I recently got a hold of a Cannondale Caad9 5 2010 in Mint condition. I've read so much about carbon forks having a certain life span. Should I change the forks for aluminum or steel? This bike is mint and has never been dropped/crashed looks new. The bike comes with a Cannondale "Premium" fork.

It's been said that you should replace a fork every 5 years.

I don't believe it. If it has not been crashed, a fork should last as long as a frame.

PS You posted this twice, you may want to delete the other one.

I've got one CF fork on my Serotta that's 24 years old and still going strong. A couple on Lemonds almost as old. Just keep and eye on them for problems but if you don't wreck them you should be fine. IMHO

Wow 24 years! Thanks that puts my mind at ease. I'll keep an eye on them.

Check if the fork is full carbom or is made with aluminium, maybe you could change for a full carbon, and lose some wheigth there!

I'm not to worried about weight (I mean I don't want cast Iron...),I want longevity. I had another Cannondale an SR500 from 1987 and had no issues with it and sold it 3 years ago. And that person rode for a year with no issues and sold it to someone else.

Everyone know s that carbon forks will explode if you ride downhill fast ... and they will kill you.

if not in the crash, afterwards they will loosen themselves from the frame, creep out of the garage, get a face from the ancient gallery, and walk on down the hall.... oh, wait.

That is old stuff.

Up until a few years ago carbon forks were lethal ... and carbon Frames .... unless they had expensive decals ... were the leading cause of death among imaginary people all around the world.

I hadn't heard those rumors for a few years .... sort of a "blast from the past" "throwback Saturday" here.

Yeah, CF has a lifetime .... probably longer than yours. Ride with confidence.

The main problem with carbon forks are aluminum or carbon steerers being damaged by the stem. Use at least one spacer under the stem, a good plug for a carbon steerer and don't overtighten your stem bolts. Any other carbon fork problem involves impacts and damage you can see.

Thx I needed a good laugh!

+1. If your worried about your fork, consider that the next commercial airliner you ride on has close to 50% CF by weight and will fly for 30+ years with thousands of takeoff/landing cycles.

Granted, the QC is probably not comparable but the technology is sound.