Titanium forks : Serotta / PSA Content inside

[AngryScientist]

You guys know i love my rim brake bikes.

came across this one on ebay, alas - too large for me, as confirmed with the seller.

do you guys think the fork was made by serotta? it's kind of cool!

anyone ride a Ti fork? i would think a ti fork might not be as stiff as desirable, but maybe on a fat tire gravel bike that's a good thing?

anyway, this is a cool and unique bike. i hope someone winds up buying it that will give it a good fun life!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Serotta-Titanium-Concours-Gravel-Frameset/133195575370?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/SagAAOSw9-Rdm2AO/s-l1200.jpg

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/y5cAAOSwkXBdm2AT/s-l1200.jpg

[zap]

Does not look like anything Serotta would have produced. I see potential stress risers at the welds on that fork.

Nice looking frame, buyer should get a proper carbon composite fork.

[Mark McM]

Does not look like anything Serotta would have produced. I see potential stress risers at the welds on that fork.

What's wrong with the welds? That appears to be a standard unicrown fork construction, as used on millions of steel and aluminum forks, plus a few titanium forks.

I haven't heard of a Serotta titanium fork, but I suppose it is possible that they made a few during their foray into MTBs. But my guess is that its actually made by some other fork manufacturer, such as Sibex or Black Sheep.

[AngryScientist]

What's wrong with the welds? That appears to be a standard unicrown fork construction, as used on millions of steel and aluminum forks, plus a few titanium forks.

.

agreed. many early rigid MTB forks were made this way too, and really saw a lot of abuse. not the most elegant or prettiest way to make a fork, but they work.

[R3awak3n]

lol, those welds are not going anywhere.

I have heard a million times ti forks are noodly but damn does it look good on that ti frame (and I am not even a fan of unicrown forks, like at all)

[AngryScientist]

(and I am not even a fan of unicrown forks, like at all)

me neither!

this is my biggest aesthetic problem with IndyFab, all (almost?) of their steel forks are unicrown. blahhhh

[Ken Robb]

I wonder how much room there is for a rear tire.

[kingpin75s]

I messaged the seller about the fork specifically yesterday and he did not have any information on it.

Looks like a Sibex to me based on the welding style above the dropouts.

Ti forks are only noodles if built that way. Many older ones were. Many newer ones (like Black Sheep forks) are not. Enough stiffness and a good ride quality. You do not save as much weight, but the ride quality is worth it IMHO.

I have spent a fair amount of time on a Black Sheep 29er Unicrown as well as a Jones Ti Truss fork. The truss fork, in particular, is plenty stiff, I assure you.

[zap]

What's wrong with the welds? That appears to be a standard unicrown fork construction, as used on millions of steel and aluminum forks, plus a few titanium forks.


Titanium is less forgiving of machining/welding flaws. The welds up and around the headset base plate look untidy. A close inspection is warranted to see how that area was finished. If not finished properly, a crack can develop.....and cracks propagate very very quickly in titanium.

I know as I had a titanium frame crack....crack started at a weld. Crack kept propagating as the bike lay in the back of my car during a 20 minute drive.

A better unicrown design.....scroll down the linked page.

https://www.ticycles.com/news

[azrider]

I see potential stress risers at the welds on that fork.

Can you explain ?

[donevwil]

Steve Potts is now making a good number of Ti forks (MTB, gravel and road) after a few years of experimentation. One key was finally being able to source custom drawn, butted and tapered blades to best compliment the material's characteristics.

https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/69158095_949875778516314_3704527305616392192_o.jpg ?_nc_cat=109&_nc_oc=AQnPFw3sj9nSP-7DJFqXsovc-e8X6XYDfl3DTewDL3l6Y00EpbQ1fxQDgGCY_mUfMA4&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&oh=268051176564bdfcb09b17e1926fa8cf&oe=5E1C450D