Suspension forks absorb impacts from rocks, roots, bumps, and drops, reducing strain on the rider’s body and making rough trails manageable. This is why suspension forks are essential for riders tackling rough terrains as they increase comfort and control on the trails.
The best bike forks under 200$ are the RockShox Suspension Fork and the BOLANY Air Fork. The RockShox Recon Silver offers 100mm of travel which makes it ideal for anyone with an older bike model. It’s easy to install and comes with a guide. The Bolany is available in different sizes and has an adjustable air pressure valve.
In this article, I’ll give you the top bike fork options that are under 200$. These are made of fine-quality alloys that are durable and do not burn a hole in your pockets.
Best Mountain Bike Forks Under USD 200
- ZTZ Magnesium Alloy Mountain Front Fork
- BOLANY Air Fork Reviews
- RockShox Suspension Fork (Top Pick)
- Corki Cycles Mountain Bike Air Suspension Fork (Budget Buy)
- BUCKLOS Fork Review
Compare Top Mountain Bike Forks Under 200 US Dollars
Product | Overall Score | Bottom Line | Price |
---|---|---|---|
ZTZ Magnesium Alloy Mountain | 79 | Made from fine magnesium alloy | Check Out On Amazon |
BOLANY Air Fork | 84 | Customizable air pressure based on your weight | Check Out On Amazon |
RockShox Suspension Fork | 84 | Comes with the rebound key to adjust the travel | Check Out On Amazon |
Corki Cycles Mountain Bike Air | 78 | Affordable and reliable suspension fork option | Check Out On Amazon |
BUCKLOS Fork | 82 | Lightweight and easy to install | Check Out On Amazon |
Detailed Analysis of the Best Mountain Bike Forks Under $200
Since you’re reading this to find the best mountain bike forks under $200, we’re not going to waste your time.
Read on to find out more.
1. ZTZ Magnesium Alloy Mountain Front Fork
Overall Score: 79
The ZTZ Shock Absorber is one of the best 26-inch mountain bike forks on the market. It comes with a variety of useful features that will optimize your riding experience.
This includes a magnesium alloy body with a nice finish. It’s available in other sizes too, including a 27.5inch and 29inch model.
You’ll find that installing this front fork is rather easy, thanks to its vertebral pipeline control and wire control features.
If you’re looking for cheap MTB forks, then this is the way to go. The best part is that there’s even a fancier version with gold tube damping that produces optimal speed and lockout features.
It’ll handle any and all mountain bike shocks effortlessly and you’ll find that it’s super lightweight and easy to ride your bicycle with it on too.
Advantages
- Made from magnesium alloy.
- Available in 26-inch, 27.5-inch, 29-inch sizes.
- Comes with wire control and vertebral pipeline control.
- Lightweight.
- Worth the money.
Disadvantages
- It doesn’t come with a rebound adjustment.
2. BOLANY Air Fork Reviews
Overall Score: 84
The best budget air fork for MTB are given that distinction because they excel at more than just being “affordable.”
They come with useful features that make for an easy-to-use product that’ll make your life that much easier.
The BOLANY mountain bike suspension fork is available in different sizes, namely 26, 27.5, and 29 inches. It’s one of the more customizable options on this list as it comes with an adjustable air pressure valve.
This means that this suspension fork will add support to your bicycle no matter what your weight is.
The fork has a combination of magnesium alloy and aluminum alloy. This means it’s built for the road, and it can easily handle rough terrain without blinking an eye.
Not only that, but it has an easy-to-use manual design and BOLANY offers three other types of suspension forks that we recommend you consider.
This includes the tapered remote, tapered manual, and straight remote options.
Advantages
- Helps to keep the dust at bay.
- You can customize the air pressure based on your weight.
- Easy to install and uninstall.
- Constructed from durable materials.
- Nicely finished and comes in attractive colors.
Disadvantages
- This bike fork may not be able to handle pressure under certain conditions.
3. RockShox Suspension Fork
Overall Score: 84
The RockShox RECON Silver RL suspension fork is one of the most accessible products on this list. It offers unparalleled performance that will forever transform the way you ride your bicycle.
It offers 100mm of travel which makes it ideal for anyone that owns an older bike model. This suspension fork is made to last from some of the best materials on the market to ensure reliability.
It doesn’t look too shabby either. It’s also super easy to install thanks to the included installation guide.
You’ll be glad to know that this suspension fork enables you to determine your preferred PSI air level which makes for a customized experience based on your weight level.
Then there’s the shock pump which will really come in handy when it comes to dialing everything.
Last but not least is the rebound key, which comes with the package. It’s designed to help you adjust the suspension fork as well.
Take a look at my detailed comparison of the RockShox Judy Gold and Recon Silver for an in-depth analysis of these two suspension forks from the brand.
Advantages
- It’s built to last from durable materials.
- Comes with a useful installation guide.
- Features handy lockout function.
- You can adjust it using the included rebound key.
- Features an extra set of seals.
- It looks as good as it functions.
Disadvantages
- You might need a shock pump to get the most out of this.
4. Corki Cycles Mountain Bike Air Suspension Fork
Overall Score: 78
The Corki Cycles Mountain Bike Air Suspension Fork has been gaining attention as an affordable and reliable suspension fork option for riders seeking a balance between performance and value.
The fork features an air suspension system, which provides a smoother ride and allows for adjustable pressure to match rider weight and terrain preferences.
It is available with 100mm to 120mm travel, it’s designed for cross-country and light trail riding, offering just enough cushion for moderate trail obstacles.
Made from a durable aluminum alloy, the fork is lightweight yet sturdy, which helps keep the overall bike weight down without sacrificing strength.
Advantages
- Budget-friendly.
- The inclusion of air pressure, lockout, and rebound adjustments allows for greater customization.
- Its aluminum construction keeps it relatively lightweight.
Disadvantages
- The 100-120mm travel may not be adequate.
5. BUCKLOS Fork Review
Overall Score: 82
Next in our list of the best mountain bicycle forks under $200, we have the BUCKLOS air mountain bike suspension fork.
Its construction is a thing of legend, as it features magnesium alloy on the bottom tube and straight aluminum on the upper tube.
Thanks to its distinctive looks, this mountain bike suspension fork won’t look too shabby on your bike. It comes in a variety of colors and has a polished inner tube.
Also included in this bike fork are rebound adjustments and compression damping that allows you to customize the air pressure based on your weight and also just to have fun.
In our opinion, this is the best MTB fork for the money, especially considering how easy it is to set up. However, it’s not without its flaws.
There have been some complaints about the fork’s inability to retain air.
Advantages
- It’s lightweight and easy to install.
- Comes with rebound adjustment.
- Available in a variety of stylish colors.
- Great customer service.
- Made from high-quality materials.
Disadvantages
- There have been some complaints that the fork can let out air due to an inability to handle a certain weight.
How to Pick the Best Mountain Bike Forks Under $200
Now that we’ve gone over the best MTB forks under 200, it’s time to look at the features that you need to keep top of mind when looking for one.
So, if this is your first time purchasing cheap mountain bike forks or you need to brush up on your knowledge, keep reading.
Structure
First things first, you need to determine what the best 29er fork for the money structure is for your bicycle.
The upper part of the forklift is referred to as a steerer tube. It’s what goes over the head tube. This is typically constructed from steel alloys or carbon with the latter being pricier.
If you’re thinking of using stiffer oversized steerers just make sure that they’re compatible with your bicycle. The suspension fork also has a crown that hangs between its legs to ensure durability.
Now, you’ll notice that the cheap bicycle forks for downhill bikes have a double-crown design while mountain bike suspension forks only come with one crown.
This is to ensure customized durability and strength for the bicycle.
Suspension Travel
By “travel” we’re referring to the distance traveled by the suspensions. This determines their ability to absorb shocks so that you don’t have to feel them.
The general rule of thumb is to ensure that the suspension fork should have greater travel for the best results.
Every type of mountain bike requires a different level of suspension. For instance, cross country bikes need suspension travel that’s between 80mm to 120mm.
On the other hand, you’re looking at a suspension movement between 120mm to 140mm for a trail bike.
Springs
Mountain bike springs are typically coil-based or air-based. Coil-based springs are usually quite heavy-duty and very effective at absorbing shocks to the max.
On the other hand, air springs are much lighter and operate using both negative and positive pressure chambers.
Some of the best budget MTB forks use air springs as their primary option, as well as coil springs.
Damping Control
In addition to getting a suspension fork with a high level of travel, it’s equally important to prioritize safety and control.
That’s why you should consider rebound damping. This feature on a suspension fork is what enables it to get back to its original position when faced with rough conditions. That way, it won’t bob back and forth.
Compression damping is also important because it has been shown to absorb impact while slowing down the spring.
Brakes
You also want to make sure that your suspension forks are compatible with your mountain bike’s braking system.
The good news is that a vast majority of the suspension forks on the market are compatible with both disk and rim brakes.
However, there are certain models that you need to look out for, which work only for post mount brakes.
The most important thing is to ensure that your bike is flexible enough to handle both types of mountain systems.
Wheel Size
You should also consider the size of your bike wheels, keeping in mind that bike wheels are available in three different sizes.
This means that each wheel size has a customized fork size that corresponds to it and you want to make sure that the two match up before you make your purchase.
Weight
You should also ensure there’s a balance between the amount of weight placed on your bike and fork strength.
The goal is to remain as lightweight as possible on the road, which is why lighter suspension forks are useful for cross country rides. While hardier suspension forks are often only recommended for technical biking applications.
Price
Last but not least, you should also consider your budget as that’ll help you to narrow down your options even more.
In this article, we made sure to feature only the best budget MTB fork, showing that you don’t have to break the bank to find the best mountain bike forks for the money.
Don’t be afraid to cast a wide net when searching for a bike fork and consider your options.
If you decide to raise your budget to $300, my guide on the Best Mountain Bike Forks Under $300 is ideal for helping you choose a high-quality option.
The Rockshox Recon Silver Is a Value-Packed Fork With Solo Air Spring, Balancing Weight Savings and Dependable Performance…
So, out of all the best mountain bike forks under $200, which one takes the cake? Based on our experience, it has to be the RockShox Suspension Fork.
It’s built to last from durable materials, comes with a useful installation guide and features a handy lockout function. You can adjust it using the included rebound key.
Most importantly, it’s easy to install and it has proven itself to handle shocks effortlessly.