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Reasonably light 700C suspension fork for a gravel/cyclocross bike?

2000 Views 17 Replies 7 Participants Last post by BicyclesOnMain, Jan 18, 2022

OregonMTB

Discussion Starter · Jan 17, 2022 (Edited)

It's an old-school Ibis Hakkalugi--so I am still running canti's and plan to keep it that way. Any thoughts on a suspension fork with lockout?

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ljsmith

· #2 · Jan 17, 2022

You’re looking for a 700c suspension fork with a 1/8” straight steerer and canti mounts? If you are looking for something new, there is no such thing. If you want to switch to v brakes the Rockshox Paragon will work, but the axle to crown length is going to really change your geometry. You may be able to find some 25 year old fork on eBay, but it won’t be easy.

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Stahr_Nut

· #3 · Jan 17, 2022

Sorry, nothing of value to add regarding a fork.... But I can't help but say that looks like it would be horribly uncomfortable to ride in the drops. I have a couple friends that have converted old MTB frames to dropbar monstercrossers and they have used much shorter stems than that with a bunch of rise.

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OregonMTB

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 17, 2022

ljsmith said:
You’re looking for a 700c suspension fork with a 1/8” straight steerer and canti mounts? If you are looking for something new, there is no such thing. If you want to switch to v brakes the Rockshox Paragon will work, but the axle to crown length is going to really change your geometry. You may be able to find some 25 year old fork on eBay, but it won’t be easy.

The canti mount is on the headset stack and not the frame--so any fork with v-brake mounts will work. I know they are out there--I picked up a new crappy RST fork. My issue is that it is 5.3 lbs.

ljsmith

· #5 · Jan 17, 2022

OregonMTB said:
The canti mount is on the headset stack and not the frame--so any fork with v-brake mounts will work. I know they are out there--I picked up a new crappy RST fork. My issue is that it is 5.3 lbs.

Actually you are incorrect. I actually tried this back in the 90s when canti forks were disappearing and I got a fork made for v-brakes. What happens is when you use your front brake it will compress the suspension fork and reduce the braking force of the front brake. Thats when I got my first set of v-brakes for my mountain bike. You have to have a fork that has a cable mount on the fork arch.

OregonMTB

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 17, 2022

ljsmith said:
Actually you are incorrect. I actually tried this back in the 90s when canti forks were disappearing and I got a fork made for v-brakes. What happens is when you use your front brake it will compress the suspension fork and reduce the braking force of the front brake. Thats when I got my first set of v-brakes for my mountain bike. You have to have a fork that has a cable mount on the fork arch.

I disagree on that one. 1990's suspension forks were like wet noodles. Where the mount for the center pull cable is mounted won't impact the amount of the pressure put on the fork or wheel.

BicyclesOnMain

· #7 · Jan 17, 2022

OregonMTB said:
I disagree on that one. 1990's suspension forks were like wet noodles. Where the mount for the center pull cable is mounted won't impact the amount of the pressure put on the fork or wheel.

When the fork is compressed, the brake cable will be slack. The housing stop for the canti brake would have to stay the same distance from the brake in order to function. I'm not aware of any 700c forks available with a brake boss on the fork bridge. You're better off setting it up with a front disk brake anyways.

ljsmith

· #8 · Jan 17, 2022

OregonMTB said:
I disagree on that one. 1990's suspension forks were like wet noodles. Where the mount for the center pull cable is mounted won't impact the amount of the pressure put on the fork or wheel.

Disagree all you want, you clearly don’t really understand how things work. Every time you hit a bump the fork will compress putting slack in the cable and your brakes won’t work. But hey, you know better so have at it.

OregonMTB

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 17, 2022

BicyclesOnMain said:
When the fork is compressed, the brake cable will be slack. The housing stop for the canti brake would have to stay the same distance from the brake in order to function. I'm not aware of any 700c forks available with a brake boss on the fork bridge. You're better off setting it up with a front disk brake anyways.

Well--that is good point on fork compression! Who need brakes while the fork is compressed? A new gravel bike would be far superior in many ways--just like a 2022 Toyota is far superior over a 67 Camaro. I would still take the 67!

RickBullottaPA

· #10 · Jan 17, 2022

Given that forks that fit that spec haven't been made in 12-15 years, I'd suggest going with a suspension stem instead if you really feel like you need some boing. Or maybe it is #newbiketime

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BicyclesOnMain

· #11 · Jan 17, 2022

OregonMTB said:
Well--that is good point on fork compression! Who need brakes while the fork is compressed? A new gravel bike would be far superior in many ways--just like a 2022 Toyota is far superior over a 67 Camaro. I would still take the 67!

Uh it's the other way around- the fork compresses when you use the front brakes, making the brakes not work... if that's your thinking, might as well not run a front brake at all. And I'm not here to compare classic cars, just explaining what fork and brake setup you need to make your bike functional.

OregonMTB

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jan 17, 2022

BicyclesOnMain said:
Uh it's the other way around- the fork compresses when you use the front brakes, making the brakes not work... if that's your thinking, might as well not run a front brake at all. And I'm not here to compare classic cars, just explaining what fork and brake setup you need to make your bike functional.

I was being sarcastic. You are quite right. The brakes would not work when the suspension was working.

Reactions: 1

OregonMTB

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jan 17, 2022

RickBullottaPA said:
Given that forks that fit that spec haven't been made in 12-15 years, I'd suggest going with a suspension stem instead if you really feel like you need some boing. Or maybe it is #newbiketime

A suspension stem has to be one of the most dangerous bike inventions of all time.

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OneSpeed

· #14 · Jan 17, 2022

Best thread so far this week.

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OregonMTB

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jan 17, 2022

*OneSpeed* said:
Best thread so far this week.

It's only Monday--it's bound to get better . . .

RickBullottaPA

· #16 · Jan 17, 2022

OregonMTB said:
A suspension stem has to be one of the most dangerous bike inventions of all time.

Agree 100% - I'd never own one. But it's really the only option other than some flexy Ti bars to take out the sting with the limitations of this frame.

Crankout

· #17 · Jan 18, 2022

1990's Vintage Specialized FS Future Shock Fork: Rockshox Judy - 1 1/8" Threadless

BicyclesOnMain

· #18 · Jan 18, 2022

OregonMTB said:
I was being sarcastic. You are quite right. The brakes would not work when the suspension was working.

Sorry I didn't catch your sarcasm, I thought you were just one of my idiot customers.

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