benshares

Hi Bikeforum.

I recently got a 2015 Felt F1 frame in great condition except that the fork was cracked in transport, leading the owner to unload it for basically nothing. I'm building it up (my first project) and wasn't planning on such a nice frame, but when life gives you carbon fiber lemons...you make... very splintery lemonade?

I've been looking around for a fork to fit the frame. I got the frame for $200, so I would rather not spend close to $500 on a new Enve Road 2.0. I'm on Ebay, but the 1 1/8" to 1 1/2" headtube means I am more limited in my choices.

There are plenty of straight 1 1/8th steerer forks, but generally very few tapered. I'm quite leery of the no-name $80 chinese all-carbon forks, as I feel like those are just asking for a snapped steer tube at the first big bump. There are Enves, which seem perfect but cost more than the frame, and then there's.....nothing? Easton doesn't make a tapered road fork, there are some nice Leader forks but they have a super short 28mm rake. I just came across this eerily inexpensive fork - Bontrager Race X Lite Road Bike Fork 700c Tapered Carbon | eBay - TPC says they just have had a hard time selling it, but it has a nice long aluminum steerer. Any thoughts? Any other recs?

Folks keep suggesting a crown race reducer, but does anyone have experience with one? are they equivalent in performance to a properly sized CR?

rpenmanparker 

Look at workswellbikes.com. Some very nice tapered forks. Their bikes are highly regarded by many. Be careful. Not all the tapered forks are 1.5 in at the bottom.

rpenmanparker 

BTW haven't we seen this inquiry before?

benshares

I posted something else about the same frame recently - didn't know what the etiquette here was about dredging up old posts vs. new. If it's too redundant I can take it down.

HazeT

I just bought this for my new frame:
NEW FULL CARBON FORK UD Rigid STREIGH 700C ROAD BIKE FIXED GEAR 1-1/8" 28.6MM | eBay

Sobato seems to be a ebay name for Workswell, albeit I didn't see this model on their website.
Fork arrived in about a week after purchase, $89 delivered.

MagicHour

3T makes them
https://www.wiggle.com/3t-rigida-pro-carbon-road-forks-2016/

Or Planet X
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FOPXRT90/planet-x-rt90-carbon-fork

To name a few

HazeT

Go ENVE or go home
ENVE Composites Carbon Road 2.0 1.5" Tapered Fork - Pro Bike Supply

benshares

why oh why isn't there something in between $89 no name and $500 ENVE?!? - seems like a clear market opportunity.

rpenmanparker 

The real opportunity is the no name.

joejack951

Columbus Fel carbon fork 1-1/2" taper & 45mm Offset - The Speed Shop

Or (if they get it back in stock): https://www.universalcycles.com/shop...3&category=633

benshares

That columbus Fel seems to be pretty much in the sweet spot for me on price/performance. I know lots of people are happy with the $90 carbon forks, but I'm a worrier and I know too much about how corners can be cut in manufacturing and QA to bring costs down when there isn't much accountability.

Recs much appreciated Joejack

joejack951

No problem. I was curious myself as to what else was out there so I took a look. Universal Cycles may have even more options but I stopped looking after seeing the Columbus as it seemed to tick every box.

HazeT

The Planet X one was $189, the 3T was ~350. there are plenty of options in between. I went with the $89, delivered

gsa103

Lynskey has full carbon tapered forks, but they're $425 MSRP.

benshares

Planet X has tons of tapered forks but none have measurements of the taper - so strange.