26
Forks
There are two different types of forks that vary in styles and
dimensions. One type is a rigid fork (Figure 1) consisting of
stationary tubing with curved blades. The other type is a
suspension fork (Figure 2) consisting of stanchion tubes
riding on elastomers or springs inside of a straight fork leg.
This mechanism acts as a shock absorber with a specified
amount of travel that varies between models. Some suspen-
sion forks are not adjustable and are very difficult to disas-
semble. If service is needed on a suspension fork, consult a
professional bicycle repair technician.
Do not attempt to disassemble a suspension
fork yourself. Consult a professional bicycle
repair technician.
Check the tightness of the headset and the fork. Rotate the
fork checking for smoothness. If it feels like the fork is
binding, then an adjustment will need to be made to the
headset. Move the fork in a push/pull manner checking for
tightness. If any play is detected, loosen the top nut, adjust
the bearing cup, and retighten the top nut. Recheck the
rotation and tightness. If necessary, readjust until a smooth
rotation is achieved without backward or forward move-
ment. If your bike is equipped with a suspension fork, check
that the fork compresses and rebounds smoothly. To do
this, place the fork dropouts against the ground, push and
release the handlebar. The fork will generally compress 1-2”
and rebound quickly. Most elastomer type forks will gradually
soften with use.
Steering Tube
Crown
Brake Boss
Blade
Drop-out
Steering Tube
Brake Boss
Fork Blade
Drop-out
Brake Bridge
Crown
1.
2.
