As your BMX skills develop, you may want to change your bike's fork. A BMX fork can help a rider match the terrain which is being ridden or to the style and strength of the rider. In BMX racing, a more flexible fork may help the ride more easily absorb shocks and bumps to increase their speed. In freestyle, the rake--or distance from the stem to the hub--can aid in the completion of certain tricks.
The fork, although it appears to be a relatively simple piece of metal, connects the arms or handlebars to the front wheel of the bike. Its design, construction and length all affect the bikes turning radius, ease for quick turns, front-end rigidity and bike weight. As riders become more experienced, forks can easily become interchangeable as they ride different courses and terrains.
What to Look for
If you are looking to replace a broken or cracked fork, or if your skills have reached a level to modify your bike's front end, buy what you need. Don't just change for the sake of change. For the rider that finds the front wheel jerking off the ground during acceleration, a heavier, steeper, more rigid fork may aid performance. A lower fork will aid in making quick, sharp turns. But beware--a lower fork may be ideal in a freestyle routine, but could be dangerous in BMX racing. Forks come in two construction styles: single piece unicrown forks and more complex multi-pieced crown forks. The materials forks are made from include aluminum, chromoly steel and cutting-age carbon fiber materials. The key point to the various materials will be cost and flex. The costs of a new fork fall within a large price range from as little as $20 to as much as $200.
Common Pitfalls
The fork is probably your bike's last line of defense between a successful ride and a face full of pavement or dirt. BMX racing, with a lot of dirt jumping, puts a lot of stress on the fork. It is in this area where the right material and flexibility is paramount. There is a growing "mix and match" market between frames and forks on BMX bikes and custom modification is a popular route for many of the best riders. Take stock of the type of riding you are doing the most and where your bike is taking the most abuse. If you are replacing a broken fork, think about the reasons why it happened. Talk to your fellow riders to see what is working for them before you invest in the modification of a new fork.
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