i have a schwinn super le tour 12.2 that i converted a while ago and ride as my city bike. i have come to the realization that the fork on it is **** ing heavy! ridiculously so, that i think the front of my bike is heavier than the rear!

i was thinking perhaps, i should buy a different fork for it, lighten it up a bit. whaddya think? this also means that i would need a new headset stem/bars since schwinn stuff is all its "own" sizing. that is not necc. a bad thing, since i have some spare parts laying around.

dc

i don't think you should switch forks. there's no real practical reason to it. its ok to have a heavy front end. i'd rather have a heavy front end than have some sketchy hi tensile steel fork on there that could bend super easily.

thanks greengnt.

sure, upgrade the fork, headset, stem, bars, then do the frame, seatpost, bottom bracket cranks, and wheelset.

In other words, unless you want a whole new bike, don't bother upgrading the fork, before you know it you'll have piecemealed it into a whole different bike. Better to find the frame and fork you want, and select your parts around that.

I highly doubt you have some proprietary fork. Why would you assume that it is so? Lesser models like the varsity did have some proprietary sizings, but your letour is probably made in Japan by Panasonic.

Other than the probably JIS headset race, I wouldn't expect anything out of the ordinary. There are JIS threaded headsets available today, too.

i hear that. already have the other bike. it is just a thought.


yes, i doubt the fork is proprietary but my current stem on the le tour is actually 21.1...so i wanst quite sure what to think, thanks for the comments...

the price of a new fork in relation to the price of a whole new (used) frameset never seems to make sense to me. anything decent's gonna cost a bill and up, and with some luck and a buddy in japan a keirin frame can be had for three, with headset and bb

if you've got a fork that requires a 21.1 stem, you're dealing with "american" components. you can replace the fork with a regular road fork.
you'll need to modify or replace the headset locknut though.
and get a new stem

so why bother?

well, i guess this all kinda answers it for me. my little red pony will stay as she is.

thanks for the inputs...

dc

Also brandish means to "wave or flourish (something, esp. a weapon) as a threat or in anger or excitement"

If you did get a new fork, I think you should just put it on your bike. It won't do you much good to wave or flourish it, at least not for long.

man, what are you talking about, i wasnt gonna put it on my bike at all. i needed a lighter fork bc i took the one off the schwinn and i totally couldnt get my flourish on. it just wasnt ninja enough. i wanted something lighter, chrome-ier and imported to wave around.

Yeah, in that case a chromed fork with nice curved blades would be nice. Somthing Italian or French perhaps?


Put one of them snazzy star grips on the steerer tube, and a pinwheel between the blades for extra flourish! Just the thing for bike pirates and Ninjas.

Brandish a fork?

i have a new fork if you like to brandish it.

You're the master of cutlery. You can't throw a knife somtimes when someone's trying to kill me?