best of the Rest

Rockshox Yari RC

MRP Ribbon Coil

Manitou Machete

FOX 34 Factory/Performance

DVO Diamond D1

RockShox Lyrik Ultimate

Best Enduro Fork of 2021

Price: $968

Wheel Size: 27.5” and 29”

Available Travel: 140mm, 150mm, 160mm, 170mm, 180mm

Offsets: 37mm, 44mm, and 46mm for 27.5”
42mm, 44mm, and 51mm for 29”

A classic fork on the dinner table, the RockShox Lyrik has been a mainstay in the market for many years. It’s built with a sturdy yet comfortable 35mm chassis, offering laser-quick control but comfort for your hands so you can ride all day. As RockShox’s enduro fork, already we are asking a lot from this piece of technology, but it has been delivering. For $968, the Lyrik Ultimate is a higher-end model of fork but still takes the cake as the best enduro fork of 2021.

For 2021, RockShox upgraded with a Lyrik air spring, and what an upgrade it was. Don’t fret if you purchased a 2020 or 2019 Lyrik fork, because you can upgrade the fork with a $43 upgrade kit sold by SRAM. The minor update that was implemented has made the fork ride higher in its travel initially and stay higher for climbing or situations where you’re headed into a steep rock garden. The upgrade to the air spring also adds more mid-stroke support without sacrificing the initial buttery suppleness of the Lyrik. It is quite impressive what a drastic change to the feel of the bike was made by some small adjustments from a previous iteration of the air spring. At the end of the day, we just like riding bikes and as long as the ride is good, the fork could be filled with gumballs for all we care.

For many testers, the Lyrik is a class leader in terms of sensitivity while still maintaining excellent structural support. The chassis of the Lyrik did not change from 2020, so you still get the 35mm stanchions and the forged aluminum crown. You can also run anything from a 180mm to a 220mm brake rotor depending on your preference. RockShox has opted for Maxima Plush Fluid inside their damper, reducing friction and maximizing performance while keeping your bike out of the shop for as long as possible. The seals have also seen an upgrade by opting for the SKF wiper seals, again reducing friction to increase sensitivity. Also, if you are looking to change the travel of your bike, RockShox does sell all of the various travel air springs separately, so it is very easy to switch things up.

All of these upgrades and improvements have led to a highly sophisticated fork that will make it feel like you are floating down the trail on a hovercraft. To know that RockShox is never satisfied and is constantly looking to improve, it is hard to not be excited about what is coming down the pipeline in terms of innovation from this company.

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FOX 36 Factory/Performance

Runner-Up Best Enduro Fork of 2021

Price: starting at $1,139

Wheel Size: 27.5” and 29”

Available Travel: 150mm and 160mm

Offsets: 37mm, 44mm, 51mm

FOX has recently upgraded the 36 and seems to have put every piece of technology they have into the fork to make it the ultimate enduro companion. Within the FOX 36 family are the Factory (more expensive) and Performance Elite (less expensive) models. The main difference between the forks is that the Performance Elite does not have the Genuine Kashima Coat. You’ll have to settle for black anodized stanchions, which is not that big of a deal, especially for a couple hundred bucks. The Performance Elite is also only available with the FIT4 damper, FOX’s most adjustable damper. With the Factory you have the choice between the FIT4 or the GRIP2 damper. For most riders, the difference between each model will be essentially indistinguishable, so you could easily save yourself some money and opt for the Performance Elite.

The FOX 36 is only available as a 170mm or 180mm fork; it does work for both 27.5” and 29” wheels unlike the FOX 34, which is only for 29” wheels. FOX has included a lot of technology to really improve the overall performance of the 36 as well. FOX uses their EVOL air spring inside the 36, a beautifully engineered piece of kit that is tailored for the 36mm stanchions you find on the FOX 36 (hence the name). The EVOL delivers a linear spring curve that deals out great small-bump sensitivity while offering mid-stroke support and controlled bottom-out progression. The FOX 36 has been given bleeders on the outside of the lowers that allow the rider to equalize atmospheric pressure by simply pressing the button outside the stanchion. As pressure builds up in the lowers, the performance of the suspension will decrease and these bleeders will let you “burp” the forks as you change elevations or experience temperature changes.

As for adjustments, there is a difference between the FIT4 and the GRIP2 damper systems. With the FIT4, the rider can choose between three high-speed compression settings: firm, medium, and open. In the open setting there are 22 clicks of low-speed compression adjustment as well, plus 10 clicks of low-speed rebound adjustment. With the GRIP2 damper there are a lot more options for adjustment, including 8 clicks of high-speed compression and 16 clicks of low-speed compression. There are also 8 clicks of high-speed rebound adjustment and 16 clicks of low-speed rebound adjustment. For many riders the GRIP2 adjustment may be a tad over the top, and many could definitely get away with the FIT4 options, but if you really like to personalize that front-end feel, the GRIP2 offers a ton of customization for terrain and riding style.

All of these improvements and adjustments in the technology have created a fork that likes to ride high in its travel. This extra height provides amazing support while either braking hard or when headed into fast corners. The updated air spring and damper work in harmony to offer small bump compliance even when the travel is engaged. Through the chunder the fork absorbs so much of the harshness that is usually passed into the hands; everything feels buttery smooth.

Aesthetically, FOX has been rocking the black and orange for quite a while and the Halloween style looks good on them. They have also included a very sturdy mudguard to the fork. Gone are the days of ganky zip ties holding on a piece of cardboard from a case of beer to keep mud out of your eyes.

The bottom line is that FOX has put a lot into their new 36, and it shows. While the price tag always remains quite high for these forks, the quality provided is matched by or exceeds the cost. Now, if you would prefer something with similar technology but for a less aggressive price, FOX does own Marzocchi, so you can find similar tech in Marzocchi forks for a bit less of an investment. However, if you are looking for the creme-de-la-creme, the FOX 36 is the way to go. While the price and variety of forks makes it hard to pick one of the best versions of this fork, we were happy to award the FOX 36 the runner-up trophy for Best Enduro Fork of 2021.

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RockShox Pike Ultimate

Best Trail Fork of 2021

Price: $917

Wheel Size: 27.5” and 29”

Available Travel: 120mm, 130mm, 140mm, 150mm, 160mm

Offsets: 37mm and 46mm for 27.5”
42mm and 51mm for 29”

In a way, the RockShox Pike Ultimate has been in the mountain biking world for so long, it seems to have been almost forgotten as a standout fork. For being considered a mid-weight trail fork, the Pike delivers enduro-quality comfort and control. With a price tag of $917, it is a commitment to strap to the front of your bike, but we just think that there aren’t many options that can compare to the quality that you’ll find in the Pike Ultimate.

Featuring the updated DebonAir™ air spring coupled with RockShox’s Charger™ 2.1 damper, every rider will find their perfect setup to charge hard into long corners or steep drops. The fork also comes with the super low-friction SKF wiper seals and Maxima Plush Fluid to reduce every morsel of friction that could be found on this bike. The Charger™ 2.1 RC2 damper option features independent high- and low-speed compression adjustment, while the Charger™ 2.1 RCT3 option comes with three high-speed adjustments (open, pedal, firm). As always with RockShox forks, you have the Bottomless Tokens volume spacers that give every rider the ability to custom tune the air spring to match their riding and terrain. RockShox has also built their fleet on 35mm stanchions, so the fork will track predictably while still maintaining stiffness under big braking.

Aesthetically, the Pike Ultimate got a bit of a glow-up. The shiny silver wrap will certainly “pop” when you’re in line for the gondola or passing other riders on the climbs. We also appreciate that every RockShox fork comes with SAG gradients on the inner stanchion, so you can easily see how much travel you are running and if any adjustments need to be made.

The bottom line is that this is an incredible fork. It’s light enough for weight weenies who want something burly for their trail bikes but wouldn’t be out of place in an enduro race. If the Pike Ultimate is a bit outside your desired price range, you’ll be pleased to know that the same SKF seals and Maxima Plush Fluid upgrades have been made to the Pike Select models with a slightly simpler Charger 2 damper. There is a Pike Ultimate for every rider and every budget, something that can’t be said about every fork on the trails right now. With so many upgrades and the attention to detail by RockShox, we were compelled to give the Pike Ultimate our Best Trail Fork of 2021 designation.

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Marzocchi Bomber Z2

Best Budget Fork of 2021

Price: $519

Wheel Size: 27.5” and 29”

Available Travel: 100mm, 110mm, 120mm, 130mm, 140mm, 150mm

Offsets: 44mm for 27.5”
44mm and 51mm for 29”

When it only takes two words to review a product, we’re pretty stoked. In this case, the two words that best describe the Marzocchi Bomber Z2 are “budget performance.” The Bomber Z2 was built around being reliable and durable at a cost that won’t make you need to switch to dry ramen for dinner next month. After Marzocchi was acquired by FOX, they combined technologies, so even the budget-friendly forks by Marzocchi get some of the drop-down technology from FOX, benefiting both parties. For $519 you can get your hands on a fork that would work for just about any rider. With 34mm stanchions, Marzocchi’s classic fork crown, and some sweet color options, we were pleased by this fork’s return to the market.

In one way it is a FOX Float 34, but easier to use. The fork uses the same seals, bushings, and chassis as well as FOX’s reliability, but simplifies the damping and adjustments with more user-friendly options to reach a larger market. The Bomber Z2 can be changed from 100mm to 150mm of travel by changing the length of the air spring, offering a ton of versatility. The high-quality seals and bushings have given riders the ability to slap this fork on their bike and ride without having to worry about constant maintenance.

Many testers really struggled to find any negatives with the Bomber Z2. Once dialed in to your riding style, which doesn’t take much time, the fork is supple at the beginning of the stroke, will help support pedaling and cornering, and is stiffer than the FOX Float 34 when things get spicy. For those worried about it fading over a longer descent, the Bomber Z2 just keeps performing, and it is ready to get after it. FOX air volume spaces will also work with the Marzocchi Bomber Z2 if you need some more end-stroke support.

One knock of the fork is that the brake mount is made for a 160mm brake rotor, a bit old school in the world of 29” wheels that often come stock with 180mm rotors or larger. Besides that, it was tricky to find anything to really dislike about this fork. For the price and the versatility that come with the Bomber Z2, most riders would be happy adding this fork to their bike, especially in the sleek matte-black color option. Marzocchi made it easy to choose this as the best budget fork of 2021, and we can’t wait to get out and ride it after finishing this review. Not everyone can afford a brand new FOX fork, but now you can get most of the FOX technology wrapped in a Marzocchi fork—what more can you want?

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DT Swiss F535 One

Best Coil and Air Spring Fork of 2021

Price: $1,265

Wheel Size: 27.5” and 29”

Available Travel: 130mm, 140mm, 150mm, 160mm

Offsets: 44mm for 27.5”
51mm for 29”

There is a lot going on inside the DT Swiss F535 One. DT Swiss uses their COILPAIR technology to enable the coil to work with the air spring for the first 30mm of travel. A coil spring will compress instantly to absorb small bumps on the trail without even needing to engage the air spring, giving the fork very linear compression. The increase in coil and air springs within the forks is interesting and lets the rider experience the “best of both worlds” from each style of suspension. Coil springs act immediately and have linear progression, while air springs firm up deeper in the compression and offer a more progressive compression feel.

If you like bells and whistles, look no further than the DT Swiss F535 One. There are several areas for adjustments to the fork’s ride and those adjustments can be done with a T10 Torx tool that is hidden in the axle, attached to DT’s RWN axle lever. This lever can be left in place or taken out and stored in a pack, leaving less items hanging from your bike that you’d want to keep track of.

Speaking of adjustments, the high-speed damper has three modes: open, drive, and locked. Depending on which fork you purchase, you can have a remote attached to your handlebars to control the high-speed damper. The low-speed compression is adjusted with the hidden Torx tool. By the way, all of the knobs and air caps are hidden by panels that keep the fork looking super sleek with very few imperfections. Compared to the DVO Diamond D1, this coil and air spring shock can have volume spacers added to adjust the air-spring progression as each individual rider sees fit.

The ride on the fork is buttery smooth on most terrain; the coil absorbs most small bumps and keeps your arms fresh. Where the fork struggles is in areas where there are successive high-speed hits; the F535 does get overwhelmed and the rebound struggles to keep up with a constant battering. Another problem is that if you are looking to adjust the travel within the fork, you would need to replace both the damper and the spring, which can really up the time and cost of making a minor adjustment.

The bottom line is that if you ride in areas that don’t have massive root sections that need snappy rebound, the F535 One will offer comfort and traction with a very modern and stylish look. If you often find yourself in root gardens or areas that have aggressive bumps and you ride fast, the DT Swiss F535 One may not be fast enough for your style of riding, and with a price tag of $1,265, it’s quite an investment. This mix of technology did make it easy to award the DT Swiss 535 One the award for Best Coil and Air Spring Fork of 2021.

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The Best of the Rest

RockShox Yari RC

Price: $509

Wheel Size: 27.5” and 29”

Available Travel: 100mm, 110mm, 120mm, 130mm, 140mm, 150mm, 160mm, 170mm, 180mm

Offsets: 37mm, 44mm, and 46mm for 27.5”
42mm, 44mm, and 51mm for 29”

Besides FOX, RockShox is the other heavy hitter in the MTB fork world, and with the Yari RC they bring a ton of versatility and performance to their arsenal. The damper can be upgraded to Lyrik spec if you want to add additional performance, but that really is just a nice bonus and not something we think you’d need.

RockShox has fitted the Yari with the DebonAir spring, offering some of the best early travel responsiveness on the market. This responsiveness helps it feel glued to the track when you’re flying over brake bumps or other little roots and rocks. Until recently, no one has been able to match the performance-to-price ratio that RockShox has established with the Yari, which is thanks to the Motion Control damper that they use. What it gives you is a very supple first 50mm, but in the mid-stroke it begins to suffer.

The Yari is built on the Lyrik’s stiff 35mm chassis; as we mentioned earlier, this fork can also be upgraded with the Lyrik’s Charger damper, and the wiper seals can be upgraded to Lyrik spec as well. So basically, it could be identical to the Lyrik, one of the better forks on the market if you feel like you have outgrown the Yari, and you wouldn’t need to buy an entirely new fork. How’s that for versatility!

The RockShox Yari RC does seem to struggle a bit with the “big hits” and some riders may find it harsh in certain terrain. To combat this, RockShox uses their Bottomless Tokens volume spacers to custom tune the air spring curve and fight back against bottom-outs. Using the SAG gradients that are conveniently located on the upper tubes also help you dial in the travel settings and pressures for that one-of-a-kind setup.

The Yari is available in a multitude of travel options and offsets for both 27.5” and 29” wheels. Each tire size also comes with three offset options. There is literally a Yari RC for just about every rider out there. While not the best performing budget fork on the market, the Yari is a runner-up to the Marzocchi Bomber Z2, and with this competition, riders are going to benefit as each company tries to outperform the other.

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MRP Ribbon Coil

Price: $1,049.95

Wheel Size: 27.5”, 27.5”+ and 29”

Available Travel: 150mm, 160mm, 170mm for 27.5”
140mm, 150mm, 160mm for 27.5”+ and 29”

Offsets: 41mm, 46mm, 51mm

As a fork designed and created on the trails of Colorado, you would expect big things from a company that also hand-builds their forks. The Ribbon is available in both coil and air spring models and will go on 27.5” or 29” wheels. The coil fork has 150, 160, and 170mm of travel offered, and the air spring option offers 140, 150, and 160mm of travel.

MRP (which stands for Mountain Racing Products) provides Soft, Medium, and Firm springs as standard when you purchase the fork. The extra firm or extra soft coils will need to be purchased separately if that is what you need. There are 8 low-speed compression settings and a 30-position Ramp Control. The Ramp Control has the greatest impact on the high-speed, end-of-stroke situations, when landing a jump or headed nose first into a botched landing. The rebound adjustment has 18 positions to find the sweet spot. The coils are relatively easy to change if you have confidence in your bike maintenance skills; they do require the lowers of the fork, which in a parking lot can be a tedious affair (just don’t lose anything).

When compared to other forks in the same travel categories, the MRP Ribbon does not fare all that well. The 35mm stanchions don’t feel as sturdy as some of the large stanchions provided by other forks. It handles small to medium hits rather well but can be quite noisy. In deep compression turns or while trying to find accurate lines at speed, the fork doesn’t offer the support or accuracy that you’ll want.

As with all coil forks, the small-bump performance is excellent and there is no delay in response. Overall, however, the chassis seems quite flexible and unsupportive when the going gets rough. Given that the MRP Ribbon Coil is outperformed in the enduro world, if that is where you are looking, you may want to explore other options.

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Manitou Machete

Price: $424.99

Wheel Size: 27.5” and 29”

Available Travel: 100mm, 120mm

Offsets: 44mm and 51mm

Performance and price tend to be at odds in the mountain biking world. The more expensive something becomes, the more capable it is…or is it? Manitou (now owned by Hayes) may just be the exception to this rule by keeping the price tag pretty low with the Machete while still maintaining a high level of performance.

The fork itself has 32mm stanchions with a weight of 1,885g for the 29” fork. The adjustments on the crown and stanchions include rebound, lockout, and compression, so everything is there. Manitou uses their Kwik Toggle to control the compression damping while still remaining lightweight. The fork only has 100mm or 120mm travel options but is available for both 27.5” or 29” wheels. The fork also comes stock with a fender to keep the mud out of your eyes as you cruise down sloppy terrain.

In the riding department, the fork can be a bit on the stiffer side and you may struggle to use up all of the travel. Once rebound and other adjustments are made, it may start to loosen up and give you a more supple feel, but it does not exactly ride like a RockShox, and for the price tag it makes some sense. If it is the fork (or the price tag) for you, just give it some time and let the fork get worked in; right out the box it could give you some issues, but it will soften up with some use.

Most riders tend to enjoy this fork on a hardtail or a low-travel XC bike. There is where it will shine; as the gradient gets steeper and the gardens get rockier, the Manitou Machete will start to find itself in a league all its own. If you’re looking for an attractively priced, well warrantied fork, look no farther than the $424.99 Manitou Machete.

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FOX 34 Factory/Performance

What can we say: the name FOX in the mountain bike suspension world is like the name Tiger Woods in the golf world. It offers the ultimate in performance but comes with a substantial price tag. This year, FOX has brought in some of the technology that they use in the 36 to create a smoother, and ultimately better performing fork. Even if you’re not looking for a new fork, a lot of bike brands use the 34 as their included fork on new bikes, so you’ll be seeing this on the trails.

So what’s new with the FOX 34? They have created a new chassis, the air spring has been revamped to have increased negative volume, and there’s an air bypass to reduce pressure buildup. Now that’s a lot of things, so have they really made an impact? The simple answer is yes—this thing shreds. With a newly improved stiffness-to-weight ratio, weight weenies will be happy with the upgrades that FOX has brought forward for the 34.

The FOX 34 is only available for 29” wheels and has 44mm and 51mm offset options. You can choose between FOX’s familiar FIT4 damper or the GRIP2 damper (which offers more tuning options). The GRIP2 damper comes with 8 clicks of high-speed compression, 16 clicks of low-speed compression, 8 clicks of high-speed rebound and 16 clicks of low-speed rebound. That’s a lot of clicks to keep track of but well worth the effort when you find that perfect mix. The FIT4 is also quite a bit lighter than the GRIP2.

The FOX 34 is available with either 130mm or 140mm of travel, however if you are looking to shed grams, the new 34 Step-Cast (SC) is offered in 100mm or 120mm travel options and is about 400 grams lighter than the standard FOX fork. The new arch on the fork will also fit a 2.6” tire without any issues. The arch has been redesigned to lean out a bit further and offer more clearance for the head tube if the bike bottoms out.

Compared to the larger FOX 36 and 38—they name their forks by stanchion, by the way (FOX 34 = 34mm stanchions)—the FOX 34 does not have a bleeder valve. This was to save weight, so instead of a bleeder valve the fork has bypass channels that allows air to move around the lower legs as the fork compresses, keeping unwanted air pressure from building up.

FOX has done more than just improve an already very good fork. They have also introduced several iterations of this fork. The FOX SC, as we mentioned earlier, is lighter and has less travel. The FOX 34 Performance Elite model only comes with the FIT4 damper. The Factory models are available with both damper options, but only the GRIP2 edition comes in the classic orange. Now FOX doesn’t like to list their prices on their website, but we found a price range of $849 to $1,089. And while it is a pretty penny, these forks are built to last and to perform.

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DVO Diamond D1

Price: $749 – $1024

Wheel Size: 27.5” and 29”

Available Travel: 150mm, 160mm, 170mm for 27.5”
140mm, 150mm, 160mm for 29”

Offsets: 37mm and 44mm for 27.5”
44mm and 51mm for 29”

From the outside, the DVO Diamond D1 looks like every other 35mm stanchioned enduro fork, but when you take a closer look, you’ll discover that it holds a secret. That secret is a coil negative spring that is adjusted on the bottom of the left lower to modify the initial stroke of the fork—this is called Off The Top adjustment or OTT. The OTT gives riders the ability to finely tune that initial stroke feel without compromising your mid to end stroke. The combination of an air spring and coil offers maximum customization to the fork for every individual rider.

The Diamond D1 also has rebound control, a 6-click low-speed compression adjustment for pedaling, and an over 30-click high-speed compression control. This means that once you have a feel for the fork, you can mess about with the coil and the air spring to find your perfect ride. For those who take to the air a lot and need some more support that could be found with volume spacers, you are out of luck with the Diamond D1. There are no volume spacers for the Diamond, but what DVO recommends is adding a few more CCs of oil to the air spring to help create more progression—this is not exactly what all riders want to hear, but it is a solution. The reason this is a concern is that like we mentioned earlier, if your local trails have a couple huck to flats, you may find you bottom out the fork more often than not. This is something to consider if you are someone who likes to spend more time airborne than glued to the trail.

DVO uses their exclusive compression bladder that they say helps with “small bump sensitivity, durability and damping consistency.” When turning up the speed on smoother trails and flowy sections, this fork really comes into its own. The compression and rebound range really help the Diamond handle fast berms and clear brake bumps. The OTT adjustment can give any rider the ability to dial in the feel and response they want from their bike.

Aesthetically, the Diamond D1 is a mean-looking fork. It comes in three colors: matte black (my favorite), glossy green, and a glossy blue. DVO has also included a fender on the fork, but for most riders in muddy areas, it seems to be too small to really make any impact on keeping your glasses and riding jersey clean. The brakes are directly mounted to the fork but they come made for a 160mm rotor, and you will need adapters if you want to strap anything larger to your wheel.

The bottom line is that this is a well-designed fork that can offer a lot to a variety of riders once they find the correct OTT settings. For those who ride a multitude of settings in a single sitting and spend quite a bit of that time airborne, it just doesn’t initially come with the support that they may be after. At a price range of $749 to $1,024, it is quite an investment, so definitely consider what your style of riding is and if this is the right fit.

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