Straight or Curved Carbon forks?

[HorTs]

I'm hopefully getting a Ti bike built up with comfort as the primary and speed secondary.

The frame has curved seat stays for comfort but what are your thoughts about curved carbon forks over straight?

 

[Dusty Bin]

TBH, curved forks will make about as much difference as curved seat stays - ie not much. It's more for aesthetics than anything else...

 

[Rob3rt]

I think it won't matter

 

[Koga]

I thought curved forks means that the centre of the wheel is further away from steering column, which makes the bike easier (less direct steering) to ride. Depending on the stiffness of the fork, I also expect the curved version to "absorb" more vibration.

 

[Rob3rt]

I thought curved forks means that the centre of the wheel is further away from steering column, which makes the bike easier (less direct steering) to ride. Depending on the stiffness of the fork, I also expect the curved version to "absorb" more vibration.

Curved or straight, it makes no difference to the position of the wheel. The same rake can be achieved with both designs.

 

[Koga]

Curved or straight, it makes no difference to the position of the wheel. The same rake can be achieved with both designs.

It can indeed, but only when the angle is or can be altered.

 

[Rob3rt]

It can indeed, but only when the angle is or can be altered.

A straight fork generally means the blades are straight, it doesn't mean the rake is zero. The dropouts are generally forward of the centre of the steerer.

 

[Koga]

Indeed with s straight fork they are generally forward of the centre of the steerer and with a curved fork this distance (rake) is greater.

 

[Rob3rt]

Indeed with s straight fork they are generally forward of the centre of the steerer and with a curved fork this distance (rake) is greater.

It is not, since the curve of the fork provides the rake, wheras on a straight bladed fork, the rake is achieved by having them protrude from the steerer at an angle. Same amount of rake, achieved in different ways.

 

[PpPete]

TBH, curved forks will make about as much difference as curved seat stays - ie not much. It's more for aesthetics than anything else...

Other things being equal I'd expect curved seat stays to make quite a bit of difference on a titanium frame.
Carbon forks - too many variables to be able to generalise, but curved forks are perhaps unlikely to be designed for maximum stiffness/speed, and anyway they just look better.

 

[Dusty Bin]

Indeed with s straight fork they are generally forward of the centre of the steerer and with a curved fork this distance (rake) is greater.

There is no inherent difference in rake between a curved blade fork and a sdtraight blade fork. What you are saying is just plain wrong.

 

[Dusty Bin]

Other things being equal I'd expect curved seat stays to make quite a bit of difference on a titanium frame.

If you expect that, you will most likely be disappointed. The curve will not act like some kind of leaf spring - it doesn't work like that.

 

[Koga]

There is no inherent difference in rake between a curved blade fork and a sdtraight blade fork. What you are saying is just plain wrong.

OK not a problem, I just thought rake is the distance from the centre line of the fork to the drop out in which case the curved version would normally have a greater rake.

 

[Rob3rt]

OK not a problem, I just thought rake is the distance from the centre line of the fork to the drop out in which case the curved version would normally have a greater rake.

It is.

It won't.

 

[Dusty Bin]

OK not a problem, I just thought rake is the distance from the centre line of the fork to the drop out in which case the curved version would normally have a greater rake.

As Robert says - there is absolutely no reason why a straight fork cannot be built with the same rake as a curved fork.