Those 9mm QR 140-150mm Fox 32 forks were noodles but I think it’s important to remember that stanchion size is only one part of the chassis stiffness equation. For example, the Fox 38 lowers are incredibly stiff on their own, with no axle, compared to any Fox fork this side of the original 40 and I think that contributes as much to fork stiffness as the uppers.
I use the term ‘over-forking’ to mean putting a fork with more travel than spec on a bike, but here you mean stiffness?
The answer is, it depends. As HTAs get slacker fork stanchions need to be stiffer to resist causing stiction/binding. The HTA on the Chameleon is comparatively slack compared to anything that would have come with a 32.
I think of it as a system. With the stock wheels and my more forgiving 31.8 bar, I think this 130mm 34 is working well on the Chameleon - at least in terms of stiffness. But, add some carbon wheels and the stock 35mm bar/stem and the fork’s the flexiest component in the system. That’s what happened on the Lux Trail with the 35mm SID v. 35mm RF cockpit v. DT carbon wheels, v. stiff carbon frame. It wasn’t unrideable or anything, just worthy of note.
Nov. 29, 2021, 2:39 p.m. - Andrew Major
Those 9mm QR 140-150mm Fox 32 forks were noodles but I think it’s important to remember that stanchion size is only one part of the chassis stiffness equation. For example, the Fox 38 lowers are incredibly stiff on their own, with no axle, compared to any Fox fork this side of the original 40 and I think that contributes as much to fork stiffness as the uppers. I use the term ‘over-forking’ to mean putting a fork with more travel than spec on a bike, but here you mean stiffness? The answer is, it depends. As HTAs get slacker fork stanchions need to be stiffer to resist causing stiction/binding. The HTA on the Chameleon is comparatively slack compared to anything that would have come with a 32. I think of it as a system. With the stock wheels and my more forgiving 31.8 bar, I think this 130mm 34 is working well on the Chameleon - at least in terms of stiffness. But, add some carbon wheels and the stock 35mm bar/stem and the fork’s the flexiest component in the system. That’s what happened on the Lux Trail with the 35mm SID v. 35mm RF cockpit v. DT carbon wheels, v. stiff carbon frame. It wasn’t unrideable or anything, just worthy of note.