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I really like my early version PX Tempest and I use it frequently for on/off road commutes to work, local xc riding and (increasingly) bikepacking. I noticed that the newer versions of the Tempest have a new Selcof fork with bosses for cargo cages on them. This seems a good idea to me and I wish mine had them. PX don't sell them separately (as least, at the moment they don't) so I was wondering what else I should be looking at. I don't have loads of money to throw at this idea so exotic and expensive makes are out. I spotted on eBay that Alpkit are selling a couple of Sonder forks through their outlet and they look ok. And very cheap too. It's just whether they are the right dimensions for my bike and if I could put up with the colours on offer.
Any thoughts or opinions welcome.
Anyone? :0(
You just need to check the axle crown measurement are about the same on both forks
Check both use the same head tube. Almost certainly tapered
Also check the disc mounts are the same, flat or post mount
Finally check that they both hold the front wheel on the same way, axle vs quick release
It's a very decent price for that Sonder fork, cheaper than a similar Ragley fork sold in the Wiggle firesale. Investigating the Alpkit website the Camino seems to pack 395mm A-C and 50mm offset. Can't see that info on the PX site (unless you can measure; not easy for offset) but I'd imagine for a gravel bike not designed for suspension forks it'll be in the same ball park. As for colour, cheap satin black rattle can?
I’m in the same boat as you. I want carbon forks with cage mounts for my gravel bike but can’t justify spending about £300 on a pair.
My bike is metallic orange so the forks will have to be black, otherwise I’d seriously consider those Sonder forks on eBay.
Edit: borosilicate’s suggestion of a rattle can respray is a good idea. Hmmm?
I *think* that I read that the Tempest offset was 45mm so not a million miles away. Hmmm indeed.
You just need to check the axle crown measurement are about the same on both forks
Check both use the same head tube. Almost certainly tapered
Also check the disc mounts are the same, flat or post mount
Finally check that they both hold the front wheel on the same way, axle vs quick release
A-C is the same at 395.
Looks like headtube is the same
Flat mount
Looks like both are 12mm thru axle.
https://bikeinsights.com/bikes/5ce98ff224e4f6001704b79a-planet-x-tempest?build=base&version=2023
The Sonder fork looks great, just key the fork with 800grit, and then 2k rattlecan it in a colour of your choice from Paintnuts (£20) Wet sand at 400grit, polish and lacquer. Unless you’re after a more matt finish or just can’t be bothered with the last two steps.
I replaced the fork on my V2 Tempest with the Ragley Trig one mostly as I wanted additional clearance for mudguards, works fine, barely noticed the change.
Bit cheaper than £300: https://kidsracing.co.uk/products/ragely-trig-carbon-fibre-gravel-adventure-bikepacking-fork
Even cheaper from Europe: https://www.bicyclepedalbutik.com/ragley-trig-carbon-gravel-fork/
I bought one of those £60 Sonder forks for a project hardtail conversion, but I also have a Camino in the same colour, with the same fork. It is a 12mm through-axle btw. Otherwise it seems fine, though no idea how it compares directly to the Tempest fork. Alpkit/Sonder are generally very helpful, so maybe drop them a line and ask?
When did tempest forks start having mounts? I have a set in my cupboard from 2023 as I replaced with a fox fork. Pretty sure it doesn't have mounts however.
Cheap gravel forks from banana industries with 3 pack mounts. £130 405mm a/c, 45mm offset, so not too far off what you need, it's got a 15mm axle though but you can get a converter sleeve easily enough:
https://www.bananaindustries.co.uk/collections/wheels/products/olsen-fork
Cheap: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yosoo-Health-Gear-Bicycle-Adapter/dp/B08Y6D85NM
More expensive: https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m20b0s119p4688/HALO-15mm-to-12mm-Thru-Axle-Adapter
Tons of cheap converters on ebay and amazon.
When did tempest forks start having mounts?
I'm not sure what you mean. The forks on Tempest are for flat mount brake calipers.
My Dolan GXC has a fork with mounts on it - actually wanted some without as they’d look cleaner but only the mount ones were available.
They are expensive though. Maybe someone else has the same fork branded differently for cheaper?
https://www.dolan-bikes.com/alpina-carbon-gravel-adventure-fork-3-bolt/
When did tempest forks start having mounts?
I’m not sure what you mean. The forks on Tempest are for flat mount brake calipers.
Sorry, I thought you meant the brake mounts. I realise now that you mean the cargo cage mounts. It's a recent thing. The original ones didn't but now it's an option. I contacted PX and they will sell them to me but they're £204.98.
Which one do you prefer?
Sage
Or pacific blue?
I’ve done my best with the colours!
The Pacific Blue seems to match your luggage quite well if that's a consideration. I think I prefer the sage otherwise tbh, but you could always matt black them with a rattle can if you decide you're not keen.
I think the pacific blue is close to the front dry bag (it is an Alpkit one!) but the rear one is more greeny/blue in real life. I quite like the sage as it's a contrast.
I was all set on black forks and then I got an email from North Cycles last night and I thought ‘Ooh!’
Given what happened to this poor guy I'm looking to upgrade my Tempest forks asap. This thread makes a good reference.
Were they not recalled after that incident? Or was it proven that it was a one-off?
Were they not recalled after that incident? Or was it proven that it was a one-off?
I’ve not seen a recall notice and nor been contacted. I’ll contact PX.
Given what happened to this poor guy I'm looking to upgrade my Tempest forks asap.
Whilst I can sort of understand your paranoia, are there not significant odds that whatever fork you buy will have come out of exactly the same factory?
Given what happened to this poor guy I'm looking to upgrade my Tempest forks asap.
Whilst I can sort of understand your paranoia, are there not significant odds that whatever fork you buy will have come out of exactly the same factory?
True but I might opt for steel. Or a more resilient material.
But in saying that reading into the case it appeared some bikes may not have had gravel specific forks.
I'll check with PX.
gravel specific forks.
Not really any such thing, which is something the case brought up. There is an ISO test spec for road and for MTB parts, nothing in between. So unless a brand specifies the test to account for that you probably get a road fork.
True but I might opt for steel. Or a more resilient material.
FWIW I've cracked a steel fork, a DMR trailblade of all things, and it was fairly new (the huge gusset came away from the steerer). Stooge have recently gone through several iterations of their forks in the last few years after some issues. And Race BMX forks have been carbon for a long time now so it's certainly not that they can't be built to take a LOT of punishment. If you're worried about QC you could always just look at big brands forks, plenty on ebay where people have swapped them for a suspension fork.
The point that 'all stuff breaks' that always comes up on carbon fork failure threads isn't in question. Neither is it in question that a correctly-made carbon fork has a far higher strength-to-weight ratio than a metal fork. I've had steel forks fail through fatigue or raking-out on an impact and it was never an issue, no crashes or injury, which is part of my point.
What I will keep going on about is how no carbon product is flawless and the flaws are highly likely to be hidden, carbon often fails suddenly without prior warning signs after normal flaws become something more significant. Both the flaw type and failure mode are very different to metal forks. The risks are from complacency.
I check my forks regularly for cracks when cleaning but of course without special equipment and training I have no idea of the structure below the surface level.
I have had an answer back from PX and it did ease my overactive anxiety. But…I’ve ridden this bike hard across potholes etc for nearly 5 years, so I’ve ordered a new carbon fork.