Woohoo, the quest is complete!

[DugB]

Just picked up the Way Big carbon crosslink I won on eBay from the post office...it's nice, and with a working SmartShock (which I'll shelve for the time being, while I continue breaking in the Risses). One last upgrade to the bike and it will be complete: I want to go with Colin's ball bearing conversion. I just need to print the plans and take them to the local machine shop.

So how much lighter is the carbon crosslink supposed to be versus the aluminum leg version?

Thanks!
- Doug :-)

[Old Proflexer]

don't think the carbons are much if any lighter than the aluminums.
in fact, might be the other way around.

i've had and still have both, never noticed much if any difference -




OP

[Colin]

The answer is...............a massive 73g !!! ( 2.5oz ?)

Well, that was the difference between my pairs of standard Aluminium Crosslink Elites and standard Pro Carbon S  Crosslinks
(both without shock or spring fitted!)

1328g for the Elite
and
1255g for the Carbon S

I'm absolutely confident that I go 0.003mph faster up hills with the carbons than the aluminium's......... Unfortunately the lack of mass on the downward side balances it out................<GRIN>

K2 stated about the Carbon 5500/Oz Frame that it was 50% stronger and stiffer and 10% lighter than an 857, so maybe they aimed for the same thing with the forks? Bear in mind the fork tubes are a tiny weight element in the overall build of the forks, so any weight difference is minimal in the greater scheme of things!

But hey! Don't they look cool! <SMILE>

P.S. It's not me that does the swingarm sealed bearing conversion, it's Simon.

Col.

[whisperdancer]

How does your Carbon fork weights only 1255g? Are you weighting it without the steer tube? I remember mine with a NR2 Shock was about 1500-1550g...

[DugB]

You are right...it does look cool :-) I'm planning on taking the bike on a ride tomorrow evening. I'm still not sure that I have the Risse's adjusted quite right...there's still quite a bit of stiction, but I imagine that will go away if I just get out on the thing.

I should post a new pic soon...

- Doug :-)

[Colin]

How does your Carbon fork weights only 1255g? Are you weighting it without the steer tube? I remember mine with a NR2 Shock was about 1500-1550g...

Thanks for the Sanity Check!

CORRECTION

I've just re-weighed an Aly Elite and a Carbon CS, both Standard OEM Crosslinks complete with NR-5 (no battery), standard spring, ULM, Steerer and brake bosses (but no brakes)
Aly Elite   =   1769g  (3.90lb)
Carbon CS = 1712g   (3.77lb)

so about 57g difference!

My mistake above (now corrected) is those weights were for the forks without the shock (~340g) and spring (~82g), so maybe a better comparism, because the steel springs can vary quite a bit in weight.

Actually, I was quite dissapointed when I typed that first response, because my new Maverick DUC32 forks supposedly weigh 1769g (3.9lb) and the reason I have bought them is to get more travel without increasing weight!

Thanks
Col.

[whisperdancer]

That's a little heavy...
My Carbon Crosslink (standard size) weights about 1550g with the NR2 shock.
I remember I weighted the Carbon Crosslink with the smartshock and it was a big difference, even without the battery.

[Colin]

Yeh, an NR-5 weighs about 130g more than a NR-2 and that's without the battery!

Col.

[whisperdancer]

Well, here they are (the Crosslink CS is with the battery on the shock):

[DugB]

Hopefully mine is lighter than the 1500 or so with the Risse Genesis up front.

On a related note I took the old girl for a quick 15 mile ride this evening...and thankfully the rear Risse Astro 5 stopped making this high pitched squeak it's had since new (well, this was the first real ride, so it probably just needed some breaking in). Twas nice getting out on the ProFlex again :-)

- Doug