Originally Posted by
holder66
That State bike pictured in the previous post has a straight fork, without the bend which acts like a spring and contributes to the comfort and pleasure of riding a steel frame.
Originally Posted by
mstateglfr
Nothing in this world is perfect. Some focus on the 98% while others focus on the 2%.
Originally Posted by
Bicicletta89
So true! Every bike is going to have something that isn’t ideal. Even a custom bike will have compromises surely. Just get one you like and enjoy it!
First, I agree. The straight fork is NOT a deal breaker. That might be a lot of bike for $550 for someone who likes it's semi-classic style. Or it might not, depending on how it rides.
Second, there is no data to show that a well-designed straight fork necessarily deflects less than a well-designed curved fork. Please see these actual data, which show that the "straight forks don't bend as much" hypothesis is probably a bunch of nonsense:
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/rinard/..._forktest.html
Bottom-line: Assuming the fork was well designed, a straight fork can have equal flex to a curved fork. The fork isn't mounted at a 90 degree angle to the ground like a pogo stick. It clearly has considerable rake (and room to bend upon hitting a deformity in the road). The bigger questions are "How does this fork actually ride?" and "Was this bike well designed with thoughtful tubing diameters to give good ride quality"? I can't say, but if the tubing was well chosen, it looks like a potentially compelling option for the price.