Originally Posted by
3speed
Steel forks are quite heavy compared to AL. I have considered fitting an aftermarket fork with rack mounts to an AL MTB frame. For that purpose too, it would be nice to have a list of 26" AL frames well suited for touring.
I can only comment on Trek aluminum mountain bikes from '98 onward having provisions for a rear rack on some models. Highest level tended to not have rear rack braze-ons. My '98 7000ZX was the highest level at that time to have points to mount a rear rack. My nephew has a 200? Trek 3500 that has the provisions.
Old Man Mountain and Axiom have front racks that will work with suspension and rigid front mountain bike forks. I don't know of any mountain bikes that featured low mount provisions.
I wouldn't worry about the extra weight of a cro-mo fork, it's not that much.
Brad