How the heck...bent steerer tube?

Gobs

I've just taken the Epicon forks off for an overhaul and being confronted by this. The top 1/3 seems to be slightly bent but there is absolutely no indication of this when the bike is together. Had I not taken them off I would have never known. She feels completely solid and without play. Expert opinion?

cooldad

I can't see the picture.

The Rookie

I can - you (or someone) rode into something hard - it happens.

cooldad

I can see it now - edited after I posted.

I agree hit something hard, or you are superman.

Gobs

I'd expect some sort of sign though in operation, or at least a visual clue. I bought it (as new) but it looked like it hadn't even been ridden. I'm assuming it's not terminal considering I've been riding on it for over a year without issue.

The Rookie

It will not be as strong as it should be, and it will steepen the geometry, personally I wouldn't be riding it.

The nature of the crown race and compression wedge is you get a mild self aligning effect, so the headset will work fine.

Gobs

Can you get spares for Suntour forks? I don't seem to be having much luck searching online

Arthfael

This is my previous fork, notice anything wrong with the steerer?


Its a Suntour aswell. Found out also other people having bent steerers with suntour forks.

Arthfael

Gobs wrote:

Can you get spares for Suntour forks? I don't seem to be having much luck searching online

you could try contacting their tech support, but from my personal experience with them I would just get an other fork from Rockshox or Fox or anything thats not suntour

The Rookie

I wouldn't be repairing that, but as its a bent steerer would suggest any other similar fork (for the same usage) would have bent.

Gobs

Steerers can't be replaced can they?

cooldad

They can, but with a press in it's a bit of a specialist thing, and unlikely to be worth it.

02gf74

never seen anything like this before :shock: the fork steerer is held in place by the races at the top and bottom of the steerer tube so fail to see how it can bend midway!!

rockmonkeysc

Steel steerer tubes are more likely to bend than aluminium.
I've seen quite a few bent stanchions on various forks so if one thing doesn't bend the something else will.

The Rookie

02GF74 wrote:

never seen anything like this before :shock: the fork steerer is held in place by the races at the top and bottom of the steerer tube so fail to see how it can bend midway!!

Because with lower of the fork being pushed rearwards and constrained by the lower headset it will bend above it - bloomin obvious really! Try it with a plastic ruler, pinch top and middle to replicate the headset then push the lower end against something and watch it bend between the pinch points.