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I'm after a 490mm ish C2A fork, tapered ideally.
Kinesis do the IX which looks tidy but it's not that cheap.
http://www.kinesisbikes.co.uk/products/forks/mtb/ix
Has anyone tried any of the China forks?
I've ridden quite a few rigid forks including the IX which I'm currently using. I did Dusk til Dawn at the weekend on said fork and its...well...its rigid. In the past I've also had a niner, a Storck carbon rebel fork (muchos light, muchos expensive) and some cheaper on-one carbon ones and steel ones too.
Personally, I feel that you get what you pay for. The on-ones were quite a bit harsher and a fair bit heavier. Also they were not that stiff, strange considering their harsh ride. The Storck ones were super light and massively stiff (they were on a 26in wheeled whippet) but brutal and anything more than 2 hours of quick'ish single track was misery. I did a national on them and it was agony.
A rigid fork regardless of cost will never be comfortable and it won't be as quick (IMO!) as a sus fork. I struggled at the weekend and my wrists are still hurting now, and Thetford isn't known for its rocks and killer descents. I'd be inclinded to look for a second hand xfusion unless you're riding road and bridleways. Yes, there are plenty of 'nails' folk who only use rigid - to them I say fair play. Of the lot, if you have the money then either the IX or the Niner. But then if you have that sort of money I'd say go sus and get an xfusion.
If you're asking this question then you've probably already made your mind up. In which case, spend the extra on the IX - bolt through, nicely made, pretty light and a bit more 'give' than some of the cheaper ones.
excellent, thanks flange. I'm building something a bit niche it's true. I want something for bridleway type trails, so pretty tame. I have other bikes for other kinds of riding. Hence it has to be as light as possible. I've just bought a carbon hardtail and I'll swap out the sus fork for rigid and fit as many carbon/ti/light parts as I can procure.