Considering Swap From Suspension To Rigid Forks

Mark Elvin

After taking part in Bristols Biggest Bike Ride yesterday, and having spent the whole day with the Pace forks locked out, I started wondering about selling the RC36s & popping on some rigid carbon forks.

Have I gone mad, I do some cross country work, but it's pretty limited.

paulbox

If you're still using the bike off-road I'd keep the RC36's on.

I'm thinking about doing similar, just bought a new bike for off-road and am converting my old hardtail in to a commuter, I currently have some Marzocchi Bombers on it and I'm considering putting the original (GT) forks on.

BR 1979

Interesting question... It's tricky looking for forks - When I was looking for a new set I finally narrowed it down from 15 to 1.

el_presidente

BR 1979 wrote:

Interesting question... It's tricky looking for forks - When I was looking for a new set I finally narrowed it down from 15 to 1.

that gives me an idea for a quiz show

ride_whenever

If you don't think you need suspension, and for a lot of riding you really dont, then try some rigids.

I'd buy some exotic carbon ones, because they're cheap (£80) then see how you get on, if you really miss the sus then you've got your answer, if you dont, flog the paces and buy some ritchey triton forks. In my experience curved leg forks that look like road forks are much better off-road than the straight legged ones.

The Rookie

I convrted my MTB hardtail to Onza smart guy ally forks (ebay, still available direct from Onza) which I then moved to my dedicated commuter when I built that.

Simon

Mark Elvin

Well, I've done it, order placed, PAce forks coming off, rigids going on.

stickman

Remember cyclo cross bikes have rigid forks, suspension forks are uneeded for most riding but people are conned by manufacterers into to thinking they need them.

Mark Elvin

This is purely for weight (and the fact I'm a carbon whore)

Mark Elvin

OK, after a few rides on the new carbon forks I can say I'm smitten.

Yes your arm/hamds get a bit more of a pounding, but I'll just choose my lines more carefully, years of suspension have made me lazy. But the directness of the steering is amazing, the bike is now perfect, totally transformed.

paulbox

What forks are they?

Mark Elvin

Sold by a company called Carbon Cycles under the brand name eXotic. After some googling I found some good reviews. By all accounts they are identical to the White Bros rigid forks.

El Capitano

Hmm, I may look at doing that on the XTC...

jonnyboy77

Mark Elvin wrote:

OK, after a few rides on the new carbon forks I can say I'm smitten.

Yes your arm/hamds get a bit more of a pounding, but I'll just choose my lines more carefully, years of suspension have made me lazy. But the directness of the steering is amazing, the bike is now perfect, totally transformed.

I'm intrigued and considering this for my 09 Cindercone ... if Kona states the Fork Length is 476mm (or 18.7") - what size fork should I be looking at?

Thanks

Jon

Mark Elvin

jonnyboy77 wrote:

I'm intrigued and considering this for my 09 Cindercone ... if Kona states the Fork Length is 476mm (or 18.7") - what size fork should I be looking at?

Thanks

Jon

My forks were 450(ish) extended (PAce RC36 Stealth running the 80mm spring arrangement), so I went for 425mm as this was the suspension fork length when I was seated on the bike.

I'd say you'd need 445mm long, that would equat to about 30mm compression on your current forks.

You could always check you fork sag by popping a cable tie around the fork stantion loosely, then sitting on the bike, when you get off the bike the distance between the top of the lower fork leg & the cable tie is the sag.

jonnyboy77

Mark Elvin wrote:

jonnyboy77 wrote:

I'm intrigued and considering this for my 09 Cindercone ... if Kona states the Fork Length is 476mm (or 18.7") - what size fork should I be looking at?

Thanks

Jon

My forks were 450(ish) extended (PAce RC36 Stealth running the 80mm spring arrangement), so I went for 425mm as this was the suspension fork length when I was seated on the bike.

I'd say you'd need 445mm long, that would equat to about 30mm compression on your current forks.

You could always check you fork sag by popping a cable tie around the fork stantion loosely, then sitting on the bike, when you get off the bike the distance between the top of the lower fork leg & the cable tie is the sag.

Thanks for that, I'll give it a whirl and see if I can talk the wife into the purchase of some carbon forks

- Jon