Control, grip, effective damping – or annoying arm pump and ill-chosen lines? Your suspension fork has a major influence on your riding, and impacts your bike’s trail performance massively. That’s why we tested the eight most popular MTB forks of 2025 to show you how they perform and what they’re truly capable of on the trail.
Flow over frustration – that’s how every ride should feel! You should be perfectly in sync with the terrain rather than being bucked off the saddle with every root and rock. Sounds ideal, but what makes the difference between these two scenarios? A large part of it comes down to your suspension, which consists of the components that smooth out the trail, giving you control, and, ultimately, boosting your confidence.
The suspension fork, in particular, plays a crucial role: unlike the rear suspension, which is a complex symbiosys between the shock and kinematics, the fork has to handle all tasks on its own. Your front wheel not only hits obstacles first but also literally steers you in the right direction, determinining whether you’ll feel the flow or immense frustration.
To help you invest your hard-earned money wisely, we tested eight MTB forks for enduro and trail bikes to find the best fork out there. Plus, the fork market has evolved massively over recent years, with many brands now designing their chassis for specific applications, leaving you with the choice of internals. That’s why it’s more important than ever to understand how a fork works and what sets apart all the different models.
*Are you technically savvy and just want to know which forks made it into our test? No problem – just click on “Test Field” in the table of contents to skip straight to the details.
Table of Contents
- How does an MTB Suspension fork work?
- What makes a good MTB suspension fork?
- How should I set up my MTB suspension fork?
- The test field– Which MTB suspension forks are in our comparison test?
- Why aren’t other forks included?
- How we tested the forks
- Insights from our test of the “Best MTB fork of 2025”
- Tops & Flops
- The best MTB Suspension Fork of 2025
How does an MTB Suspension fork work?
To function effectively, every suspension fork relies on three elements: the chassis, the spring, and the damper, and it’s the fine interplay of these three components that delivers peak performance on the trail. To better understand how an MTB suspension fork works, it’s useful to examine each of these components separately, as they form the core of all popular suspension forks.
The chassis of an MTB suspension fork
The chassis forms the external framework of the fork and is made up of the stanchions, lowers, crown, and steerer tube. The lowers are often called the casting and form the lower legs of the fork, which slide onto the stanchions. The two stanchions are pressed into the fork crown, which also houses the steerer tube. The steerer then passes through the head tube of your frame and can be cut to size – just like the handlebars.
For increased stiffness above the crown, the steerer tube is usually tapered. While most frame manufacturers use a 1⅛” standard, some also offer options with 1.5″ and 1.8″ steerer tubes. Typically, the casting and crown are made of magnesium, while the steerer tube and stanchions are made of aluminum.
Stiffness is crucial for the chassis, as it determines how much and in which direction the fork flexes under load. Imagine, hypothetically, that your fork was made of rubber. Every time you brake, your front wheel would bend backwards, flex forward under heavy compression, and twist when cornering – not fun, right? The stiffness of your fork prevents this.
The goal isn’t maximum stiffness; it’s about balancing stiffness to match the fork’s travel and intended use. The casting’s stiffness is essential in fork development, and is influenced by the diameter of the stanchions – e.g. by the thicker 38 mm stanchions – as well as material thickness and reinforcements in the casting and crown.
Another factor is the offset, which is the horizontal distance between the center of the axle and the steering axis, measured at a right angle. This offset impacts the trail, which is the horizontal distance between the tire’s contact point and the extended steering axis. A longer trail – resulting from a smaller offset or slacker head angle – improves steering stability, although at the expense of agility. However, its effect on handling is often minor, and most modern forks today come in a single offset, typically 44 mm.
The spring of an MTB suspension fork
The spring is the core of the fork, which absorbs shocks transmitted from the trail to the front wheel. It first absorbs the energy so it doesn’t transfer to the rest of the bike and rider. When the fork extends back, it releases the stored energy. The spring occupies one of the stanchions, while the damper sits in the other. There are two common types of springs: air springs and coil springs.
The air spring works by compressing air in a sealed chamber, which can be quickly adjusted with a shock pump to match the fork to your weight and riding style. In all modern forks, this chamber is divided into a positive and a negative chamber. In most forks, the positive and negative chambers are connected by a small dimple, which allows them to balance either in the fully extended position or at sag. With some forks, you can even adjust the negative chamber separately.
When the fork compresses, the casting drives an internal air piston upwards. This reduces the volume in the positive air chamber, increasing the pressure, while simultaneously lowering the pressure in the negative chamber. This design reduces initial resistance in the first third of travel since the pressure is initially equal in both chambers. As the air piston returns to its original position, the difference in pressure pushes it back, similar to a coil spring. However, a key difference is that air springs are progressive – the deeper the fork compresses, the smaller the air chamber becomes, increasing pressure and resistance.
In contrast, coil springs are made from coiled metal and provide a consistent spring rate throughout the travel. This means that the spring compresses by the same amount under a given load, regardless of its position in the travel. However, coil springs are heavier and less adjustable than air springs, as they require a complete spring swap to adjust for rider weight and style.
Why do all MTB suspension forks in this test rely on an air spring?
All forks in this test rely on an air spring, because this ensures a lower system weight and is easier to adjust – which is crucial to achieve the right feel on the trail. The air pressure essentially determines the spring rate: more pressure means greater resistance and is adjusted according to the rider’s weight. All forks in this test have a sticker on the lower legs with recommended settings for the initial setup.
Volume spacers – an important tuning element that you can’t use with coil springs – are another advantage. They modify the size of the positive air chamber; the more spacers, the smaller the chamber, and the more progressive the fork is. This allows for more end-stroke resistance without making the fork feel overly firm off the top and in the mid stroke. It also allows you to run lower air pressures without blowing through the travel. However, too many spacers can make the mid-stroke feel too spongy, leading to a “mushy” feel in berms and compressions.
The design of the air spring itself, including the size of the air chamber and the balance between positive and negative chambers, is important too. The trend is moving toward larger negative chambers to improve small-bump sensitivity. Some brands, like Öhlins and EXT, even offer a third air chamber, allowing for further customization of end-stroke progression and mid-stroke support.
The damping of an MTB suspension fork
The damper is the heart of every fork, as it controls the speed at which it compresses and rebounds. This is achieved through the oil flow, which moves through adjustable valves as the fork operates, thus affecting shaft speed. The damping unit resides in the opposite stanchion from the spring.
The damper cartridge makes the biggest difference to the ride feeling of a fork, as it largely regulates how it behaves through different parts of its travel. The energy absorbed by the damper is converted into heat, which dissipates through the oil into the chassis.
Many factors influence oil flow, whether during slow or fast shaft movements, including the type of oil used. Viscosity, or thickness, has a significant impact. If you want to dive deeper into the technical details, our initial tests on new FOX and RockShox models cover these components in detail.
Key Damping Mechanisms
- Compression: Controls how quickly the fork compresses when hitting a bump.
- Rebound: Determines how quickly the fork extends after compressing.
Many forks (especially top-tier models) offer separate high- and low-speed settings for both compression and rebound. Note that high- and low-speed refer to shaft speed– or how fast the fork moves up and down – not riding speed. Though split into two settings, these adjustments influence each other. In particular, low-speed compression settings slightly affect high-speed performance, as the first few millimeters of travel activate low-speed oil flow, even with high shaft speeds.
Compression damping of an MTB suspension fork
Compression damping is adjusted independently of rider weight, and is influenced primarily by riding style and terrain. Increased compression stiffens up the suspension and enhances support.
Low-Speed Compression: Primarily affects movements initiated by the rider, such as pumping or carving through smooth turns. This adjustment mainly influences the mid-stroke and determines how high the fork sits in its travel and how quickly it dives in slow compressions. However, more low-speed compression can reduce the fork’s small-bump sensitivity.
High-Speed Compression: Activates during impacts from the terrain, such as big hits and jump landings. More high-speed compression makes the damping respond more progressively, adding resistance as the fork compresses deeper into its travel.
Rebound damping of an MTB suspension fork
Rebound must be set according to the fork’s air pressure and, thus, rider weight, as higher air pressures generate stronger return forces, which need to be managed by rebound damping. If rebound is set too low – meaning that the spring’s return force isn’t sufficiently dampened – the fork will rebound too quickly, making the bike feel choppy and unstable. Conversely, too much rebound damping prevents the fork from recovering quickly enough after consecutive impacts, causing it to sink deeper into its travel and compromising performance.
Low-Speed Rebound: Controls extension with slower shaft movements, making it particularly important in the initial part of travel. This setting influences how quickly the fork extends over small bumps that don’t require deep travel – like roots and braking bumps, for example. Low-speed rebound is crucial for a smooth ride in these scenarios.
High-Speed Rebound: Engages with rapid movements, especially in the final part of the travel where forces are greater. It controls the speed at which the fork extends after big impacts and strong compressions. High-speed rebound is especially noticeable before jumps, in fast berms, and in rough trail sections where you’re using more travel.
Tunes for rebound and compression
“Tune” refers to the fine-tuning of suspension components, commonly used in the context of rear shocks, but forks also come with rebound and compression tunes.
Rebound settings depend heavily on air pressure and, by extension, rider weight. The tune must cover a pressure range that allows the rebound damping to function effectively, though it leaves limited room for adjustment at both extremes. A lighter rider might find the fork too slow, even in the fastest rebound setting, while a heavier rider might experience it as too fast. Manufacturers aim to set the tune to suit as wide a rider spectrum as possible, but lighter riders (especially under 55 kg) might benefit from a custom tune to unlock the fork’s full potential.
Compression damping is less weight-dependent and instead influenced more by riding style and personal preference. For example, the RockShox Charger 3.1 damper was specifically tuned to accommodate a broader range of rider types and preferences.
What makes a good MTB suspension fork?
A good fork shares similar qualities with a high-performance rear suspension. If you read our articles on a regular basis, you should be familiar with the holy trinity of shock absorption: sensitivity, support, and final progression. Balancing these seemingly opposing characteristics is the challenge that only the best forks can master.
- Sensitivity ensures that the fork absorbs small bumps smoothly, allowing the front tire to track the terrain closely, maximizing grip and keeping you in control.
- Support prevents the suspension from diving too deep into the travel when pumping through berms and rollers, thus preserving energy and keeping your balance intact.
- End-stroke progression allows the fork to handle bigger impacts – like huck-to-flats and botched landings – without bottoming out, absorbing most of the hit before it transfers to your arms.
However, remember that for a fork to deliver all of this, it must be perfectly set up for your weight and riding style! A well-tuned budget fork often performs far better than a poorly set top-tier model.
How should I set up my MTB suspension fork?
Fork setup is highly individual and primarily depends on rider weight, style, preferences, and intended use. A good starting point is the recommended settings on the sticker, which can be used as a basis to further fine-tune. Many brands also offer setup apps and helpful info on their websites.
Start by setting the correct air pressure for your riding weight, fully kitted up. Once that’s done, you can adjust the damping to match your weight and preferences. Rebound depends heavily on air pressure, while compression is more influenced by personal riding style. Both have room for individual adjustments, especially if split into low- and high-speed settings. Investing time in this process is well worth it. The best way is by doing back-to-back runs on familiar trails, making several laps with different settings.
Make big adjustments first to get a general feel, but only change one parameter at a time to avoid mixing up the effects. Taking notes can help track your progress and organize results. This testing technique, called “bracketing,” involves gradually adjusting settings. We’ve covered how to dial in a fork in detail in a separate article.
With many, you can adjust the travel, though this requires more work as the fork must be taken apart. We’ve explained this step-by-step using the RockShox ZEB as an example.
Most forks are designed for 180 mm brake rotors by default. If you want to use bigger rotors, you’ll need special adapters, which are usually specific to the brake manufacturer. Keep in mind that with adapters, you can increase rotor size by up to 40 mm, but stacking two 20 mm spacers won’t work since they don’t move the caliper in the position required.
The test field– Which MTB suspension forks are in our comparison test?
To cover all relevant models, we divided our comparison test into two categories: trail and enduro forks. This way we were able to include all the latest models. We tested the trail models with 160 mm of travel, weighing between 1,973 g and 2,093 g, with prices ranging from €1,199 to €1,450. The enduro forks were tested with 170 mm of travel, weighing between 2,293 g and 2,529 g, retailing between €1,249 and €1,759.
Needless to say, ithe trail category includes the two great classics: the RockShox Lyrik Ultimate and the FOX 36 Factory GRIP X. With both models recently updated, we were eager to see how the latest generations perform. The third contender was the Formula Selva S, known for its extensive customization options.
In the enduro category, the RockShox ZEB Ultimate and FOX 38 Factory GRIP X2 are the current must-haves, especially given that both were recently updated with new dampers, making this showdown more exciting than ever. The DVO Onyx D1 38 SL, which was updated recently too, now claims to have sacrificed some fine-tuning options for improved trail performance. The Öhlins RXF 38 m.2 remains a hidden gem, and finally, the EXT ERA V2.1 joins the race with relatively slim 36 mm stanchions.
| Manufacturer | Model | Stanchion Diameter (mm) | Travel (mm) | Adjustments | Price (€) | Weight (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DVO | Onyx D1 38 SL | 38 | 160 – 180 | HSC, LSC, Rebound | 1,149 | 2,529 |
| EXT | ERA V2.1 | 36 | 140 – 170 | HSC, LSC, Rebound, Mid-Stroke Support | 1,759 | 2,341 |
| Formula | Selva S | 35 | 120 – 180 | HSC, LSC, Rebound, Compression | 1,440 | 2,093 |
| FOX | 38 GRIP X2 | 38 | 160 – 180 | HSC, LSC, HSR, LSR | 1,660 | 2,434 |
| FOX | 36 GRIP X | 36 | 150 – 160 | HSC, LSC, Rebound | 1,450 | 1,973 |
| Öhlins | RXF38 | 38 | 160 – 180 | HSC, LSC, Rebound, Progression | 1,674 | 2,293 |
| RockShox | ZEB Ultimate | 38 | 160 – 190 | HSC, LSC, Rebound | 1,249 | 2,358 |
| RockShox | Lyrik Ultimate | 35 | 140 – 160 | HSC, LSC, Rebound | 1,199 | 2,027 |
A lot has changed since 38 mm stanchions were introduced in suspension forks. While in the past, models from most manufacturers overlapped significantly in terms of travel and intended use, forks are now more clearly categorized, with new standards emerging as a result: 38 mm stanchions for enduro use and 35 or 36 mm stanchions for trail bikes.
Enduro forks are available with travel ranging between 160 and 180 mm, while modern trail forks are designed to cover a range between 140 and 160 mm. When purchasing a bike, the fork choice is often dictated by the bike category, as the overlap in travel between categories is minimal. This means that there isn’t a single best fork for all types of mountain bikes.
With modern suspension forks, it’s the damper cartridge that sets the different models apart – it largely determines how a fork feels on the trail and is the main reason for price differences. While the travel and stanchion diameter categorize forks and limit your choices, most brands offer more flexibility with damper options.
For example, with a FOX trail fork, you’re limited to the 36 mm model unless you’re willing to make major modifications after purchase. However, within that model, you can choose between three damper cartridges, which contribute the most to performance variations. So, when searching for the best fork, don’t be misled by the model names; instead, focus on the damper type. In this test, the best damper played a decisive role in determining which fork impressed us the most in each category.
Why aren’t other forks included?
There’s no doubt – the fact that some brands and or certain models from specific manufacturers aren’t included in this comparison test is noticeable. We invited all the manufacturers we find particularly exciting, but not all were able to take part or supply test products on time. For instance, DT Swiss and Intend decided not to participate, while other fork models from Marzocchi and FOX got held up in shipping and unfortunately arrived too late. We also requested more budget-friendly models from RockShox, but they didn’t want to compete against their own top-tier forks.
How we tested the forks
For our test, we headed to the Kronplatz Bike Park in the Dolomites, where we tested the forks on a familiar trail that’s perfect for analyzing the subtle differences between suspension forks. The track has it all: open turns where front-wheel traction is crucial, loose surfaces, and gnarly, braking bumps you only get in busy bike parks. Fast berms and big jumps generate serious G-forces, while big gaps and drops push the forks to their limits. To max them out, the trail finishes with a rocky section featuring over 25 steps to blast through at high speed – an authentic arm-pump generator!
With all of these forks offering a wide range of adjustments, we took the time to dial in the perfect setup for each model, relying on our years of experience – many of these forks have also been tested in previous reviews. Our starting point was always the manufacturer’s recommended settings. Then we fine-tuned the rebound to the testers’ preferences. Compression was initially set to the middle position (unless recommendations were provided) and adjusted from there to see how precise the tuning options are. To ensure objective results, all testers used the same bike with an identical setup, keeping the fork as the only variable.
Insights from our test of the “Best MTB fork of 2025”
The fork and its damper cartridge are crucial for control and performance on the trail, greatly impacting how the bike responds to impacts and rough terrain. Proper setup is essential for tailoring the fork to both the rider and the terrain, enabling it to reach its full potential and providing a smooth, secure ride.
Every fork in this test delivered top-notch performance– none of them will hold you back on the trail! The differences are mainly in the details and are often only noticeable in direct back-to-back comparisons. Setup was straightforward for most models, thanks to well-matched setup charts and, in some cases, convenient apps that make it easier than ever to adjust the fork quickly and accurately to rider weight and style. And, although it may sound obvious, we’ll say it once more: the right setup is key to unlocking the maximum performance from your suspension fork.
Tops
Flops
The best MTB Suspension Fork of 2025
To answer which is the best MTB fork of 2025, we need to focus not only on the models themselves but, as already mentioned, on the actual damper. With forks divided into distinct categories and travel ranges, you’re essentially directed toward the model that suits your bike and intended use.
The real question is: which damper cartridge is the best? The damper largely dictates how the fork feels on the trail and needs to match the model that’s right for you. So, the combination of the right fork model with the ideal damper cartridge is what truly counts.
The best damper cartridge for MTB Forks of 2025: FOX GRIP X2
FOX’s GRIP X2 cartridge achieves what seems impossible: it’s buttery smooth, clings to the trail, filters out small bumps, yet still provides strong support for hitting heavy and pumping with plenty of final progression. This makes the FOX 38 GRIP X2 the clear top dog amongst enduro forks, while the FOX 36 with GRIP X narrowly claims victory in the trail category. For those wanting even more, the FOX 36 with GRIP X2 is an option too – the extra weight is well worth it.
All forks on test:
DVO Onyx D1 38 SL | EXT ERA V2.1 | Formula Selva S | FOX 38 GRIP X2 | FOX 36 GRIP X | Öhlins RXF38 | RockShox ZEB Ultimate | RockShox Lyrik Ultimate |
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Words: Simon Kohler, Peter Walker Photos: Peter Walker
