Originally Posted by
gladiator13
Is a carbon fork something I could easily upgrade to though? I'm debating the costs of buying a bike like the 1.5 that has the components already there vs a 1.1 that would require me a drop a few bucks in it to make it mine and have the right upgrades.
You could do it, but it's not cost effective and there are complications. When you buy the bike as one whole unit, there are lots of discounts here and there on components, your not paying full price.
Carbon forks range $300-500. Half the cost of the entire entry level bike alone.
+ potentially an LBS fee to install.
+ figuring out length, rake, and other geometry details to not fubar the handling characteristic.