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Okay guys, explain it like I am five... Cause I am thoroughly confused!
I have a 2015 Cannondale 29 Trail SL2. Overall, I am very happy with the performance, but the fork has been annoying me for some time. It has a slight knock, and even after a complete rebuild from SRAM, the problem persists. I am seriously contemplating tossing the fork and fitting a new one, but there is the straight vs tapered thing to take into account. I believe that my stock headset is a straight 1.5 inch. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
I know that you can get headsets that help you change from straight to tapered, but how do I find out which is right for me?
Anyone wants to help a newbie out? I like the Hope headsets, but I am open to suggestions as long as they are not made of cheese or costs Chris King money.
Internet tells me this bike comes with Rockshox recon gold with tapered steerer - so should be straight swap, unless you have some other sort of fork fitted?
Edit - sent to SRAM so must be rockshox?
Cannondale bikes are made for leftys hence the 1.5" steer tube design. In my opinion, of which I'm sure to be lambasted, you should fit a lefty and be done with it. Servicing these days isn't much different in cost from other high end forks and if you carry out the routine maintenance as recommended, a lefy will perform excellently for a good long while.
This will present the additional cost of a front wheel or wheel build onto a left hub. Well worth it in my humble opinion.
There's a page on the hopetech website that shows all the options.
Are you trying to stop fork knock by replacing a headset?
Or is your headset goosed?
I find these days some brake pads move in the calliper, making it feel like loose headset or worn bushings.
I think it would help to post a picture of your headset.
Looking at this link for what [i]might[/i] be your bike, it seems to suggest it's [i]possibly[/i] a straight, untapered 1 1/8" steerer.
Well, I am trying to stop fork knock by replacing the fork! 🙂
But there are a lot more options using tapered steerer, than straight. This is my bike:
http://www.mbr.co.uk/reviews/hardtail/cannondale-trail-2-review-2015
Hadn't thought about the brakes knocking, is there an easy way to determine where the knock is coming from?
I'll get a picture...
Really *really* cheap forks will knock when they reach the end of their travel, but that RS fork shouldn't do that.
Have you checked the headset is not loose? Also as suggested above, check the bolts holding the brake caliper in place and the disc rotor itself.
If you want to go the new fork route, then is this what you need?
And also the Hope pick-n-mix headset?
http://www.hopetech.com/product/picknmix-headsets/
(I've never done this, closest was a straight fork in a tapered frame, YMMV).
Turn the bars thru 90degree and hold the front brake, gently rock the bike back and forth with the wheel turned to eliminate brake induced play. Place a finger on/between the possible problems areas (top of fork lowers/stantions to check for fork issues and between upper headset cup/headset top cap).
Cannondale normally do a top headset to replace the 1.5" one if thats what is currently fitted and you need to go taper.
Well, I have been rocking the bike back and forth all afternoon, and the more I rock, the more I think my front brake could be the culprit. It only knocks when the brake is on, I haven't been able to reproduce the fault without the brake.
That front brake har always been a little strange, for example, when you hit the brake, it makes a clicking sound. You can sort of "hear" all the individual holes in the Shimano XT Rotor I'm running. Does that make any sense?
The bolts are tight, and the caliper doesn't move, så I have to assume that the brake pads are moving somehow...
Check the rotor. It's either held on with bolts or a lockring.
You can sort of "hear" all the individual holes in the Shimano XT Rotor I'm running. Does that make any sense?
Has the annoying metal clip that holds the pads in place come adrift?
Already suspected the rotor. It is TIGHT!
The clip is properly seated, nothing funny going on...