Would an F3 be a better fork?

[gcamp]

I have a stock Fierte that I bought used. It came with a Kestral EMS fork on it, is this a good match??? Would the F3 be an upgrade for me??? Should I upgrade? will it improved the ride?

[quaintjh]

I have a stock Fierte that I bought used. It came with a Kestral EMS fork on it, is this a good match??? Would the F3 be an upgrade for me??? Should I upgrade? will it improved the ride?
I'd get pedal first. :beer:

[Pete Serotta]

Tell us the frame size, what you weigh, and type of riding and terrain you do AND I will try to find out more. Another tests is to ride the bike for a period and try to quantify what you like and not like about the handling AND I will get with KELLY (head designer for custom) and get his comments.


BTW - - nice looking bike.,, PETE

[Ahneida Ride]

Orange bikes rule !

I have a Legend with a F1.

Good question ... I replaced recenty my OEM "Serotta" Al stem and Carbon spacers
with a Thompsom stem and CK Al spacers. A remarkable change in the
front end occured. The front end really stiffened up. and it was plenty
stiff before.

I am still at a loss to explain this rather dramatic improvement.
Makes no sense to me. I made the modifications mainly for asthetics.
But immediately the bike was transformed.

I can only speculate how a new fork could ride. I'd go with the
stiffest F3 they make. I surmise that it emulates the F1. (a beast)
The Ti hardware is nice. There is no galling.

That's a BIG Firete. I suspect you are a big boy. ;)
I demoed a Big Boy Ottrott with the stiffiest tubes and 10.5 F3.
The ride was super smooth. I would not worry about the stiffest
F3 being harsh.

I like your bike a lot. I WOULD just love to demo it.
My LBS pulls in Firete's from time to time and just I drool over them.
I am amazed at the quality they exude, at least as good as my Legend.

[cadence231]

I had a f2 fork warrantied and decided to go with the f3 in 10.5 and I love it. :) I am also 140# and I don't think it's harsh. This fork is on my Ottrot.

[Sandy]

I had a f2 fork warrantied and decided to go with the f3 in 10.5 and I love it. :) I am also 140# and I don't think it's harsh. This fork is on my Ottrot.

You are 140 and use a 10.5 F3 fork? Why did you choose the 10.5, please?


Spoon Sandy

[William]

I can't offer advice on the fork...I'm a steel bladed kind of guy. I will say that's one HOT bike. Love the orange & blue. :cool:





William

[gcamp]

Thanks you all for the compliments, I love the bike as well.

The bike is a 62cm Fierte, I am a 6'4", 205lb clydesdale.
I have ridden the bike for almost a year ~ 2500 miles probably and I love it.

I ride on suburban Philadelphia roads, meaning they are old asphalt or chip and seal roads. That is why I am such a steel fan, I love the ride steel provides.

So I cannot say that I have any specific complaints about the Kestral fork I was curious if a Serotta made fork would be a better match for the Fierte.

[Pete Serotta]

I have forwarded the info to Kelly, I will find out for you. Since you like the way it is now that is real good, THe EMS WORKS and was on most of the Fiertes I have seen. If it did not work, Ben would have never speced to it. PETE

Thanks you all for the compliments, I love the bike as well.

The bike is a 62cm Fierte, I am a 6'4", 205lb clydesdale.
I have ridden the bike for almost a year ~ 2500 miles probably and I love it.

I ride on suburban Philadelphia roads, meaning they are old asphalt or chip and seal roads. That is why I am such a steel fan, I love the ride steel provides.

So I cannot say that I have any specific complaints about the Kestral fork I was curious if a Serotta made fork would be a better match for the Fierte.

[gcamp]

Thanks for your attention Pete I appreciate it.

Even after riding the bike for about a year, I adjusted the saddle 1/4 inch forward last night and it rode like a whole new bike!!! Really unbelievable that such a 'small' adjustment can have a such a huge perceived benefit.

Thanks again.

[Ahneida Ride]

Really unbelievable that such a 'small' adjustment can have a such a huge perceived benefit.



Scary isn't it ... one small tweak and it's like a whole new bike ...
I still can't comprehend the Logic.

I wonder what William thought of the F1?
I know that while my frame was adequate for him, He could use
Serotta's most massive Ti tubes. The next size up. The uber tube.

[Pete Serotta]

gcamp,,,,


Here is what I got back....


"Pete,
He would need the F3 8.5 43 rake. This fork would be stiffer laterally but, because of the all carbon steerer, should also isolate and absorb a bit more vibration than the Kestrel with the aluminum steerer. It will also track a bit more precisely than the Kestrel."


Pete

[gomez308]

gcamp,,,,


Here is what I got back....


"Pete,
He would need the F3 8.5 43 rake. This fork would be stiffer laterally but, because of the all carbon steerer, should also isolate and absorb a bit more vibration than the Kestrel with the aluminum steerer. It will also track a bit more precisely than the Kestrel."


Pete

That's awesome. Straight from the horses mouth.

[soulspinner]

Orange bikes rule !

I have a Legend with a F1.

Good question ... I replaced recenty my OEM "Serotta" Al stem and Carbon spacers
with a Thompsom stem and CK Al spacers. A remarkable change in the
front end occured. The front end really stiffened up. and it was plenty
stiff before.

I am still at a loss to explain this rather dramatic improvement.
Makes no sense to me. I made the modifications mainly for asthetics.
But immediately the bike was transformed.

I can only speculate how a new fork could ride. I'd go with the
stiffest F3 they make. I surmise that it emulates the F1. (a beast)
The Ti hardware is nice. There is no galling.

That's a BIG Firete. I suspect you are a big boy. ;)
I demoed a Big Boy Ottrott with the stiffiest tubes and 10.5 F3.
The ride was super smooth. I would not worry about the stiffest
F3 being harsh.

I like your bike a lot. I WOULD just love to demo it.
My LBS pulls in Firete's from time to time and just I drool over them.
I am amazed at the quality they exude, at least as good as my Legend.
Thomson stems are stiff enough 4 almost anyone. The change from my Ritchey wcs(old style) was dramatic, it felt much stiffer...I gave up 16 grams though... :rolleyes:

[cadence231]

You are 140 and use a 10.5 F3 fork? Why did you choose the 10.5, please?


Spoon Sandy


Sandman,

My thinking was it would be more efficient and it was free so I said "why not".