One-Month on the eXotic 29er Carbon fork & twenty6 levers
I’ve got a couple of quick impressions on some items I’m testing. Each one has been on the test bike for about a little over a month and I’ve been able to put in a lot of rides on them since there has been excellent weather here in Southern California.
eXotic Carbon 29er fork, light, stiff & strong
The first item I’m testing is the eXotic Carbon Rigid 29er fork. The bike I’m testing the carbon fork on originally came with a nice steel fork. I’ll always be thankful for that steel fork because it really turned me on to riding rigid, so much so that I did not want to go away from it to ride a squishy up front.
Now that I’m back on the rigid my love for riding rigid has returned. Not only that but because its carbon, the front end is now so much lighter and trail chatter has been reduced. I took it out to San Juan trail and had a great time riding it both up and down the singletrack. I enjoyed the climbs because the carbon fork dropped about 2 lbs off the bike and I could definitely feel the reduced weight at times. As we were resting at the top, I did think it’d be a sufferfest back to the car. Although I did suffer a little the precision & predictability of the fork more then made up for it.
twenty6 dualie levers, very purty, very effective
I’m also testing out a set of dualie levers from twenty6. These are fitted to my Juicy 7’s and they’ve been great over this first month’s testing period. I originally swapped out just one of them so I could compare the difference between the stock Avid lever and the dualie lever. After a few weeks I swapped out the second lever to make things feel the same for me because there is a difference.
I’ve even had a chance to do a crash test with this lever and they not only survived they still look great. I really appreciate that the brakes grab earlier in the lever’s pull and due to the shape, they don’t end up squeezing my fingers when I’m braking hard. With the stock levers I’ll occasionally brake so hard that I have to go from one finger to two finger braking otherwise Mr. Tall would get pinched underneath the lever. With the twenty6 levers I don’t have this problem. One finger braking, which I prefer to do, works fine.
I’ll be putting some more time on both the fork and the levers before I write up a final review. Keep checking back in for more.
Please keep the reviews coming on this fork! I’m about this close | | to ordering the 26er version for my own bike, so any and all thoughts are appreciated.
Hey Aaron, keep checking in. The review should be up in the next couple of weeks. Hint: it’s a great stiff fork even for a clyde like me.
Well, today I ordered one in the 26er size, so I guess I’ll find out soon enough.
And just after I’d sworn off carbon parts, too… 🙂
I noticed the Origin-8 and White Bros. versions of this fork are going for $100-200 more, even though it’s all the same stuff. I feel sorry for those saps who bought the other labels before finding this one.
Now why would you EVER swear off carbon parts? 😉
Good call on the eXotic fork.
Got my fork today–26er, 445 axle-to-crown, v-brakes–and did about 10 miles or so of mixed riding (gravel rail-trail, steep, rocky climb and descent, and some broken road back to the car. All I can say is that it rode exactly how I was hoping it would. My aluminum rigid fork transferred every tiny bump directly to my hands, and this felt sort of similar, but with one little difference: every rock, root and curb I hit felt like it was covered in plush carpet, but I still felt like the fork communicated everything I was rolling over perfectly. I couldn’t be happier.
Conclusion: the BMW M3 of rigid forks.
PICS: http://one9.us/blog/photos/exotic-carbon-rigid-fork
I’ve justrecieved my eXotic rigid alu fork for my 29er bike!
I have one question.I’ve mounted the headset part onto the steerertube, and I’ve hit the starnut nto the steerer, and after finishing that I turned the fork upside and noticed, that there is ca. less than 1 mm gap between the lower end of the steerer where it broadens into a small shoulder or edge and the crown. I don’t know, if I was the one who hit out the steerer from the crown by mounting the starnut, or is it standard. What makes me think it’s okay, that this gap is all around the tube, and it doesn’t seem to be damaged. I’ve drawn it to make things clear.
Please check yours, wheather You have the same situation or not.
thx
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kerekem/2577373469/
Hey Kerek,
Took a quick glance at my fork this morning and it looks exactly the same. I’m not familiar as to why it would look this way though. I’ve ridden it like this for the past few months, so no worries.
What 29er did you install it on?
Jeremy
Hi Jeremy
I’ ve posted my question on another blog as well (http://one9.us/blog/photos/exotic-carbon-rigid-fork), and the other guy(Aaron) has checked his fork too, and his having the same situation! I’m really thankful for you checking yours.
I have installed it into a Surly Karate Monkey, singlespeed, medium size black frame, 2004 XT crankset, Paul love levers, onone Mary bar, Little ALbert tires. I’m gonna upload some photos!
matthew
Any suggestions on a rigid carbon fork for a 2008 Gary Fisher Rig?
We reviewed the eXotic Carbon fork and it was great (https://www.mtnbikeriders.com/2008/06/06/review-exotic-carbon-29er-fork/). I’d highly recommend it. The eXotic, brand new on ebay, is $170+$20 s/h.
Bontrager has their own carbon fork, the Switchblade. But it retails for $299.
Looking at you bike, it seems like you can get away using the 44.5cm in lieu of 46.5 the manufacturer recommended. Though this will change the geometry of the bike.
I am trying to get one for my Monocog 29er and reading your review will help me armed with right information to purchase.
Thanks
MoriSSon