MIN 

Nashbar 1" Threadless Carbon fork with Alloy Steerer

Shipping was reasonably quick and it was well packaged. I took it to the LBS to cut the steerer tube and install a star nut.

Everything seems great after tonight's short ride. The rake is greater at 43mm than the stock 28mm, so the wheelbase is a bit more stretched out and I no longer have any toe overlap.

Handling is noticeably more precise - almost twitchy. The biggest benefit is when I am braking. The stock fork is decent but it is not designed for braking since it's a track fork. The fact that it was drilled for a brake seems to be an after-thought. The stock unicrown fork used to flex so much under braking that the axel would move back over 1" under heaving braking. This is gone with the new fork.

Benefits include - stiffness, weight reduction (almost a pound), better braking control and much more comfortable ride.

Cons would be borderline twitchy handling (super-precise) and aesthetics. Aesthetics is up in the air - I like the all chrome look for it's retro appeal but now my Pista looks more modern. Pictured with a Krysium Elite front wheel.

vobopl

>I like the all chrome look for it's retro appeal
I have chromed the carbon bianchi fork - had I given it more time to settle, it will be harder than regular paint (I know, I tried to remove chroming half a year after application)

MIN 

Update - I rode a century (100 miles) on the fork over this weekend. It was much more comfortable than the stock fork. Whoot whoot!

thequickfix

Thanks for the review. I just put in the order for one to replace the stock fork on my IRO jamie roy. If I like it, I might buy another for my specialized.

Are there any nashbar logos on it?

doofo

thats the kicker aint it

MIN 

It perfectly plain. The dropout is painted black too - that's a nice touch. The crown has a black paint which fades to nude carbon.

orbThorn

Full bike pic with the new fork plz.

MIN 

Here is the most recent view with my new carbon fork. It's pretty road worthy in it's current state - I do a lot of training miles on this bike. The saddle to bar drop is a bit excessive now, but it sure is badass with over 6" of drop.

[IMG][/IMG]

iamtim

What is holding your bottle-cage in place? Where did you get those?

MIN 

Here.

9Rings

Why not flip that stem to re-level your seat/bar ratio? You've got it jacked up with a bunch of risers anyhow. That bike is looking sweet!

Thanks for the review, I'm definitely itching to pull the trigger on one of these...

orbThorn

What did you use to black out the world champion stripes on the pista? Electrical tape? Thats what I've got on mine because it looks soooo much better without the color. Still a little jank but whatever.

danish

Don't this

and this

contradict each other?

9Rings

No it does not contradict.

The increased rake moves the front tire out, thus the longer wheelbase.

With the front wheel moved out, the trail of the bike is DECREASED, thus the more twitchy handling. Look up Sheldon Brown's site for a full description of trail, rake, etc.

MIN 

I know what you mean - what I meant is that the increased stiffness of the fork seems increase the handling precision. I can't say if that is from the increased rake or the increased stiffness (both of which are fact) but it's certainly more precise than the stock steel fork. Does that make any more sense?

Electical tape worked fine and it looks like paint unless you are a foot away.

Thanks! I was using a 3T Mutant 120mm stem and I decided that was too long for the bullhorns. So I swapped it out for the stock stem which has too much angle on the stem. The 3T was close to 0 deg rise and the stock is like -15 deg rise. So if I flipped it, it would be too high up.

You mention the fact that I am running a lot of spacers - that brings up a point. Getting a new fork allows you to increase that space over stock. I am running about 20mm longer steering tube than stock.

VuONG

what size steerer length do you choose for a pista? 160mm?

MIN 

There is only one option for length. I'm not sure where you are getting 160mm from - that's only about the length of the headtube.

It's a long steerer tube and you have to cut it to size and install a star-nut, which is not provided.

VuONG

when you try to order it now it comes in muptile sizes 160,175,200,225 mm

so i guess get the long one? haha how confusing, also what is the star nut used for?

MIN 

This is the product that is being reviewed in this thread. Are you sure you don't have a threaded steerer tube? Not to be rude, but if you don't know what a star nut is, why are you buying a fork?

What year is your Pista? If it's 2002(ish) or newer than it should have a threadless steerer.

VuONG

im not buying one, i just wanna know for future reference. you know learn something and see if i want to get it in the future, my pista is a 2006

VuONG

nvm found out wat a star nut was, thanks for the re link to what fork your talking about

MIN 

In that case this fork will work on your bike. Just select the 1" and not the 1 1/8" size. I had my LBS cut the steerer because I don't have a cutting guide tool.

dogpound

hey thanks for the review, I might get one for my BFIRO

Killypants

Min, where did you get the steerer tube cut down? I'm in PDX too and I'm considering picking one of these up myself. And how much did it cost?

nowheels

I used one on a DEAN for about 2 years.... it was a nice ride. I still have it in the parts bin, just have not used it on any of my bikes recently.