Chackadaux

I'm close to buying a new bike, but I'm not sure what I want. I know I want a cross bike, but not sure wich one. I like the BD motobecane Fantom cx bikes, but would like 105 componets and the Moto fantom cx that has 105s is BLUE! and I dont want blue. I even thought about buying the Moto fantom with the sora shifters with the color I want BLACK and up grade the componets over time to 105s.

But then I found the Nashbar steel cx bike with all shimano 105 and carbon fork for 700, thats not bad at all, but the paint job is not my favorite but I can live with. The question I have about the nashbar bike is; How strong is a carbon fork? Im gonna use this bike for everything. Most of the time I will be riding my little girl in her seat on the back. is it wise to buy a bike with carbon forks and put that much stress on it.

Weight is not much a factor right now to me. I am looking to stay in the 500-700$ range.

4Rings6Stars

My advice is usually to buy used... If you're buying from BD or Nashbar, you're going to need to have some basic bike tools and the ability to assemble and tune it anyway. $700 can buy a lot of bike in the used market. Especially if you wait a month or two until half the country is buried in snow and used bike prices drop...

If you're set on buying new, BD looks like it has better deals. Nashbar has some good sales from time to time, so you might be able to get 20% off or so if you're patient.

Dee Tee

if you wait a month or two until half the country is buried in snow and used bike prices drop...

Bingo..........Ever buy skis in Aspen in January? Me neither....I did how ever, buy my boat in Aspen in January and again ....BINGO..

Chackadaux

I can build a bike so I have no problem adjusting or putting together a bike I buy.

catonec 

I wouldnt worry about the integrity of the carbon fork unless it was impacted in some way and that would probably leave a visible mark.

Kopsis

Have you seen what bike actually goes through in a Cyclocross race? Direct physical impact should obviously be avoided. Assuming you achieve that, unless you do some really unusual riding or mistreat the bike in interesting ways, you don't need to worry about the durability of a CX carbon fork

DiscTruckerMF

I built up a commuter bike with the nashbar carbon cx fork and ran a disc brake on it, it was awesome. if I ever find the guy that stole it, I'll kill him. I had renters insurance so I was covered for it but it was one of my favorite bikes. I also bought the nashbar steel touring frame bike with the 105 parts and I bought it when it first came out and it was priced really cheap. after a 20% off sale I paid about 500 for it I think. I ended up selling the 105 stuff because I didn't want such nice parts on a commuter. Just be wary of the wheelset on the nashbar bike, the one that came on the touring bike was a real piece of crap.

Singlespeed92

It's much less expensive to strip a bike down to have it powder coated it black than it would be to upgrade the black bike to match the blue bikes specs,especially since you can build it/tear it apart yourself,plus you'd have the only one like it

rebel1916

Carbon forks are known to asplode.

Singlespeed92

I know I'd never use one,not offroad anyways...

rebel1916

Wise choice. Dirt makes them especially likely to asplode.

Singlespeed92

That's what I figured...and I likes riding dirt