Ideal rigid fork for Wicked

mkozaczek · September 18th, 2011, 2:10 PM

I may be picking up a Wicked which is built up with an RS Mag20, and I'd prefer to convert it to a rigid fork.

Aside from the big Yo what fork rigid forks came on the Wicked?

mainlyfats · September 18th, 2011, 4:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkozaczek

I may be picking up a Wicked which is built up with an RS Mag20, and I'd prefer to convert it to a rigid fork.

Aside from the big Yo what fork rigid forks came on the Wicked?

The standard Unicrown fork of the era should do it. Sub 400mm axle to crown (395?-396?) if memory serves.

Examples are Tange, Ritchey, Specialized, Kona, Bontrager and of course, there's always the Fat fork it most likely came with originally floating around out there.

Ted Wojcik builds a lovely fork, as does Christopher Igleheart. They could always make you one. That's the direction I'd probably go.

colker · September 18th, 2011, 8:43 PM

mainly fats is right; wojczik or igleheart will build you ultra sweet forks.. otoh you van always slap a 50$ tange provided it's A-C is around 400mm. the wicked, unlike the YO, was nothing special when it came to it's fork.. that's part of it's charm and why i love it: it's underpriced, simple while it's all around bike that can handle technical terrain like it's magical.

tvcreative · September 19th, 2011, 10:06 AM

spot on colker,

I have recently found - and renewed my relationship with a Wicked (i will post pix soon).

I found a tange cromo fork, i believe it was around 395mm. I opted for a threadless one inch set up.

I agree, Wicked's are super fun to ride...very magical - different for sure than my 1990 and 1991 Yo's with segmented forks....

Would it be sinful to say that i might like it better than some of my earlier Yo's?

The tange fork I ended up getting has beefier fork blades than the original fork, and is a little nicer cornering with a slight forgiving rake....

fun stuff

Jim

mkozaczek · September 20th, 2011, 12:54 AM

Would a pair of Tange switchblades work well?

mainlyfats · September 20th, 2011, 8:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkozaczek

Would a pair of Tange switchblades work well?

I'm pretty sure they would work. There definitely was a Bontrager that was suspension corrected - the RS - but I'm not sure there was a Switchblade. Still, I'd double check the axle to crown measurement before you buy.

As far as the bolt-on blade forks go though, Switchblades are close to the bottom of the pack in desirability, so don't overpay for it. Bontragers, Brodies and Syncros get full dollar, Switchblades - there's also a Yokota variant with hearts on the tubes - quite a bit less.

I'd hold out for a unicrown, personally. Quality ones are lighter, the "right" fork for that bike and offer a better ride IMHO.

jonsonneborn · September 20th, 2011, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkozaczek

Would a pair of Tange switchblades work well?

I used to ride a 1987 Fat with a pair of Tange Switchblades. If I recall, that fork is pretty stiff but the ride-height and all seemed to work fine.

ranier · September 20th, 2011, 1:35 PM

I just put a Igleheart fork on my Bro Eddy. Definitely looks that part with the frame and handling is spot on. I highly recommend Igleheart. He's good peeps and does excellent work.

tvcreative · September 20th, 2011, 2:58 PM

switchblades?...other than looks,not sure of a good reason to own them. The ones I have owned seemed heavy and stiff.

unicrown or segmented all the way!

rmp · October 7th, 2011, 10:32 AM

Definitely give Chris a call! If you want black I bet he has one ready to ship!

Zamfir · October 7th, 2011, 11:35 AM

I would also recommend Chris Igleheart. He made up a sweet fork for my Wicked, handles and looks amazing!

Zamfir · October 7th, 2011, 11:44 AM

double post. oops

yo-Nate-y · October 7th, 2011, 7:10 PM

I had Tom Teesdale make a fillet brazed unicrown for my Wicked. Rides great and it was less than half what and Igleheart segmented would cost.

chainline · October 7th, 2011, 7:24 PM

Wow,a few of you are hate'n on the switchblades, i think they ride great..AND look good.

tvcreative · October 7th, 2011, 8:33 PM

Yo Nate. How long was your teesdale wait? It's gorgeous. I have one of the first MTb rigs he did on his own from 1980. All nice and fillet brazed... Needs a fork...

yo-Nate-y · October 8th, 2011, 2:05 PM

Initially he said a month, but then got the flu and was knocked out for a bit. I think all told it was about 2.5~3 months delivered. I wasn't too worried about the time, since I was sourcing other parts. It rides great and was under $200 shipped even with an added option (rack mounts).

I was a fan of his from a couple former frames I had that he did (a Fisher Tam and a Brave). You should totally get a fork from the man himself!

September 18th, 2011, 2:10 PM	#1
mkozaczek Senior Member Join Date: August 11th, 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 121	Ideal rigid fork for Wicked I may be picking up a Wicked which is built up with an RS Mag20, and I'd prefer to convert it to a rigid fork. Aside from the big Yo what fork rigid forks came on the Wicked?

September 18th, 2011, 8:43 PM	#3
colker Senior Member Join Date: June 1st, 2006 Location: rio de janeiro Posts: 996	mainly fats is right; wojczik or igleheart will build you ultra sweet forks.. otoh you van always slap a 50$ tange provided it's A-C is around 400mm. the wicked, unlike the YO, was nothing special when it came to it's fork.. that's part of it's charm and why i love it: it's underpriced, simple while it's all around bike that can handle technical terrain like it's magical. __________________ https://retratosdeflaviocolker.wordpress.com/ wanted: ride time.

September 19th, 2011, 10:06 AM	#4
tvcreative Senior Member Join Date: March 15th, 2010 Location: Riverside, IL Posts: 716	spot on spot on colker, I have recently found - and renewed my relationship with a Wicked (i will post pix soon). I found a tange cromo fork, i believe it was around 395mm. I opted for a threadless one inch set up. I agree, Wicked's are super fun to ride...very magical - different for sure than my 1990 and 1991 Yo's with segmented forks.... Would it be sinful to say that i might like it better than some of my earlier Yo's? The tange fork I ended up getting has beefier fork blades than the original fork, and is a little nicer cornering with a slight forgiving rake.... fun stuff Jim

October 7th, 2011, 7:10 PM	#13
yo-Nate-y Global Moderator Join Date: March 12th, 2009 Location: Tucson Posts: 806	I had Tom Teesdale make a fillet brazed unicrown for my Wicked. Rides great and it was less than half what and Igleheart segmented would cost. __________________ 1975 Witcomb USA, 1981 Chris Chance; 1984 Fat Chance, 1987 Team Comp, 1991 Yo Eddy, Monster Fat, and Wicked ....happy to have finally found a clean 80s Fat Team Comp with a box crown fork

October 8th, 2011, 2:05 PM	#16
yo-Nate-y Global Moderator Join Date: March 12th, 2009 Location: Tucson Posts: 806	Initially he said a month, but then got the flu and was knocked out for a bit. I think all told it was about 2.5~3 months delivered. I wasn't too worried about the time, since I was sourcing other parts. It rides great and was under $200 shipped even with an added option (rack mounts). I was a fan of his from a couple former frames I had that he did (a Fisher Tam and a Brave). You should totally get a fork from the man himself! __________________ 1975 Witcomb USA, 1981 Chris Chance; 1984 Fat Chance, 1987 Team Comp, 1991 Yo Eddy, Monster Fat, and Wicked ....happy to have finally found a clean 80s Fat Team Comp with a box crown fork

September 20th, 2011, 12:54 AM	#5
mkozaczek Senior Member Join Date: August 11th, 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 121	Would a pair of Tange switchblades work well?

September 20th, 2011, 1:35 PM	#8
ranier Member Join Date: July 30th, 2011 Location: Stuttgart, Germany Posts: 17	I just put a Igleheart fork on my Bro Eddy. Definitely looks that part with the frame and handling is spot on. I highly recommend Igleheart. He's good peeps and does excellent work.

September 20th, 2011, 2:58 PM	#9
tvcreative Senior Member Join Date: March 15th, 2010 Location: Riverside, IL Posts: 716	switchblades?...other than looks,not sure of a good reason to own them. The ones I have owned seemed heavy and stiff. unicrown or segmented all the way!

October 7th, 2011, 10:32 AM	#10
rmp Member Join Date: July 28th, 2010 Location: Ann Arbor Mich USA Posts: 90	Definitely give Chris a call! If you want black I bet he has one ready to ship!

October 7th, 2011, 11:35 AM	#11
Zamfir Senior Member Join Date: May 31st, 2011 Location: Spokane Posts: 248	I would also recommend Chris Igleheart. He made up a sweet fork for my Wicked, handles and looks amazing!

October 7th, 2011, 11:44 AM	#12
Zamfir Senior Member Join Date: May 31st, 2011 Location: Spokane Posts: 248	double post. oops

October 7th, 2011, 7:24 PM	#14
chainline Senior Member Join Date: February 12th, 2010 Location: laconia Posts: 301	Wow,a few of you are hate'n on the switchblades, i think they ride great..AND look good.

October 7th, 2011, 8:33 PM	#15
tvcreative Senior Member Join Date: March 15th, 2010 Location: Riverside, IL Posts: 716	Yo Nate. How long was your teesdale wait? It's gorgeous. I have one of the first MTb rigs he did on his own from 1980. All nice and fillet brazed... Needs a fork...

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