Willits Brand Introduces Rigid Forks For Sale

January 15th, 2007 by Guitar Ted

Willits Brand Bicycles has announced the introduction of rigid forks for 29″ers for individual sale. Three different models are on offer ranging in price from $225.00 to $450.00. The forks cover a wide range of rider styles and needs and can be customized to some degree.

Willits Brand Bicycles was started by Wes Williams, one of the pioneers of the modern 29″er. Wes started out weilding a torch for other builders, most notably Ibis Cycles and eventually struck out on his own. In the mid 90’s, Wes was constructing what he called “28″ers”, because the largest available tire at the time was only about 28 inches in diameter when mounted to a 700c rim. Wes firmly believed in the big wheeled mountain bike and was able to help convince, (along with some help), WTB to introduce the Nanoraptor in 1999. Thus the first 29″ers were introduced to the world.

Willits is noted for it’s fantastic titanium fabrications and offers some sweet 29″er rides. Now the forks that grace some of their models will be available for individual sale. These include the following, along with specs and prices:

Basic Unicrown: $150 with purchase of frame, $200 reg. price
Fork Span: 420/465mm
Straight blades, disk or canti mounts

Raked Unicrown: $225
Fork Span: 420/465mm
Raked blades, disk or canti mounts

WOW:$250
Fork Span: 465mm
Extreme vertical compliance, disk or canti mounts

Type II: $450
Fork Span: 420mm
Potts crown w/ brazed leg, disk or canti mounts

The 465mm span is for suspension, 420mm is uncorrected.

Twenty Nine Inches hopes to be able to get one of these forks in for testing and review soon, so stay tuned!

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11 Responses to “Willits Brand Introduces Rigid Forks For Sale”

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1 Sean Forkner on Jan 15th, 2007 at 10:47 am

His name is Wes Williams. The name Willits is actually from the town of Willits, CA and was from some inside joke between Wes and a buddy when he was thinking of starting his own company and needed a name.
2 Guitar Ted on Jan 15th, 2007 at 11:19 am

Sean: Thanks for the heads up. I made the correction. I knew that but I associate the name “Willits” so closely with Wes that my mind made the jump on me. Thanks again!
3 Rainman on Jan 16th, 2007 at 11:11 pm

Please …. try to get the WOW fork for testing…:)

I want to see how “Extreme” this vertical compliance is..

R.
4 Guitar Ted on Jan 16th, 2007 at 11:19 pm

Rainman: Word is that one of the WOW forks is actually showing up soon! Stay Tuned!
5 Sean Forkner on Jan 17th, 2007 at 12:22 am

I’ve seen it. The fork legs curve back behind the crown and then forward again to end in a pretty standard offset. It ends up in an ‘S’ surve. Pretty cool. One of my buddies rode the prototype and said at first he didn’t feel anything, but when he went back to his regular Karate Monkey fork, he noticed it was super stiff right away.
6 Rainman on Jan 17th, 2007 at 8:20 pm

I think a KM fork would feel super stiff after anything though, wouldn’t it..heheh..

R.
7 WillitsBrand on Jan 27th, 2007 at 2:30 am

Hey fellers,
Sorry about the delay, we’ve had crappy weather and then this big expo last night. Will get the WOW out ASAP.

Thanks,
steven
8 jon on Jul 20th, 2007 at 2:46 pm

anyone know of a willits, phil wood, wily 29er for sale anywhere?????????????????
9 WillitsBikes on Jul 20th, 2007 at 5:49 pm

Used? Not sure about that. We do have prebuilt ones on our online store we would love to make anyone a great deal on.

-steven
10 jon on Jul 25th, 2007 at 11:57 am

what is the website of the online store????thanks
11 WillitsBikes on Jul 25th, 2007 at 3:39 pm

Here you go, Jon.

http://www.willitsbikes.com/store

Thanks,
steven