Why no carbon frames with steel forks?
04-12-20, 04:19 PM
#26
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People praise Giant for their carbon manufacturing expertise, but the composite compones on my Al Giant don't feel as buzz-dampening as my Al Canyon of the same vintage (2017) riding on the same wheelset and tires. I know the Giant has an Al steerer tube while the Canyon's is full carbon, maybe that makes a difference?
04-12-20, 05:03 PM
#27
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I have a very nice steel bike with a steel fork (actually 3 of them). On the best and newest one, I replaced the fork with a carbon one. Guess what? It rides a lot better now. Not even a question.
I certainly like my steel frames but carbon is a better material for the fork.
I certainly like my steel frames but carbon is a better material for the fork.
04-12-20, 05:32 PM
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Has anyone actually counted the number of pieces a carbon fork shatters into?
04-12-20, 05:43 PM
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Finally found an NOS Ouzo on eBay for not much cash (well known frame manufacturer who used to spec Ouzos had moved on to Enve's and were selling off the remnants of their old stock). Very happy to have a CF fork back again - I think the 43mm rake Ouzo Pro with my LS Vortex is a match made in heaven (or at least in Chattanooga...), from the handling and comfort perspectives..
04-12-20, 05:59 PM
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04-12-20, 06:06 PM
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Social separation really has nothing to do with covid, and is all about asploding carbon
Last edited by Wileyrat; 04-12-20 at 06:12 PM.
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04-12-20, 06:22 PM
#33
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That said, the more rigid steel fork makes a wonderful companion to a ti frame. I gambled on my memory being right from my one quick ride on an early Merlin many years ago when I ordered my custom ti bike and spec'ed a steel fork. Don't regret it at all! Did it again with my ti fix gear a few years later. I now have most of 30,000 miles on the two frames and am not tired of the ride yet. Now, if TiCycles comes into a batch of tapered ti fork blades, I just might sigh up.
Ben
04-12-20, 06:31 PM
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04-12-20, 06:35 PM
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Its an early carbon c40 team robobank bike.
Many TI bikes will have a carbon fork.
Last edited by joesch; 04-12-20 at 06:51 PM.
04-12-20, 07:16 PM
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Originally posted by Sy Reene
Independent Fabrications? I bought a NOS 40-rake Ouzo Pro from them.. really on a whim in case my current Ouzo Pro ever breaks (2003 Merlin).. because A) why not, so far the original Ouzo has held up, and 2) finding a 40mm rake fork is kinda difficult, so this seemed like a no-brainer.
IF indeed - I used to occasionally trawl eBay on the off chance that a new Ouzo would show up, and suddenly there is was. Couldn't buy it fast enough
Independent Fabrications? I bought a NOS 40-rake Ouzo Pro from them.. really on a whim in case my current Ouzo Pro ever breaks (2003 Merlin).. because A) why not, so far the original Ouzo has held up, and 2) finding a 40mm rake fork is kinda difficult, so this seemed like a no-brainer.
IF indeed - I used to occasionally trawl eBay on the off chance that a new Ouzo would show up, and suddenly there is was. Couldn't buy it fast enough
Last edited by Litespud; 04-12-20 at 07:24 PM.
04-12-20, 07:54 PM
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If you ride CF, that material is prone to nuclear fission. Plus CF forks don’t shatter, they infect you and your closest family members with hypertension and diabetes.
04-12-20, 08:54 PM
#38
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Carbon bike, Steel fork, 28 years and nothing has exploded yet. Well the rockshock mag 20 exploded the first year thus the stock fork being put back on.
Pardon the image quality.. Pretty sure I used a potato to take this pic.
Pardon the image quality.. Pretty sure I used a potato to take this pic.
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04-12-20, 09:40 PM
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J&L, a decent source for cheaper Chinese parts on eBay, has a 1" threadless 45mm rake titanium fork right now. It's $320, which for them is quite a lot.
It's 570g, which isn't bad. I've got a very svelte Columbus tubing steel fork at 650g.
I've gotten aluminum chainrings from them and some titanium spindles for pedals. They're as good as those dubious sellers get.
It's 570g, which isn't bad. I've got a very svelte Columbus tubing steel fork at 650g.
I've gotten aluminum chainrings from them and some titanium spindles for pedals. They're as good as those dubious sellers get.
04-12-20, 09:59 PM
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J&L, a decent source for cheaper Chinese parts on eBay, has a 1" threadless 45mm rake titanium fork right now. It's $320, which for them is quite a lot.
It's 570g, which isn't bad. I've got a very svelte Columbus tubing steel fork at 650g.
I've gotten aluminum chainrings from them and some titanium spindles for pedals. They're as good as those dubious sellers get.
It's 570g, which isn't bad. I've got a very svelte Columbus tubing steel fork at 650g.
I've gotten aluminum chainrings from them and some titanium spindles for pedals. They're as good as those dubious sellers get.
Here's an even prettier one, and in 1 1/8", but the same reservation re fabrication quality applies
04-13-20, 02:38 AM
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04-13-20, 03:05 AM
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I saw this one when I googled "titanium fork" this afternoon, and it's the best looking Ti road fork I have seen yet. A couple of things, though - maddeningly, it has 1" steerer (yes, there are adaptors, but this is 2020, for pete's sake), and the thing about Ti, it's all about the welds and the skill of the fabricator. With some very rare exceptions, you can take the weld quality of, say, LS, Lynskey, Moots etc to the bank, but a Ti fork of unknown provenance or quality? Not sure how comfortable I'd be with one of those under me.
Here's an even prettier one, and in 1 1/8", but the same reservation re fabrication quality applies
Here's an even prettier one, and in 1 1/8", but the same reservation re fabrication quality applies
they look pretty nice
04-13-20, 06:40 AM
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I saw this one when I googled "titanium fork" this afternoon, and it's the best looking Ti road fork I have seen yet. A couple of things, though - maddeningly, it has 1" steerer (yes, there are adaptors, but this is 2020, for pete's sake), and the thing about Ti, it's all about the welds and the skill of the fabricator. With some very rare exceptions, you can take the weld quality of, say, LS, Lynskey, Moots etc to the bank, but a Ti fork of unknown provenance or quality? Not sure how comfortable I'd be with one of those under me.
Here's an even prettier one, and in 1 1/8", but the same reservation re fabrication quality applies
Here's an even prettier one, and in 1 1/8", but the same reservation re fabrication quality applies
I was just pointing out that it does exist.
04-13-20, 06:57 AM
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Ok, back to regular programming.
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04-13-20, 06:58 AM
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04-13-20, 07:09 AM
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04-13-20, 07:20 AM
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CF frame with steel fork would be fugly. CF meta is bulky and steel meta is skinny, the opposite works much better
04-13-20, 08:29 AM
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I know of one failure of a carbon fork that wasn't from a crash. And if I think about it, probably was still crash related.
Back in the early 00s and late 90's, forks were carbon steerer, Al crown, carbon legs, Al fork ends. That's a lot of gluing.
It wasn't unheard of, though very rare, for the carbon steerer to come unglued from the crown. It wasn't even catastrophic, it was like "my bike just doesn't track well today and my headset feels loose" followed by getting off and looking at it, then the whole thing pulls out.
This meant hitchhiking, since it's 1999 and nobody has a cell phone.
It came unglued, nothing broken. This fork was raced 2 years @ approximately 35 races per year plus training. If I remember correctly, I got in a few scuffles where I met the ground. I considered epoxying it back together but just got a new fork instead.
I've never seen a modern carbon fork just flat out explode/fail/fold without a wreck. To be fair, I've never seen a steel or aluminum fork go down either, without a wreck.
Ride what you like and don't wreck.
Back in the early 00s and late 90's, forks were carbon steerer, Al crown, carbon legs, Al fork ends. That's a lot of gluing.
It wasn't unheard of, though very rare, for the carbon steerer to come unglued from the crown. It wasn't even catastrophic, it was like "my bike just doesn't track well today and my headset feels loose" followed by getting off and looking at it, then the whole thing pulls out.
This meant hitchhiking, since it's 1999 and nobody has a cell phone.
It came unglued, nothing broken. This fork was raced 2 years @ approximately 35 races per year plus training. If I remember correctly, I got in a few scuffles where I met the ground. I considered epoxying it back together but just got a new fork instead.
I've never seen a modern carbon fork just flat out explode/fail/fold without a wreck. To be fair, I've never seen a steel or aluminum fork go down either, without a wreck.
Ride what you like and don't wreck.
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