ASK THE MXPERTS: IS IT FORKS OR FORK? PLURAL? SINGULAR? DOES IT MATTER?

IS IT FORK OR FORKS?

Dear MXperts,
Is it “fork” or “forks”? Plural or singular? I looked at the KTM website yesterday and it said “fork” (singular), but I always hear people talking about setting up their forks. Would that be the plural of fork?

The word “fork” is a noun and is defined as an implement or tool that bifurcates into two branches. A fork for eating is a single implement that has two or more prongs. A fork in the road is where a single lane splits into two separate lanes. The correct word to use to describe the front suspension on a motorcycle is fork, because it is one device that has two separate elements held by the triple clamps. Colloquially, motocross racers call them “forks,” because they see two of them. “I’m going to work on my forks,” would really only apply to a rider who owned a 1975 Harley-Davidson MX-250 (the one with forks on the front and rear).

But, motocrossers are very adept at changing back and forth between the plural “forks” to the singular “fork” in the middle of a conversation — and the grammar police are largely an internet police force. Regardless of how motocrossers use the word in their day-to-day lives, “fork” is correct.

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