jedi_rider

Which would you pick?

Considering either the Alpha Q Sub3 or Easton EC90 SL or SLX.

By the way, Easton has either straight or curved forks. What the diff?

I'm 5'6" and weigh 140lbs.

Not sure of the frame yet, so I can go either 1" or 1-1/8" standard threadless.

Sub3 concerns me because of the weight limit, even though I'm well under it.---so does the SLX just because it's light, but no sited weight limit.

Grateful from any users of these forks.

MacMan

Are you set on these forks? What about a Time fork?

mrballistic

here... i'll be unhelpful, too:

i have a reynolds ouzo pro on my bike that i'm pretty fond of.... you can get it in 1" and it's lighter than the easton. i believe that the easton forks are both 1 1/8" only.

at this point in the season (ie, the beginning for me), i'm a bit over the weight limit, but i think that that has more to do with engineer-lawyers telling them about the stresses over a 15 year period than anything else.

BigFloppyLlama

Lighter? You sure?

Trev Doyle

I have a SLX on my bike and after I cut it to size it was exactly 294. I think saying the Reynolds Ouzo pro is lighter is a mistake. I'm not even sure that fork falls into the superlight class.

The Easton is a great fork, I love it. I can't speak to the True Temper fork though. Although I think the Easton looks cooler.

Evil_Gilligan

ditto on the slx ... have it on my all steel landshark in 1 1/8 and it is a great ride.

mrballistic

oops... you're right. mine's heavier by 100g. alas.

Trev Doyle

I knew it!

mrballistic

actually, nix that. weight weenies has mine pegged at 375g. eat that, easton!

weightweenies

jedi_rider

The steerer diameter and wall thickness difference must save a lot of weight.

tvphobic

I rode them all in 2002- 2003 and settled on AQ-S3, 1"

I'm not light by any means but I got a good deal on this particular one and LOVE it. I am also not given to high-bucks voodoo marketing, because I don't own anything else that's upmarket. All of the forks you mention are really excellent. I just have to say that the AQ-S3 tracks so stably that I feel like no-hands riding is like on my old Varsity, and it's not just because of the rake as the numbers are identical to my stock fork.

jedi_rider

Looks good, but I'm looking for a fork for non-integrated headsets. BTW, how much do they cost?

Lectron

I'm waiting for the new AlphaQ two7 witch is comparable to the slx (in price and weight)
Talking to AlphaQ, I was told they’ll start distribution 1st of march.

I don’t really have any good reasons why I ended up with the alphaQ, but here they are:

• Easton’s into hockey, Truetemper’s into golf
• Stiffer steerer due to aluminum insert (clamping area) I just hate handlebar flex
• Decals (can of course be removed)
• Gloss finish
• Bad reviews on build quality of earlier Eastons (-03)

TimB

I'd go for the True Temper Alpha Q.
it's a far more developed product with a reputation for relaibility and excellent handling traits behind it. The Easton is the newer and has not proved itself yet.

I'd also look into a Reynolds Ouzo. The Ouzo Pro Light is around 360gr and has 1&1/8th carbon steerer.

I would not buy a 1" carbon steerer fork. to flexy.

Waldo

I rode a Sub 3 for quite a while. Rode very nicely, plenty stiff for a little guy like me. I also prefer the design they have with the aluminum reinforcement tool and standard star fangled nut.

RiPHRaPH

i love the Al steerer & straight, minimum rake forks that Alpha Q and Ouzo Pro makes. but i am 185lbs, so...

rjtokyo

I went through a fork comparison several months ago and ended up with these 3 as my final choices:
1) Reynolds Ouzo Pro
2) Alpha Q Sub 3
3) Look HSC4
Easton would have been there except for the reviews Lectron mentioned.

I love high speed technical descents, so I really wanted to take extra care with this purchase. From all the reviews and recommendations, I ended up getting the Ouzo Pro and am completely happy with it! Rock solid on the descents, great handling, very smooth, a real "10" in my books.

Cheers!
- RJ

jedi_rider

Hmmm...that will dictate which frame I buy as the steerer diameter was weighing heavily on my mind.

jedi_rider

So far, everyone who rode the Sub3 is heavier than I am, so it seems like confidence is good.

BTW, any concerns when it comes to downhill descents on rough patches going at 35+ mph?

BikeInMN

I have a Sub3 in 1 1/8 and I'd rate it as Ok but not great.

When you add the steerer insert the real weight isn't anything to write home about. Something closer to 370-380 grams rather than the listed 310 grams.

Stiffness is good but not great. I've ridden forks that inspired confidence in fast & tight situations and this isn't one of them. I wouldn't call it a noodle but it's not a sprinters delight either.

For the amount of $$ True Temper charges, I'd look at the Reynolds Ouzo Pro line. The real weight isn't that much more (70-80 real world grams) and the Ouzo Pro for has "The Ride" IMO.

Lectron

There's a weight save on not using a compressionplug