Unfortunately, for many of us, it's not usually a question of if we'll blow a seal on our forks, but when. Some forks certainly take longer than others, and a lot of the time, it's simply due to rock damage on the fork legs. Either way, in an industry that is so focused on performance, nobody likes to ride on a blown fork.

So how do you know when your fork is blown? It's usually pretty obvious. If your fork is oil damped, and it isn't brand new, and there seems to be a lot of oil on, around, or running below the seals where the upper legs enter the lower legs, your seals are probably blown.

It's not always cheap to get your fork rebuilt, but unfortunately, it's pretty much your only option. Now is a good time to get it done before the season really gets going. Some forks can be rebuilt at your local shop, while others are best if sent back to the manufacturer.