Typically, all road bike forks are not the same size as there are different fork sizes according to the model of a road bike. Moreover, riders also choose the fork size customization according to their preferences at different times. Undoubtedly, the fork is an essential part of a road bike. So, every cyclist should have perfect knowledge about its correct size otherwise one may face various problems while cycling. Throughout today’s complete writing, I will tell you various important information regarding this.
Apart from that, I will tell you more about road bike forks & their different types, uses & materials, details about fork sizing guide, various types of frequently asked questions, and many other unknown topics. Therefore without a second delay, let’s jump into the full article.
Road Bike Forks, And Uses
The fork is the long road to which the front wheel on every bicycle is rigidly attached. In most cases, the fork is calculated based on exactly how much mm it can drop. And, most forks are usually 100 mm, 120 mm, and 140 mm in size.
- The forks that are mostly used on road bikes are called road bike forks.
There are different types of forks on the market for road bikes. So cyclists can choose different forks mainly according to their bike model and cycling style.
Fork Types For Road Bikes
As I talked just a few inches above, there are several types of forks or road bicycle forks out there, now we discuss it deeply.
1. Carbon Fork:
Most carbon composite forks in road racing are made up of different carbon sheets specially pre-treated.
- Notice that, they are designed to be layered to accommodate any amount of engineer deflection during cycling.
- Also, this type of fork tends to become stiffer towards the end of all travel in the same manner as steel forks.
2. Suspension Forks:
Suspension forks are telescopic forks that usually have a certain amount of travel. It is the front fork that offers some travel and also has the quality to absorb some road bumps and various imperfections.
3. Rigid Forks:
Rigid forks are very common forks. They consist of two special metal supports which can lock the bicycle wheel without most of the traditional bicycle travel.
- Rigid forks are much lighter and stiffer at the same time.
- Such forks can provide very good output for fast-forward movement on smooth terrains.
4. Coil Fork:
There is a spring inside this fork. As a result, when braking, the front end is lowered and helps to stop the bike quickly. Besides, the fork ups and downs on high and low roads ensure a flat feel to the rider. And, coil fork is generally 60 to 70% mm down.
5. Threaded Forks:
The forks that exist in the steerer tube of a bicycle are called threaded forks. It attaches to the very front of the bicycle’s steerer tube with a special type of nut screw.
- The special advantage of this type of fork is that it can be easily adjusted to the height of the handlebar.
- They also have a bolt opening that allows the handlebars to move up and down.
6. Threadless Forks:
In the case of threadless forks, the forks are kept inside the bike frame. Then it happens that the stem and its accompanying spacers are stacked to cover the ever-spreading steering tubes. And, at the top end is a cap with bolts that fasten together to reload the bearings of the steerer.
- This system allows special snapping of the fork with a bolt and provides much safer and better service.
7. Air Fork:
Although this fork has a spring inside it, the air chamber ensures that it rises and falls. Its performance is twice that of a coil fork.
- Air fork works much smoother than coil forks.
- But it needs to be aired every few months.
Are All Road Bike Forks The Same Size?
No dear, all road bike forks are not the same size. Cause there are too many different types of road bike forks in the market.
- General Length Of Fork: A maximum length of 7 mm and a minimum of 363.5 mm have been found for forks on road bikes with 700c size wheels.
- Measurement Of Fork Length: Fork length is usually measured from the bottom of the bicycle crown to the center of the axle, or where the wheel on a road bicycle connects to the blade.
- Fork Length Limit: The lengthily limited to 5 mm to 374.7 mm.
Again, in some special cases, the length of the road bike can be increased or decreased by breaking this limitation. And, it depends on the road bike model and the rider’s riding capacity.
- Long forks can lift the front end of your road bike.
- On the other hand, it will be less for short-length cuts.
Thus you must have understood that the size of the forks of a road bike can never be the same, there are many variations. And, knowing the exact diameter of your bike’s head tube is of course, very important when you plan to replace your bicycle fork. That’s why it will make it easier for you to choose a fork with a matching steerer tube.
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Road Bike Forks Sizing Guide
It is not the case that the same size road bike fork will be right for every rider. There are different models of road bikes and the fork size is often determined depending on the model. Again it can be seen that sometimes riders customize the fork size according to their riding capacity and their weight.
- When choosing a new road bike fork you should check the bike’s steerer tube.
- And, also the brake mount, whether they are fully compatible with the current fork setup or not.
Most modern road bikes have tapered steerer tubes that are 1.5” at the bottom and 1 1/8” at the top.
- 1″ steer is seen on older road bike models and is also found on threaded forks on road bikes.
- While road bikes have caliper brakes, disc brakes are becoming increasingly popular these days, So, tapered disc forks can also be used to match the brakes.
- The fork’s width mainly determines the size of the road bike fork.
- In this case, the fork space of most road bikes is 90 mm to 100 mm.
Need To Know For Choosing A Perfect Road Bike Fork Size
- The steerer tube of your road bike needs to be measured correctly. Because the size of the steerer tube of the bicycle is closely related to the size of the fork of the bicycle.
- In the case of road bikes, steerer tube types are usually threaded or unthreaded. Hence steerer tube types should also be taken care of which is one of the keys to choosing a proper fork.
- The wheel size of your road bike is an important factor. Naturally, you may know that the size of a bicycle’s wheels should determine the fork size. Because if the bicycle fork is not compatible with the size of the wheel, then various problems will be faced during cycling. For example, a 363.5 mm to 374.7 mm size fork is chosen for a 700 c wheel.
- You can get a perfect road bike fork size by paying special attention to the dimensions of the fork blade i.e. width and length.
- The type and size of bicycle fork depend a lot on the type of brakes you are using on your road bike.
- So, be sure to pay attention to the type of brakes you are using while choosing the right size fork.
Faqs About Road Bike Forks & Their Sizes
1. Do all suspension forks fit any type of bike?
- No, never. Not all suspension forks will fit your bike perfectly. The first thing you should do is choose a suitable fork. Therefore, you must select a compatible frame for the bike as well as the existing front wheel of your bicycle. And trust me, this is very important for your safe and comfortable cycling.
2. Do new road bike forks come with a star nut?
- Usually, road bike forks don’t come with a star nut when new to the rider. Although your bike fork should have a star nut, which can help you to shake it while cycling. But if you won’t get this in a normal road bike fork, then you have to attach extras.
3. What are the fork spacing measures in a road bike?
- In most cases, you will find that the forks of road bikes have a gap measuring up to 100 mm. However, there is a slight difference in the case of older frames as they usually measure 90 mm in size.
4. Can I put larger forks on my bike?
- It is generally seen in most cases that bicycles can happily and comfortably deliver forks measuring 20 mm more than the designers and manufacturers intended.
If you feel that your bike should be fitted with a larger size fork, feel free to do so. But since you are doing a little exception you need to be properly aware. However, there is nothing to fear as there will not be any major problems.
5. Can you put suspension forks on a road bike?
- The use of a rear shock and side suspension fork is standard for most mountain bikes. But on the other hand, if you look at the design of a road bike, you will see a different scenario. That is, the use of such features is much less.
Generally, a suspension fork can increase the weight of a road bike which hurts its performance. In addition, the compression period of a road bike has the potential to change the geometry of the bike horribly.
The Bottom Lines
I have done a lot of research and blended my personal experiences to cover all important information about road bike fork size. Through all this information, you have undoubtedly got the detailed answer to your question: are all road bike forks the same size or not? And, the reasons behind it as well as the bike fork, its types, usages, sizes, how to choose the right bicycle forks, measurement, and its essentiality.
Therefore, this writing will help you a lot in choosing the right fork for your road bike riding journey. Choose the right fork and cycle with confidence.
