I bought a Marin Pine Mountain 1 at the end of March, and I have been really happy with it. I’ve put in nearly 1000km on it and it has been great fun. I have definitely noticed that my bike handling skills/finesse have improved!

However there is the possibility that I could have a little free capital that could go towards a suspension fork. I wouldn’t get rid of the existing rigid fork, it could be handy to be able to swap it back for certain occasions (bikepacking?)

The trouble is I’m not sure (1) what to go for, (2) what will fit (curse you multiple standards) and (3) whether that will mean a new headset or front wheel.

I think that the PM1 has a tapered headtube (check out pic here: http://www.marinbikes.com/gb/bikes/description/2016-pine-mountain-1) so I assume that I need to find a matching fork or expect to add a headset to the cost of the project. Marin also say it is suspension corrected but don’t say for what length of travel. If I measure from axle to the bottom of the headtube I guess that will give me a target length for the sus fork?

The current rigid fork also has an old school spindly QR hub and I can’t imagine that many modern suspension forks will take that! So do I buy a new wheel, or just get a hub and ask my LBS to build up the old rim on to it? Again more expense!

And finally the big question: what fork? I have never had issues with Rock Shox so what do they sell that would take a 27.5+ x 3.0 tyre? That doesn’t cost the earth, after all the whole bike, with pedals and set up tubeless cost less than £800!

Any thoughts or pointers appreciated. I really don’t want to spend a fortune…