Choosing the correct fork can greatly improve the ride qualities of your bike. Carbon fibre offers improved comfort over steel or aluminium by reducing the amount of impact and vibration transmitted to your hands. A good pair of forks also reduces weight and improves the response of the steering.

Mountain bike forks often contain a set of shocks. The suspension travel and handling characteristics vary depending on the type of riding the fork is designed for. There are different forks for cross-country (XC), downhill, and freeride riding.  Suspension fork design has advanced over the years with suspension forks becoming increasingly sophisticated and diverse in design.