INTRODUCTION MOUNTAIN BIKE FORKS

Mountain bike forks enhance handling and control by improving the rider's ability to maneuver through tricky sections while maintaining higher speeds on uneven surfaces. By absorbing impacts from rough terrain, the forks reduce the strain on the rider, allowing them to conserve energy for longer periods. The front fork suspension acts as a filter between the terrain and the rider, smoothing out the ride and increasing comfort and performance.

The best MTB shocks offer a range of customization options, allowing riders to easily adjust the suspension setup to match their unique riding style, weight, and preferences. This ability to fine-tune the settings enhances riding efficiency and comfort across various disciplines and riding conditions.

Öhlins technology combines exceptional big-hit performance with outstanding levels of traction and small-bump control. Unlock your true riding potential with Öhlins mtb front suspension forks, designed to elevate your performance across all terrains and riding styles.  

KEY FEATURES OF MOUNTAIN BIKE FRONT SUSPENSION FORKS

TRAVEL LENGTH EXPLAINED

The suspended mountain bike fork is designed to compress when absorbing impacts. The travel length is measured in millimeters, and the higher the number, the longer the travel. This determines how much the front fork can compress on rough terrain, impacts, and obstacles before bottoming out. There are many factors to consider when choosing the right travel length for a mountain bike fork. Different riding disciplines call for different travel lengths, as do the rider's personal riding style and fully geared-up total weight. In gravity-focused disciplines, riders prefer longer travel to absorb impacts from steep descents. The front wheel is exposed to more vertical forces due to the rider's forward-leaning center of gravity, which places greater stress on the mountain bike fork. For cross-country (XC) and trail riding, where the trail includes both ascents and descents, less travel is typically preferred for better efficiency and control. The ideal travel length is determined by the type of riding, the rider's style, and their total weight, including gear.

DAMPING, COMPRESSION AND REBOUND

Damping in a MTB front fork refers to the speed at which the suspension compresses and rebounds. In top-performing mountain bike forks, damping is adjustable across multiple settings. The damping force is applied during both compression and rebound and can be adjusted independently of one another.

Compression Damping: regulates how the fork compresses under load. Higher damping requires more force to compress the fork, allowing it to handle harder impacts but making it stiffer and less responsive to smaller obstacles. Conversely, lower damping makes the fork more responsive to small impacts, resulting in a smoother ride, but it may bottom out on hard hits. The best mountain bike forks are designed to manage both large impacts and small bumps, giving the rider full control across a range of riding conditions, whether on versatile trails, technical descents, or jump sessions. To achieve this, compression damping is divided into low-speed compression (LSC) and high-speed compression (HSC).

Low-Speed Compression: controls slower and more deliberate movements, such as those caused by pedaling forces, braking, shifting body position, or rolling over smooth but uneven terrain (e.g., small roots, berms, dips, and pump tracks). LSC keeps the fork stable by preventing excessive compression and helps maintain traction and steering precision. It provides comfort and control, ensuring predictable bike behavior during technical maneuvers and preventing unnecessary fork movement.

High-Speed Compression: handles faster, more sudden impacts, such as big jumps, drops, rocks, or large roots. It protects against harsh bottom-outs while maintaining control over aggressive terrain. HSC ensures that the fork does not compress too quickly on high-impact features, keeping the front wheel planted and improving stability over rough terrain.
To manage extreme impacts, premium mountain bike suspension forks often include progressive damping, which increases resistance as the fork moves deeper into its travel. This prevents harsh bottoming out, provides a smooth initial response to small bumps, and ensures control by maintaining contact between the wheel and the terrain, even on varied surfaces.

Rebound Damping: regulates how quickly the fork returns to its original position after compression. If the rebound damping is set too fast, the fork can rebound too quickly, causing instability and excessive bouncing (bucking). If it is set too slow, the fork may fail to fully extend before the next impact, leading to "packing down" and reduced suspension performance over successive bumps. Proper rebound damping ensures that the front wheel remains in contact with the ground after an impact, improving control and grip. It works alongside compression damping to create balanced suspension behavior. By fine-tuning rebound damping, riders can achieve a stable, comfortable, and efficient ride, tailored to their terrain and riding style.

ADJUSTABILITY AND LOCKOUT FEATURES

Adjustability: To get the correct setup parameters for the mountain bike fork the fork needs to have several adjustable parameters. Top-tier forks have multiple adjustments in both compression and rebound. The more adjustment parameters the fork has, the more precise can the mtb front suspension fork be dialed-in for the rider. This allows riders to fine-tune the suspension for different terrains, riding styles, and preferences. The low-speed and high-speed compression dials on the mountain bike fork are usually located on the top of the fork legs on the crown area. Each dial has a number of settings or clicks. Some dials have two sets of dials on the same side. Many riders dial-in the bike for every occasion with different settings for different terrains. Low-speed and high-speed dials are often designed for on-the-fly adjustments because they address conditions that can vary significantly during a ride. Being able to adjust compression help optimize performance for varying conditions. The rebound is often found on the bottom of the fork legs and once the rebound damping is tuned to match the riders’ weight, riding style, and terrain, it usually doesn’t require frequent changes.

Lockout: Lockout and real-time adjustments for front fork suspension are primarily used in specific types of mountain bikes and disciplines where efficiency, responsiveness, or terrain adaptability are critical. Lockout is most commonly used in XC bikes to improve climbing efficiency and speed on smooth or rolling terrain. XC races and rides often mix technical descents, flat trails, and steep climbs. Riders need to switch between active suspension and lockout quickly. Remote Lockout on handlebars is almost standard for competitive XC riders. Lockout is also used in trail riding but is less critical. It is used in extended climbs or when riding on paved roads to reach the trailhead. Trail bikes are versatile, handling both technical descents and climbs. Real-time compression adjustments help optimize performance for varying conditions.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT MOUNTAIN BIKE FRONT FORK

AIR FORK VS. COIL FORK: DIFFERENCES AND TRADE-OFFS

Weight: Air forks are significantly lighter than coil forks, making them ideal for XC, trail, and enduro riders who prioritize climbing efficiency. Coil forks, with steel or titanium springs, are heavier but provide better stability and durability for aggressive riding.

Adjustability: Air forks are highly adjustable using a shock pump, allowing riders to fine-tune air pressure and progression with volume spacers for various terrains. Coil forks have limited adjustability, requiring specific springs to match rider weight, but offer consistent performance without constant tuning.

Service Intervals: Air forks require more frequent maintenance to ensure the air seals and internals stay in top condition. Coil forks demand less maintenance, focusing mainly on damper components, as they lack air seals.

Performance: Coil forks excel in small-bump sensitivity and provide a linear, predictable feel, making them ideal for downhill and technical riding. Air forks are versatile, performing well across varied terrains, but may lack the same sensitivity on smaller impacts.

COMPATIBILITY WITH YOUR MTB

When choosing a mountain bike front fork, ensure it’s compatible with your bike’s wheel size (27.5", 29"), steering tube dimensions (straight or tapered), and axle type (15x110mm Boost or 15x100mm). Also, verify that the fork is compatible with your brake type (disc brakes, typically post-mount). Ensuring proper fit will save you from costly adjustments or incompatibility issues.

CONSIDERING YOUR RIDING STYLE AND TERRAIN

The fork you choose should match your riding style. For XC and trail riding, look for lightweight forks with moderate travel (100-140mm) for efficiency. Downhill and enduro riders need long-travel forks (150-180mm) with advanced damping for rugged terrain. Pump tracks or jump-focused riders benefit from stiffer, short-travel forks (80-120mm). Matching the fork to your terrain ensures optimal performance and durability.

WEIGHT, MATERIAL, AND DURABILITY

Fork weight and materials directly impact performance and cost. Lightweight forks are ideal for XC but may compromise durability for aggressive riding. Heavier, more robust forks are better suited for downhill and enduro. Consider the trade-offs—lighter forks enhance climbing and efficiency, while heavier forks provide stability and ruggedness for technical descents. Prioritize durability if your rides involve extreme conditions.

INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE TIPS

INSTALLING YOUR MOUNTAIN BIKE FRONT FORK

The installation of Öhlins mountain bike front suspension vary between different bike manufacturers. It's important to follow the guidelines in your bike’s owner’s manual when installing the mtb front fork. We recommend having your Öhlins MTB fork fitted by an authorized service center. Incorrect installation can lead to fork failure, which may cause a loss of control and result in serious injury. Ensure the fork is mounted to your frame using the proper hardware.

HOW TO SET UP YOUR ÖHLINS MTB FRONT FORK 

In the videos below, we’ll walk you through basic step-by-step instructions on how to set up your Öhlins front fork for your mountain bike (RXF36 m.2). Proper setup is key to getting the best performance and comfort from your suspension. We'll show you how to do an initial setup, with the goal of achieving a good balance between the front and rear of your bike. Once you’ve found that balance, you can start using the click adjustments to fine-tune performance. If you're unsure of what each adjustment does, start with the recommended settings found in the Öhlins owner’s manual and adjust incrementally. This helps you understand how each dial affects performance. Always test and adjust your suspension on the trails, not in a parking lot. For more detailed information, see the Öhlins owner’s manual included with the fork. 

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND CARE

Maintenance: Clean dirt and debris from the mtb fork after every ride. Check air pressure and set sag after every ride. Check torque on shock absorber mounting bolts after every ride.

Service: Frequent service on the front fork will keep performance at its best and ensure years of great riding on your Öhlins product. These are the minimum service interval recommendations. Riding style, riding conditions and setup have a big impact on service intervals. For example, heavy, hard-charging riders will require more frequent service intervals. To maintain optimal performance and longevity on any terrain, you need to service your mountain bike front fork according to the recommendations found in the owner’s manual. In the video below you find instruction of how to perform 100-hour chassis and air spring service on an Öhlins RXF36 m.2 Air mtb front fork suspension. With this step-by-step video, it's easy, and all the parts, tools, and fluids you need are available at your authorized Öhlins dealer or service center.