Kestrel EMS Pro OS fork

[Mark Trimble]

Why have Kestrel forks significantly decreased in popularity? Is it simply the case that the
competition is stiffer (no pun intended)? Years ago the EMS was the hot fork; now I can't think of
any frame builder that recommends it. I switched from a Reynolds Ouzo Pro to the EMS Pro/OS (because
I wanted an alloy steerer) and I can't tell a difference...

 

[Steve Blankensh]

"Mark Trimble" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Why have Kestrel forks significantly decreased in popularity? Is it simply the case that the
> competition is stiffer (no pun intended)? Years ago the EMS was the hot fork; now I can't think of
> any frame builder that recommends it. I switched from a Reynolds Ouzo Pro to the EMS Pro/OS
> (because I wanted an alloy steerer) and I can't tell a difference...

Shot in the dark here, but say you're a bike manufacturer. Who are you going to prefer to deal with;
a supplier/subcontractor of parts for frames, like Reynolds or Easton, or a direct marketing
competitor like Kestrel or Look?

SB

 

[Brewster Fong]

"Steve Blankenship" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> "Mark Trimble" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Why have Kestrel forks significantly decreased in popularity? Is it simply the case that the
> > competition is stiffer (no pun intended)? Years ago the EMS was the hot fork; now I can't think
> > of any frame builder that recommends it. I switched from a Reynolds Ouzo Pro to the EMS Pro/OS
> > (because I wanted an alloy steerer) and I can't tell a difference...
>
> Shot in the dark here, but say you're a bike manufacturer. Who are you going to prefer to deal
> with; a supplier/subcontractor of parts for
frames,
> like Reynolds or Easton, or a direct marketing competitor like Kestrel or Look?
>
Actually, I think the reason why Kestrel forks have "declined" in popularity is because unlike
Reynolds, True Temper, Easton and others, Kestrel does NOT offer a carbon steerer tube carbon fork.
Thus, when you compare say the Kestrel EMS fork with the competitors, the fork seems heavy at 500+g
versus 350g or less for carbon steerer tube carbon forks....