|   I need your feedback on titanium forks... | kyezle
Jul 25, 2003 11:14 AM | | I've been thinking about putting a rigid ti fork on my Airborne SS, so I inquired on craigslist about wanting to purchase a used Ti disc fork off someone, and got these email responses in return:
"There are a few people who have produced Ti forks, but they have a history of breaking. I had a rare RockShox with a Ti steerer until it was stolen, but several properties with Ti made it rather undesireable. #1, it's horrible to cut and nearly impossible to thread (if you use an Ahead system that's the best.)
Most 3/2.5 Ti is pretty flexible unless it's a larger thickness making it less desireable from a weight persepective. If you must have one, i'd talk to Tom Kellogg at Spectrum Cycles or try calling Seven and see if they'll do a one off Ti fork for you.
The only near 100% Ti fork i've ridden that didn't feel like it was going to break was from Ti cycles bike, i think (they are in the Seattle WA area, if i remember correctly). It looked liked the Sycip or DeKerf Mono seat stay assembly, with tubes that were
welded from the steerer to the stantions. It was made from 100% straight gauge Ti and it was rather heavy. There were no brakebosses on it and it was for an oversized 26" BMX style singlespeed.
I guess the other thing to look into is to find an old Bontrager straight blade fork with the aluminum crown and find someone who can weld dropouts and disc tabs on the fork blades for you.
Good Luck. If there is something that's production out there that Sandvik/Lightspeed is producing, let me know. The Carbon forks have sort of taken over."
and:
"i don't think there is such a thing. teledyne experimented with these in the seventies, but judged that they were too brittle to be safe. and definitely not a disc fork- too much torsional stress. if you are after a good fork, i think wound-up might make a disc fork that is al/ carbon fiber. i'm assuming this is for a 700c bike. or, a kona project 2 with disc tabs will do you good, and they only cost seventy bucks. besides, the ride a ti fork would provide would be unimaginably noodly. i might be wrong, but i don't think i am on this one. i'd hate to see you waste your time."
No offense to these guys, I appreciate their concern, but this just seems contrary to comments from singlespeeders I have ridden with.
What are your experiences with Ti forks? BTW, I weight 154 lbs. and ride somewhat technical trails, but not very fast.
Kyle |
| Ya, I've heard all that too.... | SS_MB-7
Jul 25, 2003 11:26 AM | | Ya, I've heard all that too, but I've raced hard on my Morati Ti disc-only fork for a full season without a single issue. FWIW, I'm 135lbs and race Expert XC. Here are a couples pics of me at the 2002 World Master's Championships at Bromont, QC....singlespeed and Morati, oh, and a tad dusty, too.
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Ride Hard,
Mike B. |
| So no noodleyness? | kyezle
Jul 25, 2003 12:04 PM | | That'd be my only concern. The tradeoff for lack of suspension is ultra-responsive tracking. Whattyathink?
Nice pics, by the way. Looks like you're having a blast. |
| Well, there is some flex.... | SS_MB-7
Jul 25, 2003 3:13 PM | | Well, there is some flex. But, I've never noticed it to be a problem...even with discs and the technical singletrack I race/ride on. In fact, it helps to dampen/mute trail vibrations somewhat. You are a bit heavier than I am, but I don't think it should pose a problem.
My previous rigid fork was a Spicer steel fork and that was stiff....wrist jarringly stiff.
Having a blast? Well, it was a damn tough race...one of the toughest I've done. A singlespeed was a definite disadvantage at Bromont...especially against some of the World's best. But, I'll be back again.
Ride Hard,
Mike B. |
| OK, I have to compete with Mike's pics... (**language warning**) | itsdoable
Jul 25, 2003 12:13 PM | |  |
| re: titanium forks... | itsdoable
Jul 25, 2003 12:01 PM | | I've heard that too, but experience says otherwise. Your posters don't indicate weither they actually rode one. Probably old data too - the first aluminium frames and forks were so noodle like people predicted Al would never be a good bike material.
Magmaa: I have a mtb disc only and a road version. This fork is one of the stiffest 'light' forks I've ridden dispite it's anorexic appearance (http://www.magmaa.com/indexeng.html)
Spicer/XACD: This is a light asian made fork, noticably flexier than the Magmaa, but nothing worse than the older steel tange forks.
Both have been ridden hard, in rock gardens, XC wheelie drops, etc... without any problems. Flexiness of the fork is dependant on design, and the availability of tubes with the desired wall thickness & butts. Magmaa draws & butts thier own tubing, which allows them to make the fork as stiff as you want. Commercial Ti tube producers (Sanvik, Ancotech...) are not interested in the low production volumes of these tubes, so you can only use whatever is available.
I'd love to try out Mike's Morati so I can have a baseline for comparison.
FYI: 150lb / Airborne TiHag.
Cheers,
Tom |
| I ride a Spicer fork | Murphy
Jul 25, 2003 1:07 PM | | It is not noodley. I have ridden many rigid forks including many steel forks, Kinesis Maxlights, and the Spicer Ti fork. You cannot tell the difference between these forks except for their geometry and weight. They are all stiff as hell. They don't absorb bumps (that's what fat tires are for), they point the wheel where you aim it, and the don't squish when you hammer. Of the forks I've ridden, the Spicer is the lightest. |
| I have a Spicer.... | Fast Freddy
Jul 25, 2003 2:09 PM | | Feels pretty darn rigid to me. I was hoping for a little more flex but no luck. I'm 220lbs in my riding gear. I was a little worried about the fork with my weight on downhills (being disc specific) and It pulls through without a hint of any bad mojo. Mine is suspension corrected length for a 80mm fork - and uncut weighed in at 560 grams. I've only had it for a little of 2 weeks but I see many years of service from it.
Hope this helps,
FF
Just an after thought - if Ti is so "brittle" why doesn't the head tubes on your Airborne just snap off - it's already got a super strong suspension fork in it - so I would assume your Ti headtube would be absorbing a lot of the abuse now??? I dunno - food for thought - maybe that was a bad example - but if Ti is bad - why make an entire frame out of it and expect derailleurs affixed to it to shift accurately?? You know what I'm saying?
I'm out of here! |
| That's it! I'm getting me a Spicer. | kyezle
Jul 25, 2003 2:56 PM | | Damn straight. Thanks for the pep talk!
Kyle |
| re: I need your feedback on titanium forks... | Edoz
Jul 25, 2003 7:27 PM | | I'm interested in a ti fork, but I'm kinda wanting a 29" model. Anyone know if such a thing is available? I guess if I have enough cash someone would make it. Has anyone beaten me to that idea? |
| it is not a normal "fork" | JeffJ
Jul 25, 2003 7:44 PM | | My experimental fork fits 26" or 29", and I bet many of the suspension corrected disk ti forks do to.
Go here http://www.jonesbikes.com/gallery/default.asp and scroll down to the "experimental" pictures; the first pic has some details. This fork does not have a flex problem. I've been riding it hard for about a month now with out any problems. stiff.
Jeff Jones
www.jonesbikes.com |
| I can attest to that | Sparty
Jul 26, 2003 7:24 AM | | I had the pleasure of meeting and riding with Jeff Jones at Ride Fest last weekend. He brought three of his custom ti machines and he let us ride 'em. Plus he did a couple freestyle demos. Jeff's one of the most talented riders I've ever seen (& chased down a trail). And he makes WAY cool, WAY innovative stuff, all of it out of ti.
I wish I had the money for a new bike now, because now it the time to order bikes, forks & bars from Jeff. Won't be long before lots of his stuff gets out there and people become aware. At which time Jeff's going to be a very busy guy and we'll all be waitin' in line, crying. Visit Jeff's website! It's awesome!
http://www.jonesbikes.com/
--Sparty
(Photo appears without permission) |
| Thanks | JeffJ
Jul 26, 2003 11:55 AM | | Thanks. You are too kind.
I had a great time at the "Summer Ride Fest". I wish I stayed for the second day, I saw the posted pictures of Sundays ride it looked like even more fun. I will definitely be coming up for more rides with you guys. I want to explore more of your incredible trails.
When you are ready I will make time to build you a frame.
Jeff Jones
www.jonesbikes.com |
| Oh man............. | Mike T.
Jul 27, 2003 2:40 PM | | ....love that site and your philosophy!! I gotta read that site again! Oh yeah the bikes are freakin' awesome too. |
| re:Spicer Ti forks with 29" wheel | itsdoable
Jul 28, 2003 7:15 AM | | If your running discs, any suspension corrected rigid fork (~420mm or bigger axle-crown distance) will probably fit a 29" wheel. Here is the Spicer 430mm fork with a 2.1" 29'er.
Cheers, Tom |
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