Road Cycling - Fork Change - Is It Worth It?

I have the opportunity to upgrade the fork on my Maillot Jaune. It currently has an 1" threaded Icon Air Rail carbon fork with chromoly steerer. I can acquire a 1" threadless Reynolds Ouzo FULL carbon fork at no cost.

The pros: - The Reynolds is lighter by about 130 grams and combined with a new stem, the overall weight savings could be about 200 grams.

The cons: I'll need to purchase a new headset and stem to the tune of about $150.

Question - Is is worth it to do this? Disregarding the cost, do you think this exchange will make a noticeable difference in the overall performance of the bike? I like the way the bike is set up now and don't want to become a weight weenie, but the opportunity to get this fork for nothing is there.

Thanks in advance...

55/Rad

I can acquire a 1" threadless Reynolds Ouzo FULL carbon fork at no cost.55/Rad

Why is the Reynolds fork available? I suspect it was originally cut for another bike. If so, unless the other bike had a smaller frame than yours, it almost surely won't work. You need to have enough steerer tube to extend approximately 3" beyond your head tube.

plenty of good reviews:

http://www.roadbikereview.com/Forks/Reynolds/MPL_6044_2492crx.aspx

Why is the Reynolds fork available?
It's available because a cycling friend has a brand new uncut one that he is not using and he owes me a favor.



plenty of good reviews: http://www.roadbikereview.com/Forks/Reynolds/MPL_6044_2492crx.aspx
I know the fork is very good. But is it so much better than what I have to make it worth spending the extra $ to change it out?

55/Rad

Some of the reviewers on roadbikereview.com have compared the Ouzo to other forks:

"I have riden nearly every composite fork readily available over the last 4 years, including products from Look, Time, Advanced Composites, Columbus, Wound up, Kinesis, Alpha Q......and can say with confidence that this is the best handling fork for cornering, descending and sprinting."

"Compared to my old Time carbon fork, the Ouzo and the frame work together as a unit, not frame + fork but a single mechanical piece".

"It is more responsive, lighter, and absorbs more road shock than the Kestrel, Time, Kinesis, and Profile forks that I have used"

"when i removed my stock fork from trek and compared it to the ouzo pro......WOW!!
Similar Products Used:
kinesis carbon, trek carbon air rail, profile bra"

"I bought a new asian-built Kestrel fork with a steel steerer, and the difference was obvious. Stiffer, more confidence inspiring,... just better!"

I know the fork is very good. But is it so much better than what I have to make it worth spending the extra $ to change it out?

55/Rad


it's a really excellent fork for FREE! even if you don't put it on your bike just now, you should still take it. the cost of the upgrade in any normal situation (meaning where you'd have to buy the fork in addition to the HS and stem) minus the cost of the upgrade in your situation leaves you one reynolds ouzo fork richer. and if you end up not using it, you can always sell it on ebay and come out with a guaranteed profit. i say DOOOOO ITTTTTTT! :)

I have the opportunity to upgrade the fork on my Maillot Jaune. It currently has an 1" threaded Icon Air Rail carbon fork with chromoly steerer. I can acquire a 1" threadless Reynolds Ouzo FULL carbon fork at no cost.

The pros: - The Reynolds is lighter by about 130 grams and combined with a new stem, the overall weight savings could be about 200 grams.

The cons: I'll need to purchase a new headset and stem to the tune of about $150.

Question - Is is worth it to do this? Disregarding the cost, do you think this exchange will make a noticeable difference in the overall performance of the bike? I like the way the bike is set up now and don't want to become a weight weenie, but the opportunity to get this fork for nothing is there.

Thanks in advance...

55/Rad

"Disregarding the cost, do you think this exchange will make a noticeable difference in the overall performance of the bike?" Absolutely, positively NOT.

"Disregarding the cost, do you think this exchange will make a noticeable difference in the overall performance of the bike?" Absolutely, positively NOT.
I'm kind of leaning this way too but why not? Is it that you feel this weight difference really doesn't matter?



it's a really excellent fork for FREE! ....you can always sell it on ebay and come out with a guaranteed profit. i say DOOOOO ITTTTTTT! :)
Unfortunately, this is not an option as it breaks the spirit of the deal.

55/Rad

Unfortunately, this is not an option as it breaks the spirit of the deal.

oh...well...if you can foresee a better favor in the future, i say don't do it.

...and don't want to become a weight weenie...55/Rad
Oh come on Weight Weenies are not all that bad ;) I'm a weight weenie to a point; that point being it is much cheaper for me to lose a pound on my body than to afford to drop it on my bike.

do it!

Oh please,
tell me this is an academic question. Take the fork. Buy a headset, in a month or two buy a stem. By the time summer is in full swing your bike is a half pound lighter; and you get get to enjoy the bling bling.

55/rad,

If I were you I'de take the fork. I had bad experiences with Carbon Fiber Forks w/ CrMo and Al steerers. Because of its contruction and material differences, the fork tends to fracture at the point where the steerer is inserted into the fork.
Since the Al/Cr tends to be more rigid because of the circular contruction, it breaks the carbon to where it is in contact with. Although these may not be true to all forks, I had mine crack after a few weeks of hard riding and a friens had also the same problem. :mad:

Since I got the LOOK fork (full carbon), not only is it lighter, I never had this problem. the $$$ spent on the stem and a new headset is worth it. :)

Thanks Dex - thanks the kind of information I was looking for.

55/Rad

dexmax just made the same point I was about to make. The only thing I can add is to remember that in addition to a new stem and headset, you'll also need a compressor assembly instead of a star-fangled nut.