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37 vs 44 fork offset?

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bad mechanic

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Is 37 vs 44mm fork offset even noticable?

I'm trying to decide between keeping the 37mm offset fork that came on a new bike, versus swapping it for the 44mm offset fork on the old bike which has an upgraded damper.

I like the idea of more stability the 37mm fork theoretically offers, but if it's not really noticable I'll just swap the forks.
 
#2 ·
27.5 specific.

I ran a 44mm offset fork on my Nomad and felt the turn in was edgy and didn’t inspire confidence. As soon as I fitted the correct offset fork, 37mm in this case, the bike felt much more stable and the steering/handling became much more natural and intuitive. 100% noticeable change for the better for me.
 
#5 · (Edited)
My current frame (both wheels 27.5) was designed for a 37mm offset fork, yet I used a 44mm fork that I already owned for the build. After riding the first trail I remember thinking that the front was twitchier than I expected for that style of bike.

I've gotten used to it and can ride most things without a problem, but sometimes on very technical trails I feel I need to do a lot of micro corrections, which can be fatiguing over time.

I'd love to try how it feels with a shorter offset but it's not that big of an issue that I'd invest in a new fork. But if I was starting from scratch I would definitely get the offset the designer intended for the frame.
 
#6 ·
Much has been made of the different fork offset, and I have tested 2 different offsets back to back on the same bike and same terrain, same brand and model of fork, same week. It is not a huge difference and certainly not nearly as big of an impact as made out in marketing. The offset is just one piece of the geometry matrix, and not the biggest factor. You will need to get used to the handling of any new bike/fork/tires/handlebar/stem etc.


More offset means more ‘agility’.

Less offset means more 'stability'.


Less offset provides more straight line stability. So if the trails are rough the 44 mm offset will feel more planted when going straight. The berms built into the ‘modern trails’ make it possible to actually use a shorter offset fork! Since many trail systems are now heavily shoveled with berms, even small berms, these berms make a short offset fork turn, just leeeeen it over.


If you do more old school trails with random turns of various radii, chicanes, flat turns, around trees, dodging rocks embedded in the middle of the trail at the last second, more offset is more nimble. . The feel of a 51mm offset fork is lighter, it’s less ‘stuck’ to the ground and more nimble so you can make mid turn corrections easier, of course this is less stable as well. Splitting hairs..

DT
 
#7 ·
I'm in the camp of "you have to try it and see". I did the opposite on my Canyon where I swapped the stock 51 offset fork for a 44 and noticed it immediately and not in a good way. At no small expense I ended up getting a new CSU to swap back to 51. I've done offset changes on several other bikes before and never really noticed the difference but on the Canyon it was like night and day. I've learned that on some bikes even small changes can make a big difference or none at all. On my new Banshee I built it with rear dropouts in the neutral position because it looked better on paper. After a couple of rides I didn't like it, like to the point where I was worried for a moment that I made a mistake and this bike might end up sucking. I then put the dropouts in the low position and now the bike rides awesome. All that from a 8 mm bb drop and 0.5 degree HTA change (and subsequent change in trail).
 
#9 ·
justwan naride said:
@DeeCount What was the difference with the 44 offset?
Click to expand...
With the 51 offset the bike (Canyon Stoic) would flow thru turns and switchbacks easily and effortlessly, it's pretty sweet. When I switched to the 44 offset I instantly noticed that turning was harder to initiate, I had to consciously countersteer to get it turning. I'm sure I would've eventually gotten used to it but didn't want to, I intuitively preferred the 51. In size medium the bike has a 1193mm wheelbase and 65 degree HTA so two of the variables of stability are already there. I assume that's why the manufacturers put a 51 offset on there.
 
#12 ·
tedmasta said:
Are 44 offsets still available? Seems like 51mm offset for 29" has been eliminated by most manufacturers.
Click to expand...
If you mean "are 51mm still available", Fox is only offering 44mm on retail 34, 36 and 38 forks now. Their parts page still shows 51mm CSUs so I'm thinking they must still be making them for OEMs. Cane Creek Helm looks to be 44mm only now. Rockshox is still offering 51mm, not sure about the other brands.
 
#14 ·
I've done quite a bit of riding with 41, 46, and 51mm offsets (the options from us, MRP, for 29") and have a few takeaways. I could live with any of them, but prefer 46mm as it's kind of the neutral option. 46 to 51mm was a pretty small difference, 51 being subtly quicker handling and 46 being a little more stable feeling (especially at speed).

With 41mm...
  • Had to ride more consciously and more engaged.
  • Wheel flop was more pronounced, making it more tippy in slow speed situations.
  • Didn't feel like it wanted to make a particularly smooth arc in slow turns/switchbacks.
  • Never felt an advantage worth the tradeoff.
Pretty much what DT said.
 
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