Serotta ATX fork options

[oliver1850]

I picked up a 1995 ATX frame only, and I'm wondering what my options are for a fork. I'd really prefer not to have the weight and maintenance issues of a suspension fork, although the frame was designed for one. It won't see a lot of rough going. I wondered about using a 700c CX fork and 700c wheel. Would that put the head tube at about the height it was designed to run? Barring that idea, what should I look for in a suspension fork? I've never owned one, so flying pretty much blind here. Priorities: 1" steerer, low cost, low weight, reliable/low maintenance, in that order.

[rugbysecondrow]

Smiley has a TI Serotta MTB frame that he had Waltworks built a fork for. Looks really nice and the combo seems to work well for him. About 250 for a fork from walt.

[Germany_chris]

Smiley has a TI Serotta MTB frame that he had Waltworks built a fork for. Looks really nice and the combo seems to work well for him. About 250 for a fork from walt.

+1

The make suspension corrected rigid mountain bike forks

[oliver1850]

Thanks. It's nice to know who to go to for a custom fork, but I'm not looking to spend that kind of money on the project.

[rugbysecondrow]

Check out surly forks, they might have what you are looking for.

[fourflys]

also look at Soma as well as Performance/Nashbar, they seem to always have a suspension corrected fork in stock...

something like this (http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_174928_-1_201511_10000_202347)

[oliver1850]

Nice to know they're available off the shelf. I wouldn't have expected Nashbar to have them. I must not be the only person with a lack of interest in suspension. I'll check Surly too. Thanks.

[PacNW2Ford]

Vicious Cycles makes three different lengths of MTB forks. How much steerer do you need? I have an Igleheart segmented fork built to replace a 63mm travel fork, but the steerer is fairly short.

[oliver1850]

I'm not sure of HT length, frame hasn't arrived yet. It's a 48EX in Serotta sizing I think, seller measured it as 19". There's not much HT showing between the top and down tubes, but they are pretty big tubes. I will know in a few days hopefully.

[PacNW2Ford]

like-new Igleheart New England Segmented Fork (like Yo Eddy). crown-to-axle = 413mm, 1-1/8" steerer cut to 180mm, cantilever or V-brake bosses only.

Let me know if it will work and if you're interested.

[Adam]

I use a Surly 1x1 fork in my ATX and it works perfectly. Inexpensive as well.

[oliver1850]

PacNW2Ford: thanks for the offer but I need a 1" steerer

Adam: are you using the 80mm or 100mm version on your ATX? Yours must be newer, it appears Surly only makes the 1 x 1 in 1 1/8".

[PacNW2Ford]

Vicious makes a 1" in the 413mm length

[Adam]

I guess I have the 80mm version. Got it a few years ago. I do have the 1 1/8th head tube on my frame.

[oliver1850]

I think I am back to my original idea of running a 700c fork. After calculating the difference in rolling radius of a 700 x 40 vs. a 26 x 2, a Surly CrossCheck fork with an axle to crown length of 400mm comes out to be only 8mm taller at the crown than a Vicious 413mm suspension corrected 26" fork.

Raising the head tube will slacken the angles slightly and raise the BB a bit, but I wouldn't think 8mm would be enough to be noticeable. Comments?

Anyone have a used CX fork with 190+mm of steerer for sale? I can buy a new CrossCheck for $70, but wouldn't mind something a little nicer.

[Germany_chris]

I think I am back to my original idea of running a 700c fork. After calculating the difference in rolling radius of a 700 x 40 vs. a 26 x 2, a Surly CrossCheck fork with an axle to crown length of 400mm comes out to be only 8mm taller at the crown than a Vicious 413mm suspension corrected 26" fork.

Raising the head tube will slacken the angles slightly and raise the BB a bit, but I wouldn't think 8mm would be enough to be noticeable. Comments?

Anyone have a used CX fork with 190+mm of steerer for sale? I can buy a new CrossCheck for $70, but wouldn't mind something a little nicer.

You logic is correct but...when you trail ride rigid you want the biggest front tire you an find for many reasons. If you put a cross for in there you might get 40's in there but honestly 35 or 38 is going to be closer. On my rigid XXIX I had a 2.5" Schwalbe RR and was looking to go bigger. A 26" suspension corrected fork will be the best option in 26" I think you can go 2.75 or even 3

[oliver1850]

Point taken, but I would think the larger diameter would be somewhat of an advantage in itself. Surly says the fork will accomodate 45mm tires with fenders. I'm hoping Kenda's 29 x 1.9 (48mm) would fit, but that would probably be about the max. I'm not too worried about mud clearance, if it's muddy I won't be riding it anyway.

[Germany_chris]

Point taken, but I would think the larger diameter would be somewhat of an advantage in itself. Surly says the fork will accomodate 45mm tires with fenders. I'm hoping Kenda's 29 x 1.9 (48mm) would fit, but that would probably be about the max. I'm not too worried about mud clearance, if it's muddy I won't be riding it anyway.

The larger diameter will be helpful but not as helpful as a big tire..Remember your steering off road is enhanced greatly with bump absorption and gip enhanced with width..you'll be more confident with a bug mushy tire that will grab and not wash out. You know a lot about bike and if you confident that a 1.7 or 1.9 is all you'll need then I believe you..but there is a reason you don't see that combination out there..to top it if you put a contemporary fork on there you'll be able to go disc and 29 in that case I'll send you some tires and some rotors to get your 69er on the trail, and sell you a nice Acros headset for cheap to get all the stuff out of the garage.

[Hammertone]

double post

[Hammertone]

Here you go, the gods are smiling on you:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Ritchey-Logic-rigid-fork-fat-/280702419821?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item415b2b036d#ht_500wt_1156

A little cutting, a little threading, and bob's yer uncle.
I have one of these on my ATX, below. It's swell.

[dpmackey]

Hi - just found this topic and was wondering what Oliver1850 went with? I have a ´96 ATX and am looking for a rigid fork - and have also toyed with the idea of putting a 700c fork on the front if I could sort out the brakes on the rear then.. (assuming I would run a 700 on the back if possible)....

I was toying with the idea in my mind of building up the ATX as a cross - or not.... I do not feel like making an expensive experiment, and would rather learn from others mistakes/successes.

Cheers!

[oliver1850]

Actually, I haven't done anything yet. I have a new Surly CrossCheck fork, and a similar cheap steel hybrid fork. I think I'm going to use the hybrid fork and see how it works. I hate to chop the Surly steerer to the short head tube length of the ATX, which would make it usesless for a CX frame in my size. I'm hoping to find a better quality used fork at one of the winter swap meets. There were plenty of them in Madison last January, but I didn't have the frame then. The Ritchey fork in the link brought $155 shipped, and was meant for a rigid frame. Way too rich for me, and would have made the bike sharper handling with a lower than normal bar height. If I found a nice rigid 26" fork, I'd still consider that with a head tube extension on the bottom to compensate for the lower axle to crown length.

[Hammertone]

Here's my most recent mad science (a work in progress) - a Serotta T-max frame with 1" HT. The fork is a set of Tange Switchblades mounted to a Rock Shox Mag 21 crown, which had the head tube height I needed (the Switchblade crown didn't have the height I needed for the HT and, as luck would have it, the blades are the same size as those on the old Rock Shox. Go figure). Tange Switchblades come up on ebay every once in awhile for @$100 - $150. Dead Rock Shox with 1" head tubes are usually free.

[gdw]

Kona's reissued their classic Project 2 with 1 inch steerer.
http://www.bikeman.com/KON-P2MTNONEINCH.html
$70 new.

[Gat64]

I have a threaded steerer serotta fork that came off my old (and <sniff> stolen!) T-Max frame if you want it. Just sitting in my basement...

[oliver1850]

Kona's reissued their classic Project 2 with 1 inch steerer.
http://www.bikeman.com/KON-P2MTNONEINCH.html
$70 new.



Thanks for posting this. The comment I got when I inquired at Surly, was that they didn't think the market would support a 1" fork. Good to know Kona thinks otherwise.

Anyone deal with bikeman? Another seller I've never heard of.

[gdw]

I have and the transaction went well. They are a bikeshop in Woolrich?, ME and were smart enough to realize the potential of internet sales years ago. You can call them and confirm that there is one available.