Originally Posted by b dub

From the bit of research I did prior to my trip to picking up the bike I knew the Turbo did not come stocked with an all chrome fork.

You're right, the Turbo did not come with an all-chrome fork, BUT it was chrome plated under the paint, just not polished and then chrome plated. On many, the chrome was so good, owners have stripped the paint and run it chrome, so don't feel like the Lone Ranger on that. The OEM fork is a pretty one, sloped crown, and the OEM crown was polished, as were the Suntour fork ends.

So when I got to the seller and saw the bike I knew I had to ask about it. In most cases forks are replaced obviously because of an accident. I asked about it but he assured me it was never crashed. He explained that in the mid 80s he wanted the entire bike to be upgraded to Dura Ace components, including the headset. But the bearings in the DA headset were bigger than the bearings in the Suntour headset. This made the OEM fork too short to make it work, so he had it replaced with another fork. Honestly, I have never heard anything like this.

He knew of which he spake... The OEM headset is a PITA, has a funny stack height, tiny bearings, and fragile bearing cages. It looks cool, but it needs, almost literally, a 34mm cone wrench and another headset wrench, turned on edge, to adjust. Not fun.

I asked if he still had the original fork but he did not. The drop-outs are stamped Shimano, not Suntour. And yes, it's lugged. I guess I will have to pull it all apart to see if I can find a stamp.

If it works, I'd leave it alone. A DA headset and Prestige fork on a Tange 1 frame are a pretty nice package, and I wouldn't invite trouble. Murphy lurks, and leaps when you least expect the bastid...

I'm not familiar with the Tange Prestige fork. Does it include 3 circles on the inside lugs? That's what I'm seeing. I'll post pictures later.

The lugs and 3 holes are found on the 135 and the 124 fork, but not together. One has the lugs like that, one has the holes, per a catalog from 1997. http://www.equusbicycle.com/bike/tan...t97/index.html

I've not seen them together on one fork, but that doesn't mean Tange didn't make it for someone else. I've seen Tange Prestige forks with the external lugs, but truthfully, I didn't look at the inside of the fork, and Tange-specific replacement forks have TANGE stamped on the fork ends. Regardless of that info, I'd not change that fork, it's a beauty.

Btw - Robbie, I'm honored I got your attention...