Should I be concerned?
 

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I was cleaning my bike after a really mucky MUP trip and noticed these lines on the inside of my carbon fork. Are these something I should be concerned about, or are they just cosmetic? The fork is a carbon fork and the bike is about 11 years old. Bike is well ridden, but also well taken care. Any help is appreciated, thanks!

I am far from expert on carbon fiber, but, from the looks and the location, they sure look to me like they could be cracks. Almost impossible to say for sure from a picture. I will say that I would be concerned about them. A failure at that location could be catastrophic for the rider. I would be having it looked at by someone knowledgeable in carbon fiber and bike frame sets.

+1. If taking it to a bike shop get 2 or 3 opinions as not all mechanics are CF experts even though they may feel they are IME. I wouldn't rely on an opinion based on a photo. Photos can distort what the eye can see in the flesh.

if you can, feed water thru the inside & see if it weeps out from the suspect areas...

After 11years it's not likely that a cosmetic defect would suddenly show up.

If this were other than up near the fork crown, I might say otherwise, but this calls for the most conservative approach. Namely replace the fork.

You might satisfy yourself if you stressed the fork and watched the crack closely to see if it spreads.

Thanks for the replies. Part of the reasons I photod the fork was so that I have a reference for if they seem to spread or get worse. When I mentioned a cosmetic issue I was more meaning a paint crack/chip type of issue not a manufacturer defect. I'll definitely take it in to my lbs and see what they tell me. If the fork needs to be replaced, depending on the cost it may just be time retire the bike.

A tap test is the only thing a shop mechanic has available to them in determining if it is a crack. I recall way back when the Profile Fly and the Kestral 4000 showed these cracks, but they were in the paint, not the carbon. Could junk the fork and go with a steel one to avoid another mystery event in the future.

Yeah, try to pull it apart like Stretch Armstrong. If it breaks you'll be glad you didn't ride it, and if it doesn't get worse you can be more confident that it's sound.

But my eye says "crack".

Strip the paint to see if it's in the carbon. Or just get a new fork, whichever is easier/preferable.

If you decide the fork is too iffy, don't abandon the bike (unless you want to, of course) until you check out aftermarket forks. The only full carbon ones I'm personally familiar with are Columbus. They make a variety of beautiful options, and you might find one that is worth while to you. It would be black but a lot of times a black fork on a white bike has been a style statement. On the other hand, they're very easy to paint, either yourself or professionally. There are other options, just not that I'm familiar with.

I have similar looking hairline cracks on my down tube next to the head tube, I was actually about to post something similar! I'm debating if I should bring my bike to a carbon fiber repair shop. Though forks are easier to replace. They sell take-off and new forks on places like Ebay or other online sources.

Thanks for all of the comments everyone. I finally had a chance to take it to the lbs I trust the most and had two mechanics look it over. They did the tap test and they both concluded that the cracks are just paint cracks.

Honestly not sure, its whatever the stock bike came with from Specialized when I originally bought it. FYI it's a 2012 Specialized Crux Apex disc.

I would contact them.

would their archive with all the bike details have that info. I'm not really sure what the difference is or why its important. Care explain a bit?

If I was the original owner, I'd take that to a Spec dealer and make them tell me it was nothing but a paint crack. Spec might error on the side of caution and warranty the fork or the whole bike. Any shop that isn't a Spec dealer doesn't have as much skin in the game as one that is.

well, number one is that there may be a voluntary recall on that fork. two they can tell you if it's got a gel coat.

The lbs I took it to is a Specialized dealer, that being said should I possibly take it to Bike Source since they are owned by Specialized?

I guess what I wasnt understanding is why gel coat vs paint would matter in this situation. Pardon the ignorance for not knowing the difference. Would you be able to explain why the cracks are less concerning if it's gel?

If the lines are strait, they are most likely the places where the legs were glued to the top of the fork.

Personally I think 11 "well ridden" years is plenty for a carbon fork. I'm fairly conservative about such matters as faceplanting in the street is not my jam, I'd stop riding that thing. Replace or retire is my advice.

It could be paint only, it could be a crack. I don't like the place where it's located. It makes me think it's probably a crack. It could also be that the tire dragged mud or something and it scratched the paint.

Breaking forks are the stuff of nightmares though, so If I was unsure about it, I'd probably try to find a new fork.

Despite having a couple of carbon forks at home, I hate carbon exactly for this type of things.

Specialized has a lifetime warranty on their frames and non-suspension forks for original owners as long as it was registered when purchased. If it turns out the fork is failing, you may be eligible for a free replacement.