NSMB - 2023 - Hardtails Leaning Against Stuff Thread

BQ came to the opposite conclusion. Not that much of their content is available online, but this post at least touches on the topic. --> https://www.renehersecycles.com/myth-9-fork-blades-dont-flex/

Now you can of course come up with a mental exercise where you build a very flexy straight leg fork and a very stiff curved leg fork. So there has to be some allowance to control the designs for comparison purposes if you want to tease out the differences that relate only to the straight vs. curved part of the design.

Posted by: GiveitsomeWelly

First round of the local CX series here in Te Whanganui A Tara, NZ.

Not a great pic for the Lean Theme but thought it appropriate to share so you can imagine what happened to some of the derailleurs on course.

Posted by: Vikb

Posted by: Hepcat

Maybe it's just straight on the Ti?

No there were a couple steel drops I noticed had gone straight legged fork. I'm sure they are easier to build that way and probably easier to get to work well with disc brakes, but they don't look amazing to my particular eye. Probably for the best. If I got a Stooge that would replace The Mighty Krampus in my fleet. The straight forks provide added purchase/FOMO resistance. ;-)

I just looked through all their social media feeds, can't find any straight steel forks. Remember where you saw it?

1985 Norco Yukon and 2020 human leaning on a 1402 Abies grandis at Royal Roads

Posted by: Hepcat

Posted by: Vikb

I just looked through all their social media feeds, can't find any straight steel forks. Remember where you saw it?

It was in the announcement for the 29+ model and one other model - MK6. No photos. Just Stooge staying they'd be equipped with straight legged forks. I stopped paying attention after that. Both bikes in steel. Here are sketches from the Stooge site. Bikes due in June and July 2023.

Ultimately I have no grief with a straight fork beyond not preferring the aesthetic. My Surly Krampus has a straight fork and I think it rides fine for a rigid bike.

FWIW - Previous steel models on the site [Rambler, Scrambler and Dirtbomb] were all equipped with curved forks. So the change caught me off guard. I'm no Stooge expert so I may be incorrectly associating the curved fork asthetic with the brand when perhaps it was just a brief foray in that direction.

Dang. Hope it looks good in final production.

Good eye Vik. 🔍

Straight fork on the Speedbomb sketch up too.

Posted by: Hepcat

Dang. Hope it looks good in final production.

Despite preferring a curved fork this ^^^^ bike looks good for sure.

You guys have any recommendations for brakes?  My old 2-piston SLX just aren't cutting it anymore (one of the levers has some concerning vertical play probably from crashies.)

Want something that's good bang for the buck for my OG rootdown.  So many brands out now.  Would prefer 4 piston, decent modulation and something that's fairly easy to bleed would be cool.  My 180mm rotors are fine I think.

Really happy with my Dominions so far, but 4-pot Shimano all do the job quite well too.

Bringing anything but a hardtail to this (oldest of) trail would be…..less fun.

Posted by: Ddean

Bringing anything but a hardtail to this (oldest of) trail would be…..less fun.

I think I might recognise that place....

I know that you do, old timer!!!

Running great. Thank you for keeping the wheels greased. I’m thinking of getting back working up there despite the obvious.

Posted by: BC_Nuggets

You guys have any recommendations for brakes?  My old 2-piston SLX just aren't cutting it anymore (one of the levers has some concerning vertical play probably from crashies.)

Want something that's good bang for the buck for my OG rootdown.  So many brands out now.  Would prefer 4 piston, decent modulation and something that's fairly easy to bleed would be cool.  My 180mm rotors are fine I think.

Dominions are really really great, easy to bleed - not as easy as Codes as the bleeding edge port is a really slick bit of engineering. Hope Tech3 V4s can be had for a lot cheaper these days due to the tech4s coming out and they are the easiest brake to bleed that I've come across. Spare parts can be a bit slow coming from the UK but I had to rebuild some calipers from the ground up, so there was a lot of special parts to order in.

Posted by: Vikb

Posted by: Hepcat

Dang. Hope it looks good in final production.

Despite preferring a curved fork this ^^^^ bike looks good for sure.

/\ Ti.

Maybe steel pics soon 🤞