I just joined the forum and am seeking some guidance. I've been riding for about 1 year now on beginner singletrack trails. I have a girl's bike, a Trek 3700 (I am very short, like 5'0"). The front fork is suspension - a SR SunTour M2025 (63mm travel). It really doesn't feel like it offers more much in terms of suspension, so I'm wondering if I can replace it with something better. I was thinking of upgrading to a RockShox or a Fox Shox. I really don't have the money to buy a better bike right now, so I figured the upgrade might be better. I'm not familiar with what I need to get in terms of size, specs, etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated; the more specific, the better. Thank you in advance.
The first question I would ask is what is your budget? The second thing you need to look at is something that fits what you have now. So I would say the most you can go is probably to 80mm and more than that and the bike will start to feel awkward, the problem is the 3700 is really not designed to be a mountain bike, that is why the travel it comes with is so little, it's not until you get in to the 4XXX series that they become a more true mountain bike.
The first question I would ask is what is your budget? The second thing you need to look at is something that fits what you have now. So I would say the most you can go is probably to 80mm and more than that and the bike will start to feel awkward, the problem is the 3700 is really not designed to be a mountain bike, that is why the travel it comes with is so little, it's not until you get in to the 4XXX series that they become a more true mountain bike.
I don't know about putting a 300-400$ fork on a 300-400$ bike you might be better off selling the bike and using the $ to buy a new/used bike with a good fork.If you are looking to up grade a different bike is the way to go.
I'm going to encourage you not to spend $300-$400 on a fork for a 3700 WSD. But I will provide a "out of the box" suggestion for an inexpensive fork that will provide significantly better performance than the stock fork.
Suntour Epicon RLD which will work with your V-brakes, uses the same materials in the stanchions, steerer, and lowers as the "brand name" stuff, and is made by a manufacturer whom also makes much more expensive forks for a certain Italian fork manufacturer.
I have a Epicon and the only problem with it is that the dust wipers don`t fit good at the top and dirt sits in them. After every ride you need to take a little hook tool and clean around the seal and lube with brunos fork lube after every ride. I would not recommend the Epicon I would recommend the Rock Shox Recon Solo Air or Reba. And remember you can always change your fork when you get a new bike. And another thing you are so small that you dont need to worry about having all top parts. For us bigger people 200lbs plus we go through parts alot faster because of the weight. For a small woman the parts are fine on your bike. I would say get a air fork so you don't need to change the spring just make sure you get a fork pump.
If you can swing it this is a great fork super light and you can always change it to another bike its a good investment.
Um, No. Not gonna work with her V-brake.
To the OP... follow the advice of mrbigisbudgoodand find a used 80mm fork on ebay. This won't alter the geometry of your trek too badly.
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