Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

Changing front fork to rigid one

Search
Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Changing front fork to rigid one

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-20-20, 10:38 AM
  #1  
brasio
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Rome, Italy
Posts: 10
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Changing front fork to rigid one

Hi,
I would like to change my front suspension fork with a rigid one. Fork is a RockShox Recon TK Coil - 100mm, and the bike is a Kona Shield 2019. Which parameters do I need to consider? Would you suggest me any models?
Thanks for your help
brasio is offline  
Likes For brasio:
Old 10-20-20, 10:52 AM
  #2  
bOsscO
bOsscO
 
bOsscO's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 746

Bikes: 2024 Spec Crux, 2015 Norco Search S1, 93 Mongoose IBOC COMP

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 296 Post(s)
Liked 355 Times in 212 Posts
Have a look at Smokinapankake post in C&V about his grail bike. It's a good, succinct description of swapping out a suspension fork for rigid fork.
bOsscO is offline  
Old 10-20-20, 11:13 AM
  #3  
Rolla
Guest
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,888
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1346 Post(s)
Liked 3,270 Times in 1,439 Posts
Originally Posted by brasio
Which parameters do I need to consider?
Crown-to axle length, fork offset, steering tube dimensions, wheel size, tire clearance.
Rolla is offline  
Old 10-20-20, 11:21 AM
  #4  
Gary in NJ
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Hilly NJ
Posts: 76

Bikes: 2020 Fuji Gran Fondo 1.3, 2015 Trek FrankenMarlin Gravel Thing

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 29 Post(s)
Liked 60 Times in 31 Posts
I did such a conversion this summer. In addition to a rigid fork I also wanted to reduce weight of the bike (I used a Carbon fork and saved over 4 pounds), reduce wheel base and raise my bars. The key measurements are the ones that Rolla notes above. The swap-out took just a few minutes after I committed to the steering tube length. The swap transformed the bike from something I really hated to a good gravel/single-track bike.
Gary in NJ is offline  
Old 10-22-20, 06:57 AM
  #5  
brasio
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Rome, Italy
Posts: 10
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
It seems very difficult to me to find a rigid fork: crown to axle is 506 mm, 51mm offset and a tapered steerer tube
brasio is offline  
Old 10-22-20, 10:13 AM
  #6  
csport
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: /dev/null
Posts: 675

Bikes: Soma Double Cross Disc (2017), red Hardrock FS (circa 1996)

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 217 Post(s)
Liked 155 Times in 102 Posts
https://www.somafab.com/archives/pro...axle-crmo-fork
Assuming 25% sag, the axle to crown would be 506 - 25 = 481 -- about right.
csport is offline  
Old 10-22-20, 01:08 PM
  #7  
brasio
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Rome, Italy
Posts: 10
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Thanks. It is not clear to me the concept of sag, however. Is it the default reduction of a suspended fork while just sitting on a bike? (that's why it is important to reduce the Crown-to axle length, while switching to a rigid fork, in order to replicate the real fork length).
25: is it a standard, well accepted value?
brasio is offline  
Old 10-22-20, 01:17 PM
  #8  
bikeaddiction1
Full Member
 
bikeaddiction1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Calgary Alberta
Posts: 345

Bikes: Many

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 114 Post(s)
Liked 80 Times in 50 Posts
Originally Posted by brasio
25: is it a standard, well accepted value?
Yes, 25% of travel is a normal starting point for setting sag.
bikeaddiction1 is offline  
Old 10-22-20, 01:22 PM
  #9  
aggiegrads
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Sherwood, OR
Posts: 1,279
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 336 Post(s)
Liked 309 Times in 180 Posts
You can also find conversion crowns. That is what I used on a conversion to a rigid fork.
aggiegrads is offline  
Old 10-22-20, 01:55 PM
  #10  
mack_turtle
n00b
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,397

Bikes: Surly Karate Monkey, Twin Six Standard Rando

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 428 Post(s)
Liked 466 Times in 273 Posts
typical rigid fork for a 29er designed around a 100mm suspension fork is a 480mm or so axle-crown. Surly, Soma, Salsa, and Kona make some good cheaper options for you there. Check out the Kona deals on Bikeman.com. Carver and a huge array of more expensive carbon fiber options are out there too.

if your old fork has a tapered steerer tube, you can replace the fork with a straight steerer tube if you can also replace the headset crown race with a step-down version. most headsets have this option available.
mack_turtle is offline  
Old 10-23-20, 01:55 AM
  #11  
brasio
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Rome, Italy
Posts: 10
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Should fork offset vary too or it must be exactly the same (in my case 51mm)?
brasio is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.