Why are rigid forks so expensive?

gt-arrowhead

I started having a look at some rigid forks, as i thought they would be quite cheap. But i dont understand how they end up being at the very least £70 at least and upwards. I dont understand the price tags. Theres nothing sophisticated in the way they work, unlike normal forks which obviously have the seals, dampers, and all the rest of it. The only cheap forks i can find are the curved retro styled ones that are all 2nd hand anyway, as they are off older bikes.

An example:, there are forks that are branded "Dirt Jumper Forks" with no brake mounts for either Vs or Discs. And yet they are priced at something like £90. I can understand carbon forks being worth alot, but there are aluminium and steel forks and they are all still expensive. Why?

These are examples: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Identiti-Reba ... 2330726c44

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gusset-Jury-C ... 25838c2720

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/surly-instigator-rigid-fork/

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ns-b ... -prod87937

This last one. £140 RRP? No brake mounts?! I think its a case of paying for the name more than anything else.

nicklouse

yep Dirt jump forks are more expensive as then need to not break.

and dirt jumpers of dont want and brakes on the front.

The Northern Monkey

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FOOOCR26DO/ ... _disc_only

rockmonkeysc

The cost isn't in the materials. Your paying for des8gn, r&d, testing, certification and liability insurance. Then on top of that you will be paying a 50% mark up to the distributor.

gt-arrowhead

Thanks for the replies.

Northern Monkey, that fork is the most reasonable one so far.

I hate to sound like someone who is expecting alot, but isnt there a fork out there that is just essentially a crap fork? That costs like 20-30 quid and isnt a retro styled one?

Im not looking to get a rigid as a permanent replacement, im still keeping my sus fork. I just want one i can put on to muck around on on light offroad stuff and on the road. Im going to try and sell both my other bikes soon, so having a crappy rigid would be good for me as ill be using my bike to commute aswell.

supersonic

Get a retro styled one?

nicklouse

go into your LBS they will have a pile of them.

The Rookie

Mosso - cheap and perfectly competaant.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bicycle-Bike- ... 0984117148 is just one example of the many suppliers on the bay.