Hi all:

I had recently rebuilt a 2002 Bianchi Veloce up from a frame that I use now as a regular rider (with modern Campy components, all new saddle and used fork). It rides like a dream on its steel frame and all new components. And of course it's that gorgeous Celeste color

And then found a Bianchi Super Ibex MTB frame in good shape for $60 that I thought I'd do as a new project.

However, it has no fork. And unfortunately it has a 1" head tube, which I found out today through trial and error (I can fit a 1 1/8 fork in it, but when it turns you can hear the scraping, which can't be right). Soo.......

Trying to find a threadless 1" suspension fork is not easy, I've learned. I'm NOT a hard core mountain biker, this would be for more your basic gravel and single track rides with rocks. I'm not looking to go jumping at age 52 . Since this is a dual suspension bike I wouldn't mind at all getting a decent fork, but it seems I'll be stuck more at the bottom end, as the only new ones I can find are Suntour XCMs, which is a pretty low end/basic fork. AND I'm worried about suspension travel.. everything new is 100cm and above, but I'm guessing this came with 60mm or maybe 80mm suspension , and will putting on a longer one screw things up?

Is anyone aware of my options here, beyond scouring Ebay for old forks? There's a NOS RockShox Judy with a 1" steerer on eBay now, but it only has a 6.5" steerer tube and the Bianchi's head tube is 4.14" long... don't think I can make that work.

Also, how much would it screw up the ride if I put a 100 mm fork in there?

Thanks all! I'm not a mechanic, just an enthusiastic amateur who can follow youtube videos competently .

Even the most recently produced high end forks in 1" are probably vintage at this point. Marzocchi made the marathon or something like that well into the 2000's in 1", but best case that's still a 10+ year old fork. Can't recall the travel on those off hand, maybe 80mm?

Rock shox SID forks are sought after in 1", probably the best combination of short travel/light and available in 1". I think that era of SID forks could be adjusted internally for travel with spacers. The last guy that rebuilt old Rockshox forks is gone now though.

If you can find a Marzocchi with a bolt in steerer you can swap for a 1" tube, actually you can use any older fork but need a huge press if it's not bolted together. Bolt in steerer forks are pretty early, '96-'99 I think. Have not used him myself but there is a guy called Marzocchi Mark, rebuilds them, could swap a steerer for you or probably sell you complete fork.

As far as the fork length, you could probably track down the intended fork length. Retrobike.co.uk is good for that sort of thing, a much more mountain bike leaning classic and vintage forum. Mostly the issue with longer forks is the bottom bracket gets pretty high up there, and the steering gets pretty slack and slow. Without knowing the original fork length I'd mock the frame up with wheels and figure out a bottom bracket height/drop that seemed reasonable and go from there.

Rock shox did make externally travel adjustable forks called U-turn that had a knob you could crank the fork up and down with. They make this sort of thing super easy, I don't recall if they overlapped 1" being available.

I have parts to put together at least one Marzocchi in 1", and an extra 1" steerer tube. Would be a 63/70mm travel fork. If you can't find something let me know. Might also have parts for a 1" Manitou, but would be way more of a project.

Thanks! I contacted Marzocchi Mike and will keep exploring, but may circle back to your generous offer!

80mm fork: https://www.bike24.com/p2160051.html

Thanks all!

Wesmamyke, I contacted Marzocchi Mark through his website https://www.mtbforksbymark.com, and he has several 1" steerer tube MTB forks that he rebuilds themselves. He helped cook me up with a Marzocchi Z2 Atom Bomb that is perfect for my frame. Great communication and options through him!

Sounds good, hopefully he will get that website functional at some point. That's the only place in the US for Marzocchi stuff besides ebay, he bought out the US service center when Marzocchi closed up shop a few years ago.