Carbon Forks....do they really make much difference?

[grellboy]

What difference will I really notice with carbon forks? Will it be noticeable....or negligible?

 

[vickster]

Personally I wouldn't buy a bike without, much more comfortable on the hands, assuming you're riding on UK roads and not a track

 

[raleighnut]

I'd sooner have Steel than Crackbon or Crackaminium but that goes for frames too.

 

[HertzvanRental]

I'm with @vickster .

 

[Dave7]

A very noticeable difference..........Definitely**
**Of course.........if you are riding on perfectly smooth tarmac you may not notice but in the UK that's unlikely to be the case.

 

[Drago]

I don't notice the difference, though I'm a fat bastid. The material isnt inherently any better as a damper (GRP of all things is much better), but does offer greater opportunities for shape and profiles that can guide and channel forces in certain planes.

Carbon seat posts is a fsvourite. People harp on about their vibration damping properties and how they subdue the road buzz, but that's tosh. The typical carbon post is simply a plain carbon tube and if anything is usually stiffer than an alloy one of the same external diameter.

 

[matiz]

Steel,ally or carbon its all the same to me ,I just keep on peddaling.

 

[vickster]

As I have a history of tennis elbow, nerve irritation in my hand and a dodgy shoulder, I need all the dampening
I can get, that includes using thick bartape or ergo grips

If they add £500 to the cost of the bike, you can always retrofit, if they add £100, I'd pay the extra, but ymmv

 

[Cyclist33]

What difference will I really notice with carbon forks? Will it be noticeable....or negligible?

You will not notice any difference to the vibration damping. If the fork was painted such that you didn't know which material it was made of you just wouldnt know. I get more vibration up front through my all carbon fork on the jamis than I do from the partially carbon fork on my giant.

Typically expect a carbon fork to be a bit lighter. Which you might notice when picking up the bike but it won't make any significant difference to the ride.

 

[vickster]

Partially carbon fork

I'm assuming the OP is asking vs steel or Alu as found on more entry level models, not full carbon vs with an Alu steerer etc. they all have some sort of metal protecting the drop out

 

[outlash]

I'd put my money on tyre size and pressure being more significant to ride quality than forks.

 

[Cyclist33]

Partially carbon fork

Not understanding your point..?

 

[Vapin' Joe]

I'd put my money on tyre size and pressure being more significant to ride quality than forks.

Bang on the money. There is so much cobblers talked about the alleged qualities of different materials, perpetuated by journalists who often display a remarkable ignorance about the products they are "Testing".

I've ridden with aluminium forks, steel forks, alu/carbon forks and full carbon and never found the slightest difference. Now changing to a different tyre, that does make a difference.

 

[Citius]

As said by a few above - carbon blades are there for the weight saving (full carbon = even more of a weight saving). Anyone who thinks they are somehow getting a smoother ride is guilty of 'confirmation bias'...

 

[SpokeyDokey]

I can't tell the difference at all between a carbon fork and an alloy fork.

Maybe someone who can will come along and tell us how 15" (ish) of rigid carbon tube can do anything to reduce vibrations from eg coarse rippled concrete roads.