9

I've recently bought myself a new mountain bike (my first since my schooldays...) and it has front suspension with a lock-out function. Suspension is new to me and I'm not sure how to use the lock-out. It seems I have to stop and take my weight off the bike to lock-out the suspension - is this correct? Or should I be able to operate the lock-out whilst sat on the bike and I'm just not turning the lock-out hard enough? As I'm not really sure, I've avoided turning it too hard in case I do some damage.

Improve this question

4 Answers 4

Reset to default
13

Less expensive forks have a mechanical lockout. This type of lockout is only usable when the fork is unweighted. Think of it like trying to deadbolt your door when it's still ajar.

Higher end forks- coil or air- use a hydraulic lockout. There's a lot going on inside them but to simplify things a bit, there are two valves in the damper of most mid-high end forks that allow oil to pass through and both only work in one direction. One allows oil to pass through when you hit a bump, the other allows oil to pass through on the rebound from that bump. When you engage the lockout on one of these forks it basically closes the valve that allows oil to pass through when you hit a bump, however the rebound valve stays open allowing the fork to return to it's original position.

So back to your original question-
No, there is nothing wrong with your fork. The lockout is working as expected and don't force it or you might break it!

Improve this answer
2
  • 2
    As a small addition: forks with a hydraulic lockout normally are still absorbing hard bumps even when locked. This also means that it is okay to ride them in locked state on ways that are not totally smooth. Forks with fixed lockout in contrary can be damaged when they hit a hard bump while locked, as their locking mechanism is somewhat similar to the bolt of a lock.
    – Benedikt Bauer
    Commented Mar 6, 2013 at 19:21
  • Thank you everyone for the responses, happy now in the knowledge that I was right not to try and force the lockout whilst I'm sat on the bike. Will have to see whether its worth stopping to lock-out for the big hills I have to cycle up or whether i'm just as well just carrying on with the suspension active - some test rides will have to be done!!
    – Schoie81
    Commented Mar 8, 2013 at 14:01
2

With an inexpensive coil sprung fork the lock out is often only usable with no weight on the fork. So yours is probably working normally.

Lockouts are most useful for sprinting and climbing, when your weight moves forwards and your putting in more effort that you don't want to waste.

More importantly, don't forget to free it again if you get enar anything bumpy, you can damage a fork like that.

(Personally, even with a remote lockout I rarely use it, except on perfectly smooth tarmac.)

Improve this answer
5
  • The forks are Suntour XCT V3. I don't use the lock-out too often as even when i'm not 'off-road', the roads I do use aren't great and I end up hitting lumps and pot-holes so keep the suspension active at the expense of a bit more effort when heading uphill. But if i knew how to use the lock-out properly, maybe i'd use it more...?
    – Schoie81
    Commented Mar 6, 2013 at 15:49
  • While I don't know these forks personally, I've had similar ones where the lockout was only usable unweighted. I think you're fine.
    – alex
    Commented Mar 6, 2013 at 17:26
  • "With a coil sprung fork the lock out is often only usable with no weight on the fork. So yours is probably working normally." This is not true. Please see my answer.
    – joelmdev
    Commented Mar 6, 2013 at 18:48
  • @jm2 But it also not completely wrong as coil sprung forks are more common in the lower end price segment than in the higher end one. And as you write in your answer a fixed lockout is more likely in the lower price segments. Therefore chances aren't that bad that a coil sprung fork might have a fixed lockout. On the other side this is only the half story, as one can see from your answer.
    – Benedikt Bauer
    Commented Mar 6, 2013 at 19:14
  • Nah, his is a much fuller answer.
    – alex
    Commented Mar 7, 2013 at 3:05
1

You have the same fork i have on my 29er Felt Nine 70. Yes, you have to unweight the fork to lock it out.

I paid $70 extra for the ability, used it once, hit a ramped curb and landed hard, so I turned it off and never used it again.

If your new bike is under a grand and straight off the line, most likely you have a "cheapy" lock out system.

I just got a banshee spitfire with a pike and a crane creek inline db, and I can lock it out while riding. Makes life so much easier when you don't have to stop pedaling to lock out the suspension.

Improve this answer
1
  • Gidday and welcome to SE Bicycles. I have tweaked your answer to make it more relevant, and broken it up into paragraphs. Thank you for your good contribution too - please keep it up.
    – Criggie ♦
    Commented Mar 3, 2016 at 1:21
0

If in doubt leave the fork locked out. If it's a bolt action mechanical cheap version, then I'd take the switch off so it can't be locked on. If it's not hydraulic lockout then don't bother. Work on your smooth high-torque cadence and the lockout won't matter. A good rider will be smooth and not bob up and down.

Improve this answer
1
  • Welcome to Bicycles. Formatting can make what you write much easier for others to read. Check out the formatting options available using the icons above the answer box. I'll make an attempt at editing you answer; check it out as a guide, and make sure I have retained your meaning.
    – Gary.Ray ♦
    Commented Jul 23, 2014 at 15:09

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.