Originally Posted by Tape2012 (Post 19764540)

There is no good way to inspect carbon without cutting it up or making it fail.

Originally Posted by Tape2012 (Post 19764112)

Yes and no. The resins used are epoxy not plastic. I used to work at a CF manufacturer and we put no service life on CF components. Remember the newer airliners are over 50% CF and fly well over 100,000 flights before they get replaced by newer technology. CF doesn't fatigue with use like AL or steel. The biggest drawback is that damage caused by impacts may not be visible. That may be why they recommend a service life, assuming forks over X years old have likely been dropped or been in a crash at some point. UV will degrade CF over time so an intact paint job is important.

I would judge by impacts, not years or miles. If treated well a CF fork will outlive any of us.

Originally Posted by rydabent (Post 19764764)

And-------------as I have pointed out before CF airplane parts fail too. At least 3 french Airbus airplanes have had their CF tail break of killing all aboard.

Originally Posted by unterhausen (Post 19765095)

For example, I've seen dropouts that just dropped out. Wouldn't surprise me to find out that the crowns were delaminating on a lot of forks.

Originally Posted by Maelochs (Post 19765065)

Actually the Australian guy in the video at the top of the page, who used to do aerospace CF, uses an ultrasound machine to check CF frames ... no need to cut them open.

Just more fear-mongering from the willfully ignorant.

We all know the facts, and we all know some folks refuse not to deny them. Next time there is a thread like this we should make it a poll: I believe in monsters, ghosts, aliens capturing people and probing them, the government controlling people via broadcast brainwaves if they don't wear tinfoil helmets, and CF asplosion, vs. I am rational.

Originally Posted by lungimsam (Post 14174126)

Been reading a well known repair book by a well known expert. And he says that carbon forks should be thrown away and replaced after a few years.

So my 3 year old bike is dangerous to ride now?

There is so much controversy about carbon, that it is making me worried about riding my carbon forked bike.
Some say you can get many years' of use out of carbon, others say chuck it after 3 years. Some say 10 years. I don't know what to believe.

What do you think?

EDIT: The book actually says after a "few" years, so I corrected it here.

Originally Posted by Skewedbmx (Post 22493375)

carbon is not notch resistant- it’s safest to follow the 2-3 year rule, especially if you do not know how many crashes, nicks, dings, etc your forks have endured. Forget mileage- the actual issue comes from the breakdown in the fiberglass (because news flash Carbon bike parts are more fiberglass than carbon). So just imagine every time your forks take a hit; inside fiberglass is beginning to splinter.

Originally Posted by cxwrench (Post 22493453)

You are utterly and completely clueless about carbon frames/forks and how they're made/what they're made of.

Originally Posted by cxwrench (Post 22493453)

You are utterly and completely clueless about carbon frames/forks and how they're made/what they're made of.

Originally Posted by Skewedbmx (Post 22493375)

carbon is not notch resistant- it’s safest to follow the 2-3 year rule, especially if you do not know how many crashes, nicks, dings, etc your forks have endured. Forget mileage- the actual issue comes from the breakdown in the fiberglass (because news flash Carbon bike parts are more fiberglass than carbon). So just imagine every time your forks take a hit; inside fiberglass is beginning to splinter.

Originally Posted by cb400bill (Post 22493452)

My now 25,000 mile, 16 year old carbon fork is just fine.

Originally Posted by Skewedbmx (Post 22493696)

I’m sure it is, and there is always an exception to the rule. But in the original thread here the person states his child has them. Do you think they are taking care of them? Not bunny hopping, sending it, or crashing? Thus compromising the integrity of the product. Current day manufactures (especially MTB & BMX) of carbon forks, rims, handlebars, etc tell you 2-3 years not so you’ll spend more money but for your safety. Furthermore the carbon to fiberglass ratio 16 years ago has changed considerably and as I previously stated now a days they are more fiberglass than carbon fiber and tend to splinter internally because the are not notch resistant.

Originally Posted by Skewedbmx (Post 22493696)

I’m sure it is, and there is always an exception to the rule. But in the original thread here the person states his child has them. Do you think they are taking care of them? Not bunny hopping, sending it, or crashing? Thus compromising the integrity of the product. Current day manufactures (especially MTB & BMX) of carbon forks, rims, handlebars, etc tell you 2-3 years not so you’ll spend more money but for your safety. Furthermore the carbon to fiberglass ratio 16 years ago has changed considerably and as I previously stated now a days they are more fiberglass than carbon fiber and tend to splinter internally because the are not notch resistant.

Originally Posted by indyfabz (Post 22493472)

And he quoted the OP, which is precisely 10 years old today. What were the odds of that fortuitously happening?

Still...I popped a fresh bucket.

:popcorn

Originally Posted by cxwrench (Post 22493810)

No, no they are not. Stop with this utter ********.

Originally Posted by Skewedbmx (Post 22493696)

I’m sure it is, and there is always an exception to the rule. But in the original thread here the person states his child has them.

Originally Posted by tomato coupe (Post 22493811)

Yeah, I noticed the anniversary too. Do zombie threads have some sort of auto-renew feature?

Originally Posted by badger1 (Post 22493858)

'Asploding carbon, son. Nothing else on teh Biek Forms smells like that. I love the smell of asploding carbon in the morning. You know, one time we ...'