CuttersRidge

You are the potential buyer:

Simply put, what is the reaction one might have if they see a decent vintage bicycle or frame but one notes, the fork obviously has been replaced?

Red flag? I guess it would call for a closer inspection, that is my reaction.

Thank you in advance for any comments.

Wileyone 

I usually walk away.

willie52

I disagree. Sometimes forks get replaced, and the bike is fine. Look it over carefully. If not bent, out of line, or buckled, then it should be OK. If it's a decent fork, then my only concern then would be non matching cosmetics. Unless the original fork was distinctive in some way, then I wouldn't pass on it.

72Paramount

If the frame is a repaint, pass. It's pretty easy for a good body man to hide an accident. With original paint you can't hide much.

Wileyone 

I guess it depends on what it is...

D1andonlyDman

I bought a cheap Raleigh Technium frame that had obviously been re-painted, and the fork was replaced. But since the fork and frame and BB cost me a grand total of $10, and the new fork was a nice Chromoly fork that was, by itself worth quite a bit more than $10, I felt that it was worth the investment. BTW, I built this up as a cheap mountain climber to leave at my mother's house (she lives on a massive hill). If it was in an accident in an earlier life, it still rides just fine. It certainly won't win any beauty contests, but it's a highly functional part-time bike, purpose built with wide range 6x3 gearing for under $140 all in including new consumables, and it does the job I wanted it to do.

CliffordK

There are a lot of questions. I see quite a few frames up on E-Bay without forks for one reason or another. Sometimes sellers think they can get more money by selling the two separately. Or, perhaps someone will buy a frame+fork just to get the fork.

A damaged frame may loose its fork, then get repaired as good as new.

A large number of vintage Viscount/Lambert bicycles received recall replacement forks.

3alarmer 

...this is my own take on it as well. There are some relatively nice bikes you run into occasionally where someone decided to improve it with a CF fork. Depending on what it is, and the price, I've certainly been sucked into finding a decent replacement fork (now harder than it used to be), and putting the bike back to something resembling the original. But it's a time suck, especially if you need to repaint the fork.

verktyg 

When I see a frame without a fork or a replacement fork, I want to know WHY! It's usually a deal breaker for me...

I did a local pickup on a 1980 Motobecane Team Champion I bought on eBay. As I was walking up to the seller, something didn't look right with the chrome plated fork. I looked at the fork ends... TANGE. I instantly felt under the top and down tubes. RIPPLES!

I took it to a local frame builder and put in on his layout table. It had been straightened and realigned. I negotiated a substantial refund.



When I put some wheels on it, the Tange replacement fork was over a 3/4" too long which totally changed the geometry. The top tube was 1/2" too high at the front. Would have required very long reach brakes.



Luckily I found the right size fork.



verktyg

Chas.

noglider 

It's a deal breaker for me because the manufacturer probably designed the frame and fork together. Replacing the fork will give a different ride than the manufacturer intended. It might be different but not unpleasant, but I don't want to second-guess that.

There are enough with original forks for me to consider.

But if you're considering buying a bike which has had its fork replaced, maybe a test ride will tell you if you would like the bike.

CuttersRidge

I think I've read this story at least once before but it can bear repeating and thanks to everyone for the responses,

I think I said in post #1 , a "decent vintage bike", so I'd hope this lessens the emphasis on the more elite top quality bikes out there.

There are quite a few frames out there to be bought for $100 or less.

If one is able, as said, that part where the down tube meets the head tube should be checked.

Wildwood 

Deal breaker. As noglider points out - lots of C&V out there, just be patient, just be patient, ......

zukahn1 

For me I usually end up passing because of price I'm just not willing to pay full or close to full price for a frame set with a replacement fork. If it is a nice mid level or better frame with no damage and the replacement fork is a decent match I'm OK with it I have owned and ridden a few. I just value the bike or frame set as if it was a nice entry level frame set so my pricing tops out at about $80-100 for the frame set.

markk900

As one who just had to do this with a decent vintage frame, let me share my perspective. I had the complete bike but it was resprayed *everywhere*....so I stripped it, and repainted it. I loved the fork on the bike (especially the crown), but when I got to inspecting it much more closely I found rust had penetrated the chrome at the curve of the blade and left a hole....advice on this forum ranged from "should be OK" to "death fork". So I replaced it. I was very careful to get the same length and as near as dammit to the same curve of the blades so as not to alter the ride.

If I ever sell the bike will come with the original fork as well as the replacement.....but sometimes, especially over 5-6 decades, forks are replaced without it being sinister!

repechage

A replacement fork almost universally advises a huge discount.

While checking the head tube region for damage is typical, I have run into a frame where the bending took place at the downtube at the bottom bracket and the top tube at the seat lug. The tell tale of cracked paint advised the damage. That and the 76 degree head angle.

OldsCOOL

Some frames are much stronger than the fork. No alarms for me.

easyupbug 

A fork replacement is one of the many clues when judging the risk with C&V frames. I once tried to get a better price on a Columbus EL frame with a replacement carbon fork when the guy dug through his shed and found the clearly original fork that had been dropped in storage and he did not like the risk of straightening one of the bent aluminum fork end. I paid full price.

jimmuller 

Unlike some of you I don't buy a bike very often but I do notice interesting frames occasionally. I'm with NG and v. If the fork has been replaced I'd sure want to know why. A chrome fork on a painted frame always makes me wonder even though there may be good bikes which came from the builder that way. The fork is such an integral part of the design. It' would be like buying a sports car on which someone substituted another make's front suspension components. Sure they may fit, but they aren't likely to make it handle as originally intended. Bottom line - I'd probably walk away.

rhm

Knowing why a fork has been replaced is a fine standard, but not always a realistic one.

Replacement fork is potentially a mark against, but not always. If the bike is a Lambert or Viscount, for example, no problem. You almost expect those frames to have replacement forks. There are some Trek frames from the early or mid 80's where the forks are known to fail occasionally; if that fork has been replaced, no problem. And so on.

Otherwise... okay, so it's a mark against, a flashing red light. So you look the frame over. If you accumulate enough marks against, move along. What else constitutes a mark against? Your call. How many is too many? Your call. Would I walk away? Maybe. Maybe not.

rando_couche

Two major factors:

1. Why I’m buying: if I’m just after an “everyday” bike/frame, the price is good and there’s no evidence of frame damage, I’d probably go for it.
   
2. A lot of older frames/bikes were “upgraded” at some point with plastic (excuse me, “carbon fiber”) forks and the old fork was tossed/sold. As long as “correctness” is not a major issue (see #1 above), no reason not to buy it.

SP
OC, OR

fender1

IMHO There are way too many other purchase options to even consider a frame with a replacement fork. Unless the frame is super rare or valuable for some reason, why buy a headache?

1989Pre 

The replacement fork may be an upgrade. Or, it could just be that the owner knows exactly what he wants and is fussy, and traded out an alloy, steel or carbon fork for one of his liking. If you can not get in touch with that owner, I'd research the current fork. Is it better (in even some ways) than the original?
My bike came with Tange cro-mo. I upgraded to Kinesis (6000 series) aluminum. I am now in the market again, just because (reportedly) aluminum has a life-span. I may stay with (discontinued) Kinesis aluminum. I am also thinking of Tange Prestige from IRD. Lots of reasons for fork replacement/upgrade/downgrade. You should be able to eye-ball the frame for major defects/injuries.
My Kinesis RF28's are crazy good and I never regretted the upgrade.

USAZorro

Two of the three exceptions to the instant "no thanks" response that I can think of have been covered (weight weenie and death fork). The steerer on the original being ruined (due to being fused to the stem or stripped), don't necessarily cause the integrity of the rest of the frame to be suspect, but that certainly would diminish the value of the frame and increase the hassle for whomever intended to build the frame up.

fietsbob

[No blanket Generalization applies ]. ( ie figure it out case by case )


I got a stumpjumper sport frame with a broken dropout, replaced the pair, then found a Tange Fork, CP chromoly sloping fork crown.

Now its my winter bike, with the studded tires , for the past 20 years.

SJX426 

Like many others, it depends. I know to check for damage or deformed frame and fork. But I am fallible too! There were a number of discussions about Trek 700 series bikes that I started looking on CL for one. Around here they don't show up very often,.

I found one for a reasonable price that was a project. I was so excited that I didin't pay attention to the fork. It had a number of Campy parts among other desirable ones so I went for it. Yes the frame was repainted but eh decals were masked off. The TT and DT were straight.

Upon tearing it down to clean it up, I found the fork was replaced. Those of you who know, understand the 760 had a unique fork. It has the sword lug and a 38 cm offset. The likelihood of finding one was like a needle in a haystack. Once in awhile I would look for forks on CL and the bay. Found a pink one on the bay. Not only that but the price was really low, half of a Soma track fork with the right offset. But wait there is more. The seller was in the town I worked in! I arranged to purchase it.

When we met I looked it over and said, "Did you know this fork is bent?" Then, "what happened to the frame?" The picture was clear and the price was cut in half. I decided to take the chance in bending it back (531). It now is bent back to the original specs without any wrinkles or evidence of being bent. The key is the steerer tube was straight.

I lucked out. The bike has yet to be assembled. Working on the Botty at the moment.