Nomad 1.5HT fork options, will tapered steerer work?

Yes...a 1.5 to 1.125 adapter setup on top and a straight 1.5 setup on bottom will allow you to run a tapered fork on a straight 1.5 headtube. I even kind of think a couple of headset manufacturers are making a one-set deal like this...perhaps? Even if not, you can mix and match parts to get where you want to be.

Your best bet is a headset made for 1.5 headtubes with a 1.125" top, and a 1.5 bottom. Cane Creek calls it the Frustrum.

Here you go bro:
http://www.canecreek.com/component-headsets?browse=tapered

Thanks for your help.

Thanks for your help. I am still looking for a fork and so many I see are tapered. It seemed to me it would not be a problem to run a different top and bottom size with a tapered but I was unsure if doing so with an 1.5 to 1.125 adaptor with a standard 1.125 top would work. So, the bottom line is, any of three steerer tube sizes will work in a 1.5 headtube as long as you have the correct headset and adaptor parts. The frame came with the XX 1.5 headset. I am thinking that the tapered is the best option if I decide to change frames down the road. Like when Santa Cruz comes out the new carbon Nomad which I'm guessing might have a tapered headtube like the Blur LTc. I am certain that SC must be working on a Carbon Nomad so Ibis doesn't get all the market with their new Mojo HD frame. What do you think?

I got a 1.5 steerer fork for my Nomad, in hindsight I think the 1 1/8 would have been a better choice. There are many more stem options for 1 1/8, you can run offset headset cups to change the head angle of the bike and it will work in any frame, 1.5, tapered, 1 1/8 or any of the new internal/integrated standards. If you don't like your new tapered fork it could be harder to sell because it wont work in a 1 1/8 frame, or a new frame might require you to buy a different fork if you just wanted to swap frames.

I would never buy a tapered fork(unless it's a ridiculous deal) just on the principle that it is a new standard that fixes a problem that does not exist, like the QR15 standard.

mullet dew said:

I got a 1.5 steerer fork for my Nomad, in hindsight I think the 1 1/8 would have been a better choice. There are many more stem options for 1 1/8, you can run offset headset cups to change the head angle of the bike and it will work in any frame, 1.5, tapered, 1 1/8 or any of the new internal/integrated standards. If you don't like your new tapered fork it could be harder to sell because it wont work in a 1 1/8 frame, or a new frame might require you to buy a different fork if you just wanted to swap frames.

I would never buy a tapered fork(unless it's a ridiculous deal) just on the principle that it is a new standard that fixes a problem that does not exist, like the QR15 standard.

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QR15 does fix a problem - it allows companies to make a through axle design on their forks without putting on a 20mm axle and subjecting it to the possiblity that it will be 'freeridden'. That was the issue for the manufacturers as I see it.

I believe the QR15 is a gimmick that Fox came up with to capture the XC market who would rather die than convert to a 20mm axle because of the freeride/downhill standard for that type axle. I ran a 20mm axle on a Pike for years which is a pretty light fork and it was awesome. I always wondered why Fox did not put out a 130/140mm fork with a 20mm axle as I liked some of their forks but there was no way I would ever go back to a quick release setup after using a through axle. I even wrote to Fox once asking why they didn't offer a through axle on forks smaller than the 36 series.

67degrees said:

I believe the QR15 is a gimmick that Fox came up with to capture the XC market who would rather die than convert to a 20mm axle because of the freeride/downhill standard for that type axle. I ran a 20mm axle on a Pike for years which is a pretty light fork and it was awesome. I always wondered why Fox did not put out a 130/140mm fork with a 20mm axle as I liked some of their forks but there was no way I would ever go back to a quick release setup after using a through axle. I even wrote to Fox once asking why they didn't offer a through axle on forks smaller than the 36 series.

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Because they didn't want people to dirt jump/freeride, etc on those lighter weight, non-beefy forks. QR15 is XC oriented - you can't get a 15mm axle front DH wheel.

gticlay said:

Because they didn't want people to dirt jump/freeride, etc on those lighter weight, non-beefy forks. QR15 is XC oriented - you can't get a 15mm axle front DH wheel.

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The how come the 831 is marketed for DJ/4X? It is just a lowered 32 float with more damping. Better question, why should Fox try to control their customers actions? It's a dick move just like Intense gimping the seat tube on the new SS so people didn't climb with it. Fox is just trying to be special and convince people that their new standard is better and unfortunatly most people(or sheeple) will belive it, just look at how many people think the FIT damper is new for 2010 in all forks.

mullet dew said:

The how come the 831 is marketed for DJ/4X? It is just a lowered 32 float with more damping. Better question, why should Fox try to control their customers actions? It's a dick move just like Intense gimping the seat tube on the new SS so people didn't climb with it. Fox is just trying to be special and convince people that their new standard is better and unfortunatly most people(or sheeple) will belive it, just look at how many people think the FIT damper is new for 2010 in all forks.

Click to expand...

Maybe it is and maybe it isn't. I know some people at Fox and while I haven't asked them about the 831, I do know they test the heck out of their stuff. The weights on the website for the 32 Float and 831 aren't the same leading me to belive it is different. Not sure how but if you can get me CAD drawings, I'll let you know what is different.

Fox should control how their use specific product is used. An XC fork should NOT be used for DJ if they feel it is a dangerous application for an XC fork. If it's OK, then well fine, and a company would put it on the intended uses.

I'm sure you know how people are: "The box didn't say I couldn't race DH on this fork and I did and it broke and now I want to sue for 100 bazillion dollars." You see what I'm saying? People are dumb and companies have to be care of all those dumb people.

831 - 3.83
Float - 3.88
They are .05 pounds different, I suspect if you weighed two of the same fork they could easily be .05 pounds different just from manufacturing tolerances. Look at this article, the only new thing it mentions is a rebound needle and a more progressive air spring.(something you can accomplish by putting some more oil into the chamber) Just because the fork has a 20mm axle doesn't mean the consumers of the world will DH on them and break them, look at Rockshox, the Pike and Revelation both have 20mm axles, neither of them are known for breaking. A 140mm, 5.5" fork is not a pure XC fork that can't take a 20mm axle, if Fox truly thought that anything other than XC on their 32 platform would break it they would not have used it for a DJ/4X fork.

I agree with mullet dew

mullet dew said:

The how come the 831 is marketed for DJ/4X? It is just a lowered 32 float with more damping. Better question, why should Fox try to control their customers actions? It's a dick move just like Intense gimping the seat tube on the new SS so people didn't climb with it. Fox is just trying to be special and convince people that their new standard is better and unfortunatly most people(or sheeple) will belive it, just look at how many people think the FIT damper is new for 2010 in all forks.

Click to expand...

As I stated before, the 15qr is just a gimmick to capture market share.