Today we look at the term “suspension corrected”, which in my mind brings up the obvious question: “If there is “suspension corrected” geometry, then why don’t we have rigid incorrect?” Oh well……My mind works a bit differntly than some, I guess!

This is a term that has been very commonly used, fallen out of the mountain biker’s lexicon, and returned once again. You can largely thank those freak-a-zoid big wheeled 29″ers for that. I won’t go off on that path today, just know that this term is being used again and many folks are too young or new to the sport to remember it.

So just what is “suspension corrected” and why should you care? Well, let’s take a closer look….

Note this image above of a Raleigh XXIX 29″er. Look closely at the area where the fork arches over the tire. Not much room there, is there? This indicates a non-suspension corrected fork and geometry.

Contrast this redline Monocog with the Raleigh. See the “air space” above the front tire and below the fork crown? That indicates a suspension corrected fork and geometry.
So, what does this mean? It means that the Redline is designed to accept a suspension fork swap for the stock rigid one. The Ralegh, not so much. Not that you couldn’t do that to the Raleigh, its just that it wouldn’t handle anything close to how it does with the rigid, stock fork.

Why?

Well, that can be a complicated answer, but for this discussion, we’ll keep it simple by saying that a suspension corrected fork/suspension fork is longer than a rigid, non-corrected fork. The geometry of the Raleigh gets all changed up when you put a suspension fork on it, and the personality of the bike totally changes. Is that bad? Well, it is if you loved the bike as it was, but wanted some relief from the bumps. This situation might arise when you get into vintage hardtails that were never designed for suspension forks, or had suspension forks with minimal travel.

Don’t even ask about rigid incorrect forks, that’s on a whole different level!