Classic & Vintage - "Death fork" for the perfect Viscount restoration

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dbakl
11-18-10, 04:49 PM
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-1970s-viscount-fork-by-yamaha-/200543730658?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2eb1567be2#ht_500wt_1156

jonwvara
11-18-10, 05:03 PM
I thought that Yamaha had the contract to manufacture steel forks designed to REPLACE the death fork.
I'm pretty ignorant about Viscounts, though I've always liked the way they look.
Shimagnolo
11-18-10, 05:08 PM
From the ad: "This fork has history like no other"
At least he got that part right.:p

Chombi
11-18-10, 05:45 PM
Looks like that fork came off a REAL BIG:eek: Viscount Frame......

Chombi
top506
11-18-10, 06:15 PM
nlerner was good enough to send me one for my Viscount. Mostly it sits in all it's polished glory in the corner next to my desk, although I've ridden it a time or two. At least it's one of the pinned ones.

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ScottRyder
11-18-10, 06:15 PM
I have two of them ... they are very beautiful forks.

Scott
Roll-Monroe-Co
11-18-10, 06:16 PM
Hmm. I have a Viscount on which the replacement fork was destroyed. For everything, there is a season.
Henry III
11-18-10, 06:22 PM
I'm a little new to all vintage road stuff. Why is it call the death fork? I had a trade offer for the replacement someone had. They look like their made of aluminum.
cb400bill
11-18-10, 06:26 PM
I'm a little new to all vintage road stuff. Why is it call the death fork? I had a trade offer for the replacement someone had. They look like their made of aluminum.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/lambert.html
ScottRyder
11-18-10, 06:26 PM
Why is it call the death fork?.

That is a very good question .. Despite it's reputation, I've never been able to find any evidence that any cyclist was ever killed by one of these forks.

Scott
nlerner
11-18-10, 06:26 PM
I'm a little new to all vintage road stuff. Why is it call the death fork? I had a trade offer for the replacement someone had. They look like their made of aluminum.

http://sheldonbrown.com/lambert.html#recall
http://www.classicrendezvous.com/British_isles/Lambert/Lambert_fork.html

Neal
rhm
11-19-10, 06:13 AM
Before I joined this forum, I had only heard of them called "quick release forks."
CharlesP
11-19-10, 09:37 AM
Going to forward this to "lawyerscumambulancechasers.com"
cudak888
11-19-10, 10:10 AM
Interesting thing is, I once built up a Viscount with a 1990's Sakae fork, which - if it wasn't for the glued blades - looks quite similar to the original:

http://www.jaysmarine.com/viscount_ss_2.jpg
(Excuse the hipster build)

It's 700C to boot - if I were building a Viscount for myself (and preferred not to use the Yamaha steel fork), I'd go this route.

-Kurt
Zaphod Beeblebrox
11-19-10, 10:28 AM
You're an animal Kurt, what is that like 52 - 14 gearing?
ColonelJLloyd
11-19-10, 10:36 AM
You're an animal Kurt, what is that like 52 - 14 gearing?

For reals, man. Dang. Freewheel, but still.
cudak888
11-19-10, 11:38 PM
You're an animal Kurt, what is that like 52 - 14 gearing?

It was a flipper, so I figured I'd have fun at the expense of our local, Craigslist hipsters :P

Gearing is 51/15.

-Kurt