Custom Ti Truss for...
 

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[Closed] Custom Ti Truss fork (Gratuitous photos!)

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Here's a few photos for those interested of my new custom Ti Truss fork I just had made by those crazy guys at XACD.

Very good comms with them although Porter gets a bit shirty when you don't reply to his emails within 12hrs! They were very easy to deal with and patient despite all my iterations throughout the design process.

The fork shares the same length and offset as the original steel Stooge fork but I've widened the dropouts to take all wheel diameters (inc 26x4.8) on a 142 hub. It's a thing of loveliness (IMO) and rides very nicely indeed.

It's incredibly stiff and precise. I've had to change from my usual 50mm to a 70mm stem as the steering responsiveness was just too quick on my usual stem length.

Happy days...

[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2930/33161620673_28b7ded0de_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2930/33161620673_28b7ded0de_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/SwnYuz ]Ti Truss[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/70653371@N05/ ]Rosscopeco[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2899/33589641420_483eee1eb4_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2899/33589641420_483eee1eb4_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/TbcG9C ]Ti Truss[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/70653371@N05/ ]Rosscopeco[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3954/33589640050_35d8556ca7_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3954/33589640050_35d8556ca7_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/TbcFK1 ]Ti Truss[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/70653371@N05/ ]Rosscopeco[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3947/33974811985_0b870c3e00_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3947/33974811985_0b870c3e00_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/TLeMWr ]Ti Truss[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/70653371@N05/ ]Rosscopeco[/url], on Flickr


 
Posted : 11/04/2017 2:19 pm
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Nice!

Go on th£n.....?


 
Posted : 11/04/2017 2:30 pm
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When are you going to fit the basket ?


 
Posted : 11/04/2017 2:34 pm
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That sure is purty 8)


 
Posted : 11/04/2017 2:35 pm
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Needs more spaghetti.


 
Posted : 11/04/2017 2:37 pm
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Oh that's nice. Cost?


 
Posted : 11/04/2017 3:04 pm
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waits for the Jones comments with a mug of tea of some biscuits 😀


 
Posted : 11/04/2017 3:43 pm
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How do you fit it to the headtube????


 
Posted : 11/04/2017 3:59 pm
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this should be interesting after the heat alpkit got for making a similar looking product to something of mr jones.


 
Posted : 11/04/2017 4:00 pm
 moff
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If the length and offset are the same as the originals, why should you need to adjust the stem length?


 
Posted : 11/04/2017 4:02 pm
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True ^


 
Posted : 11/04/2017 4:07 pm
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Go on, how much? I need one of those


 
Posted : 11/04/2017 4:07 pm
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Like that! My old Stooge is getting used too 😀
Why so many cables though? I count 5..but you only need 3- rear & front brake + dropper..?


 
Posted : 11/04/2017 4:12 pm
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What's the comfort like?


 
Posted : 11/04/2017 4:18 pm
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I reckon £1000.


 
Posted : 11/04/2017 4:27 pm
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How do you fit it to the headtube????

The steerer is a loose tube which you insert from the bottom (ahem) of the fork up through the head tube...simples. You then tighten the 2 bolts on the bottom and the 1 bolt on the top once you have it in place.

If the length and offset are the same as the originals, why should you need to adjust the stem length?

I originally ran some carbon forks. My guess is that the carbon fork flex'd considerably more than the truss thus dampening all the steering inputs. Because I now perceive no delay in the steering reaction it feels (to me) very twitchy compared to the original carbon fork.

Why so many cables though? I count 5..but you only need 3- rear & front brake + dropper..?

I also run the bike with a Rohloff when on longer rides and bike packing. The other 2 cables are for the shifter which I simply tie wrap up when not in use.

What's the comfort like?

I'm only 2 (gentle) rides in but thus far it's not noticeably harsher than the carbon fork. I tore my hamstring last weekend so I've not given it the full beans yet. I suspect it'll be a little firmer when going full chat but IMO the steering precision makes up for that as you can steer with so much more precision & accuracy.

I reckon £1000.

Considerably more...I'm now down to one kidney!!


 
Posted : 11/04/2017 4:48 pm
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tazzymtb - Member
waits for the Jones comments with a mug of tea of some biscuits

I reckon £1000.
Considerably more...I'm now down to one kidney!!

You could have bought a Jones fork for less than that. 😀


 
Posted : 11/04/2017 8:40 pm
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I think he's bamming you up.
XACD quoted me approx £350 for one


 
Posted : 11/04/2017 8:43 pm
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😉


 
Posted : 11/04/2017 10:01 pm
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On a serious note, choeck your forks, a lot! There have been a lot of xcad fork fails over the Years from a combination of very thin walled tubes used and weld contamination. Jones forks are designed and more importantly have been tested. Looks great, make sure you have a good dentist 🙂


 
Posted : 12/04/2017 5:11 am
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On a serious note, check your forks, a lot!

Good advice tazzymtb, I'm fully aware that you get what you pay for so I'm not expecting them to be 'forks for life'. Health insurance all bought and paid for!


 
Posted : 12/04/2017 6:09 am
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Once approached Black Sheep regarding custom Ti forks. For trussed I was quoted 1600 USD.

Cheers!
I.


 
Posted : 12/04/2017 7:23 am
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Black sheep stuff can break as well although I have not heard of a faith fork failure. The best titanium truss fork around at the moment is a Moonmen fork IMO - costly though.


 
Posted : 12/04/2017 8:44 am
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All the things can be broken. Just a matter of enough force put into that 😀

Cheers!
I.


 
Posted : 12/04/2017 2:40 pm
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Black sheep stuff can break as well although

And don't I just know it. 🙁
The best titanium truss fork around at the moment is a Moonmen fork IMO - costly though.

Built by the same guy that build some of my Blacksheep stuff that broke...


 
Posted : 12/04/2017 3:33 pm
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I have 2 pairs of Chinese titanium forks - one for over 10 years and I still have all my own teeth 😀


 
Posted : 12/04/2017 4:25 pm
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On a serious note, choeck your forks, a lot! There have been a lot of xcad fork fails over the Years from a combination of very thin walled tubes used and weld contamination. Jones forks are designed and more importantly have been tested. Looks great, make sure you have a good dentist

@tazzymtb are you thinking about the 'Spicer' forks from around 20 years ago? I'm not aware of any truss style forks having broken...


 
Posted : 12/04/2017 6:18 pm
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Any actual reports of truss fork failure to link to Tazzy?

I'm currently waiting on a set from XACD anda Waltly frame.
I did lots of internet trawling in advance and the feedback for both is overwhelmingly positive.
Apart from Porter, he's most definately a nutcase! 🙂


 
Posted : 12/04/2017 6:34 pm
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dovebiker - Member 
I have 2 pairs of Chinese titanium forks - one for over 10 years and I still have all my own teeth

In a jar? 🙂


 
Posted : 12/04/2017 6:52 pm
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Singlespeedstu - yes I have/had 2 black sheep bikes - 7 breaks and counting (the faith forks seem ok though). My Moonmen seems a lot burlier and better built. No problems so far. Hopefully Todd has learnt!


 
Posted : 14/04/2017 5:56 am
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I originally ran some carbon forks. My guess is that the carbon fork flex'd considerably more than the truss thus dampening all the steering inputs. Because I now perceive no delay in the steering reaction it feels (to me) very twitchy compared to the original carbon fork.

Could be that the offset is different even if the spec was the same. Common offset tolerances can be over the kind of range where I'd expect pick up on the difference in steering feel. Some fork makers don't seem to see offset accuracy as that important, others fix it pretty well.


 
Posted : 14/04/2017 8:57 am
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C'mon, keep up at the back, s'all bout the 4ork these days...

[img][url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2847/33870507442_d240a0d332_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2847/33870507442_d240a0d332_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/TB2cQf ]Truss said Ross, 4ork said Ted[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinddd/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr[/img]

It's kinda like someones gone and put all the spaghetti back in the jar!

😀


 
Posted : 14/04/2017 9:11 am
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^^^ be surprised if that's as stiff as a truss though?


 
Posted : 14/04/2017 12:14 pm
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@querty - wow, where are those from? 🙂


 
Posted : 01/06/2017 10:08 pm
 Rik
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They are Ted James Designs squid fork in Ti.

Would love a pair but just cannot justify the £1000 outlay


 
Posted : 02/06/2017 8:01 am
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Ahh, enlightenment, thanks @Rik! I should have twigged the Ted was Ted James - I used to go running with his mother in law, small world and all that... 🙂


 
Posted : 02/06/2017 8:33 am

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