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Hi All
Please could you give me some advice?
I am just finishing off a new bike build, a MTB I have built up from various spare new bits i had in the attic and some new components I have purchased. No I am not rich the new spare bits in the attic had been acquired some time ago when I used to Airbrush/Spray customized team helmets for various MTB companies team helmets; sometimes they paid me in money and components.
The question is i am now a little confused and unsure if I have purchased the correct length rigid straight fork for my frame. The frame is a new purchase mid range 18inch Alloy MTB frame that can take 80 - 100mm forks, the fork length of the forks I purchased on recommendation is geometry corrected 44.5cm from axel to crown; they are supposed to replace a 100mm suspension fork equivalent. The forks are alloy as I could not afford the carbon version of the fork.
On fitting them on the bike frame they seem to me to be quite tall,
as visually there seems to be quite a gap between the top of the 26inch tyre and the bottom of the fork crown, maybe this is OK. I have ridden bikes all my life and raced them in the past, but maybe I am getting old as to me the forks look quite tall visually.
I have not ridden the bike yet so I cannot comment on how the bike may ride, I have fitted a 90mm stem with +10 degrees angle.
I am not sure if i should have chosen the shorter fork sized at 42.5cm from axle to crown. I know that the longer fork will make the steering slower and a shorter fork will make the steering a little faster, I think to me that the front end of the bike looks quite tall, but maybe its just me and in am not used to seeing forks this long.
I plan to use the bike just for commuting and general trail riding, not racing or anything to aggressive.
Does anyone think I have chosen the right fork or should I have gone for the shorter fork, any experiences?
Many thanks for your time.
Gary.
Nope, you should be fine. If you think about it, the extra distance between tyre and crown is about the same as the distance for a pair of 100mm suspension forks - which need about 100mm of clearance for when they compress. So you're all good.
photos?
What is the distance between the top of the tyre and the bottom of the crown?
Sounds spot on to me. Definitely does look a bit strange though when you first switch from sus forks to rigids, ime. Which forks did you get, eXotic ones?
Hi All
Many thanks for your replies, it has made me feel more confident that the fork length will be OK.
To answer to I_Ache question the distance between the top of the tyre and the bottom of the fork crown is about 9.5cm. To answer crispedwheel's question you are correct the forks are the eXotic ones, i will let you know how they ride as the bike should be complete by this weekend.
Thanks again for all of your replies and advice.
Cheers.
Gary.
I have not ridden the bike yet so I cannot comment on how the bike may ride,
If it feels right it is right.
Hi MrNutt
Sorry forgot to answer your post, as soon as the bike is complete i will post some photo,s of the bike and the forks. Please dont expect too
high end looking bike, i have just used bits i already had, and what i could afford. I am sure and have seen some very tasty looking bikes
on these forums compared to what i have built. By the way i have not yet cut the steerer tube down yet until i have ridden the bike a while to find the length that suits me; i am sure when people see the pictures though, i am sure it will make people smile and create some comment.
Cheers.
Gary.