Spicer Ti fork

baker · 04-14-2005

I recently picked up one of Spicer's closeout rigid ti forks (thanks Gene!).
430mm, v-brake only. Wow, this fork is super light. Actually, scary light.
574g with an uncut steerer and 542g after I trimmed it down a bit. This is
supposedly one of the redesigned forks w/ slightly thicker tubing.

I have had one whole ride on the fork, so my impressions should be taken
w/ a grain of salt. I did a lunchtime loop through Ute Valley Park, with some
fairly technical terrain. The combo of a Jones H-bar and the Spicer ti fork is
smooth. Way smoother than I expected. Certainly nothing like a
suspension fork, but far more forgiving than the same setup w/ the Planet X
rigid fork. My compromised elbows might actually be able to handle this combo.

The appeal of a rigid fork for me: lightness, steering precision, lack of bob while
standing up hammering, and the lack of maintenance. For me, the simplicity
of a rigid fork goes well with the simplicity of a singlespeed. I don't think I
can handle fully rigid all the time, but for smoother non-technical rides, it may
be just the ticket. I'm hoping this combo will work well for 18 Hours of Fruita,
but I'll have to pre-ride the course to really know.

baker

Potential Roadkill · 04-14-2005

I second your approval. It's a sweet riding fork. There are some threads on here that talk about them breaking. Still, that was on the older models the way I understand it. Good luck with it.

Fast Freddy · 04-14-2005

I have one also - supple and accurate is a good description... Mine was one of the first 2nd Generations here. Had is since July 03 and no problems whatso ever. I'm a Cylde (just over 200lbs now) and never had any issues with it. I know the earlier forks would catistrophically die - but I'm had really good luck with mine. It's supple enough to make a rigid conversion an easy one (I always ran suspension before this and worried if I could ride Rigid... with this fork I can...

So I guess that's a 3rd recommendation...

FF

Lutarious · 04-15-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by baker

I recently picked up one of Spicer's closeout rigid ti forks (thanks Gene!).
430mm, v-brake only. Wow, this fork is super light. Actually, scary light.
574g with an uncut steerer and 542g after I trimmed it down a bit. This is
supposedly one of the redesigned forks w/ slightly thicker tubing.

I have had one whole ride on the fork, so my impressions should be taken
w/ a grain of salt. I did a lunchtime loop through Ute Valley Park, with some
fairly technical terrain. The combo of a Jones H-bar and the Spicer ti fork is
smooth. Way smoother than I expected. Certainly nothing like a
suspension fork, but far more forgiving than the same setup w/ the Planet X
rigid fork. My compromised elbows might actually be able to handle this combo.

The appeal of a rigid fork for me: lightness, steering precision, lack of bob while
standing up hammering, and the lack of maintenance. For me, the simplicity
of a rigid fork goes well with the simplicity of a singlespeed. I don't think I
can handle fully rigid all the time, but for smoother non-technical rides, it may
be just the ticket. I'm hoping this combo will work well for 18 Hours of Fruita,
but I'll have to pre-ride the course to really know.

baker

I have been thinking of that for k for my bike. Do you know if they still make them for 1" steer?

baker · 04-15-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lutarious

I have been thinking of that for k for my bike. Do you know if they still make them for 1" steer?

spicercycles.com

As far as I know they don't stock 1" mtb forks, but you could give them a call and find out.

baker

MrXC · 04-15-2005

Been riding one for a little over a year and when combined with a ti handlebar and Specialized Pave' Seatpost my AL frame feels down right plush!

on the 1" thing, ask Gene I know he can do custom lengths so I'm guessing an old school steerer won't be too much of a stretch.

Kam · 04-15-2005

i have a 1" threadless xacd/spicer fork on my cross rig. i've been pretty much "mountain biking" of the fork, ss style and it's held up VERY well and it feels incredible.

i chose the fork because i could get a 1" steerer and it was light weight. it was about $250 and the wound up/alpha q forks cost much more (not to mention finding a 1" steerer was going to be hard).

when i originally installed the fork i was worried about chatter under hard braking. i ended up have a slightly loose headset. once that was taken care of the fork has been working out very well.

the only thing i do NOT like about the fork...no recessed dropouts and no lawyer tabs. i am not sure if these are options, but i think they are VERY necessary on a rigid fork.

also, i have been told by two ti builders, that the xacd/spicetr forks are also the same exact fork sibex sells (the box crown/segmented fork) for $400. the unicrown fork is made in russia, the box crown fork is made in china by xacd.

here is some porn;

HoSS · 04-15-2005

I had one also and loved it. I weighed 170 and rode very rocky and rooty terrain without issue. I'm actually looking for another one for my Ute.

Kam,

what seatpost is that?

Potential Roadkill · 04-15-2005

Here's mine LOL

Kam · 04-15-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Potential Roadkill

Here's mine LOL

nice inbred!!!

oh, the seatpost on my cx bike is a airborne ti with setback. the seatpost is very similar to clamp style as the moots ti post. it's cheaper too!!! oh, and it rides bike a dream!!!

Loudpawlz · 04-15-2005

I put a year on mine with a couple of rides a week at Palmer, Cheyenne Canyon and Mt. Herman. It held up fine, but my wrists and elbows begged me to drop the rigid fork. I got a little bit of brake chatter (ceramic rims/v-brake combo) when they were wet.

weather · 04-15-2005

Kam, what's the offset of your XACD fork? does it change the handling of CX bikes much?

Kam · 04-15-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by weather

Kam, what's the offset of your XACD fork? does it change the handling of CX bikes much?

i believe the old, matching steelman fork i have has a rake of 45mm, which is what the rake is on my spicer fork. the steelman fork is 385mm, the spicer is 400mm. it changes the ht angle abit but i personally love the way the bike handles with it.

i have another steel cx frame (with paul comp dropouts) on the way to replace this one. the angles should match up just about perfectly with this rig with the slightly longer fork...it should fit just abit better too.

i was thinking of running a spicer fork on that frame, but i may just get a steel unicrown fork from wily cycles.

cheers!

Joe_Jitsu · 04-15-2005

I've got about 4 months of riding on my Spicer ti fork. So far, I love it! It is light, does a good job of damping vibration, and it matches my older Airborne Lucky Strike frame.

Nothing but good things to say about this fork.

Joe

6million$man · 04-16-2005

i sure loved mine for a couple of years...right up until i had the bike up in the workstand for a little maintenance and discovered BIG cracks, front and back, both sides!

i called gene at spicer and he does seem like a genuine nice guy. he said that he has not had any luck on warranties but did offer a fair deal on a new one. (i'm still thinking about it...)

apart from BREAKING i sure love this fork, too!

good luck to all of you. but do be sure to check them over from time to time, especially if you hear any "clicking" or feel any undue flexing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fast Freddy

I have one also - supple and accurate is a good description... Mine was one of the first 2nd Generations here. Had is since July 03 and no problems whatso ever. I'm a Cylde (just over 200lbs now) and never had any issues with it. I know the earlier forks would catistrophically die - but I'm had really good luck with mine. It's supple enough to make a rigid conversion an easy one (I always ran suspension before this and worried if I could ride Rigid... with this fork I can...

So I guess that's a 3rd recommendation...

FF