What fork for ’97 Orange Clockwork?

robbiemac

Can anybody advise what size the steerer tube is on my old stalwart? I'd like to fit a new suspension fork to replace the standard RST 381s. Oh, and if anyone can recommend a no-brainer fitment for about £90-£100, that would be cool.....

nicklouse

it should be a 1 1/8" measure the steerer to check.and a Tora fork for that money.

toontra

I think you'll find it's a 1" steerer that's required. I've had several Clockworks & P7's from the 90's and they've all had 1" forks.

That being the case it severely limits your choice of forks. I'm looking to build one of these up as a hardtail also so would be interested in suggestions (Pace are the only ones I know about - £500 :shock:)

artillerydave

i think you will find that marzocchi do and are still doing (according to Dec MBR) the great MX Pro forks in a 1" steerer these will be around £180 i think so much cheaper than the Pace ones.

robbiemac

Thanks, guys - good stuff to follow up on. It's arguable whether or not it's logical to spend £200 or so upgrading a bike that's worth less than that, but it's such a sweet-handling, well-made bike that I keep thinking I'd regret getting rid of it.

toontra

Completely logical! I'm using a Clockwork with rigid forks and road components as my commuter and it's awesome. Very rarely overtaken on my 12 mile journey to work, even with the rash of carbon-frame racers in London at the moment.

The frame is light, responsive, sturdy and soaks up the bumps. What more do you want. I spent £400 building up my current one, and will definitely spend more to build a hardtail with one of the several Clockwork/P7 frames I have lurking under the bed!

robbiemac

Okay...okay - I give in. You're absolutely right. Out of interest, what upgrades have you made to yours?

Iain W

I'd suggest looking at the forums on here

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/

carlos-g

toontra wrote:

I think you'll find it's a 1" steerer that's required. I've had several Clockworks & P7's from the 90's and they've all had 1" forks.

According to the Orange website my P7 was manufactured no later than 1998(seat tube split faces rear) and has a 1 1/8 steerer so it's entirely possible yours is too.

ride_whenever

i have a P7 that has a forwards facing slot and it takes 1" steerer. Try and get some original orange R7 forks (I think that is what i have) or maybe some second hand pace rigids from ebay.

reefman

I have a 1998 P7,this has 1 1/8" forks.I still have the original RST 461's and desperatly need to replace them.They are 80mm travel.I put a set of 8omm Kona P2 rigids on for a while but have got fed up with my fillings falling out.
I may sell these if any one wants them

My q is similar to the original Post.
What forks should I get ,I realy fancy Marzocchi MX pro's as they seem good value and well recieved.Would 100 mm travel make my bike feel like a chopper ( I do a lot of climbing)
Could I overcome this if it were a porblem by increasing sag.
My axle to crown measurement with the original RST's is 450mm.

Thanks Reefman.

supersonic

The bike will be about 1 degree slacker with the MX - it shouldnt be too bad, and the fork can be internally adjusted to 85mm. It is about a pond heavier than the 461 though.