Hi all,

I have an 1990 "standard" 53mm Paramount frame and I'm looking for a light weight replacement (carbon) fork. It currently has a 1" fork with a height of 355mm and a rake of 40 mm. Here is my source: https://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1...0/1988_05.html

I mainly want to upgrade the fork to save weight and would like to stick with the same (or similar) fork measurements as to not drastically change the bike's handling characteristic...for the worse. Aesthetically speaking, I'd also like a fork to compliment the bike. Would painting a carbon fork be an option?

Someone recommended a Wound-up fork since they can build a fork to match the original specifications...but I'm still doing research on other manufacturers.

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

rake is 40 mm?

I don't know what the rake on the Performance Forte fork is, it's supposed to be a good fork, made by Kenisis. They don't seem to ever have the all carbon fork in stock, don't know what the deal is on that.

People do paint carbon forks.

The newer Forte is a nice fork, but the rake is 45mm. It was enough that I traded it for an ouzo aero, 1", 40mm. Way, way less squirrely. It took me quite a while to do the swap, but it really did make a big difference. while it isn't a really good C&V topic, lemme close by saying that I'd make a really good deal on the Forte (all carbon). Cut for a 55-56, in that range.

Didn't you ask that question HERE, reviving a three year old thread?

Waterford supplies both the Wound Up and Alpha-Q CF forks as options for the RS-22, descendant of your Paramount. Optionally, they'll paint the fork to match.

Beggars can't be choosers. 1" carbon road forks aren't as common as they used to be.
I'd only use a 40mm rake fork on a bike that's decently long with a 74 degree headtube angle. 43mm is more common, and better for a 73 degree headtube.
The Reynolds Ouzos are pretty easy to find. I love my Time Vectran.

Hi all, thx for your suggestions. Please keep them coming. I had an email correspondence with Richard Schwinn at Waterford bikes in which he mentioned that putting a fork with a 43/44mm rake on my frame would make the handling a bit sluggish.

Yes Scooper, I did post this topic in another thread...my apologies. I'm such a noob.

What? A fork with less rake will be more sluggish. Trail determines the handling characteristics.
If you want quicker handling, put a fork on that has 45mm of offset.

mmm. less rake => track straighter, twitch less, turn slower. Yeah, but sluggish? that sounds so harsh. That 45mm forte was on a lightspeed classic. The specs say that the bike was built for a 40mm rake. At 45mm, I couldn't sneeze without risking my life.

At 40, it is just really, really quick.

I don't have any experience with it but another high end option is the easton EC90 Sl which has 43mm rake

Where are you measuring from to get 355mm? You should be measuring from the base where the fork race seats to the top of the threads.

Is 355 the length of steerer tube? If it is it'll have to be cut down and rethreaded to fit your smaller frame.

Yeah Miamijim, I didn't measure my own fork but got the info from the catalog. (see link in original post)