Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Framebuilders
Reload this Page >

Bamboo Fork

Notices
Framebuilders Thinking about a custom frame? Lugged vs Fillet Brazed. Different Frame materials? Newvex or Pacenti Lugs? why get a custom Road, Mountain, or Track Frame? Got a question about framebuilding? Lets discuss framebuilding at it's finest.

Bamboo Fork

Old 07-06-21, 02:25 PM
  #1  
seibaatgung
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 248
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 169 Post(s)
Liked 26 Times in 17 Posts
Bamboo Fork

Anyone have any experience assembling one? I've seen only one (?) online despite plenty of bamboo frames.
seibaatgung is offline  
Old 07-07-21, 07:26 AM
  #2  
Andrew R Stewart 
Senior Member
 
Andrew R Stewart's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 18,003

Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4172 Post(s)
Liked 3,792 Times in 2,271 Posts
One design/fabricating challenge with a fork is that it's the only structural member (of a frame) that is connected to another member at only one end. All other members (tubes) are joined at both ends. This might seem trivial but to attain the strength and stiffness needed the dimensions and joining methods of wood are critical. Fork failure is not a nice thing to experience (seen too many results involving serious body damage...)

A metal steerer and crown unit will likely be employed as headsets only come in so many sizes. The crown will need to space the wood blades the right distance apart and allow for enough overlap for a good joint. So too with the drop outs need to overlap in the blades a lot. In the end there will likely only be a few inches of only wood between all that metal. Not sure beyond the ability to say one did make a wood fork what would be gained, and there's a lot to loose. Andy
__________________
AndrewRStewart
Andrew R Stewart is offline  
Likes For Andrew R Stewart:
Old 07-07-21, 08:04 AM
  #3  
alo
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,060
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 529 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 255 Times in 185 Posts
Bamboo bikes are not a good idea, as bamboo deteriorates much faster than steel, aluminum or carbon fiber. It is a novelty, not a good idea for a bike you want to last for many years.

If you decide to make a bamboo fork, I suggest using at least 70 mm bamboo from near the base of the bamboo. Near the base, bamboo has a thick wall, and a small hollow center. Higher up, it has a thin wall, and a large hollow center. Similarly if you made one out of pine, you would want at least 2 by 3 inches. Anything thinner would not be strong enough.

If you want the bamboo look, drill out the middle of bamboo, and slide it over steel or aluminum forks.
alo is offline  
Old 07-07-21, 02:00 PM
  #4  
seibaatgung
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 248
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 169 Post(s)
Liked 26 Times in 17 Posts
Originally Posted by Andrew R Stewart
One design/fabricating challenge with a fork is that it's the only structural member (of a frame) that is connected to another member at only one end. All other members (tubes) are joined at both ends. This might seem trivial but to attain the strength and stiffness needed the dimensions and joining methods of wood are critical. Fork failure is not a nice thing to experience (seen too many results involving serious body damage...)

A metal steerer and crown unit will likely be employed as headsets only come in so many sizes. The crown will need to space the wood blades the right distance apart and allow for enough overlap for a good joint. So too with the drop outs need to overlap in the blades a lot. In the end there will likely only be a few inches of only wood between all that metal. Not sure beyond the ability to say one did make a wood fork what would be gained, and there's a lot to loose. Andy
Then what color scheme goes good with a bamboo frame?
seibaatgung is offline  
Old 07-07-21, 07:02 PM
  #5  
Andrew R Stewart 
Senior Member
 
Andrew R Stewart's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 18,003

Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4172 Post(s)
Liked 3,792 Times in 2,271 Posts
Originally Posted by seibaatgung
Then what color scheme goes good with a bamboo frame?

You would desecrate the sacred bamboo with... with... with poison??? If natural skin isn't good enough... Andy (trying to channel humor)
__________________
AndrewRStewart
Andrew R Stewart is offline  
Old 07-07-21, 07:36 PM
  #6  
seibaatgung
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 248
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 169 Post(s)
Liked 26 Times in 17 Posts
Originally Posted by Andrew R Stewart
You would desecrate the sacred bamboo with... with... with poison??? If natural skin isn't good enough... Andy (trying to channel humor)
How else do you get a safe fork on a bamboo bike?
seibaatgung is offline  
Old 07-07-21, 08:20 PM
  #7  
Andrew R Stewart 
Senior Member
 
Andrew R Stewart's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 18,003

Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4172 Post(s)
Liked 3,792 Times in 2,271 Posts
Originally Posted by seibaatgung
How else do you get a safe fork on a bamboo bike?
Just to make sure I am not misunderstood. I have little issue with people making wood based frames. This has been done for many decades. The bamboo craze is only the more recent version. But for the first time in this thread (I think) the safety issue is raised. One of the aspects of the bamboo craze that I wonder about is the bonding life and the evolving nature of a tree product. But given the nature of young and seeking it's likely that any ridable frame will be replaced with the next one soon enough. I have more confidence in the material understanding in the "furniture" style of wood frames then I have in basement bonded bamboo ones.

But my opinion isn't the issue. Safety is. Andy
__________________
AndrewRStewart
Andrew R Stewart is offline  
Old 07-08-21, 01:33 AM
  #8  
guy153
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 950
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 321 Post(s)
Liked 261 Times in 212 Posts
Yes agree with Andy. A bamboo fork is just too sketchy for all the reasons he gave. A fork only has to fail in one place and you faceplant. Highest risk of failure plus highest consequences. There's no shame in just buying a fork. Paint it black. Black goes with everything.
guy153 is offline  
Old 07-08-21, 06:36 AM
  #9  
unterhausen
Randomhead
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,364
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,664 Times in 2,497 Posts
Most bamboo bikes have black joints, so match that.
unterhausen is offline  
Old 07-08-21, 01:36 PM
  #10  
Canaboo
Full Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 495
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 49 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times in 12 Posts
Originally Posted by alo
Bamboo bikes are not a good idea, as bamboo deteriorates much faster than steel, aluminum or carbon fiber. It is a novelty, not a good idea for a bike you want to last for many years.

If you decide to make a bamboo fork, I suggest using at least 70 mm bamboo from near the base of the bamboo. Near the base, bamboo has a thick wall, and a small hollow center. Higher up, it has a thin wall, and a large hollow center. Similarly if you made one out of pine, you would want at least 2 by 3 inches. Anything thinner would not be strong enough.

If you want the bamboo look, drill out the middle of bamboo, and slide it over steel or aluminum forks.
You probably shouldn't have posted. Most if not all of this is speculation.
Canaboo is offline  
Old 07-11-21, 02:28 AM
  #11  
seibaatgung
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 248
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 169 Post(s)
Liked 26 Times in 17 Posts
Originally Posted by Canaboo
You probably shouldn't have posted. Most if not all of this is speculation.
If you really want to complement the bamboo aesthetic you could put panda stickers on the fork
seibaatgung is offline  
Old 07-11-21, 06:46 AM
  #12  
alo
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,060
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 529 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 255 Times in 185 Posts
Originally Posted by Canaboo
You probably shouldn't have posted. Most if not all of this is speculation.
The truth is, you making a judgement like this is speculation.
alo is offline  
Old 07-11-21, 09:15 AM
  #13  
unterhausen
Randomhead
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,364
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,664 Times in 2,497 Posts
Originally Posted by alo
The truth is, you making a judgement like this is speculation.
I feel like you are the one that is speculating here. I haven't seen anything that would lead me to believe that bamboo bikes have a particularly short lifetime. I'm sure there are examples of bamboo frames that didn't last too long, but that's true for any material.
unterhausen is offline  
Old 07-11-21, 07:53 PM
  #14  
Canaboo
Full Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 495
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 49 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times in 12 Posts
Originally Posted by alo
The truth is, you making a judgement like this is speculation.
Incorrect.
Canaboo is offline  
Old 07-12-21, 01:21 AM
  #15  
alo
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,060
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 529 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 255 Times in 185 Posts
Originally Posted by unterhausen
I feel like you are the one that is speculating here. I haven't seen anything that would lead me to believe that bamboo bikes have a particularly short lifetime. I'm sure there are examples of bamboo frames that didn't last too long, but that's true for any material.
I am in a place where I see bamboo growing in the wild almost every day. I have had many discussions with people about using it for construction of houses and other things. If I tried to explain all aspects, it would be a very long post, and people would get bored reading it. But the bottom line is, it is not very durable. Many houses use hardwood in their construction, but not bamboo. Hardwood is much more durable than bamboo. There are a small number of places built to attract tourists, which are built with bamboo, or that have a bamboo facade.
alo is offline  
Old 07-12-21, 01:23 AM
  #16  
alo
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,060
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 529 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 255 Times in 185 Posts
Originally Posted by Canaboo
You probably shouldn't have posted. Most if not all of this is speculation.
If you expect to be taken seriously, give an intelligent reason for what you are saying.
alo is offline  
Old 07-12-21, 06:38 AM
  #17  
unterhausen
Randomhead
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,364
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,664 Times in 2,497 Posts
Originally Posted by alo
I am in a place where I see bamboo growing in the wild almost every day. I have had many discussions with people about using it for construction of houses and other things.
Just as one example, there is bamboo flooring. I know it's heavily processed, but it's stout stuff. There are considerable variations in bamboo. I don't think your experience in seeing it by the side of the road qualifies you in any way to be an expert in its mechanical properties. I don't think the OP or anyone else is going to be using your local bamboo. And people have been using it successfully for bike frames for quite a while. I'm not a proponent of using it, but it does work. Your posts in this thread are fairly disruptive and off topic.
unterhausen is offline  
Old 07-12-21, 06:41 AM
  #18  
Canaboo
Full Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 495
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 49 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times in 12 Posts
Originally Posted by alo
If you expect to be taken seriously, give an intelligent reason for what you are saying.
Properly treated bamboo lasts for as long as a person is likely to ride the bike. Much like the other materials used. They all have their weak points that need addressed. You don't use it like a tomato stake or a bamboo hut where it is just left raw and exposed to the elements.

The main issue with a bamboo fork is attaching it to a crown and steerer. Most do not have the capacity to make that part.
Canaboo is offline  
Old 07-12-21, 02:16 PM
  #19  
CliffordK
Senior Member
 
CliffordK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,600
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18320 Post(s)
Liked 4,489 Times in 3,338 Posts
If I was going to attempt a bamboo fork, I'd do a double fork crown, somewhat like some MTBs use.

Although it has to be designed so that the steer tube can be put inside of the headtube, as well as be removed (meaning either the topplate, bottomplate, or steertube must be removable).

CliffordK 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


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

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.