Rigid Fork Availability
August 2nd, 2005 by Guitar TedRecently, we got a question regarding the availability of rigid front forks for 29 inch wheeled bikes that are suspension corrected. Well, help is on the way! Read on for the skinny.
First, let’s define what suspension corrected means. A rigid fork that mimics the length of a properly set up suspension fork, ( accounting for “sag”, or what happens when a riders weight is being supported by the suspension fork) is said to be “suspension corrected”. So, for an example, let’s say our suspension fork’s length from the center of the front axle to the bottom of the fork crown race is 490mm. Okay, now we mount up a rider to our bike, and using the standards for sag recommended by most fork manufacturers, we now have an axle to crown measurement of approximately 470mm. So, in order to make your bicycle handle as closely as possible with a rigid fork in place of the suspension fork, we must have an axle to crown measurement of 470mm for the rigid fork as well. Suspension correct, ya’all!
Allright, now to where you can get a rigid fork for your 29 inch wheeled bicycle frame that was designed around an 80mm travel fork. Just like the example above, we need to find a fork that has a 470mm axle to crown measurement, or very close to that.
Example #1. Karate Monkee fork from Surly. Sure, this fork is a little portly, (2.5-ish “el-bees”) it’s not very “sexy”, and it may be on the stiff side for lighter weight riders, but it’s way cheap. It also is durable as all get out, precise, and readily available through almost any LBS with a Quality Bicycles account. (Which is most local bike shops in the U.S.) Don’t like canti studs? Dremel them off, and have the fork powder coated, which should be pretty reasonable. Be aware that dremeling off the studs will void your warranty, but I seriously doubt you’ll need to use the warranty on such a burly fork.
Example #2. Well, two examples, really. There are two very highly respected 29 inch wheeled custom frame builders doing a bang up job making some pretty cool and reasonably priced rigid forks. These forks are starting to show up on a lot of rigid builds lately. They are Wily Cycles and Walt Works Cycles, both based out of Colorado. Wily uses a slick looking uni-crown design while Walt Works uses a segmented crown design. Both builders use straight legs. Of course, since both are custom frame builders, you can specify axle to crown length, rake, and brake options. Sound expensive? Well, it’s not too bad, really, when you consider what you get. For around $225- $250 dollars either one of these builders can deliver a “correct” fork for your application, geometry-wise, and for a little extra, can even paint it in a wild array of colors, or fine tune the desired ride characteristics based on you and your riding style. Not bad when you consider that you can’t even touch a decent 29 inch wheeled compatible suspension fork for this kind of dough. Plus, you can specify brake options with either builder. Want a drop dead sexy disc only fork? No problema, senior.
Example #3?: Several other less expensive designs are on the horizon. Soma Fabrications, On One, and Bontrager are all coming out with rigid fork designs soon. So, our options may open up a little! Stay tuned!
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Thanks, GT. I was getting a mild panic attack looking at all the “shorter” 29er front ends, Glad to know there’s options.
Know anything about the Sibex forks?
Thanks for the comment, and checking out the site. The Sibex fork is a bit of an enigma. I’ve only run across one or two mentions on it. Apparently, the axle to crown measurement is a bit on the short side to compensate for an eighty millimeter travel fork. Also, word is that they are pretty flexy. Perhaps not well suited to riders at 180 lbs, or heavier. Not that there have been failures, it’s just that they would really start to throw the handling off with excessive flexing. It’s a fork that, due to the shorter axle to crown height, has pretty much been summarily written off as a failure by most folks here on the web. Besides, if I remember correctly, this fork isn’t much less than some suspension forks, and costs more than a custom steel fork from Walt Works, or Wily Cycles. I think that it’ll be a rare site to see one on the trails. But- maybe I’m wrong! Who knows?!
Again, thanks for your comment, and have a great ride next time out on the trails!
Wasn’t IRD promoting a $130 fork? Don’t have the link handy.
Ah! Right you are, Cloxxki! I have seen that on the IRD website, but I have not heard of, nor seen an example in use. Could it be the very same fork as the Soma Fabrications fork? Looks VERY similar!
Here it is :
http://www.interlocracing.com/forks.html#steelforks
Steel MTB 29er Fork
NEW
Tange CrMo blades and steerer. Non-removable cantilever bosses and disc mounts. Suspension adjusted length (465mm axle to crown).
1-1/8″ CrMo steerer.
MSRP: $129.99
This one MIGHT actually end up lighter than a KM fork.
I wonder how much offset they used for it. If it’s 45mm as I suspect, it might be a nice fork to change a frame with lazy geometry into a singletrack labirynth(sp) champ.
Who’s calling them for availability and weight?
E-mail sent, waiting for reply! Will post anything I hear soon!
Here is the reply from Stan at Interloc Racing:
Our fork is not as heavy as the Surly, but is still rather stiff.
There are a few floating around.
These are for disc only. Dual versions will be out soon.
Stan
Interloc Racing Design
http://www.interlocracing.com
I think it will be hard to make a fork as stiff as the Surly, at a lighter weight, I’m sure if it’s lighter, it’s plusher too. The curved bladed may help, too.
Next question, who manages to get one of these on a scale, and more importantly : bike?
I hope this will prove a good alternative between a $200+ custom and a $80(?) Surly fork.
I’m riding a Pace Carbon rigid io my Dean. Not sure if it is “corrected”. Its light( i weghed it at 1.6 lbs) but I’m 167 lbs so it may not be ideal for bigger riders.
I am a short rider on a Niner SIR9. I am riding a suspension fork and want to convert to rigid. I am still confused about the sizing of the forks. Can someone help?