[Wish I Were Riding]

I'm being lured to try SS and Rigid riding. I don't know if I can handle it on the hills around here or not, but I still want to give it a go.

I have a Schwinn Moab bike I'm going to convert. My question is what rigid fork should I get to replace the stock Manitoo SXR 80mm fork? I want something cheap since it will be an experiment. I don't want anything too heavy or stiff, since that might turn me off to rigid riding. If I like it I can always get a custom steel fork.

Any suggestions? (v-brakes)

Thanks.

 

[robkhoo]

Got to be a Project 2 - cheap as chips and very comfy.

 

[CJones]

Another vote for the Kona Project 2. Very nice fork for the money. Triple butted tubing makes for a nice ride. I got mine for $60 from bikeman.com

 

[Chowjusky]

I run the Gussett Jury SL on my s/s. The big advantage it has is that you can run either v-brakes or disks on it (I love my set-up of an ss w/ BB7s! ) Either way I think I paid around $90-$110 for it here are its vitals:

Cr-Mo Straight Blade 26" Mtb403mm Axle to Crown Race height will sharpen DS type frame handling to allow street trials use
Disc Mounts & canti pivots
11/8" Threadless steerer
1200g

 

[mp29k]

jury fork

Is that the fork made by gussett??

if so, how does that weight (1200g) compare to the project 2? and what about axle to crown measurement (what is the kona p2 measurement?)

Has ne1 ridden either to determine different ride qualities?

 

[Wish I Were Riding]

...and what about axle to crown measurement (what is the kona p2 measurement?)

Bikeman.com says, "The distance from the center of the axle to the crown race is 410mm."

Is that what I want to replace a 80mm fork? If so, I guess I'll give this one a try.

I don't need disk tabs, only because if I love SS and rigid I'll probably get a custom built 29er for the task.

 

[Chowjusky]

Is that the fork made by gussett??

if so, how does that weight (1200g) compare to the project 2? and what about axle to crown measurement (what is the kona p2 measurement?)

Has ne1 ridden either to determine different ride qualities?

Yes, it is the Gussett fork they also shaved weight on it by hollowing out some parts of the crown. As far as weight comparisons go it's ***** to find any weights for the Kona Project 2 which (from what I can see) comes in two types. The Project fork is for hybrid/recreational/cyclocross use and the second fork is Kona's heavy duty version which would seem more suited for ss needs. I have only ridden the Jury but I found it be to responsive in turns and gave me a generally comfortable ride (well... as comfortable as poss for ss )

 

[FishMan473]

Personally I think the Project 2 is a crappy, stiff fork, but it is the cheapest fork you can get retail. I would swing by your LBS first and see if they have any old, suspension corrected take off forks laying around. You can probably get a better deal, and better fork there.

That being said, I'm planning on selling my Baracuda fork, which is basically a Project 2 with a 200 mm steer tube instead of a 300 mm steer tube. $40 shipped. PM me if you're interested.

 

[single1x1]

kona fork

I'm being lured to try SS and Rigid riding. I don't know if I can handle it on the hills around here or not, but I still want to give it a go.

I have a Schwinn Moab bike I'm going to convert. My question is what rigid fork should I get to replace the stock Manitoo SXR 80mm fork? I want something cheap since it will be an experiment. I don't want anything too heavy or stiff, since that might turn me off to rigid riding. If I like it I can always get a custom steel fork.

Any suggestions? (v-brakes)

Thanks.

I like my Kona fork, I found a scab take off so it's actually a jf or jump fork, a little beffier then the p2 about 2.4 or 2.5 lbs, I've heard from several sources that the tripple butted v-brake p2 weighs just under 2lbs. I found my takeoff for $25 so I'm not complaining, plus it has discmounts for my mullet setup

 

[Wish I Were Riding]

I measure my 80mm fork and get 17.5 inches to the top of the crown. The Kona P2 fork says its 410mm which is about 16.14 inches. this will steepen my HTA won't it? Should I be looking for something a little longer?

Help!?!

 

[Cloxxki]

Maybe my 'hood is strange, but over here I can just blow a whistle and people will dig up semi-forgotten 425mm steel fork that weight just around 1000g. I bought one for a build once, and later found out I still have one to spare, they're that common here. I paid €10 so no worries, it was a nice VooDoo unit sold with their bikes in the late 90's. I would give you mine for free (actually sold by another, local brand), but it's destined for a build for my girlfriend or a sell-all-26"-parts-all-in-once project-build, sorry. I sometimes think it's silly to pay so much cash for a rigid fork that represents so little value. You get essentially the same fork for free on a department store bike. Oh no, those already get fancy suspension units now.

You may find such a fork and just be happy, and have cash left for a big "lightweight" tire. Like a Schwalbe Racing Ralph 2.4, Schwalbe Big Betty 2.4, WTB Mutanoraptor 2.4, or Maxxis Larsen TT 2.35, just for some extra cush and grip.

Sorry, caffeine trip, haven't bought a 1.5l bottle of coke in years, and going throught it quickly.

 

[midtnSS]

not an easy choice

A 3" suspension fork is about 17.5 or so axle to crown until you figure in sag and that brings it down to 16.75 or so(420 to 430). There aren't any cheap light weight forks in that range without going to a $200 custom. PlanetX are pretty heavy but the same fork as the On One model. Stock Bianchi forks are close I believe. I read a thread about doubling up the crown race, but I wouldn't try it. Raid your LBS. If nothing close and cheap there then a 16.25 to 16.5 fork will change your head angle 1/2 a degree, less if you run a fat front tire like 2.5+.

 

[single1x1]

Yep

I measure my 80mm fork and get 17.5 inches to the top of the crown. The Kona P2 fork says its 410mm which is about 16.14 inches. this will steepen my HTA won't it? Should I be looking for something a little longer?

Help!?!

The p2 is a little on the short side, when I put it on my aluminum redline it was just about an inch(25mm) shorter then the rigid monocog fork I did notice the change somewhat about 1/2to 1degree steeper, but I just got used to it, I also use a 2.5dh nbx up front, but I like the quicker front end. I've seen some people put a karate monkey fork on a 26IN bike I guess they just like superduper big tire clearance and a slacker head angle. The Surly 1x1 fork is also nice but also kinda short like the p2. The insitagor fork is a little longer, corrected for a 100mm fork, but shorter then the monkey.

 

[Wish I Were Riding]

Well now I kinda wanna kick myself, cause I already ordered the Kona P2. Oh well. I hope that it rides nice. I got some Conti Vertical Pro 2.35 tires cheap to try on it. I really hope it goes well, especially if I'll have a hard time selling it if not...

Yeah, the Surly Instigator fork is 447mm with is 17.5 just like my current suspension fork. Maybe I'll call up Bikeman.com tomorrow and see if they'll change to order... Would the instigator be a rougher riding fork?

 

[Legbacon]

Fork it!

I have an Instigator, P2, and 1x1. P2 and 1x1 are both 413 and are excellent replacements for 80mm forks. Remember that the rigid does not move while the suspension fork changes length all the time. The Instigator was okay but I prefer the sharper handling of the shorter forks. I picked up the 1x1 because of the disc mounts but the P2 was okay. The old rigid fork on my 89 Stumpjumper team was made to flex and you could actually see it move slightly on the bumps.

 

[FishMan473]

Remember that the fork sags just by you sitting on the bike and putting some weight on the fork, so the actual, sag corrected lenght will be 12-20 mm shorter then what you measured.

That being said, the main reason why I don't like the P2 is that it is too short, and thus the steering is too fast. Then I got a Kelly rigid fork with a axle to crown length of 425, and now my bike rides perfectly. It's also lighter and I was amazed at how much better the vibration dampening was. But that fork will set you back $180 bones.