HalfHearted

I was just removing the warning stickers and whatnot from my new 7300. Both of the lower legs of the fork had papers wrapped around them with a rubber band (fork owners manual on one and a notice to look for the owners manual on the other -- too many lawyers!)

Anyway, I figured out why they wrap papers around the fork that way. I removed the papers and found that the forks are named after a particularly odious boy band! If I'd known the forks were going to have "in sync" painted on them I'd never have bought the bike!

John

Prosody

If you ride around on the backroads, I guess you'd have to consider yourself one of the Backstreet Boys.

or

If you ride down a section of road you've never ridden, you'd be a New Kid on the Block.

HalfHearted

Raiyn

It's amazing what a little spray paint will do. It'll make those little words go bye bye bye.

shokhead

return NOW

Waldo

Ugh, that's a pretty lousy fork too, and not just because of the name. Take it back and get a nice Specialized for less money. (Just my humble opinion, if you like the bike more power to you)

HalfHearted

Actually, for the riding I'm going to be doing I didn't really even want a suspension fork at all. I just couldn't find any hybrid with decent drivetrain components that didn't also have a suspension fork. I regard them as nothing but extra weight and maintenance headaches. For now I'll just live with it. When this one goes south I'll try to find a rigid fork to replace it.

BTW, how long did it take you folks to stop looking at your tires thinking they were going flat when you first started riding with suspension forks and seats? I literally haven't had a leg over a bike in almost twenty years but when I went for a quick spin on this thing last night I noticed immediately that hitting bumps feels just like the tires are mushy. It took me a few minutes to realize it was the fork and seat, not the tires, absorbing the bumps!

Which kind of raises the question, how do you know when you've got a tire going low in the middle of a ride, I mean, before it goes completely flat and either pitches you on your face or self-destructs?

John

Poppaspoke

Try an occasional quick glance down at the tire where it contacts the road. On the rear you will have a slight bulge in the sidewall where your weight presses down (less so in the front). Get used to how your tires look. Now, if you glance down and the sidewall is bulging MORE than usual get off the bike and check the pressure. Needless to say, you should check your tire pressure before every ride.

Prosody

Don't worry, you'll know when you get a flat.

fubar5

It's pretty hard to mistake a flat, I wouldn't worry about it. I know what you mean though, on my last MTB ride I lessened the preload, and the compression and rebound dampening to make my fork a little faster and more absorbent. Lol, it was wierd!! I am used to having a stiff setting. But the softer fork made it possible to make sharper turns. I would go into a switchback way to fast(wich usually results in the front tire washing out) but this time it stuck, and I was able to get through without a wipeout.

Feldman

Gee, a friend of mine is trying to figure out where he wants to put the word "vicious" on his Sid!

HalfHearted

The "how will I know when I get a flat" thing was meant to be kind of tongue in cheek, though I can see it taking a little longer to detect a tire going down when your fork and seat are mushing out all the bumps from the start!

John

Scooby Snax

Now there is the best idea yet!!

Kinda like the Incredible hulk stickers i saw on a Green Santa Cruz Bullit....

lotek 

If it were me I'd be looking for "Barrett" but I
don't think alot of the younger members would get it.

I'd lose the InSync, cover it with Duct tape or something.

Marty

Kevin S

Is it truly painted on, or just a decal/sticker that can be peeled off?

kindbud

i have the same trek 7300 and i didn't even realize until you pointed it out. btw, the band is N'Sync i believe. not the same. just like a beetle is not a beatle. i'll keep telling myself that so i don't get too bummed out. btw, have you been able to tune that fork at all? i've gone from one end to the other and it all feels the same to me.

Dannihilator

I have Smirnoff Triple Black stickers on my 2002 Warp DS1, which is black.My race bike has Maxxis stickers on it.

I'll pay you ten cents for the fork.

HalfHearted

It's just a sticker. I'll probably try peeling it off and then cover the whole thing with reflective tape.

John