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  #1  
Old 05-31-2022, 01:11 PM
litcrazy litcrazy is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: ABQ, NM
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Affordable steel forks

Hello,
I'm a believer in steel forks for road, gravel and mountain.
I've enjoyed the Rivendell Carbonomas on my ti road bike and a Black Mountain Monster Cross fork on my steel cross/gravel bike.
I recently bought an old Wily 29er and was amazed how much more compliant its fork is versus a Salsa Chromoto Fork.

So my question is, what are the nicest (with a bias towards compliance) options for reasonable steel forks?

Rivendell has moved all there Carbonomas. Are there any options beyond Soma? If not, does anyone do custom road/gravel forks for $300 or less?
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  #2  
Old 05-31-2022, 01:19 PM
robt57 robt57 is offline
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All City? I've used repurposed/painted Soma and Kona too.
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  #3  
Old 05-31-2022, 01:22 PM
weaponsgrade weaponsgrade is offline
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Endpoint comes to mind: https://www.endpoint.bike/collection...rch-light-fork
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  #4  
Old 05-31-2022, 01:53 PM
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David Tollefson David Tollefson is offline
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At the risk of being "advertising", you can email me at mjolnir.cycles@yahoo.com and we can talk details.
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  #5  
Old 05-31-2022, 02:57 PM
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Look585 Look585 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by David Tollefson View Post
At the risk of being "advertising", you can email me at mjolnir.cycles@yahoo.com and we can talk details.
Dave has built me three custom forks over the years. All have been exactly what was ordered and each not remotely available "off-the-peg". Highly recommended.
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  #6  
Old 05-31-2022, 03:17 PM
lorenbike lorenbike is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2021
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Stock All-City canti brake fork has been a nice smooth ride. I meant to pick up one of those Riv forks a few months ago for a road build, but missed out (anyone selling one??). For MTB, check out the Mone biplane fork. I've heard good things, and have been eyeing it up for my rigid 29er. Agree with others, especially for stock steel MTB forks.
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  #7  
Old 06-01-2022, 06:56 PM
samwell187 samwell187 is offline
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Waltworks should fit the bill as well -- a bit above your stated price, but extremely high-quality and with a range of off-road-centric features (suspension-adjusted, disc-ready, etc) in case that matters
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  #8  
Old 06-01-2022, 09:27 PM
jadmt jadmt is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by David Tollefson View Post
At the risk of being "advertising", you can email me at mjolnir.cycles@yahoo.com and we can talk details.
do you make a fork for a classic 90's mountain bike 26" v brakes, 1" steer tube? I am running a soma and it looks bad.
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  #9  
Old 06-02-2022, 10:14 AM
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David Tollefson David Tollefson is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jadmt View Post
do you make a fork for a classic 90's mountain bike 26" v brakes, 1" steer tube? I am running a soma and it looks bad.
Lost me at "v brakes". Never liked them, don't build them. But... I could send you toward Igleheart or Ahearne for such, both custom builders that would do justice to what you're looking for.
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  #10  
Old 06-09-2022, 06:28 PM
litcrazy litcrazy is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: ABQ, NM
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Thanks...

Thanks for the ideas. It looks like some nice custom options are available. Tempting.
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  #11  
Old 05-31-2022, 01:53 PM
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rccardr rccardr is offline
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Andy Gilmour in Tucson.
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  #12  
Old 05-31-2022, 01:59 PM
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AngryScientist AngryScientist is offline
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I have one of the Tange infinity ones on my Ti bike and like it. For the cost, they ride well IMO.

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  #13  
Old 05-31-2022, 02:02 PM
arimajol arimajol is offline
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Maybe Marinoni? Give them a call, their prices are very reasonable.
Not sure how much Waterford would run, probably a little more than $300, but worth a call to them as well.
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  #14  
Old 05-31-2022, 02:15 PM
bfd bfd is offline
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Check out Soma Fabrication, they have a bunch of steel forks starting at like $160 and go up to $230 or so! Good Luck!

https://www.somafabshop.com/shop/cat...road-steel-771
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  #15  
Old 06-09-2022, 09:33 PM
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josephr josephr is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bfd View Post
Check out Soma Fabrication, they have a bunch of steel forks starting at like $160 and go up to $230 or so! Good Luck!

https://www.somafabshop.com/shop/cat...road-steel-771
A Tange Infinity is the bee's knees....only thing better would be a custom or swiping one off a late '80s/early '90s Schwinn or something.
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