daven1986

Hi,

I am going to buy a surly steamroller frame and fork, however I want a front disc brake. So I found a fork that I think would work well, but it is slightly different.

https://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/produc...s29p7093&rs=gb

https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...ls.php?id=6990

The noticable changes I can see are:

Rake from 38mm to 45mm
Axle to crown height from 368mm to 395mm

What kind of difference will this make to the ride?

Thanks

Daven

dabac

It will make the steering more sluggish, or stable if you prefer.

daven1986

Thanks, would it be by a huge amount?

dabac

Can't really be answered. Some people are, or claim to be, very sensitive to changes like this. Others are more robust. The bike will still remain rideable, no doubt about that.
If it was mine I'd probably go "Hmm, different" on the first ride then promptly forgetting all about it 15 minutes later.

nhluhr

https://www.atomiczombie.com/ct-raketrail.html

Your wheelbase will be lengthened slightly thanks to all that extra rake, your bike's front end will sit an inch higher, which will serve to increase trail (a stabilizing effect) as the frame geometry rotates about the rear axle and thus slackens both seat and head angle slightly, but the extra rake may null any trail you might have gained.

It's hard to know exactly what the net effect will be but you might not like how high your front end sits after changing to that fork.

HillRider

As nhluhr explained, the increased length will in effect slacken the headtube angle and increase trail while the increased rake will reduce trail so the two effects will tend to compensate for each other. I expect the net effect will be relatively minor and you will get used to the bike's handling fairly easily.

LarDasse74

I agree. It will cause a minor change due to the two different dimensions cancelling eachother out.

Don't sell you surly fork until you are sure you like the new one... then you can swap back if you don't like it.

daven1986

thanks. I haven't yet bought the frame, so will probably try it out with the new fork straight away.

Thanks all

LesterOfPuppets

You'll also probably get about a centimeter higher bottom bracket, so less likelihood of pedal strike.