Pros & cons carbon vs steel rigid forks

[oneredbike]

I do not have any experience riding a rigid steel fork, but I have been riding a carbon fork for a year. I am not sure if this is a normal experience but I feel that I bounce too much going DH regardless of the tire pressure. Should I consider a steel fork? If it is heavier, it could be more controllable and predictable! right?. Your 2 cents? Btw, this is on a 29er.

Thanks

 

[KBL]

Even though 29-inch wheels do help smooth out the bumps, a rigid fork is still a rigid fork.

A carbon fork helps take some of the high-frequency, low-amplitude 'buzz' from being transmitted to your hands, but a rigid fork still has limits when it comes to real bump control.

If you drop your tire pressure low enough to really smooth out the bumps, you'll pinch-flat and probably dent your rim.

Try a suspension fork.

 

[HUGH]

Are you talking fork flex? Carbon forks do have some flex(which is nice) but still are rigid. Most steel forks have little to no flex(read: hope your dental plan is up to date!!). I have ridden with a few custom made steel forks that had a nice flex but then have the weight penalty over carbon forks.
If your front tire is bouncing out of control on the trail... Just learn to take up the shock with your elbows/body to keep the tires on the ground.
I have ridden full rigid(exclusivly) for 6 years Mostly on carbon forks. Though I have broken 3 of them its what I would still recommend. I'm on a squish fork now.

HUGH

 

[mfoga]

Are you being bounced to the point of loss of control or are you just getting vibrated a bunch.

 

[oneredbike]

Are you being bounced to the point of loss of control or are you just getting vibrated a bunch.

To the point of loss control#-o. If there is not benefit going steel, I guess I just need to go slower on DH.

 

[commplex]

Carbon

Just went to a carbon fork from a steel fork and have nothing but awesome things to say about it. When decending the steel fork felt a little out of control for me but the carbon seems to track very well. I would do exactly what Hugh said and bend your elbows. Let your arms take up the slack and bumps. On a side note, the carbon fork made the front end much lighter and easier to pull up on during aggressive descents.

 

[HUGH]

I guess I just need to go slower on DH.

Learn to ride the bike and go FASTER:bang:

HUGH

 

[oneredbike]

Learn to ride the bike and go FASTER:bang:

HUGH

Thanks guys. I guess I just need to learn how to ride my bike. It just come down to the basics huh!:lol:. I have been biking for 2 years, so not hard feelings#-o. I will give up on the steel idea. tks

 

[commplex]

I guess I just need to learn how to ride my bike.

I would set it up the way you like it and ride the heck out if it without making any significant changes. Every chance you get let go of the brakes and go for it so you will get used to the feeling of the rigid fork.

 

[mfoga]

Learn to ride the bike and go FASTER:bang:

HUGH

Yeah I may not be on a rigid bike now (I have rode them in the past) but I you start to learn how to pick line and do small things that will allow you to carry speed through rougher terrain. I know I had to back off the speed some when I first got on a hard tail 29er coming of bikes that range from 5.5" to 8+" inches of travel. I have started to pick lines where before I would just plow through the section. You have to ride loser keeping you body lose letting the move around and use your legs and arms as you shocks. Another thing as said before too is learn to pick the front end up just enough to carry it over rougher spots. Also if riding in a group remember who your riding with, dont always try to keep right with people on FS bikes and are DH racers#-o

 

[autoduel]

There's no shame in riding a suspension fork.
What's this fascination with riding rigid? A light suspension fork is only a pound more. If you are out-riding a rigid fork, take the next step. Have your cake and eat it too. Better yet, get another bike.:wave:

 

[J_Sims]

There's no shame in riding a suspension fork.
What's this fascination with riding rigid? A light suspension fork is only a pound more. If you are out-riding a rigid fork, take the next step. Have your cake and eat it too. Better yet, get another bike.:wave:

I vote for the get another bike strategy...

 

[klutter]

I do not have any experience riding a rigid steel fork, but I have been riding a carbon fork for a year. I am not sure if this is a normal experience but I feel that I bounce too much going DH regardless of the tire pressure. Should I consider a steel fork? If it is heavier, it could be more controllable and predictable! right?. Your 2 cents? Btw, this is on a 29er.

Thanks

If you're getting rattled by a carbon fork, it'll just be just as bad or worse with a steel fork.

There's no shame in riding a suspension fork.

But.....there IS shame when you ride with a suspension fork. And then there's the whole 29er thing, but that's a different issue.

 

[Black Bart]

I do not have any experience riding a rigid steel fork, but I have been riding a carbon fork for a year. I am not sure if this is a normal experience but I feel that I bounce too much going DH regardless of the tire pressure. Should I consider a steel fork? If it is heavier, it could be more controllable and predictable! right?. Your 2 cents? Btw, this is on a 29er.

Thanks

Just like with a frame, the material used to build a fork is only one factor in how it performs. The changes made from material choice amount to differences in "comfort/feel" more than "control".

If I remember correctly, at VQ you had a sir 9 with a Pace or White Brothers fork?

Simply put, none of the carbon 29er forks available are as tall as the Reba that the sir was designed around so they will make it feel less stable. The original Niner steel fork (490mm) was designed to work with this geometry and will feel more controllable on the DH.

 

[mfoga]

Just like with a frame, the material used to build a fork is only one factor in how it performs. The changes made from material choice amount to differences in "comfort/feel" more than "control".

If I remember correctly, at VQ you had a sir 9 with a Pace or White Brothers fork?

Simply put, none of the carbon 29er forks available are as tall as the Reba that the sir was designed around so they will make it feel less stable. The original Niner steel fork (490mm) was designed to work with this geometry and will feel more controllable on the DH.

Sure a 80mm rebas has a a-c of 490 but you also are forgetting the 20mm of sag that reba should have making the riding a-c 470, which is oddly enough the exact a-c of the niner carbon fork.

 

[Black Bart]

Sure a 80mm rebas has a a-c of 490 but you also are forgetting the 20mm of sag that reba should have making the riding a-c 470, which is oddly enough the exact a-c of the niner carbon fork.

I said "Simply put", I'm also forgetting to discuss the effects of rake, offset, trail, etc. :-k #-o

Yes, the 80mm Reba will sag to about 470mm, yes that is what the Niner and some other carbon 29er forks are. A 100mm Reba will sag from 510mm to 490mm, which is oddly enough the exact a-c of the original niner steel fork.