Testing the New Fork

We are particularly excited about the all new front wheel drive fork. This is a headshock fork with 40mm travel. I replaced the steel telescopic forks and FWD brackets off my cruzbike (goodbye 6.2lbs) and fitted the new fork (hello 3.1lbs). It looks very smooth and slender and more bike-like. It also makes it feel more bike-like in the way it handles. It handles more quickly, with less effort and with better precision.

I've been testing this production fork now on my own cruzbike for the last week. The handling is faster, the suspension is less plush, more firm and there is less movement than what I was getting with the telescopic shocks. I don't maintain the bike is designed for riding down steps, but I did it anyway down a 5-step stair case. The centre of gravity on this particular cruzbike conversion is the real issue in riding down a staircase rather than the performance of the suspension or fork. The new Sofrider and Freerider have lower CoGs.

The fork is manufactured to the usual standards for a bicycle, then when used in the cruzbike, body weight is transfered via the pedals and the trailing arm chainstay to the front axle, relieving some of the bending moments. It will easily cope with the job.