Fork upgrade
 

I just updated the fork on my "Basecamp," "mountain bike." Swapped out the old Suntour fork for an inexpensive "carbon," fork. Weighs a lot lighter than the suspension fork. I went this, because I highly doubt that I'll ever shred on mountain bike trails. Went pretty smooth, though I managed to snap one star nut, and had to fish it out of the fork. Dorked up and rounded out a bolt in the brake lever. Fortunately for me I had a spare one. The front wheel needs truing, and I have ordered a truing stand. (Apologies if I posted in the right forum for this, feel free to move it.)
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I personally can't consider a carbon fork an upgrade. I won't use carbon fiber for the same reason I wont use aluminum. They can fail without obvious signs of damage or fatigue.

No carbon fiber or aluminum?

That eliminates all air travel, then.

While I agree the risk of catastrophic failure is low, unlike bicycles, aircraft have mandatory scheduled airframe inspections to catch failing parts before they totally fail.

Keep in mind your bike is NOT designed to be clamped by the tubes. In fact zero bikes should be clamped by the tubes. The seatpost is designed to be clamped and is currently clamped right now.

In terms of the fork I wouldn't trust no-name cheap carbon with no support behind it. But hey it ain't my life. The SR fork was probably a heavy lug but the bike is not a high end bike so tis to be expected. If you aren't mountain biking, I generally recommend not buying a bike for that purpose or at least bikes designed to look like mountain bikes. If I want a carbon fork I would get a hybrid or road bike with a carbon fork and potentially get a higher quality bike in the process with less weight. I would also look at a frame that fits. Slammed seats are a good sign of an ill fitting bike.

I've had a number of aluminum bikes, only one wasn't old when I got it, only one had a break. I have broken two steel frames. You're just paranoid.

Same. The only bikes I've had 'break' have been steel.
I'm too heavy to rock the Spinergy Rev-Xes any more, but my 25-year-old SoftRide is still going strong, and I certainly don't pull any punches on my '97 Cannondale, and I've ridden two Headshoks out from under that one.

The price was right, and update everyone if fails. Hopefully it won't.

I don't mountain bike, because I am too old for that. I would just lay on the ground and wince in pain if I took a spill if I mountain biked. I'm using it to ride on the street and maybe some gravel roads. If I ever get the money to afford a high end bike, I'd want to build it myself. The Basecamp is entry level for sure. I know that many manufacturers slap "mountain bike," on a bike that can't handle hard core mountain biking. I'm on a limited budget, so I get what I can afford.

Never told old for anything aside from loosing your baby teeth I guess. If you are on a budget get more practical gear to start for your riding or save up for a little bit or if there is something you want see if the shop can help you with financing. It is a smart way to go if you can. I did it for a recent bike purchase and it allowed to get the bike of my dreams a lot sooner than I would have if not.

I've had one Aluminum frame bike break on me...it was a Huffy...just say no to Huffy!

The one that broke on me, was my Mongoose XR250, but I had the seatpost too high and it broke under the clamp. The two steel frames was a Lotus Pegasus and a Scwinn Probe. One broke the seat tube at the BB, the other was the downtube at the BB.

That's not an upgrade, that's a downgrade and a step backwards... You should of upgraded with a steel fork.

Just curious. Why do you hate carbon? Thanks!

I don't hate it, I just don't trust carbon forks or any other carbon components. Carbon can't stand up to the same abuse as steel.

Cycling abuse or extra abuse(dropping it, running into it with a car in the garage, etc)?
With regard to cycling, carbon fiber can absolutely stand up to the same abuse overall.

I dont consider normal use to be 'abuse' though since, you know, that means something different.
A simple solution is to not abuse a bike's frame. Crazy idea, I know.

How does someone abuse a bike fork, exactly?

Looks like an upgrade to me. All materials can fail; I've seen chromo forks fail, too, without warning. I replaced an aluminum fork with a carbon one 5 years ago and it's been a great choice. I agree that the slammed seat probably means the frame is too big for OP and thus he's pouring money into a poorly-fitting bike.

AND pressurized aircraft like airliners have a limited lifetime measured in pressurization cycles, not flight hours or any such calendar time. Every flight leg (takeoff/landing) counts against the 'lifetime' of the airframe. The airplane boneyards out west are full of airliners less than 20 years old - ones that have already reached their limit of pressurization cycles. Why? Remember when Aloha Airlines Flight 243 lost an entire section of cabin 'roof' a number of years ago (April 1988)? Too many pressurization cycles that caused microscopic cracks in the skin, which also allowed corrosion from the salt air to weaken further. The plane was only 19 years old.

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Unpressurized aircraft generally have component lifetimes measured in flight hours, if they have such a limit at all. That's why we still have DC-3/C-47s flying commercial operations around the globe at 80+ years old!


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Must of been cheap Wall Mart bikes...

Mountain biking through rock gardens, over tree roots, commuting on rough streets with pot holes, jumping curbs etc... Maybe not abuse but definitely heavy duty use. That's why I use heavy duty chromoly steel forks. I wouldn't use a carbon fork for my style of riding.

I don't think anyone here has ever, or would ever recommend a rigid carbon fork for 'actual' mountain biking. The OP's bike, with it's slick tires, low saddle, and extra-high trekking bars looks like an MUP cruiser, so the fork he picked seems use appropriate.

I've never quite figured out why everyone on BikeForums feels like they have to ride through every pothole instead of going around; is there some Rule about deviating from 'The Line' that I'm unaware of? Or why obstacles like that are such a big deal in the first place? Get your butt off the saddle, bend your knees, and shift your weight off the front wheel. Is Riding Light considered a dark art around here?

A limited airframe life is driven by the fatigue characteristics of aluminum.

There is no such limitation for carbon fiber.

Thanks!

It fits well enough for me. I'm one of those people with odd body geometry. I've ridden and it felt good for me. It's a little big, however I can stretch my legs when pedaling it, and they don't feel like they're crunching up me.