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Rigid frame with long fork

Old 01-06-06, 07:57 AM
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Rigid frame with long fork

Hi All,
I have a 2002 GT Avalanche and i am making a slow transition to a FS All Mountain, that i will end with the purchase of the frame.
My main doubt is my next item, the fork.
Ive been told that my frame with a 130mm(any fork with more than 100mm) fork is risky (Frame cold brake). Could this be true ? Does anyone had this frame (or one with similar geometry) with a long fork ?
Ive ask GT and i had no response.
Thanks in advance.
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Old 01-06-06, 09:10 AM
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The 130mm is the travel of the susp. fork. A rigid needed would be around 440mm. I have a Vicious Cycles 425mm on my HomeGrown (it had a 100mm susp. fork). I only ride on-road but the fork is way stout. I don't see it breaking. As far as frame stresses the rigid forks are the same length as the susp. forks therefor same geometry. Frame stresses should be the same except for the give of a susp. fork. And most frames are pretty well overbuilt. I don't think you'll break anything with a rigid fork unless you would have broke it with a susp. fork anyway.

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Old 01-06-06, 11:23 AM
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I think i may have mislead you! When i day rigid i meant the frame as opposite to Full suspension.
The fork i want is a Suspension fork with 130mm travel.

Sorry about my english!
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Old 01-06-06, 11:37 AM
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A frame is built with a maximum fork length in mind. If you exceed this length, it will increase the leverage (force) it has on the frame and alter the geometry. I know cannondale has an explanation of this on their website, but your frame will probably have different specs. It is the overall length of the fork, from bottom of headset race to center of hub that is important, not the travel.

I would buy the fork at the same time you buy the frame.

Last edited by mcoine; 01-06-06 at 11:40 AM. Reason: forgot something
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Old 01-06-06, 01:41 PM
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Originally Posted by frank2006pt
I think i may have mislead you! When i day rigid i meant the frame as opposite to Full suspension.
The fork i want is a Suspension fork with 130mm travel.

Sorry about my english!
It's not your english, it was my reading. Sorry.

So, in answer to your real question. I still would'nt worry about breaking. But you will do bad things to the steering geometry with a fork 30mm or more longer than the frame is designed for. The steering will be slower and could "wander" at slower speeds. Kind of like a chopper but not to the same degree. If you want a longer travel fork I would hold out for a frame made for one.

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