[Closed] Fork upgrade to rigid carbon forks?

Exotic Carbon at 440mm. About £100. Job done.
A 470mm (29er) version would lift the front a bit more, perhaps a bit comfier given the use you mentioned.

Yes, I've just measured the axle-crown length as it is when I normally ride the bike with the fork locked out (no sag) and that's around 470-480mm.

So, I guess that puts us into the 29er range. Any know if putting a 29er fork on this bike would cause any problems? Given the measurements, it doesn't seem like it would to me, but I'm pretty new to this.

I'm also considering rigid steel forks as well as carbon.

Even steel would be around 2.5 times lighter than the current front sus.

Exotic Carbon at 440mm. About £100. Job done.

I have just been looking at these myself and quite fancy them with a fatter tyre up-front. Done some searching and they get a good write up, and are cheaper than a service for my mars elites...

Locked out doesn't normally mean no sag... I've not been inside an XCM so wouldn't want to say for sure but it is not a hydraulic lockout on the damper side?

I used to use Exotics, they're very good- not too light, not too stiff, not too heavy. Bashed them around on the front of a Soul and a C456, Scotroutes has them now, still going strong I think. All round top kit.

The XCMs are alright forks though as you say very heavy- lots of steel. But they wear very fast, the seals are pretty poor and the internals have no tolerance for dirt so unless you stay right on top of the maintenance they tend to go off very fast. And a carbon rigid is better than a shagged suspension fork.

If you want steel try Salsa cromoto's, 465mm axle to crown, and they're £71.99 at Wiggle at the mo,
Got em on my (29er) SS and I really like em..

Exotic do an alloy version too, & despite my fears it actually rode very nicely. When I run rigid I prefer steel. It doesn't take big hits (if a rigid fork could ever be described as taking hits of any size), as well as a carbon fork, but it seems to absorb trail buzz a little better. A nice big volume tyre helps too.

Locked out doesn't normally mean no sag

Yeah, I wondered about that, although I can't see the sag being more than 20mm or so when they are locked out, given that the fork is supposed to have 100mm bounce in total?

So I do think that a 440mm fork might lower the front end a bit too much for my liking though. Anyone got any thoughts on that?

If you want steel try Salsa cromoto's

I've actually been looking at some Salsa forks and quite like the look of the [url= http://salsacycles.com/components/category/forks/fargo_fork ]Fargo V2[/url], mainly for the cage mounts.

However, this takes me to another little problem. My current front disc calliper is post mount, yet the forks I'm looking at are IS mount.

Can you get an adaptor to make the two compatible? Or am I looking at a new front calliper as well?

You can get adapters easily enough, I've got a 180mm front disc with a post mount shimano caliper on mine, you can get adapters for other disc sizes as well,
[url= http://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/shimano-xtr-m985-brake-adapter.html?gclid=CMT5ya6-97wCFWjpwgodtWMAtQ ]Adapters...[/url]

I've got X-lite 29er carbon forks on an On One Whippet, it would be far too low at the front with anything shorter. They're great forks if you can find them discounted like they were when I bought them. 15mm bolt through too:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/x-lite-carbon-fork-15mm-dropout/rp-prod64390

Had a search for you, but can't see anywhere that will sell you some, so my post was a bit pointless.

Good stuff. That's decided then. :o)

tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2m29c7q&s=8

Here is my Blue pig with a 29er exotic carbon fork. Fitted with 180mm floating rotors with no rubbage and running 2.35 tyres. Fantastic fork. For the money I think it's a no brainer.

The On One carbons are down to £119 just now.
I have been using a set over the winter and they have been good .

Here is my Blue pig with a 29er exotic carbon fork.

Looks sweet. Been reading about carbon forks though and am a bit nervous about bashing them in the wrong way... like when the bike's being loaded on and off a train, etc.

Also, not sure how the carbon would hold up to the weight of a reasonable amount of bikepacking gear.

The On One carbons are down to £119 just now.

Out of stock though! :o/

The exotic ones are 115 from ebay shop or carboncycles. There was a review here a few months back by someone who had used Pace, On One and Exotics and thought the exotics were the best compromise of weight, quality, stiffness and price.

I have only had them on for a few months and they are certainly tough enough during riding but I understand your reservations. I still dont think I would buy a carbon frame for those reasons but to be fair carbon stuff has been around for awhile now. We are probably just worrying about nothing!

I have justbeen through the same thing! My Rockhopper came with some steel stantioned Rockshoxs that weighed a ton and offered very little in terms of comfort.

I looked around for some decent second hand replacements but came to the conclusion that the forks were going to be worth more than the rest of the bike.

I decided to go rigid (carbon). My theory was that on most trails I spend more time on the flat or going uphill, so the weight saving should make my rides faster overall. I will test that theory on Sunday at Wentwood (where there are significantly more uphills than down!!).

I grew up riding steel rigid mtbs (and do a bit of cross racing) so I know what I have let myself in for.

I went for the Exotic forks, they seem really good for the money.

I went a pair of the on-one carbon forks on my Curtis as the increased mud clearance and not watchign the winter filth wear the stanchions out on my bombers was quite attractive.

[URL= http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff167/LukeBurstow/1391943789820_zpsdc16f799.jp g" target="_blank">http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff167/LukeBurstow/1391943789820_zpsdc16f799.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]

It's been *really* fun. I've really not missed the suspension at all. I've mostly been avoiding the local wooded singletrack as it's so muddy and I dont; want to make it worse but for Downland bridleways and cheeky trails it's been great.

Biggest issue has been flappy biceps on long bumpy descents - can get uncomfortable 🙁

Ok... final decision is Salsa Fargo V2 fork at just short of a hundred quid, plus about £30 for fitting at my LBS.

Rigid steel, about 2.5 times lighter than my current sus fork and has plenty of mounts for bottle/anything cages - I don't have access to frame mounts because I use an Alpkit custom full frame bag.

Something like some fat Kenda BBGs 2.5" should smooth out a lot of the bumps too.

And also no carbon to worry (unnecessarily?!) about. ;o)

Should make my 20 mile daily commute (road and hardpack) a ton nicer, should be good enough for light trails and track, and should easily be tough enough to handle multi-day trips which generally involve the bike being bundled on and off trains, vans and roofracks.

Thanks all - you've been super helpful.

Good choice, have fun.. 🙂 I put an On One chunky monkey 2.4 on mine and it's been great..