Specialized Rockshox Judy Silver TK // Premium Features Budget Price!

Can the super affordable Rockshox Judy Silver TK deliver on its promise of premium performance at a budget friendly price? Find out in this full review!

This video wraps up the 2021 Specialized Rockhopper budget upgrade series, but be sure to catch the wrap-up video which will summarize and rank all of the upgrades so far!

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The Whole Upgrade Series:

[silverem]

Purchased this shock for my GF bike for Christmas. Just had it installed and go for the first ride tomorrow. She rode it from the shop to the car and could already tell a difference. Thanks for making this series defiantly full of great info.

[dongardner]

I decided to upgrade the fork on my 2018 Rockhopper Comp about a month ago. I Googled best fork upgrades for the Rockhopper and found your video. Based on your recommendation, I purchased the Judy. I installed it last weekend and have three rides on it so far, and I love it! Thank you The Bike Sauce for the great video and recommendation! I also previously watched your video on the best upgrades for the Rockhopper. Fortunately, I had already added a dropper post and upgraded to clipless pedals.

[maxredburn]

Dang, that wheelie was the real deal! Saucy!

[There_N_back_Again]

Good honest review. This is the fork that comes on the rockhopper Expert. I've done some pretty fast desert riding with it and no problems. And You are right about the steerer, it's straight. Luckily the head tube has a 44 mm depth, which means if you get a headset with a 44 mm bottom cup you can use a tapered fork, which is the direction I'll eventually go 👍

[jameswarren]

Same fork I put on my 2015 rockhopper a year or so ago. Totally agree, coming from the stock suntour xcm the judy is a hell of a budget friendly upgrade. Not to mention with the QR and straight steerer you don't have many options to go with.

[Notophonic]

This is an amazing fork, it's not only about the performance from how budget this is, but it can take hard hits and is really versatile. Instead of spending money on something like a SID Ultimate or Fox 32/34, use this.

[francoisrdt]

Super interesting. I've been looking for a suspension fork for my steel singlespeed (now fully rigid), and the options with a non-tapered steerer are really few. Mostly budget forks, which are oftentimes overlooked by reviewers. Thanks for this!

[kyboy]

I’ve been thinking about getting one. This was helpful. Thanks

[johnchristopher]

I’ve been riding a Judy (that sounds dirty but hey ho) for three years now, as it was the 2nd major upgrade I did on my entry level Giant E-MTB HT 29er which also came shipped with Suntour Spring forks. Just like you said, the difference in ride quality between these two forks are night and day. I’m a 58 year old man and for the kind of fast flowing stuff that I do, the Judy have been nigh on perfect. Now my bike is considerably heavier that your analogue Rockhopper HT and maybe that’s the reason the rebound works so well on my bike as opposed to yours, as mine is in it’s middle setting and is so predictable it’s a joke. Apart from the lockout knob snapping off (a quick call to Rock Shox parts dept by my LBS sorted out a metal one), my copy of this budget fork has been an absolute blessing. We were even able to increase it’s travel from 120mm to 130mm and those extra 10mm really did make a huge difference to front end comfort and controllability. Best of all was the price. £179 all in. Bang per buck, it was way up there along with my Tannus Armour inserts and a absolute no brainer!

Note: The steering tube on my copy was tapered as opposed to straight. I dunno if that also made a difference but either way, I’m not complaining.

[greengelacid]

I got a 2023 Rockhopper Elite, this is the factory front end…I love it…

[sammer]

Oh this is perfect. I'm putting it on a 2020 Rockhopper comp.

Gonna build a sweet little entry level hardtail mullet.

[richrider]

Just had the Judy installed on my Rockhopper FSR XC replacing an old RS DART2. Big difference so far. Getting ready to install the lockout switch that came with it.

[downtoridemtb]

Thanks for the video. Just installed one on my Giant Talon and am very excited to get it out for a ride!

[NonLegitNation]

I purchased this forks brother the 120mm Recon Silver RL, for my GT Aggressor Pro. It was the first time I'd owned a RockShox air fork. I remember when i was a teen (early 2000s) looking at mountain biking magazines and dreaming of owning a bike with a RockShox fork. The RS fork was a huge upgrade to the 80mm of travel Suntour coil fork that came stock with the GT. I just recently did a custom Poseidon Norton build and snatched up a 160mm RockShox Domain RC and that thing is an absolute beast compared to the Recon RL.

[jones]

Do you have a part number/link for the one you used on the bike? I have the same bike and want to switch out the fork to this one.

[dadude]

It's here!!! Been waiting for this

[muslkatbmx]

I got one for 120$ on sale. Has worked amazing so far.

[elwoodkotil]

Good job! Just bought a set and your information was much appreciated!

[insanetaco]

This series is making me give my rockhopper life. The stock fork has just been clunky and has left me washing out in corners before. My Judy TK is on its way as well as some contact point upgrades like pedals and grips I think next I'll do the 1x and bottom bracket and eventually a dropper

[technodrone]

I just bought a rh elite. pretty much bought what you spent the time upgrading. love the handling so much.