Lockout forks are grand for those who want to ride trails requiring pedaling. They allow you to adjust the suspension to be firm when needed and soft when desired. This makes your ride more comfortable and enjoyable, no matter what kind of trail you’re riding on.
You won’t have any trouble with traction or control as you go over rocks, roots, bumps, or other obstacles. You can also switch between full-suspension mode and Hardtail mode whenever necessary for an even better experience than before.
With this fork installed on your bike, there will never be another time when you wish you had something else instead of what was already there. It’s just perfect for every type of rider out there.
Read this post to know more!
Here is an article that I have written: Can You Ride a Mountain Bike Without Suspension?
What Is A Lockout Fork, And Why Does It Matter?
A lockout fork on a mountain bike is like having two cycles in one. The lower part of the suspension can be locked out or turned off entirely when you want to pedal smoothly over paved roads or climb hills without wasting energy.
This suspension type is best suited for downhill racing, where riders may need to maintain traction as they descend steep slopes without breaking traction and sliding into trees or rocks.
But if you ride in hilly areas with many bumps and dips, you might also want one of these forks on your bike – especially if you plan on doing some serious off-roading.
Can You Lock Out Rear Suspension On A Mountain Bike?
One of the most common questions we get here is: “can you lock out the rear suspension on a mountain bike?” and it’s a great question.
The answer? Yes, but with some restrictions. Generally, when you lock out your rear suspension, it increases the stiffness of the shock, so it becomes more rigid. It only compresses a little, making for better efficiency pedaling uphill or over rough terrain.
What Is The Advantage Of Having A Lockout Suspension On A Mountain Bike?
To explain the advantage of having a lockout suspension, it is first essential to clarify what separates full-suspension mountain bikes and hardtail mountain bikes. Both types of bikes have their purposes; therefore, they also possess benefits and drawbacks.
The difference between a hardtail mountain bike and a full-suspension mountain bike is how they are constructed. A Hardtail mountain bike has no rear or front suspension, while a Full-suspension Mountain bike has both suspensions, rear and front.
A Mountain bike equipped with only a front suspension would be called a Front Suspension Mountain bike. It can benefit from a front lockout suspension.
The Chief advantage of having a suspension system is When going downhill, and a suspension system will absorb energy and thus make riding more comfortable. However, when riding uphill or on pavement, this same feature makes it difficult to scale steep inclines as the suspension absorbs much energy.
Since a Hardtail mountain bike does not feature a Front suspension or Rear suspension, climbing uphill or riding on a paved road will be easy, unlike Full suspension mountain bikes.
Hardtail mountain bikes provide maximum pedal efficiency, thus helping to reduce fatigue by eliminating wasted energy from the bike’s suspension movement because they do not have any suspension system.
Unless you are an exceptionally experienced rider, a Hardtail mountain bike will be tough to withstand when going downhill or any sort of drop. Rough or uneven terrain is not a thing for a hardtail mountain bike.
Now it seems that you must have two bikes or face the limitations of having either bike. Neither of the above two options seems attractive. This is where the lockout fork comes into play.
Do You Need A Lockout Fork For Your Mountain Bike?
It depends on your needs. Hardtail MTBs are only comfortable for uphill climbing and paved roads. In contrast, Full-Suspension MTBs are more comfortable for downhill or any Ups-Downs.
This is where the Lockout fork works by providing features of Hardtail MTBs and Full-Suspension MTBs into one bike. So it would help if you decided whether you need a Lockout fork for your bike.
Differences Between A Compression (Lockout) And Rebound Suspension Adjustment On A Mountain Bike
Mountain bike suspension has two ways to adjust compression speed. The first one is by changing the low-speed compression rate, which deals with the pace of compression on the MTB.
A second method is called rebound adjustment, which impacts the decompression rate on the Mountain bike.
There are typically two manufacturers, Rockshox and Fox, which manufacture lockout systems for MTB.
Both manufacturers have similarities in many ways, like using the same color, blue and red, to denote compression and rebounding adjusting dials.
The directional Use Of the Compression Dial For RockShox Is As Follows:
- Open – Extreme left
- Adjusted compression – Middle
- Fully locked – Extreme right
The directional Use Of the Compression Dial For Fox Is As Follows:
- Open, Medium and Firm
- For Rockshox, the Rebound dial has been labeled with Jackalope and Fox. The more close to Jackalope, the quicker the shock will compress.
- For Fox, the Rebound dial has been tagged with Plus and Minus. The plus represents a slower rebound (more suppression), whereas the Minus represents a quicker rebound (less suppression).
What Is A Remote Lockout System On A Mountain Bike?
A remote lockout system on a mountain bike is a system that allows the rider to lock out the suspension to climb steep inclines.
It’s typically used when multiple obstacles such as roots, rocks and jumps occur. The remote LockoutLockout can be activated with one hand while still riding, so it doesn’t get in the way of other controls like shifting gears or braking.
A few manufacturers produce these systems for bikes. Still, they require an additional switch mounted on the handlebars, which will be activated with the help of dial pads.
Do Real Riders Use A Lockout Suspension?
According to the survey done by a popular MTB forum, the survey results are very strange to many of you who are reading this.
This table represents people who took part in a survey about how many riders use their LockoutLockout:
| NEVER | OCCASIONALLY | OFTEN |
| 18 | 5 | 17 |
When I first saw the results of this poll, they confused me. However, after reading further into a thread on this forum about it, I realized why so many people needed to take advantage of their lockouts.
The top reasons were:
- Many people complained that they often forget to turn off the LockoutLockout. This is a severe problem while riding downhill or on any uneven terrain.
- Some riders complained that the LockoutLockout feels like an improvement only if it’s adjusted. If you have a mountain bike with a low travel distance, then a lockout might offer little effect on power transfer into trails.
- Lockout is much more helpful when a remote dial can be switched from the handlebars. However, most riders prefer to avoid using LockoutLockout because they find the inconvenience of stopping riding and getting off their bike too cumbersome.
Do Lockouts And Rebound Adjustment Replace Hardtail Mountain Bikes?
No, Different styles of mountain bikes are made for specific purposes and don’t necessarily mimic one another perfectly. A complete suspension bike works well on rough trails with significant dips while riding downhill.
A Hardtail MTB is an excellent bike for paved roads and climbing uphill because it doesn’t have a suspension system.
This is undeniable that Lockouts and Rebound adjustments provide benefits of Hardtail MTB into full-suspension MTB. Still, it also adds weight to a suspension system.
How Do You Lock Your Front Fork On A Mountain Bike?
The front lockout fork allows the rider to adjust how stiff or soft their suspension should be. Using a single switch, you can make your MTB more suitable for climbing up hills and on rough terrains where quick rest compression may be necessary.
The fully locked-out fork completely inhibits any suspension movement to maintain speed while riding over asphalt surfaces with less resistance required from gravity.
The LockoutLockout employs a pressure-compressed lubricant that shifts the MTB’s compression and decompression rate, depending on what mode it’s placed into with this fork control system.
Do Suspension Lockouts Require Maintenance?
The suspension lockouts on your mountain bike should be serviced periodically. A professional bike mechanic usually does this. Failure to service the LockoutLockout can lead to problems, including poor performance and even damage to your suspension system.
There are many reasons why the suspension lockout may need to be serviced. The biggest reason is that dirt and debris can build up over time.
This buildup prevents the LockoutLockout from functioning correctly, which could cause your bike to perform poorly on descents and impact your overall performance.
Dirt and debris also damage the components of the lockout system itself, which can lead to failure or permanent damage to your suspension.
What Are The Newest Lockout Systems Developed For An MTB?
There are different types of forks. RockShox and Fox lockout systems are the most common ones. They all have three levels of the lockout fork, which you can adjust to make it more or less rigid.
The first option cannot ultimately decrease the rate of low-speed compression. A middle selection causes reduction to become extra rigid, and a fully locked out style where there is no travel at all.
Conclusion:
If you want to take your mountain biking experience to the next level, a lockout fork for your mountain bike is a must-have.
With improved efficiency, comfort, control, versatility, and overall performance, a lockout fork can enhance your ride and make it more enjoyable. So, unlock the adventure and invest a lockout fork for your mountain bike today!
Here is an article on my website that you must read, it’s about Can You Spray Mountain Bike With a Hose?
