Comparison of Auminium, Steel and Carbon forks?

[blackhead]

Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc

 

[Hobbes@spnb&s.com]

On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:23:53 -0700 (PDT), blackhead <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
>and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
>steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc

The differences of design, materials quality and manufacture are greater than
the differences in the materials themselves. Even in weight there is an
intersection between the three. I've got bikes with all three and they've all
got something going for them.

Really depends on what you're doing with the bike and which forks you're
choosing from.

 

[blackhead]

On 18 Apr, 00:55, Hobbes@spnb&s.com wrote:
> On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:23:53 -0700 (PDT), blackhead <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> >Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
> >and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
> >steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc
>
> The differences of design, materials quality and manufacture are greater than
> the differences in the materials themselves.  Even in weight there is an
> intersection between the three. I've got bikes with all three and they've all
> got something going for them.
>
> Really depends on what you're doing with the bike and which forks you're
> choosing from.

So do Carbon forks really absorb vibration significantly better than
Aluminium, so giving a better ride?

 

[Hobbes@spnb&s.com]

On Fri, 18 Apr 2008 04:41:11 -0700 (PDT), blackhead <[email protected]>
wrote:

>On 18 Apr, 00:55, Hobbes@spnb&s.com wrote:
>> On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:23:53 -0700 (PDT), blackhead <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
>> >and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
>> >steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc
>>
>> The differences of design, materials quality and manufacture are greater than
>> the differences in the materials themselves.  Even in weight there is an
>> intersection between the three. I've got bikes with all three and they've all
>> got something going for them.
>>
>> Really depends on what you're doing with the bike and which forks you're
>> choosing from.
>
>So do Carbon forks really absorb vibration significantly better than
>Aluminium, so giving a better ride?

They definitely vibrate differently. I don't know that it is less. I do know
that with stupid small tires pumped up stupid hard they are noticeably less
annoying on buzzy road surfaces. I also notice that I don't notice it that much.
The only reason I own carbon forks at all is because I found them at a
ridiculously low price while building up a bike. I'm sure if I'd spent $350 on
the damn things I'd be telling you all about how much better they are.

 

[Ozark Bicycle]

On Apr 18, 6:41 am, blackhead <[email protected]> wrote:
> On 18 Apr, 00:55, Hobbes@spnb&s.com wrote:
>
> > On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:23:53 -0700 (PDT), blackhead <[email protected]>
> > wrote:
>
> > >Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
> > >and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
> > >steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc
>
> > The differences of design, materials quality and manufacture are greater than
> > the differences in the materials themselves. Even in weight there is an
> > intersection between the three. I've got bikes with all three and they've all
> > got something going for them.
>
> > Really depends on what you're doing with the bike and which forks you're
> > choosing from.
>
> So do Carbon forks really absorb vibration significantly better than
> Aluminium, so giving a better ride?

It does if you think it does (see: "the placebo effect").

 

[[email protected]]

Aluminum sucks for forks. Youll rattle out your teeth. Steel gives
the plushest ride but with heavier weight than carbon. Carbon absorbs
shock well . I have all three and the best thing I did on my cross
bike was swap the aluminu fork for a carbon one. My two favorite
rides are a Lemondsteel with carbon fork and a Bianchi steel/steel


On Apr 18, 7:41 am, blackhead <[email protected]> wrote:
> On 18 Apr, 00:55, Hobbes@spnb&s.com wrote:
>
> > On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:23:53 -0700 (PDT), blackhead <[email protected]>
> > wrote:
>
> > >Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
> > >and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
> > >steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc
>
> > The differences of design, materials quality and manufacture are greaterthan
> > the differences in the materials themselves.  Even in weight there is an
> > intersection between the three. I've got bikes with all three and they've all
> > got something going for them.
>
> > Really depends on what you're doing with the bike and which forks you're
> > choosing from.
>
> So do Carbon forks really absorb vibration significantly better than
> Aluminium, so giving a better ride?

 

[Sandy]

Dans le message de
news:e[email protected],
[email protected] <[email protected]> a réfléchi, et puis a déclaré :
> Aluminum sucks for forks. Youll rattle out your teeth. Steel gives
> the plushest ride but with heavier weight than carbon. Carbon absorbs
> shock well . I have all three and the best thing I did on my cross
> bike was swap the aluminu fork for a carbon one. My two favorite
> rides are a Lemondsteel with carbon fork and a Bianchi steel/steel

How many points for a mid-thread troll?

 

[agcou]

On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:55:23 -0400, Hobbes@spnb&s.com wrote:

> On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:23:53 -0700 (PDT), blackhead <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>>Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
>>and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
>>steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc
>
> The differences of design, materials quality and manufacture are greater than
> the differences in the materials themselves. Even in weight there is an
> intersection between the three. I've got bikes with all three and they've all
> got something going for them.
>
> Really depends on what you're doing with the bike and which forks you're
> choosing from.

Did you read the OP's question?

 

[jim beam]

agcou wrote:
> On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:55:23 -0400, Hobbes@spnb&s.com wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:23:53 -0700 (PDT), blackhead <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
>>> and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
>>> steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc
>> The differences of design, materials quality and manufacture are greater than
>> the differences in the materials themselves. Even in weight there is an
>> intersection between the three. I've got bikes with all three and they've all
>> got something going for them.
>>
>> Really depends on what you're doing with the bike and which forks you're
>> choosing from.
>
> Did you read the OP's question?

careful now, r.b.t regulars are here to shoot the ****, not commit
heretical acts of reality checking such as you have just done.

 

[jim beam]

blackhead wrote:
> Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
> and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
> steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc

the best "impartial" test you can do is ride them yourself and compare.
not something some people with mere opinions are prone to do.

 

[Jay Beattie]

On Apr 18, 12:51 pm, "Sandy" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Dans le message denews:e[email protected],
> [email protected] <[email protected]> a réfléchi, et puis a déclaré :
>
> > Aluminum sucks for forks.  Youll rattle out your teeth.  Steel gives
> > the plushest ride but with heavier weight than carbon.  Carbon absorbs
> > shock well .  I have all three and the best thing I did on my cross
> > bike was swap the aluminu fork for a carbon one.  My two favorite
> > rides are a Lemondsteel with carbon fork and a Bianchi steel/steel
>
> How many points for a mid-thread troll?

6.2 I had some aluminum forks on a 90s Cannondale that were about as
stiff as a pogo stick. -- Jay Beattie.

 

[Sandy]

Dans le message de
news:01[email protected],
Jay Beattie <[email protected]> a réfléchi, et puis a déclaré :
> On Apr 18, 12:51 pm, "Sandy" <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Dans le message
>> denews:e[email protected],
>> bigjimp[email protected] <[email protected]> a réfléchi, et puis a
>> déclaré :
>>
>>> Aluminum sucks for forks. Youll rattle out your teeth. Steel gives
>>> the plushest ride but with heavier weight than carbon. Carbon
>>> absorbs shock well . I have all three and the best thing I did on
>>> my cross bike was swap the aluminu fork for a carbon one. My two
>>> favorite rides are a Lemondsteel with carbon fork and a Bianchi
>>> steel/steel
>>
>> How many points for a mid-thread troll?
>
> 6.2 I had some aluminum forks on a 90s Cannondale that were about as
> stiff as a pogo stick. -- Jay Beattie.

You didn't miss the celeste part, right?

 

[mitosis]

On Apr 18, 6:41 am, blackhead <[email protected]> wrote:
> On 18 Apr, 00:55, Hobbes@spnb&s.com wrote:
>
> > On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:23:53 -0700 (PDT), blackhead <[email protected]>
> > wrote:
>
> > >Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
> > >and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
> > >steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc
>
> > The differences of design, materials quality and manufacture are greater than
> > the differences in the materials themselves. Even in weight there is an
> > intersection between the three. I've got bikes with all three and they've all
> > got something going for them.
>
> > Really depends on what you're doing with the bike and which forks you're
> > choosing from.
>
> So do Carbon forks really absorb vibration significantly better than
> Aluminium, so giving a better ride?

It does if you think it does (see: "the placebo effect").

Even if you don't think it does, carbon forks, in general absorb more vibration than aluminium.

 

[Hobbes@spnb&s.com]

On Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:58:51 -0800, agcou <[email protected]> wrote:

>On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:55:23 -0400, Hobbes@spnb&s.com wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:23:53 -0700 (PDT), blackhead <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
>>>and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
>>>steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc
>>
>> The differences of design, materials quality and manufacture are greater than
>> the differences in the materials themselves. Even in weight there is an
>> intersection between the three. I've got bikes with all three and they've all
>> got something going for them.
>>
>> Really depends on what you're doing with the bike and which forks you're
>> choosing from.
>
>Did you read the OP's question?

Yeah, there are no impartial tests that establish the relative characteristics
of forks made from different materials. Such a test would have to hold all other
variables constant in a way that simply isn't possible.

 

[Mike Rocket J Squirrel]

On 4/19/2008 6:31 AM Hobbes@spnb&s.com wrote:

> On Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:58:51 -0800, agcou <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:55:23 -0400, Hobbes@spnb&s.com wrote:
>>
>>> On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:23:53 -0700 (PDT), blackhead <[email protected]>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
>>>> and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
>>>> steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc
>>> The differences of design, materials quality and manufacture are greater than
>>> the differences in the materials themselves. Even in weight there is an
>>> intersection between the three. I've got bikes with all three and they've all
>>> got something going for them.
>>>
>>> Really depends on what you're doing with the bike and which forks you're
>>> choosing from.
>> Did you read the OP's question?
>
> Yeah, there are no impartial tests that establish the relative characteristics
> of forks made from different materials. Such a test would have to hold all other
> variables constant in a way that simply isn't possible.

How come? Not arguing, just curious. Seems (to me, not a mechanical
engineer nor wrench) that one could get three forks with same geometry,
tilt at proper head tube angle, clamp dropouts to shaker table, add mass
loading from above, hang some accelerometers on the stem and let 'er rip.
Just to see, y'know?

--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel"

 

[[email protected]]

On Apr 19, 9:48 am, Mike Rocket J Squirrel
<[email protected]> wrote:
> On 4/19/2008 6:31 AM Hobbes@spnb&s.com wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:58:51 -0800, agcou <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >> On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:55:23 -0400, Hobbes@spnb&s.com wrote:
>
> >>> On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:23:53 -0700 (PDT), blackhead <[email protected]>
> >>> wrote:
>
> >>>> Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
> >>>> and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
> >>>> steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc
> >>> The differences of design, materials quality and manufacture are greater than
> >>> the differences in the materials themselves. Even in weight there is an
> >>> intersection between the three. I've got bikes with all three and they've all
> >>> got something going for them.
>
> >>> Really depends on what you're doing with the bike and which forks you're
> >>> choosing from.
> >> Did you read the OP's question?
>
> > Yeah, there are no impartial tests that establish the relative characteristics
> > of forks made from different materials. Such a test would have to hold all other
> > variables constant in a way that simply isn't possible.
>
> How come? Not arguing, just curious. Seems (to me, not a mechanical
> engineer nor wrench) that one could get three forks with same geometry,
> tilt at proper head tube angle, clamp dropouts to shaker table, add mass
> loading from above, hang some accelerometers on the stem and let 'er rip.
> Just to see, y'know?
>
> --
> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel"

That won't tell you much about the materials though. You could do the
same test with three carbon forks with the same geometry and get
vastly different results.

 

[jim beam]

Hobbes@spnb&s.com wrote:
> On Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:58:51 -0800, agcou <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:55:23 -0400, Hobbes@spnb&s.com wrote:
>>
>>> On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:23:53 -0700 (PDT), blackhead <[email protected]>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
>>>> and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
>>>> steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc
>>> The differences of design, materials quality and manufacture are greater than
>>> the differences in the materials themselves. Even in weight there is an
>>> intersection between the three. I've got bikes with all three and they've all
>>> got something going for them.
>>>
>>> Really depends on what you're doing with the bike and which forks you're
>>> choosing from.
>> Did you read the OP's question?
>
> Yeah, there are no impartial tests that establish the relative characteristics
> of forks made from different materials. Such a test would have to hold all other
> variables constant in a way that simply isn't possible.

what's hard to hold constant about a transducer attached to one end of a
fork, with a known vibratory input at the other end?

 

[Mike Rocket J Squirrel]

On 4/19/2008 6:57 AM [email protected] wrote:

> On Apr 19, 9:48 am, Mike Rocket J Squirrel
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>> On 4/19/2008 6:31 AM Hobbes@spnb&s.com wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> On Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:58:51 -0800, agcou <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>> On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:55:23 -0400, Hobbes@spnb&s.com wrote:
>>>>> On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:23:53 -0700 (PDT), blackhead <[email protected]>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>> Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
>>>>>> and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
>>>>>> steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc
>>>>> The differences of design, materials quality and manufacture are greater than
>>>>> the differences in the materials themselves. Even in weight there is an
>>>>> intersection between the three. I've got bikes with all three and they've all
>>>>> got something going for them.
>>>>> Really depends on what you're doing with the bike and which forks you're
>>>>> choosing from.
>>>> Did you read the OP's question?
>>> Yeah, there are no impartial tests that establish the relative characteristics
>>> of forks made from different materials. Such a test would have to hold all other
>>> variables constant in a way that simply isn't possible.
>> How come? Not arguing, just curious. Seems (to me, not a mechanical
>> engineer nor wrench) that one could get three forks with same geometry,
>> tilt at proper head tube angle, clamp dropouts to shaker table, add mass
>> loading from above, hang some accelerometers on the stem and let 'er rip.
>> Just to see, y'know?
>>
>> --
>> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel"
>
> That won't tell you much about the materials though. You could do the
> same test with three carbon forks with the same geometry and get
> vastly different results.

I assume we're not saying that quality control is so poor that three forks
of the same brand/model would not measure the same. More like small
changes in fork shapes, cross-sections, etc., have a bigger influence on
vibration transmission than the the material itself. So the chances of
finding three forks of different materials which are built sufficiently
similar that those other factors will not contribute to the results is
slim to none.
--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel"

 

[jim beam]

[email protected] wrote:
> On Apr 19, 9:48 am, Mike Rocket J Squirrel
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>> On 4/19/2008 6:31 AM Hobbes@spnb&s.com wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> On Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:58:51 -0800, agcou <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>> On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:55:23 -0400, Hobbes@spnb&s.com wrote:
>>>>> On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:23:53 -0700 (PDT), blackhead <[email protected]>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>> Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
>>>>>> and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
>>>>>> steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc
>>>>> The differences of design, materials quality and manufacture are greater than
>>>>> the differences in the materials themselves. Even in weight there is an
>>>>> intersection between the three. I've got bikes with all three and they've all
>>>>> got something going for them.
>>>>> Really depends on what you're doing with the bike and which forks you're
>>>>> choosing from.
>>>> Did you read the OP's question?
>>> Yeah, there are no impartial tests that establish the relative characteristics
>>> of forks made from different materials. Such a test would have to hold all other
>>> variables constant in a way that simply isn't possible.
>> How come? Not arguing, just curious. Seems (to me, not a mechanical
>> engineer nor wrench) that one could get three forks with same geometry,
>> tilt at proper head tube angle, clamp dropouts to shaker table, add mass
>> loading from above, hang some accelerometers on the stem and let 'er rip.
>> Just to see, y'know?
>>
>> --
>> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel"
>
> That won't tell you much about the materials though. You could do the
> same test with three carbon forks with the same geometry and get
> vastly different results.


"vastly"??? ok big guy, you need to go ahead and define your
understanding of "vastly" now.

 

[[email protected]]

On Apr 18, 5:41 am, blackhead <[email protected]> wrote:
> On 18 Apr, 00:55, Hobbes@spnb&s.com wrote:
>
> > On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:23:53 -0700 (PDT), blackhead <[email protected]>
> > wrote:
>
> > >Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
> > >and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
> > >steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc
>
> > The differences of design, materials quality and manufacture are greaterthan
> > the differences in the materials themselves.  Even in weight there is an
> > intersection between the three. I've got bikes with all three and they've all
> > got something going for them.
>
> > Really depends on what you're doing with the bike and which forks you're
> > choosing from.
>
> So do Carbon forks really absorb vibration significantly better than
> Aluminium, so giving a better ride?

I have riden all three and I can't really say that I know the
difference. Nowadays, there are mostly carbon forks and can be had for
as little as $70.00. Since they seem to ride fine I use them. They
seem to be made a lot lighter than steel forks and they tolerate my
200 pounds w/o problem. So, I think that they are fine for what they
do. Regarding shock absoption, etc. I wouldn't be able to tell the
difference or ride quality, I wouldn't be able to tell the differece.

Andres