I have a road fork from around ’97. The dropouts are alloy, as is the threaded steerer, but the legs seem to have a curious carbon-patterned lacquer effect.
Was this just the cosmetic style of some alloy forks in the ‘90s?
Or could they be carbon?
I haven't got the fork with me so I can’t do the tap-sound test.
Any opinions greatly appreciated.

Tried using a magnet to the fork to check if the blades are steel.? Sounds like a odd combination of materials.

Carbon forks were definitely available in the 90s, but without more details it’s hard to know whether or not yours is really carbon.

Thanks for your replies, I’ll definitely try the magnet test once I’m reunited with the fork.

Kinesis made them.

Thanks. I’m having trouble uploading a photo of my fork but it’s identical at the dropouts to your pic. The bridge looks a little different in that it’s still carbon (or carbon effect) right up to the top tube.

I think it was a trait of all carbon frames and forks that you could see the fiberglass, just like bare titanium frames. If you’re going to spend that much money you wanted to show it.

I think you might be right, and I can't find any information on 'carbon-look effect' forks from the late '90s. Thanks.

Pic assist:

Could be something high quality, or it could be something inexpensive like the fork in the link below. Without any markings, it would probably need to be removed and checked for marks on the steering tube, and checked for weight. The lighter it is, likely the higher the quality.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nashbar-1-I...MAAOSw~9Fen2C-

I bought a fork similar to this one this a while back, and when I took it out of the box it weighed a ton. It weighed the same as the old Mangaloy fork it was replacing. I couldn't believe carbon fiber could be so heavy!

Then I chipped the fork, and discovered it was just a cheap heavy aluminum fork that had been painted with a fake carbon fiber pattern. I doubt it had any carbon fiber at all in it, or maybe they taped a small piece of it inside the steerer tube or something. I was appalled, but I digress ...

Hopefully yours is better quality than mine, the fork tips look to be of decent quality, but I think the weight will tell you a lot.

There's a good chance it's carbon. This was (and is to a certain extant) a common fork construction technique. It's easier and probably cheaper to use metal to safely handle the clamping forces of quick releases and stems. Columbus and others still make forks like this: https://ciclicorsa.com/shop/columbus...on-fiber-fork/

That said, there was a lot of aluminum being wrapped in carbon in the 90s. Any stamping on the steerer tube? What bike is this on? It might be a stock fork and some internet sleuthing could tell you whether it's real carbon or not.

Could it be this fork?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kinesis-Car....c100009.m1982

Ha! That's the photo of my forks, I can't upload here yet. It's not a clear pic but you can just make out the carbon pattern graduating to solid black at the top. Thanks.

Hi, there are no external decals. And until I can get to the bike and remove the fork, I can't tell if there are any stampings on the tube. It's on old CAD3 of the same era. Thanks.

[QUOTE=Lemond1985;21434704]Could it be this fork?


It looks very similar, aside from the decals. Thanks.

Mine is a threaded fork so it hasn't got a long steerer tube like the one shown in your link. But it might well be wrapped aluminum. Ta.

Here's a listing of vintage Cannondale catalogs. Find the year and model that looks right for your bike and it should tell you if the fork is carbon or not. https://vintagecannondale.com/catalog/

Thank you, that's excellent. I'll take a look.

From the catalogue you linked, it looks like it's a 1996 R600 with a "Light, shock-dampening carbon composite fork." I think you've solved my mystery. Thanks.

Great! Glad to help. Yeah, I wouldn't think 1990s Cannondale would pull a shenanigan like wrapping aluminum in carbon fiber.