Carbon forks - worth it?

Looking at upgrading bits on the bowery and wondered if carbon forks are worth getting?
What advantages do carbon forks offer over the stock steel ones?

My allez has carbon forks and feels smoother on the roads, but it might be the OS bars and better tape/ wrapping.

There are always carbon forks floating about in the classifieds. Pick some up cheap, try them out then if you really like them upgrade to some better ones if you think its worth it.

alpina all the way...

Not necesarily any more comfortable than decent steel forks. The real advantage is the weight saving if that worries you? Light steel fork = 850g, light carbon fork = 400g

I seen an alu fork on the planet x sale for £30 that weighs 582g, or a carbon fork for £100 that weighs 530g
Am tempted witht he alu fork (if its much lighter than the stock)

carbon forks - worth it?

Yes. Definitely. They can be had cheap too (used). It's the first thing I'd advise anyone to swap out on their bike, less weight and more comfort, the comfort factor is especially true in comparison to alu.
Note that the weight of carbon forks differs a lot though, I recently swapped out my Planet X fork (564 g) for a Kuota one (374 g)

I seen an alu fork on the planet x sale for £30 that weighs 582g, or a carbon fork for £100 that weighs 530g
Am tempted witht he alu fork (if its much lighter than the stock)

If you're thinking about ride, then alu prob isn't the way to go. There's a reason why most alu bikes have steel or carbon forks.

I'm looking for some carbon forks for a SS CX bike but they seem hard to get hold of at reasonable prices. Plus they mostly seem to come with full carbon steerers now. The reason I wanted an alu steerer was that I'd feel more confident making stem adjustments etc whilst out on a ride without having to worry about torque etc. Maybe I'm just over cautious though and it would be fine. What do people reckon?

I think it'll be fine, as you probably know carbon steerers need an expader instead of a normal star nut, so the carbon steerer will be pressurized from the inside out as well as from the outside in.

If you are that worried about torque then buy a torque key

And don't ever get alu forks they really are horrible!

I'm looking for some carbon forks for a SS CX bike but they seem hard to get hold of at reasonable prices. Plus they mostly seem to come with full carbon steerers now. The reason I wanted an alu steerer was that I'd feel more confident making stem adjustments etc whilst out on a ride without having to worry about torque etc. Maybe I'm just over cautious though and it would be fine. What do people reckon?

One (more) disadvantage with alu steerers on carbon forks is that in the event of a high-impact crash the steerer transmits the shock back into the frame rather than absorbing it.
I'd rather have had to buy new forks than a new frame and forks...

no.

I don't trust carbon, have you visted bustedcarbon.com recently?

sighs

bustedcarbon is full of bikes that people have driven into their garages with because they forgot to take them off their roof rack.
Have you seen bustedtofuckfuckingsteelbikes.com? No, because breaking steel, alu bikes are so common no one was sad enough to bother making a website about it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_O9PLorYPA

yes theres a few posts with people (americans) leaving their bikes on the roofs of their car while going into garages, but there are some other frames which just self distruct. I didn't see anything break while watchig the tour de france so I geuss the expensive stuff can't be too bad if the pro's ride it hard all across france.

ahh, the hammer video. which forks would you rather ride on after the hammer test?

(In truth I can't afford a carbon bike)

Strange how so many people who speak out against (insert material type here) don't own or have never ridden (insert material type here).

Whoops I've done the material thing again.. maybe I should've just posted an apple pie.

I had some shitty hi ten forks on my se, after my fuji got stolen. Bent the forks so went down to my LBS. Was on a low budget so got some carbon forks that had come off a new Genesis and were cheaper than steel forks so I went for them.

Really hated them. Had loads of flex in them when trackstanding. As soon as I got my Eighthinch forks I was so happy!

no.

I don't trust carbon

Funny how you give advice and then proceed to tell the op why he shouldn't take it seriously.

Funny how you give advice and then proceed to tell the op why he shouldn't take it seriously.

in conclusion, I don't trust inexpensive carbon (i have a carbone alan, dont ride it). but the expensive carbon seems to do the job better, but there's now way I am spending money on expensive carbon bike parts which will depreciate in value oh so quickly.

Not necesarily any more comfortable than decent steel forks. The real advantage is the weight saving if that worries you?

I'd go along with this. Not even sure the "quality" of the carbon is that much of a big deal - the cheap carbon forks on my Genesis rode nice enough before they were snapped in a crash (BTW I've written off more steel/alu forks, so that's not a comment on the fragility of carbon). I also like the steel forks on my track bike - kind of more "trundly" but still nice - just a different sort of ride. I reckon choice of tyres and pressure makes just as much difference - maybe more? And if you're looking to upgrade your Bowery I'd start with the wheels...

Can anyone weigh (no pun blah blah) in on the significance of balancing a bike from front to rear?

I've never ridden any significant distance on a bike with carbon forks but if you lightened up the front end with carbon would you start to adversely feel the difference?

Or is it a case that the rear is always gonna be significantly heavier and that's just something you factor in with your riding?

Your own body weight is more over the rear wheel than over the front, so bike weight distribution isn't an issue. It's not like you'll constantly be popping wheelies involuntarily if your front end is lighter that the rear. What can cause significant difference in handling is fork rake.

Never, ever buy alu forks if you're going to be riding on the road. If you do make sure you put on a few rolls of bartape and bubblewrap your gloves.

I seen an alu fork on the planet x sale for £30 that weighs 582g, or a carbon fork for £100 that weighs 530g
Am tempted witht he alu fork (if its much lighter than the stock)

Hells no, unless you'll only ever be riding on the track. Alu forks transmit an incredible amount of road buzz.

If you are that worried about torque then buy a torque key

And don't ever get alu forks they really are horrible!

Do these ever come with removable allen bits? On my two bikes I have both 4mm and (I think) 5mm allen bolts.