RockShox Judy Gold RL [Rider Review]

Our "Rider Review" article series features the honest reviews from verified purchasers of Worldwide Cyclery. They contain the photos, thoughts, feedback & overall review you are looking for. 

One of the best upgrades you can do to your mountain bike is the fork. The fork not only softens the blows, it also makes sure that your front wheel keeps traction to the ground. One of our friends upgraded his fork to a RockShox Judy Gold. See what they think!

Overview

When I bought my hardtail a few years ago I did not have any interest other than going back to mountain biking on an inexpensive, yet reliable bike; something that I was probably going to get rid of once I got the hang of biking again. They said beggars can’t be choosers and found a 2018 Specialized Pitch equipped with an SR Suntour XCT in a garage sale. Now, what can I positively say about that fork that hasn't been said before? EXACTLY… NOTHING!!! I mean it is a good fork if you just finished learning on training wheels but other than that it is expected from the base model of the lowest trim of the cheapest bike Specialized offered back then. The bike itself is solid but unfortunately, the Suntour fork gives you such a false sense of security that I ended up developing an intimate relationship with the ground of the many times I fell as soon as I tried to push the bike hard on Black Dimond Trails.

The fork provides a remarkable ride quality on techy trails.

In the end, it was either selling a kidney to a new bike OR upgrading the fork; but the problem with this fork is that it was a STRAIGHT STEERER tube so finding a good straight fork was quite the ordeal given that most manufacturers do not carry such an outdated steerer design on top that most things are out of stock nowadays. Fortunately, I was pleased to know Rockshox STILL makes an old-school straight steerer for some reason and found a ROCKSHOX JUDY GOLD RL fork in stock on Worldwide Cyclery. Not gonna lie, I was a little hesitant to spend on a fork that cost as much as my bike did, but neither was keen to get a new rig so in the end I bought the fork and upgraded it together with a Cane Creek 40 ZS headset.

My first impressions of the Judy Gold were a little odd because there is a little bit of a brake-in period during the first rides but it felt really really plush yet responsive after 25~30 miles of riding. The fork provides a remarkable ride quality on techy trails. I’m very happy with this upgrade because I never thought I could push hard on gnarly trails, especially with a cheap hardtail. I could go on and on about how the fork feels but at the end of the day this is NOT a FOX FACTORY; Plus if you are reading this I highly doubt you are gonna upgrade your YETI SB150 with this fork but rather are looking just to replace your factory-spring-straight steerer fork.

Final Thoughts

This is a fantastic light fork if you just want to upgrade your existing bike and not maximize your credit line on getting a new rig. The price may deter you a little bit but I can say with confidence that the RockShox Judy Gold is worth every cent. it will transform your bike and will give you a bit more confidence on the trail, I mean it is not gonna cure depression, clear your skin, or water your crops but nearly close. If my little article somewhat convinces you for some reason FOR THE BEST RESULTS MAKE SURE YOU UPGRADE YOUR HEADSET TOGETHER AS WELL!