Difference between OM and AM Crosslinks

[whisperdancer]

Hi all.

Sorry if this has been asked before (and even by myself!).
Is there a way to tell or identify the difference between an Original Manufacturer and After Market Crosslink fork?
The owner's manual has even a different critical measurement for them.

[Spokes]

It's all in the top Ulm. With the after market fork they raised the top pivot point on the Ulm to give it more clearance on the top tube.

Chris

[whisperdancer]

Is there a way to tell the difference through a photo?

[Colin]

here's a info sheet with a diagram of the two ULM's:
http://idriders.com/proflex/files/crosslinkinstall.2.jpeg


Hope it helps

Col.

[whisperdancer]

Thank you very much!
How did I missed that?

It appears both forks I have are OM equipment. Yet, I will measure them to be sure.

[Spokes]

That's a lot if lovely carbon you have there. 

Chris

[whisperdancer]

The above information doesn't seem to work with the noleen forks.
Using 153mm as the critical measurement on a OE standard fork per the above image, the upper link touches the plastic housing of the shock and the 153mm measure isn't possible. The correct measure is 163mm, as the upper link mount must go up.

Maybe the measurement is for the previous girvin crosslink forks.

[Colin]

You dare to question the words handed down from the Mount by the Almighty Girvin Tech Force?

You'll be struck down!!!!! <GRIN>

Just checked my OEM OzM, as built brand new by K2 with Noleen Crosslinks with NR-5 that look identical to yours and never interfered with........153mm critical measurement spot on.............
4000se is also the same.......

Hey I guess your correct, but are you sure you're measuring from the right points?

Col.

[whisperdancer]

I think so.
Comparing with my Animal with the crosslinks, the critical measurement is the same.
In the non smart shock forks I could fool the measure and use 153mm, but with the smart thing the upper link actually touches the battery box.
With 163mm, I have a clearance of 2mm to the shock.

The headtube measures 120mm, plus 28mm for the headset stack height. I have to use 15m of spacer height to get the fork to work (I tried with 10mm but still had interference).
The k2 5000, which used the noleen crosslinks, has a 125mm head tube. From some photos I've seen, almost all of then use spacers between headset and clamp.
Strangely, the '99 noleen crosslink manual says the "the K2 Bike 2000 and 3000 use forks with slightly different dimensions. Please note the different measurements", and the 153mm measurement is only for these forks.
My guess is I have forks designed for K2 bikes and not for the x57 frames.

Bottom line: I can't get the fork to work with the critical measure of 153mm

[whisperdancer]

Another thing I noticed, the 98 World Cup frames (k2 proflex 1000,2000 and 3000) have 73mm BB width, while the proflex 97 frames have a BB width of 68mm.