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Ibis Cousin It Fork

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Ibis Cousin It Fork

Old 05-21-11, 09:41 AM
  #1  
rthomer
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Ibis Cousin It Fork

Hi There,
I'm new to the forum and tandem riding, just purchased a 95 or so Ibis Cousin It. The price was decent, and I have a enough spare parts to do some upgrades to make it worthwhile (I hope). My one dilema is that it came with a suspension fork that I want to get rid of. I am having an impossible time trying to find the correct specs of the original fork. I can't imagine that one size fits all, maybe someone on the forum has been thru this.
I'd pay to have one custom made if I can determine the right axle to crown and rake dimensions.
Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.
Robert

Last edited by rthomer; 11-29-20 at 06:57 PM.
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Old 05-22-11, 04:12 PM
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waynesulak
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Lots of information on Ibis tandems at this site:

https://mombat.org/Ibis.htm

Standard tandem head tube diameters are 1 1/8 inches and 1 1/4 inches. The manual for the IT that I found on the site mentions a 1" steerer. If your bike has a 1" steerer it will make getting a replacement fork more of a problem. Your bike may be different. If all else fails you can remove the old fork and measure the steerer tube on the fork. Santana sold tandems with 1" forks many years ago and might be worth calling to see if they can help you with a replacement. Both 1 1/8 and 1 1/4 forks are available.

Precision Tandems is another possible place for help:

https://www.precisiontandems.com/catalogaccessweb.htm

You should also consider the height of the fork from the drop out to the headset race. Since you have a suspension fork that would be the normally compressed height. A change in fork height will change the bike's geometry. This change could be for the better or worse depending on the bike the fork and what you like in a tandem.

That tandem looks like a pretty stiff frame. Once again could be good or not depending on your taste. Good luck.
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Old 05-22-11, 04:43 PM
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Thanks for the reply and link. The fork is 1-1/8" for sure.

Last edited by rthomer; 11-29-20 at 06:55 PM.
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Old 05-22-11, 05:58 PM
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waynesulak
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Originally Posted by rthomer
Thanks for the reply and link. The fork is 1-1/8" for sure.
My question is : what is correct rake and axle to crown measurement. I got an email back from Scot Nichols, the original owner of Ibis, he has confirmed the rake at 2.2" aka 155mm. He didn't know the correct axle to crown length, but said it wasn't suspension corrected. Santana uses 155mm, but 1-1/4" steerer tube.
Co-motion has available forks with 145mm rake. Not sure how this affects the steering, it does change the trail. I now doubt that I'm going to find an "off the shelf" perfect solution.....some compromise is in order unless I go custom.

It is my opinion that there is not correct rake and height. If you mean the stock fork that came with the IT then I suggest looking in the manuals on the web site. My point is that there is a variety of acceptable trails used on road tandems by major manufacturers. Rather than correct or incorrect it is a matter of personal preference. On a 73 degree head tube 55mm - 45mm rake is common. I have ridden a 62mm rake fork and actually preferred it when using 30mm or wider tires.

The fork height can be important but due to the long wheel base on a tandem it is not as critical as on a single bike.
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Old 11-27-20, 06:25 PM
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d2hoffman
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Ibis Cousin It tandem fork

I have a circa 1994 Ibis Cousin It tandem.
My steering tube just bent.
What did you end up doing to replace your fork?
I would love to add suspension (mine didn't have any), but I'm ok replacing it with stiff.
Just want to find something that will work!


Originally Posted by rthomer
Thanks for the reply and link. The fork is 1-1/8" for sure.
My question is : what is correct rake and axle to crown measurement. I got an email back from Scot Nichols, the original owner of Ibis, he has confirmed the rake at 2.2" aka 155mm. He didn't know the correct axle to crown length, but said it wasn't suspension corrected. Santana uses 155mm, but 1-1/4" steerer tube.
Co-motion has available forks with 145mm rake. Not sure how this affects the steering, it does change the trail. I now doubt that I'm going to find an "off the shelf" perfect solution.....some compromise is in order unless I go custom.
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Old 11-28-20, 03:55 PM
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@d2hoffman, are you aware that you are responding to an almost 10 year old thread? Nothing about the o.p. sounds like they or the seller of their bike knew what they were talking about. Best thing is to start your own thread, I think. But since I'm here ... what do you mean "my steering tube just bent?" The steerer tube runs inside the head tube and is usually unseen. If your head tube is bent the bike is unsalvageable. If the fork is bent at the crown, the bike 'may' be ok with a new fork, but a force large enough to bend a fork so that you notice may have buckled your downtube or caused other damage. It is easier to add a suspension corrected rigid fork to a formerly front suspension bike, than to add a suspension fork to a formerly rigid fork bike. Your best bet might be a carbon fork, but carbon forks are in many ways less tolerant of abuse than steel or aluminum forks. Unless you know exactly how the original fork got bent and are pretty sure of not repeating the conditions again, I would just measure the existing fork (not hard to do) and buy a new steel or aluminum fork and call it good. Tires are much more a determinant of ride quality than fork material or suspension. You should be able to get some ~50mm tires on that bike and go even bigger if you go to 27.5" (650B) wheels. Plenty of 'suspension' in large section clinchers run at lowish pressure.
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Old 11-28-20, 04:09 PM
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Thanks for the reply.
Yes, it's an old thread, it's an old bike!
My LBS helped me out and ordered a fork to fit, I hope.
I also reached out to the original poster, and they gave me an update on how they resolved, and corrected misinformation in their post.
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Old 11-29-20, 03:38 PM
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Originally Posted by d2hoffman
Thanks for the reply.
Yes, it's an old thread, it's an old bike!
My LBS helped me out and ordered a fork to fit, I hope.
I also reached out to the original poster, and they gave me an update on how they resolved, and corrected misinformation in their post.
Before ordering or taking delivery on a fork, did you read the other tandem fork discussion on this board? You do not want a basic replacement fork for your tandem. You need a tandem-rated fork. As long as the LBS is sourcing this for you, then you're fine. If not, you need to review that thread:

https://www.bikeforums.net/tandem-cy...k-builder.html

Be sure to follow the link to R&E Cycles' tandem fork article. A MUST read for you.
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Old 11-29-20, 07:08 PM
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d2hoffman
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Thank you for this information!
My LBS ordered me this stock fork.
Dimension FK0072
dimensionbikeproducts.com/products/forks/mountain_standard
I will contact a tandem specific shop and ask for a recommendation or custom.
At this point, I'm going to take it easy on this old tandem (fire roads only) and look for a newer full-suspension tandem.
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Old 11-30-20, 07:41 PM
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Specified by Dimension for "general recreational riding only"??? On a half bike!

You and your stoker (and Cousin IT). deserve a real tandem fork.
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Old 11-30-20, 10:46 PM
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d2hoffman
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ok, any suggestions on where I can get a tandem specific fork?
I got a quote from one shop for $400 for a custom fork
I'm starting to put a lot of money into this old bucket of bolts, it has a lot of sentimental value
I'm willing to put it out to pasture, just keep it alive a little longer, and start saving for my next dream bike, a full suspension tandem
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Old 12-01-20, 12:41 PM
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Originally Posted by d2hoffman
ok, any suggestions on where I can get a tandem specific fork?
I got a quote from one shop for $400 for a custom fork
I'm starting to put a lot of money into this old bucket of bolts, it has a lot of sentimental value
I'm willing to put it out to pasture, just keep it alive a little longer, and start saving for my next dream bike, a full suspension tandem
I personally would risk the Dimension fork. It wouldn't be my thinking that a modern halfbike MTB fork would be much weaker (if at all) than the stock fork of a 30 year old tandem. One thing only holds me back from a full endorsement: we still don't know how you managed to prang the fork on the Cousin It. None of our business, but if you are a hard rider, get the tandem fork and pay whatever they want for it. Gotta say though ... $400? If it were me, for that kind of money I'd look for a used Burley in perfect condition, around the same age as the Ibis. I've seen them used for not a whole lot more than $400. I bought one ('94 Samba) for a bit more than that, but only because the seller brought it to me so I didn't quibble with his asking price. Amazing tandem.
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Old 12-06-20, 10:48 PM
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Ross200
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Used 1 in tandem rim brake fork on the auction site starting at $50.

You might contact Tandems LTD or Tandems East (or other tandem specialist)and inquire. R&E lists new for $275.

If it is really just the steerer tube that is bent, straightening or replacement might be n option.

As Leisesturm suggests, Is there more damage? How did the tube bend? Hanging in the garage or were large immovable objects and great velocity involved? JRA?

If it were my vintage Ibis, I would be reluctant to retire IT just for a bent steer, even if I was shopping for a dual banger.
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Old 12-08-20, 09:18 PM
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Thanks for all the input.
I contacted everyone that was suggested:
R&E, Bilenky, Clockwork Bikes, Tandems East,...
They could sell me a "tandem" fork for $300-400, but nobody could give me any specs on what made it stronger than a standard.
I contacted Dimension (the one my LBS ordered) and haven't heard back.
I contacted Scot Nichols at Ibis (the original designer of the bike) and he couldn't remember anything about it and didn't have any records.
My LBS did the repair and found that the 1" threaded fork had a piece brazed on to it (maybe for extra strength?). It was a kluge. He had to get creative to build it back with today's available parts.
I posted pictures of the damaged fork, the rebuild, and some old shots of the bike in action in this photo album (I'm a newbie to bike forums and don't have permission to submit links yet, so add the front)
photos.app.goo.gl/ndHUWcZMav9KJxkx8
This is my first time using Bike Forums, it's been very helpful.
Next, I'm looking for a full suspension MTB tandem.
Please provide any input (I've already contacted Ventana and Alex Nutt at MTB Tandems).
Feel free to point me to a thread or give me guidance on starting a new thread.
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