Kinesis Fork Extras

DESCRIPTION

Kinesis Fork

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-7 of 7  
[Apr 20, 2017]
Paul W.
Cross Country Rider

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
Strength:

Light, Inexpensive, Welded, 3-Year Warranty

Weakness:

Only comes in black and does not have a non-integrated version. (You can still use them on non-integrated, but there will be a little overlap at the bottom of the headtube).

I've been using the 2010 Manitou Drake 100mm (canti-boss) fork sine 2011. I found that I was doing much less off-road riding than I had anticipated. With full lock-out, the Manitous were actually very good on the road. i had no complaint, but then I got honest with myself and set about the somewhat difficult task of finding a high-quality, alloy, rigid fork for 26" wheels, with canti bosses and no disc flange.
Kinesis doesn't distribute to U.S., though, so I found the Kinesis Maxlight 450 at a site in the Netherlands. You can also find them at German sites, U.K. sires, and, as the earlier reiviewer did, at an Irish site.
The crown-to-axle measurement on my Manitous was 468, so I found the closest I could. 450 works just fine (I raised my bars 20mm with a spacer).
With the Maxlights, I am going from 1860 grams to 760 grams. It is much more suitable for my road riding, especially with my Bontrager SR1 tires that are 1.25" slicks.
The Maxlights have mounting holes for low-rider panniers, too. I plan to take advantage of this and tour with the bicycle, which is a Raleigh M80 from 2001.
I have Kinesis alloy forks on my road bike and I love them. That is why I went with Kinesis alloy this time. I had heard too many stories of carbon forks with alloy steerers letting go, and anyway, there are no carbon canti boss forks for 26".
These forks, like the Maxlight XLT, are welded, and Kinesis is a reputable, known company from Taiwan that takes their reputation seriously. The ride is excellent and so is the looks (I painted top and bottom of fork white, just enough to not cover the decal).
These forks are worth investigating.

Similar Products Used:

Kinesis RF34

[Jul 20, 2013]
mpix00

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
Strength:

LIGHT, HANDLING, LOOKS, FIT, QUALITY

Weakness:

NONE!!!

I purchased a new mountain bike with the crappy suntour M2025 pogo sticks and I wanted to make a bike that is quick handling and responsive for the street and after much research bought the Kinesis Maxlight XLT from chainreactioncycles.. This fork is exactly what I wanted!! It actually improved the geometry of my bike and my bike ended up a completely different bike after installation. The first thing I noticed about these forks was how light they were and the high quality that these are made with. So I put them on my bike and took it out for a ride and WOW!!! Incredible difference. My bike was lighter, way more responsive and the feel for my bike was exactly how I wanted it, Check out the before and after pix along with installation pix.--->http://forums.mtbr.com/all-mountain/switched-rigid-love-865324.html

[Sep 19, 2002]
Jonathan Grayson

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
Strength:

Nice looking,Light as a feather,Well made.

Weakness:

None

Very nice fork but I'm only using it on a hybrid street bike.I'm not sure how it would hold up on the trails.Maybe someone could fill in that part of the review

[Sep 01, 1997]
Big Al
weekend warrior

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING

I'm in the process of building up a Klein Fervor with the Kinesis fork. I'm looking to build a lightweight rig and am pretty impressed with the weight difference between the Kinesis and the stock rigid fork from Klein. It's about a half a pound lighter. Looking forward to riding it.

[Aug 26, 1997]
Tom Kenney
cross-country rider

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING

The Kinesis MTB fork is extremely light, which made me wonder about it's durability. Well,
after a couple of years' use, it seems to be holding up well. It is also much stiffer than the steel
forks I've tried (including the AccuTrax), which makes handling a dream. I've got the
threadless model, which I'm using on a Klein Pinnacle, with a Syncros CattheHead stem. The
whole setup is very nice!Also, the fork has rack-mount holes, and works quite well with a loaded rack.

[Aug 25, 2001]
Clay Holt
Cross Country Rider

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
Strength:

Light-weight,good-looks,apparent-high quality,and toughness!!

Weakness:

Apparent lack of quality controll as the steering tube was stuck in the crown at an angle,(as the leaning tower of pisa)the rest of fork is prefect though,except for the fact that shock is transfered to my wrists abet more directly than with a cro-mo fork or Ti or carbon-fiber(If they made them)

The kinesis max-light fork as far as I've been able to assertain is the seconed lightest rigid mountian fork availible.(next to the marazec-moratti)and the best looking as the crown on the marazec I consider unattractive.I'm the hoping that the steering tube being bonded to the crown off-center to the right is the exception rather than the rule.as I plan to use anouther one on my next bike,also the drop-outs could have been the same width-thickness,but the welds are nice,and the blades are straight with the crown and brake bosses.as I've said I plan to use anouther one on my next bike,at least untill I can get something better,I'm hoping "Wound-up" will wind-up production of a rigid mountain fork simular to their cyclo-cross fork because in the "real-world" road-bikes are dangerous and suspension bikes are slow!!!!!!(I also have a have a very nice hard-tail that I wouldn't be caught riding in the rocks-dirt with-out it (at least not real fast anyway))
Bottom-line the Kinesis is probibly the best-lightest rigid fork for a mountain bike I've seen but the quality is going to cost them,a point on value and proformance,I'd be willing to pay a lot more for a better piece as I ride a rigid bike respectable distances on a daily basis and the rigid bike deserves its day in the sun, or whatever, (if anyone form "Wound-up" or outher carbon-Ti or fork maker id pay $350.00+ for a good fork)


Similar Products Used:

cro-mo rigid,sx-r suspension

[Sep 15, 2004]
Mister Ajero
Weekend Warrior

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
Strength:

My stock 97 Judys had to go. Switched to Rigid Maxlight since my MTB is evolving into a commuter. It's everything I expected. Affordable, less effort climbing, much better acceleration, stable handling, and no power loss. Good for feel riders. I am not bothered by bumpy pavement or rookie trails.

Weakness:

It takes a few extra skewer rotations to get the wheel off. It's pretty annoying. It does look a little funny at first with a fat Klein Frame, skinny fork legs, and fat tires. Like a fat guy with skinny legs and big feet. But I got over it.

A must for light XC riders and commuters. It's getting an overall rating of 4 because my wheel used to come off easier.

Similar Products Used:

Forks on my 20" BMX Bikes; SE Racing Landing Gear

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