Hi all,
Following my deeply unsuccessful search for a SS frame I am still trying to go down the rigid SS route with my current frame with a chain tensioner *shudders* 😀
I am finding sourcing a fork just as problematic and is mostly comes down to cost offset against trusting 600g all carbon forks.
Can anyone suggest some rigid forks to fit a my Trek Procaliber:
Boost spacing
480-490mm AC height
Look reasonable
Lightish
Not mega money
Not fussed on bolts/ cage mounts
Super reliable and easy to live with
UK availability
Much like my SS frame search I am doing well at finding faults and not doing well with finding something to go for!
RideFarr - Really cheap, looks great IMO, steel gives me that bit of trust but nearly 1.6kg!!!
eXotic Straight blade - No Boost versions and I found the feel of them nowhere near as nice as the Monocoque ones
Surly Krampus - Nothing that bad aside form all the mounts, should be durable and about the weight you expect for a steel fork but I don't feel that inspired either
Assorted steel forks like Pipedream - A bit like the Surly above
eXotic monocoque - I had the Kinesis IV before which I really liked but I am struggling with a durability hang up
Selcof - On One were selling the fork from the Whippet. Decent enough option but hard to find now. Do you trust an On-One "seconds" fork?
Brother Cycles carbon - No Boost option and paying a premium for generic Chinese carbon?
Trek 1120 - Ticks all the boxes but a really tall AC height of 510mm which is longer than my unsagged sus fork.
Travers XC Prong - Tick all the boxes but a DT Swiss RWS style axle which really hated before and the unique thread dimensions mean it can't be swapped for a bolt thru. Comically large too
MRP Rock Solid - Big money and I can't see them being anything the eXotic weren't
Niner Boost RDO - Disappeared off the face of the earth and I can't get report of older ones snapping out of me head
Whisky - Mega money and very hard to find the Boost version
ENVE - Mega money and look a bit weird even if I could afford them
Salsa Firestarter Deluxe - Probably what I would go for with an unlimited budget but so many £££
So I guess what I would like is tales of reassurance for the mid range carbon forks like the Selcof or eXotic or an option around £300 or under that I haven't thought of 😀 You are very welcome to say I am massively over thinking things too and it wouldn't come as a shock 😉 😀
Ta all!
Meh. I just bought a generic carbon fork off ebay and it's been fine.
Was there not death and destruction and small children screaming?
I am leaning towards the eXotic monocoque as one of the (hopefully) more trusted generic carbon brands
This Kona any good?
https://shop.bikesandbuddies.co.uk/p2-cromoly-fork-for-29-275-plus-110mmx15mm.html
Was there not death and destruction and small children screaming?
Not yet. And what's more, I'm still alive* 😅
* bit of a hostage to fortune there, eh?
Kinesis Maxlight Boost? Full carbon. I've got a non-Kinesis version which is missing a couple of features, for example the Kinesis one comes with a set screw to hold the through axle nut in place.
I had the Selcof one as part of the Whippet deal from last year. It was an awesome fork tbh and looked good to boot.
Didn't really give it much stick beyond woods and fire road rides, but it felt very secure in the few rides I used it for. Sold it on as I went with suspension but half wish I didn't.
Wouldn't buy second hand carbon forks myself, although I did of course sell some so know there are decent ones out there.
RideFarr – Really cheap, looks great IMO, steel gives me that bit of trust but nearly 1.6kg!!!
More like 1.7kg with the 300mm steerer uncut. I bought a set for a future project. They seem nice. For comparison, the Surly Instigator 26" 447mm A-C forks I've been using for the last 14 years weigh 1.4kg with a 265mm steerer and no axle.
I have Kinesis maxlight. 490mm a to c and 55mm off set. I think it's great but it has internal brake routing, might not appeal to some.
Kinesis Maxlight Boost?
They aren't sold any more as far as I can see. I had the QR version on my previous rigid SS. I was told (second hand information) that some of the Boost forks cracked around the dropouts so had to pull them from sale, but that may be bobbins
Wouldn’t buy second hand carbon forks myself, although I did of course sell some so know there are decent ones out there.
I have the same hang up. I am sure it is all mental with these all carbon forks but a lingering doubt isn't something you want all the same!
This Kona any good?
Getting close for sure. It is hard to find nice looking steel forks and they look alright! The 470mm AC height is getting a bit low though as I reckon 490mm would be spot on.
FWIW, the ones I bought were new, from Taiwan.
They aren’t sold any more as far as I can see.
They are on the Kinesis website. Through axle, £320
Not in stock though and haven't been for quite a while
I thought you'd say that about the Konas 🙂
Shame you can't do an external lower headset cup on the Trek to gain 10-12mm because the taper blade design looks really nice and Kona have a decent rigid fork history.
There is a Soma fork but not boost.
https://southerndistributors.co.uk/product/mtb-fork-29er-for-sale/
http://carverbikes.com/parts/forks/trail-490/
Pretty hard to find though in the US let alone uk.....
I imported a Popeye about 18mknthd ago as there were none in the UK.
Simworks Doppo fork, claimed 680g Tange butted steel but $260-300 from Japan.
https://www.sim.works/products/simworks-doppo-mtb-fork?variant=35040572211366
Brother do a Carbon MTB fork big clearances will run big discs.
Or A Whisky fork come to mind as I’ve been looking too!
I run a Exotic Monocoque Boost fork. I think it looks lovely. I've been riding it for a year and it's been fine.
I really can't believe that steel Simworks fork is 680g. No other long, disc brake Tange forks are anywhere near that weight.
I would stop being picky and just get the Exotic Monocoque Boost fork which looks good.
You can then spend the time you have now saved worrying about having a frame with a tensioner which would be a much bigger concern for me 🙂
Quite a few of us on the bearbonesbikepacking forum with Travers Prong forks. Very well regarded
Carver
They always get recommended on MTBR/ US boards. Look very similar to the eXotic/ Kinesis/ Norton Shores/ etc forks so I am getting led more towards going for the eXotic
I really can’t believe that steel Simworks fork is 680g
No chance that weight is anywhere near right 😀
Twangy (in the correct way) steel forks give me a bit more piece of mind.
I think steel would give my mind reassurance and the ride quality should be nice but I am struggling to find a fork with the right AC height that doesn't have a ton of mounts and bosses on every surface and is a bit more in the 1.1-1.2kg region.
Brother do a Carbon MTB fork big clearances will run big discs.
Or A Whisky fork come to mind as I’ve been looking too!
Brother is non-Boost and generic Chinese carbon with a surcharge unless I am mistaken. If someone can say they have abused one of these over mega miles that would be all the reassurance I need 😀
Whisky is mega money and very hard to find in Boost. I'm not too keen on having to spend extra money on a new hub/ new front wheel on top of the high fork cost
Quite a few of us on the bearbonesbikepacking forum with Travers Prong forks. Very well regarded
How do you find the axle? I have nightmares from DT Swiss RWS I had before and just want an easy life (yeah you wouldn't think that reading all this fluffing around 🙂 )
Do you have any pics on bikes as I'm not sure on the looks of the mahoosive size. Is it a bit better in the flesh?
I run a Exotic Monocoque Boost fork. I think it looks lovely. I’ve been riding it for a year and it’s been fine.
I would stop being picky and just get the Exotic Monocoque Boost fork which looks good.
The Kinesis QR similar fork I had took me across Sweden and various other places so I don't know why I am fannying around.
Would anyone know if the QR bolt thru axle could be replaced by a normal bolt thru? I would guess the length and threads are something a bit odd but that would be the extra cherry on the cake
You can then spend the time you have now saved worrying about having a frame with a tensioner which would be a much bigger concern for me
Yeah, let's not go there 😀 The choice seemed to be £650 3kg steel frame (eg Brother/ Sherpa) or £2000 light XC carbon frame (eg LES) as I am set on avoiding an EBB as well. Mega money for what I would ideally like much like these forks. First world problems and all that
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/inspire-me-finding-a-niche-ss-frame/
I've had an Exotic monocoque for over 3 years and walloped it with everything and it's been fine. I can't see anything to compete with it as if you want a 'name' fork then they are significantly more ££
^ That is what that lingering doubts in my mind wanted to hear. Sold 🙂
Do you know if it is feasible to replace the QR bolt thru axle with a normal bolt thru?
I really can’t believe that steel Simworks fork is 680g. No other long, disc brake Tange forks are anywhere near that weight.
No chance that weight is anywhere near right 😀
I know, I've asked someone who has it repeatedly but they've never got back to me. FWIW that's the weight quoted in various press releases and the circles.jp web store. I fired them an email to confirm either way.
Orbea Spirit was another fork on my radar just as something interesting and a bit different but I haven't been able to find one
The Kona P2 is a remarkably comfortable and capable fork.
It’s what came as standard on my Unit.
To be honest I bought the bike on a whim about three years back and it’s ended up being ridden more often than any other mountain bike I own. The only thing I’ve upgraded is the bell.
I got a Whisky in boost from the Trailhead in Shrewsbury - price bit steep as like QBP stuff is made by Carbontech.
Just after i bought and had it painted... found Triton were selling Trek 1120 forks which would have suited by build better and saved cash!
But see you found those...
Bombtrack options?
Steel:
https://bombtrack.com/parts/forks/bps-fork/
Carbon:
https://bombtrack.com/parts/forks/bpc-fork/
found Triton were selling Trek 1120 forks which would have suited by build better and saved cash!
They have a massive 510mm AC height if the specs are to be believed. I find it a bit hard to believe in some respects as the 1120 frame has a 70.4 HTA so it must be steep with a "normal" fork on!
Bombtrack options?
Bit tall but I did like the look of them. Where can you buy Bombtrack stuff in the UK?
Orbea Spirit was another fork on my radar just as something interesting and a bit different but I haven’t been able to find one
Direct order isn't it?
I saw the Orbea fork on some UK web shops for around £400 but £539 now on the Orbea site 😬
Where can you buy Bombtrack stuff in the UK
www.lyon.co.uk
but their website doesn't list any of their items. maybe worth a call?
QR and not shipping to the UK ☹️
Has anybody broken a mountain bike specific carbon fork? I hear lots of people taking sharp intakes of breath, but is that because older generations of carbon road forks were poor?
Has anybody broken a mountain bike specific carbon fork? I hear lots of people taking sharp intakes of breath, but is that because older generations of carbon road forks were poor?
I remember about 10 years ago someone broke a Niner fork. Had one myself at the time. Gave me no cause for concern because it felt reassuringly much less flimsy than a steel one, and also rode quite smoothly.
Keep Pedalling in Manchester are Bombtrack stockists.
The LBS are a Bombtrack dealer too and they said they can't get hold of anything from them at the moment.
I'm looking in to Kinesis/ Niner/ ENVE availability with them and if there is no joy will go eXotic
Has anybody broken a mountain bike specific carbon fork? I hear lots of people taking sharp intakes of breath, but is that because older generations of carbon road forks were poor?
If you look hard enough you can find failures of most things on the web and there will always be some things that fail. What happened to cause the failure is always debatable of course and you would hope to spot a crack or something before it gets catastrophic. It is mostly in the mind I think- an inherent distrust of 600g of a very important component! All that said, I am jaded by a local legend having a really nasty crash and a heck of a lot of time of the bike with a MTB fork failure at speed.
I tend to agree with this write up...
https://www.yellowjersey.co.uk/the-draft/carbon-bicycle-weak/
I've got not doubts as to CF as a material and its properties. It is just a bit less resistant to constant knocks and anyone working with CF parts would acknowledge that. Lots of money get invested in impact resistance in applications far more critical that a pesky hobby 🙂 As another example, not many (any?) CF bars snap out of the blue with normal use but (anecdotally) there do seem to be many more crash related total failures. I've had 2 or 3, one really annoying one was a crack several cm long under the grips from clipping a tree. Not many people may have checked with such an innocuous feeling knock to the end of the bar but I whipped the grip off to be extra cautious and I'm glad I did. More useless internet anecdotal nonsense 🙂
... but this is getting OT 😀
