Forks
The fork connects the frame and the handlebars to the front wheel.
It is she who brings precision and comfort during your outings. If you want to change the fork, make sure that it is compatible with all the components it connects. Indeed, it is not possible to mount any fork on any frame and rim.
A little vocabulary: the pivot is the upper tube of the fork. It fits into the frame and connects to the headset. The sliders are the two legs of the fork that connect to the rim.
For city bikes and e -bikes it is possible to mount a suspension fork. It improves comfort, driving precision and flexibility. It is very popular on cobblestones and asphalt in poor condition. Riders looking for simplicity will choose a classic rigid fork.
The materials
Generally the fork is made of steel, aluminum or carbon. It is for example possible to equip a carbon fork on an aluminum frame.
The aluminum fork is light and responsive but offers limited comfort.
Made of steel, it is robust (difficult to break a steel fork!) but heavier. It generally equips city bikes and pedelecs .
The carbon forks (pivot and sleeve dropouts are in aluminium) are mounted on racing bikes looking for lightness and performance. Its price is higher, they are more reactive but also more fragile. There are also full carbon forks.
Constraints and points to check before assembly
The type of braking: For disc brakes, the left sheath must be equipped with a disc support. For calipers, care must be taken to drill at the level of the T or the fixing brackets for V-Brake support.
The diameter (Ø) of the pivot: it must correspond with the diameter of the head tube and the cups of the headset.
The diameter (Ø) of the wheels: the size of the fork must agree with the size of the wheels. If your wheels are 700(28) you must mount a corresponding fork.