1-1/8 carbon forks...Enve vs Easton vs AQ vs ???

[wallymann]

i'm debating picking up a frame that needs a fork...straight 1-1/8" stuff, non-tapered non-integrated front-end, thinking carbon.

Enve seems to be the darling of the day and is premium priced, but it's for a used frame so i dont need anything particularly high-end.

bike is big-ish, HT is 175mm + 40mm headset + 40mm clamp, so we're looking at 255mm (10") steerer. fwiw...i prefer the straight-leg aesthetic in this application.

i'm noodling on Easton EC90 SL/SLX variants and AQ CS/GS10 variants, would appreciate any experiences or knowledge of these. as well as anything else worth considering?

[tuscanyswe]

I have a moots in that size-ish that I've ridden with both ec90 sl (straight legged version) and the enve 2.0. The easton sl has a bit more give than a enve 2.0 under braking but both feel very nice with my weight 72kgs on approx the same length ht and steerer.

I wouldn't advise against the easton, i very much liked the way the bike rode with it + its a better looking fork imo especially if one can loose the logos as per below
https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2792/4406879752_d0a1c5e116_z.jpg?zz=1

[sokyroadie]

I didn't want to put a lot into a recent frameset purchase, but I wanted a new carbon fork and took the cheap way out.

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/columbus-carve-carbon-forks/#pid=8031

$101.67 shipped - looks very nice and decent weight 390g uncut. I have not had a chance to ride it much but so far OK.

45 rake

USWINTER1 should knock another $10.00 off

Jeff

[jamesau]

I'm closer to 84kg and my experience was that the Enve 2.0 was far better at holding a line in a corner than the Easton SL. The SLX is noodlier than the SL, as I understand it.
I'd add Reynolds Ouzo Pro to your list.

[zzy]

I wasn't a fan of the original Carve forks.

I would strongly recommend a Alpha Q fork if you want a beefy straight blade fork. Not as comfortable as a curved blade jam but you won't find a stiffer 1 1/8th fork. The full carbon GS-10s are very nice, but the cheaper CS-10 (steel steerer) often show up too. Nothing against the Easton forks (except that the SLXs were total noodles and discontinued for good reason).

[doomridesout]

I've been riding a Columbus Minimal in 1 1/8" on my Seven and it works well for me-- cheap and light too. A little flexier than the Enve, though.

[wallymann]

anyone ride a 3T funda (pro)?

[dustyrider]

The only piece of carbon I run is on my only ti bike and it is a Reynolds ouzo pro cross fork. It has almost convinced me that there is room in my 4 steel and one ti bike collection for a plastic bike...almost.

[cadence90]

I have 2 Alpha-Q Sub3 forks available, if those might be of interest.

Both are 1 1/8" straight steerer; 374mm axle-crown; 44mm rake; for non-integrated headsets.

One is in mint condition, with not a mark on it. The steerer is cut at 265mm and the 4" A-Q shim is well glued in.

The other is NIB, uncut, with the A-Q shim and all A-Q accessories/papers.

They both look like this:
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[cadence90]

I wasn't a fan of the original Carve forks.

I would strongly recommend a Alpha Q fork if you want a beefy straight blade fork. Not as comfortable as a curved blade jam but you won't find a stiffer 1 1/8th fork.
Wound-Up are certainly stiffer. Very stiff, and perceptibly stiffer than my A-Q or Ouzo-Pro.

I have never been able to discern any comfort difference at all between straight-blade versus carved-blade c-f forks. Then again, the exact same c-f fork model has never been offered in both straight and curved.
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