Advice on suspension forks for 1990 Haro Extremely Awesome

[ultrazenith]

I need some advice about which suspension forks could work well with my 1990 Haro Extreme Comp frame. It's been in storage for ages now, nearly have all the parts, but the front end are the last tricky details - stem height and choice of fork.

I was going with rigid, but the last few months have led to the realization that I probably need to be riding with suspension now. Trying to keep up on rocky sections with my club mates has led to me upper body and back taking a bit of a pummeling, to the extent that I stop enjoying our usual 40 km rides at around the 25 km mark, when the upper body gets worn out.

Here is a pic I borrowed from another thread here on RB:

It gives a better idea of the geometry than showing just an unbuilt-up frame.

I've seen other builds using Mag 21 forks, Girvins, Lawlills and other early/mid 90s forks, but I'm curious to get people's opinions about what kind of suspension forks I could get away with using.

I'm somewhat ignorant about all this, but I suppose there are two main considerations: 1) slackening of the head tube angle and its impact on steering, 2) potential for a longer than recommended fork snapping the frame.

 

[brocklanders023]

Re:

I certainly wouldn't go longer then 80mm and to be honest probably 60mm. I've always thought Pace RC35's in tip top condition do a good job of smoothing out the trail.

 

[hamster]

Marzocchi Z2 or Z3 from around 1998 would be a good choice, definitely cheaper than Pace, work well and with good spares support.
Manitou SX seem to go for very little money and again work OK.

 

[thnos]

Your frame was build up previously with a Manitou 1.
Do you want to see how it was looking with it ?

 

[ultrazenith]

Your frame was build up previously with a Manitou 1.
Do you want to see how it was looking with it ?

Yes indeed, it would be interesting to see how my frame was built up previously

 

[DrJo]

amp

 

[thnos]

This is how it was when I get it :



Then I decided to strip it in order to use some parts for another project, and put the frame for sale.
I still have the Manitou in case you are interrested. The steerer is too small for any other frame so I'll probably not have a use for it ..