>>1609573in a lot of ways, suspension forks are a cope for not having a compliant nice-riding frame or compliant nice-riding tires. They're cheap overbuilt stiff aluminium and cheap overbuilt rubber. A good rigid bike has a bunch of passive suspension, in the supple tires, and the frame and the fork which give it a very smooth ride.
So, imo, it actually has a smoother, nicer ride than a cheap front suspension hybrid.
It's also going to be more lively and fun to ride, because you aren't constantly sinking energy into a spring at the front of the bike, it responds directly. Basically, the way a front suspension hybrid rides, is like the most boring kind of bike.
And it's going to be about 1-2kg weight difference for the fork alone.
Suspension really shines on rough technical terrain, especially going fast, with its main purpose being to keep the tires located on the ground and to maintain traction. Or, i guess, really really bumpy trails.
The nicely groomed gravel or bad sealed roads that most people ride does not warrant it. You can have enough suspension, or more than enough, with tire selection and a decent rigid frame.
The other key component of suspension and ride comfort, is actually riding your bike. Putting effort through your muscles that suspends your body, keeping bends in your elbows, not death gripping the bars.
what's my point? well i'm just ranting about /n/ dogma and you did ask.
