wrk101

+1 Steel fork, gave the frame and fork a quick magnet test. I am certainly not interested in selling a bike with a defective fork. But I really was not sure which version fork was the death fork.

cycleheimer

T.B.,
You are a better man than this guy...although he does mention that the "death fork" has to be replaced...add that cost to the $800 he's asking..Viscount-Lambert "Gold Edition Classic" - $800 (NYC)

https://newyork.craigslist.org/que/bik/2979952697.html
[HR][/HR]Date: 2012-04-26, 6:31AM EDT
Reply to: 32ckc-2979952697@sale.craigslist.org [SUP][Errors when replying to ads?][/SUP][HR][/HR]
English Racing Bike
Hand Crafted by Trusty Of England
Barn Find.
Special Gold Edition with every single factory part including the original "Death Fork"

The original "death fork" english racer. Only bike known round the world for it's infamous front fork. This bike has every factory part.
The price of this very rare classic is $800.00
The Gold Edition. See Pictures.
Very rare collectors bike.
21 pounds of pure speed.
Shimano rear changer.
Lambert front changer.
Gold Plated Front and Rear Brake Mechanicals.
True front and rear genuine Viscount quick change hubs.
Rims run perfectly true.
The only bike known round the world for it's famous front fork.
The bike is for collection purposes only. Not to be ridden unless the front fork is replaced.
More pictures on request.

• Location: NYC
• it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

PostingID: 2979952697

Drummerboy1975

Why is it called a death fork?

cycleheimer

Subject to "catastrophic failure".

anixi

Some marketing dope decided to shave pennies by spec'ing the front fork to be crappy aluminum, instead of the traditional cro-moly. Penny wise, pound foolish, imo...

SteveSGP

It was aluminum and there were three versions, the first two being the most dangerous and the third (what I have) pretty well reinforced with a steel plug to connect the fork to the steer tube but I still didn't feel safe using it.

I don't think they were shaving pennies they were aiming for light weight and unique style, they just screwed up with the fork.

Many people, Sheldon Brown included owned Viscounts and rode the heck out of them with the "death fork" and lived to tell the tale without ever suffering the fork failure but some did fail and they sure aren't going to get stronger with age.

realestvin7

Let's see the different versions of the "death fork". I have one I'd like to sell.

IthaDan 

Not sure I saved it from the dump necessarily, but it was a hell of a deal.

$200 for this-



Plus all this-

JohnDThompson 

The CPSC issued a recall on the fork in the late 70s due failure incidents at the pin site.

JohnDThompson 

SteveSGP

What John said.

It's easy to ID the third gen because the steel plug is visible in between the fork legs and you can be double sure by sticking a magnet to it.

rekmeyata

I say keep the fork on the bike and simply reinforce the fork yourself by ziptieing some wood splints to the outside of the fork; then you'll have that classic wood look; or if you want a more modern look ziptie some 1 inch diameter aluminum rods instead.

anixi

Oh, that's some dazzling science. I'm impressed!

rekmeyata

I aim to dazzle.

Sixty Fiver

Belonged to my friend and was a touch too big and not quite right for what he needed... with the price I paid I will be riding it like I stole it.


Proctor - hand built on Reynold's 853 and silver brazed.

mikemowbz

Very nice - Suntour equipped, by the looks of it? Superbe? I picked up a Proctor recently (Reynolds 531c), and was thinking of building it up with a mix of Sprint and Superbe when I get the chance)...

EDIT: I just found the more detailed posting in "Classic Rigs & Rides" - a bit of this and that, but some emphasis on the Suntour, I guess!

Sixty Fiver

Suntour Cyclone drive, Superbe brake levers and headset, Modolo Speedy brakes (stops on a dime), and a Mavic stem and Cinelli bar... wheels are mismatched with Shimano (8 speed) and I have some Campy hubs laced to Mavic tubulars I might try (and would run a 7 speed) although the wheels are fine save for the rear being heavy.

Edit: Swapped out the Mavic 130 aero for an NOS Cinelli 1A in a better 100mm size which brought everything into perfect reach and re-wrapped the bars in basic black which looks many time better than the scruffy white tape it had.

Sixty Fiver

Found a set of DA 7400 pedals complete with cages and late model Alfredo Binda straps which are in very nice condition.

Will definitely keep these excellent straps and think they will look really nice on my Marcel Berthet pedals.

Amesja

Kids today...

Sixty Fiver

As found...



What one can do over their morning coffee...



Replaced the wrong sized Shimano 11-32 with a SRAM PG830 (11-28) so now that Cyclone 6000 won't have a stroke although I do want to find a Mk2 as the earlier Cyclone is a fair bit nicer, proper shop scale says it weighs 21 pounds and with gear is > 23 and it is a fairly stout built with fairly beefy chain-stays and a mono-stay in the rear.

Had to correct the backward brakes too.

TireLever-07

Very clean bike SixtyFiver. Like a DeRosa that's been in the witness protection network. Chris

wrk101

Hard to call an obviously crashed bike a "catch of the day"/ I mean, who buys crashed bikes??? Well, I do. Bought it for parts, the parts to someone who uses parts covers the cost. And then the surprise on this aluminum frame bike is that the fork is cromo. So I will be testing my fork straightening skills (I've done it before with some success).

While most people look at a crashed bike and pass it up, I look at the parts: good 700c wheelset, good LX crank, FD and RD, 6 speed indexed shifters, Exage brake calipers and levers, nice Miyata stem, headset, and possibly a usable bb. On the deficit side is a crap saddle, steel seat post, tires are shot, and no pedals. Kind of hard to tell, but the handlebars are wadded up too.

Nice color, one year only model, good brand. It will be worth an attempt to save.

Sixty Fiver

Aside from a few little scuffs the paintwork (a re-spray) is in really nice condition and will be easy to touch up and the red really jumps out in the sun.

As it was lacking it's original decals I had to add a head badge of my own... it reflects a bright white.

Sixty Fiver

Have wanted one of these for a long time...



The wheel isn't bad either.

Glennfordx4

I picked up a Japanese Copy ( which I believe it was you that told me it was ) some years back, I plan on a full resto of it once I get my bead blaster back on line. I picked up the paint for it already and I was looking at it yesterday & was thinking about installing little handles on the side screws to make it like a lath turret wheel so I can spin them in faster to the axle, but I don't want to ruin the value of it, if it even has any.

Glenn