Bicycle Mechanics - Should have asked this here: Re MTB fork steerer change.

Ok sorry for the cross post but after sticking it in the MTB section it hit me that I was going to get better and faster responses to this question here.

"Ok so I am building a SS hardtail MTB up from a frame. A friend of mine just got a new fork for his bike and asked if I want his Manitou Axel Elite for my build. I guess I am going to get this for for free or near free so it would be nice to use but my frame has a 1" steerer and the fork is for a 1 1/8" steerer. I know back in the day when suspension forks were new you could switch the steerer to get the right size, is this still the case? I would love to swap this out for a 1" steerer and use it but if it is going to cost me a chunk of change then I will simply try to find a 1" fork.

Thanks"

I almost 100% sure you cannot change that steerer. I think you will have to get a new steerer/crown/legs and manitou may not offer it in 1 inch anymore. Sorry that is a weak answer, but I am not at work and don't have my "endless" resources handy.

It's always possible, but it's not going to be easy. It may not even be safe. Some forks have a triple clamp crown, and in that case you can swap the steerer. You'd still need an adaptor to mate the 1" tube to the 1 1/8" hole, which would have to be fabricated, more than likely. Most newer forks have a press fit between crown and steerer, and may even be bonded. Removal of the steer tube could easily damage the fork crown. I'd say look for a 1" suspension fork on ebay. Nashbar sells a cheap one too.

Yea I looked on the Answer site and this has either a bonded or presses steerer. Back in the day they were all clamped. Oh well. I looked on Nashbar and they have a $90 fork plus you need a special (albiet cheap) JIS headset. I am thinking eBay or rigid or rigid off of eBay. :D This project needs to be as cheap as possible.

Might end up cheaper to buy a new frame.

Might end up cheaper to buy a new frame.

Yea I was thinking the same thing. This guy gave me a brand new Race Face Deus headset but it is 1 1/8" so I can't use it and am trying to trade it for a 1". Also building a SS I would rather have a frame with horizontal dropouts which this bike doesn't have.

Guess I am looking for a new frame. :mad:

Yea I looked on the Answer site and this has either a bonded or presses steerer. Back in the day they were all clamped. Oh well. I looked on Nashbar and they have a $90 fork plus you need a special (albiet cheap) JIS headset. I am thinking eBay or rigid or rigid off of eBay. :D This project needs to be as cheap as possible.JIS HS = 27.0 crown race and 30.0 cups. ISO HS = 26.4 crown race and 30.2 cups. Cups have to match your headtube.

JIS HS = 27.0 crown race and 30.0 cups. ISO HS = 26.4 crown race and 30.2 cups. Cups have to match your headtube.

Correct me if I am wrong but I think they are saying this headset (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=93&subcategory=1191&brand=&sku=11919&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=) works with a 1" steerer head tube and a JIS fork.