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View Full Version : Bent forks comments in general

cnighbor1
03-03-2021, 02:58 PM
So often when a bicycle is posted with photos a comment is made the forks are bent when in fact the poster is wrong>
It is very difficult to take photos of a frame or bicycle without the forks looking correct.
So I suggest look carefully at all posted photos and if concerned about the fork ask the seller for more photos before jumping to incorrect concussions
Here is a frame just posted. Look at the forks. So what is your concussion?
Thanks
Charles
kppolich
03-03-2021, 03:05 PM
A carbon fork doesn't photograph 'bent'
Blown Reek
03-03-2021, 03:20 PM
The forks look bent.
pcb
03-03-2021, 03:25 PM
The typical visual fork issue IME is a steel fork with blades looking bent inwards/backwards, as if from a head-on collision. More often than not caused by lens distortion.

Forks in this posted photo look absolutely fine, you're seeing the left blade behind the right blade because the fork is slightly rotated to the left. The blades themselves look straight---no issues I can see at all.
TheseGoTo11
03-03-2021, 03:47 PM
I don't have a concussion. ;)
lhuerta
03-03-2021, 03:48 PM
I have a "concussion" as a result of just thinking about the OP's question? :)

But seriously, carbon forks don't BEND, they simplyy break, if damaged.... but not sure if this is a question about damage or simply the visual of a straight vs curved fork (when photographed)...again (and respectfully) what is the point of this post???
ctcyclistbob
03-03-2021, 03:54 PM
I don't have a concussion. ;)

You might if a fork breaks.
zzy
03-03-2021, 04:03 PM
this 'for sale' thread is my best laugh of the day
Mattbotak
03-03-2021, 04:07 PM
That Jester is stunning.
cgolvin
03-03-2021, 04:14 PM
To me the dress looks black and blue.
PacNW2Ford
03-03-2021, 05:03 PM
Actually the seat tube looks bent to me, someone probably wanted to get a bigger tire in there. Kidding, but digital photos sometimes make weird distortions like really slack angles. Unless of course, you are taking photos of a modern mountain bike, then they look normal...
charliedid
03-03-2021, 05:26 PM
I see the number 7
jtbadge
03-03-2021, 05:57 PM
This is the bike in question. The fork is 100% bent.

https://images.craigslist.org/00M0M_fzMchAtuBl6_1200x900.jpg
unterhausen
03-03-2021, 07:51 PM
If you take the picture of a frame/fork from too close, it's likely that the fork will look bent. And I'm not talking about the rake.
PacNW2Ford
03-03-2021, 08:23 PM
It may well be, but note how the quill looks bent backwards too.
charliedid
03-03-2021, 08:40 PM
I'm with Unterhausen I think* what you are seeing is wide angle lens distortion.

Impossible to say for sure.
unterhausen
03-04-2021, 12:10 AM
Most of us take pictures with our phones. Many phones have lenses that are a big compromise.
markie
03-04-2021, 06:53 AM
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ncSFtcxenpo/WKHgzN2nctI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/dcdfG_28Rnoc9OJPdeW7A_twYT0XiU1xACLcB/s1600/DSCF8121.JPG

Looking at other steel Allez. The forks all look a little unusual to me. Not fully curved like a classic road fork, but not straight either. All the pictures I find are similar looking to the bike in question. With similar tire to frame gap.
lavi
03-04-2021, 12:31 PM
I like to get bent.

It must be winter still, ya?
johnnylarue
03-04-2021, 12:41 PM
Seems unfair to single out forks, given than other utensils can also bend if you think about them long enough (I mean, *really focus*):
1698020410
lavi
03-04-2021, 01:19 PM
Seems unfair to single out forks, given than other utensils can also bend if you think about them long enough (I mean, *really focus*):
1698020410

From the Matrix: "don't try to bend the spoon/bike fork for that is impossible. Rather, it's you that bends".
Ozz
03-04-2021, 01:27 PM
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ncSFtcxenpo/WKHgzN2nctI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/dcdfG_28Rnoc9OJPdeW7A_twYT0XiU1xACLcB/s1600/DSCF8121.JPG

Looking at other steel Allez. The forks all look a little unusual to me. Not fully curved like a classic road fork, but not straight either. All the pictures I find are similar looking to the bike in question. With similar tire to frame gap.
Your sample has a bonded aluminum fork, versus the steel fork in the original post....I had a 1993 Allez Pro which looked about the same as your sample. Yes, the fork had an odd bend IIRC.
PacNW2Ford
03-04-2021, 05:47 PM
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ncSFtcxenpo/WKHgzN2nctI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/dcdfG_28Rnoc9OJPdeW7A_twYT0XiU1xACLcB/s1600/DSCF8121.JPG

Looking at other steel Allez. The forks all look a little unusual to me. Not fully curved like a classic road fork, but not straight either. All the pictures I find are similar looking to the bike in question. With similar tire to frame gap.

Note that this photo demonstrates the seat tube angle distortion I mentioned. I measure (eyeballed with iPhone level) a ~68° seat tube angle.
johnnylarue
03-04-2021, 06:14 PM
Note that this photo demonstrates the seat tube angle distortion I mentioned. I measure (eyeballed with iPhone level) a ~68° seat tube angle.

On this, I always try to take to take a few steps back and use the ‘Tele’ (~50mm) lens on my iPhone when I’m looking to reproduce angles honestly—even if its sensor is a bit underpowered compared to the main lens.
PacNW2Ford
03-05-2021, 12:43 PM
Sometimes you need to step back to fit the steerer tube in the picture
johnnylarue
03-05-2021, 01:57 PM
Sometimes you need to step back to fit the steerer tube in the picture

Hey now! :p
PacNW2Ford
03-05-2021, 02:49 PM
:)
cmbicycles
03-05-2021, 03:20 PM
From the Matrix: "don't try to bend the spoon/bike fork for that is impossible. Rather, it's you that bends".There is no spoon.