Carbon Forks for MTB

[skibum]

I'm in the process of turning my old '95 Kona Hahanna into a single speed road bike. The only original things on the bike are the frame, front mech and front wheel. I will be keeping most components but will remove the brakes, upgrade the front wheel and run an Avid BB5 Mech Disc up front with likely no brake at the back. My dilemma is in the forks. Currently it has a garish set of blue RST's with minimal (80mm) travel that I inherited from my brother to replace a very leaky set of 96 Marzocchi's..

I will be running the bike as a road bike here in Manhattan as I have my 06 Kona Dawg for the technical stuff, so will be opting for Rigid's up front. The question I have is wether or not to spend the extra few quid/dollars to get some bling Carbon forks or stick with the Aliminium ones I have found. I like the suspension look for the forks so I'm not keen on returning it to the Kona P2's. From what I have read the carbon forks will provide a little more squishyness (technical term) than the aluminium ones. The roads here in NYC are extremely potholed so whilst some softness would be appreciated, will it be too much for Carbon Forks and cause them to fail?

Questions, questions...

The forks I am considering are these:-

Carbon - http://cgi.ebay.com/eXotic-Rigid-Carbon-MTB-Bike-F...

Alu - http://cgi.ebay.com/eXotic-Rigid-Alu-MTB-Bike-Fork...

I think that they will look great with the bronze Kona Steel frame, but is carbon worth the extra 50 quid or so?

[beanbag]

I'm not a technical junkie but for what it's worth, I've just bought an all aluminium Specialized Sirrus with rigid forks and I can truly say that I would not have minded spending the extra for the carbon forks.

I get a lot of cobbled roads here in Vienna and it's agony on the hands and my balls.

I always have to stand up, but the bike is as solid as a rock and beautiful to ride on smooth surfaces and normal roads.

I guess what I'm trying to say is go for the carbon. You'll get a much nicer ride....

[mk1fan]

I'd go for the carbon - and a BB-7 rather than a BB-5. The carbon will help with the road 'buzz' but it won't be a substitute for a sus fork over the pot holes.

Those Ali forks look cracking value though!

[skibum]

Thanks for advice - I think that if I dont go for the Carbon, I'll only regret it!

Are the BB7's that much better than the BB5's? The price difference is negliable ($15 for 2007's) but all these little upgrades will soon add up!

I fear that soon I'll be talking myself into Carbon bars or Ti seat posts!!

[mk1fan]

The BB-7's share the same pads as the Juicy's so they're easier to find. You can adjust both pads to take up any pad wear unlike the BB-5's that you can only adjust one. So yes, imo, they are worth it.

Ti seatpost might be an idea. Carbon bars aren't needed though - the forks will do a good enough job up front.

[skibum]

cheers - Forks have been ordered - $180 which seems like good value.

the BB7's are $50 without levers, but I can use my old canti ones, so may order those as well...

Just got to wait until I am back in the UK in December to pick up the frame and other pieces!

[pdV6]

These are great levers and really cheap.