Originally Posted by
unterhausen
Steerers flex quite a bit. Disc brakes are going to make them flex more. That's why the mountain bike industry has gone to tapered steerers. If it's you that's potentially getting sued, you can sell whatever ill-advised designs you like. Good luck finding anyone involved in the industry to testify that it was a good idea, nobody thinks that. I noticed that Crust, the last bastion of 1" disc brake forks, is now selling a bike with a tapered steerer.
Sorry, but how exactly does a disk brake make the steerer flex more? Unless your saying that disk brakes have more stopping power than rim brakes?
Flex the fork blades more? Definitely.
More flex at the crown? Sure, since the forces have to go thru the crown with a disk setup, and are applied directly to the crown in the case of a caliper brake. But, the steer tube and headset are above that.
A tapered steerer is definitely stronger/stiffer. And, the bearing should last longer being larger. If you're building a new bike, for sure use the latest/best. But, I just don't see a larger steerer being a necessity brought on by disk brakes.
Glad the OP got what he wanted.