Fork upgrade
#1
Grouchy Old man
Thread Starter
Fork upgrade
I just updated the fork on my "Basecamp," "mountain bike." Swapped out the old Suntour fork for an inexpensive "carbon," fork. Weighs a lot lighter than the suspension fork. I went this, because I highly doubt that I'll ever shred on mountain bike trails. Went pretty smooth, though I managed to snap one star nut, and had to fish it out of the fork. Dorked up and rounded out a bolt in the brake lever. Fortunately for me I had a spare one. The front wheel needs truing, and I have ordered a truing stand. (Apologies if I posted in the right forum for this, feel free to move it.)
Likes For grizzly907la:
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,415
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 612 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 387 Times
in
270 Posts
I personally can't consider a carbon fork an upgrade. I won't use carbon fiber for the same reason I wont use aluminum. They can fail without obvious signs of damage or fatigue.
#3
climber has-been
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 7,080
Bikes: Scott Addict R1, Felt Z1
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3405 Post(s)
Liked 3,535 Times
in
1,778 Posts
Likes For terrymorse:
#4
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,776
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3582 Post(s)
Liked 3,394 Times
in
1,928 Posts
Likes For JohnDThompson:
#5
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,452
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4328 Post(s)
Liked 3,949 Times
in
2,641 Posts
Keep in mind your bike is NOT designed to be clamped by the tubes. In fact zero bikes should be clamped by the tubes. The seatpost is designed to be clamped and is currently clamped right now.
In terms of the fork I wouldn't trust no-name cheap carbon with no support behind it. But hey it ain't my life. The SR fork was probably a heavy lug but the bike is not a high end bike so tis to be expected. If you aren't mountain biking, I generally recommend not buying a bike for that purpose or at least bikes designed to look like mountain bikes. If I want a carbon fork I would get a hybrid or road bike with a carbon fork and potentially get a higher quality bike in the process with less weight. I would also look at a frame that fits. Slammed seats are a good sign of an ill fitting bike.
In terms of the fork I wouldn't trust no-name cheap carbon with no support behind it. But hey it ain't my life. The SR fork was probably a heavy lug but the bike is not a high end bike so tis to be expected. If you aren't mountain biking, I generally recommend not buying a bike for that purpose or at least bikes designed to look like mountain bikes. If I want a carbon fork I would get a hybrid or road bike with a carbon fork and potentially get a higher quality bike in the process with less weight. I would also look at a frame that fits. Slammed seats are a good sign of an ill fitting bike.
#6
Rhapsodic Laviathan
I've had a number of aluminum bikes, only one wasn't old when I got it, only one had a break. I have broken two steel frames. You're just paranoid.
Likes For Jax Rhapsody:
#7
Dirty Heathen
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: MC-778, 6250 fsw
Posts: 2,182
Bikes: 1997 Cannondale, 1976 Bridgestone, 1998 SoftRide, 1989 Klein, 1989 Black Lightning #0033
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 889 Post(s)
Liked 906 Times
in
534 Posts
I personally can't consider a carbon fork an upgrade. I won't use carbon fiber for the same reason I wont use aluminum. They can fail without obvious signs of damage or fatigue.
I'm too heavy to rock the Spinergy Rev-Xes any more, but my 25-year-old SoftRide is still going strong, and I certainly don't pull any punches on my '97 Cannondale, and I've ridden two Headshoks out from under that one.
#8
Grouchy Old man
Thread Starter
#9
Grouchy Old man
Thread Starter
Keep in mind your bike is NOT designed to be clamped by the tubes. In fact zero bikes should be clamped by the tubes. The seatpost is designed to be clamped and is currently clamped right now.
In terms of the fork I wouldn't trust no-name cheap carbon with no support behind it. But hey it ain't my life. The SR fork was probably a heavy lug but the bike is not a high end bike so tis to be expected. If you aren't mountain biking, I generally recommend not buying a bike for that purpose or at least bikes designed to look like mountain bikes. If I want a carbon fork I would get a hybrid or road bike with a carbon fork and potentially get a higher quality bike in the process with less weight. I would also look at a frame that fits. Slammed seats are a good sign of an ill fitting bike.
In terms of the fork I wouldn't trust no-name cheap carbon with no support behind it. But hey it ain't my life. The SR fork was probably a heavy lug but the bike is not a high end bike so tis to be expected. If you aren't mountain biking, I generally recommend not buying a bike for that purpose or at least bikes designed to look like mountain bikes. If I want a carbon fork I would get a hybrid or road bike with a carbon fork and potentially get a higher quality bike in the process with less weight. I would also look at a frame that fits. Slammed seats are a good sign of an ill fitting bike.
#10
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,452
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4328 Post(s)
Liked 3,949 Times
in
2,641 Posts
I don't mountain bike, because I am too old for that. I would just lay on the ground and wince in pain if I took a spill if I mountain biked. I'm using it to ride on the street and maybe some gravel roads. If I ever get the money to afford a high end bike, I'd want to build it myself. The Basecamp is entry level for sure. I know that many manufacturers slap "mountain bike," on a bike that can't handle hard core mountain biking. I'm on a limited budget, so I get what I can afford.
#11
Grouchy Old man
Thread Starter
#12
Rhapsodic Laviathan
The one that broke on me, was my Mongoose XR250, but I had the seatpost too high and it broke under the clamp. The two steel frames was a Lotus Pegasus and a Scwinn Probe. One broke the seat tube at the BB, the other was the downtube at the BB.
Likes For Jax Rhapsody:
#13
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times
in
1,286 Posts
That's not an upgrade, that's a downgrade and a step backwards... You should of upgraded with a steel fork.
#14
Grouchy Old man
Thread Starter
#15
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times
in
1,286 Posts
#16
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,604
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10947 Post(s)
Liked 7,473 Times
in
4,181 Posts
With regard to cycling, carbon fiber can absolutely stand up to the same abuse overall.
I dont consider normal use to be 'abuse' though since, you know, that means something different.
A simple solution is to not abuse a bike's frame. Crazy idea, I know.
Likes For mstateglfr:
#18
Senior Member
Looks like an upgrade to me. All materials can fail; I've seen chromo forks fail, too, without warning. I replaced an aluminum fork with a carbon one 5 years ago and it's been a great choice. I agree that the slammed seat probably means the frame is too big for OP and thus he's pouring money into a poorly-fitting bike.
Likes For BlazingPedals:
#19
Senior Member
Unpressurized aircraft generally have component lifetimes measured in flight hours, if they have such a limit at all. That's why we still have DC-3/C-47s flying commercial operations around the globe at 80+ years old!
.
Likes For Cougrrcj:
#20
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times
in
1,286 Posts
#21
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times
in
1,286 Posts
Mountain biking through rock gardens, over tree roots, commuting on rough streets with pot holes, jumping curbs etc... Maybe not abuse but definitely heavy duty use. That's why I use heavy duty chromoly steel forks. I wouldn't use a carbon fork for my style of riding.
#22
Dirty Heathen
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: MC-778, 6250 fsw
Posts: 2,182
Bikes: 1997 Cannondale, 1976 Bridgestone, 1998 SoftRide, 1989 Klein, 1989 Black Lightning #0033
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 889 Post(s)
Liked 906 Times
in
534 Posts
I've never quite figured out why everyone on BikeForums feels like they have to ride through every pothole instead of going around; is there some Rule about deviating from 'The Line' that I'm unaware of? Or why obstacles like that are such a big deal in the first place? Get your butt off the saddle, bend your knees, and shift your weight off the front wheel. Is Riding Light considered a dark art around here?
#23
climber has-been
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 7,080
Bikes: Scott Addict R1, Felt Z1
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3405 Post(s)
Liked 3,535 Times
in
1,778 Posts
There is no such limitation for carbon fiber.
__________________
Ride, Rest, Repeat. ROUVY: terrymorse
Ride, Rest, Repeat. ROUVY: terrymorse
Last edited by terrymorse; 06-05-21 at 09:16 AM.
#24
Grouchy Old man
Thread Starter
#25
Grouchy Old man
Thread Starter
Looks like an upgrade to me. All materials can fail; I've seen chromo forks fail, too, without warning. I replaced an aluminum fork with a carbon one 5 years ago and it's been a great choice. I agree that the slammed seat probably means the frame is too big for OP and thus he's pouring money into a poorly-fitting bike.