Fat Chance BOI forks - reviews and thoughts please

[M-Power]

I have finally sourced a pair of original BOI forks but I'm waiting for Mr Postman to knock. What are the RB folks thoughts on them ? The only feedback I have had from another user is that they can be too flexy under braking and tracking can be lairy :shock:

Thanks in advance

 

[M-Power]

Re:

Comparisons with modern repro BOI forks by Iggle, Waltz etc welcome if you have tried both.

 

[WD Pro]

There crap, send em to me ... ;-)

WD

 

[M-Power]

There crap, send em to me ... ;-)

WD

WD maybe you are right....they may be crap I needs to know fo sho.

Lots of thread mentions but no detailed reviews of performance of the OEM BOI and comparison with an Iggle etc. Questions in my mind arise such as are the originals too flexy for offroad and under hard braking and are the more recent replicas much better whilst retaining that all important look and feel.

No real intel from the threads below.

viewtopic.php?t=184326

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=86330&start=10

 

[WD Pro]

I bet there's not actually that many people who have rode them in anger and who could comment ... ? :-(

WD

 

[M-Power]

I bet there's not actually that many people who have rode them in anger and who could comment ... ? :-(

WD

Yeah, I'm kinda coming to that conclusion WD :facepalm: There are a few 'it rides amazing/great' posts but no actual definitive review. The Iggle apparently uses modern steel and people rave about it. Some say the OEM BOI wasn't heat treated but certain era catalogues state it was.

They mystery continues :facepalm:

 

[pete_mcc]

I have ridden mine in anger (including a couple SSWCs)and they are great forks to ride. They are from a time before suspension so are more compliant than modern forks but that is because the only other choice was 2.5" ground control extreme tyres or a flexstem neither of which were favoured .

The great thing with them was that while they were compliant, offering an element of flex and buzz-kill, they also offered direct tracking so they really do go in the direction you point them in.

I have never experienced brake judder on mine but then that is more down to the brakes, pads and rims you are using - old school canti are the order of the day.

The biggest problem is me, I have expanded substaintially over my 55kg racing days so my comparison vs modern forks is that these were designed, as the bikes were, to be racing snake forks rather than hardcore all dayers and so my 85kg frame does flex them more now and I can't get up sufficient speed to notice the tracking any more. I ride differently now also; where as I used to speed around Eastway for an hour I now pootle around the Sheepleas for hours at a time at a walking pace.

As far as modern forks - Inglehart custom makes each one so I am sure you can get them exactly the same as they were or more rigid. Remember that he makes them suitable for discs and 29ers now so he can undoubtedly use thicker gauge if needed.
For modern forks I am a fan of Black Sheep Titanium on two of my modern bikes as they offer the same element of buzz-kill, compliance and tracking as the BOI but on a more amplified level to help my aged, bloated body.

Personally if you are building a retro bike then use the retro forks (and 1.9" racing tyres pumped hard), it will make the bike feel the way it was supposed to rather than using a harsh modern fork with the required 2.5" tyres to compensate

 

[M-Power]

Re:

And finally the Fat gods have answered !

Great review Pete and so relevant to us now we are heavier That was one of my concerns. I don't want to trash them on my local pump track if they are that flexy and fragile

 

[pete_mcc]

Re:

Definately not pump track forks - that would be like taking a Ferarri 250 to the Paris-Dakar!

One day I will get myself back down to a sensible weight (I've been saying that for 10 years..) and then I will be able to get the most out of them again. That said, they do look good even when standing still!

 

[M-Power]

Re: Re:

Definately not pump track forks - that would be like taking a Ferarri 250 to the Paris-Dakar!

One day I will get myself back down to a sensible weight (I've been saying that for 10 years..) and then I will be able to get the most out of them again. That said, they do look good even when standing still!

Fuxx me that is sooo purty. Love the Fatlanta decals....can't do that now as I would be copying you I'm always late to the party.

Yeah....10 years....haven't we all :cry:

Humm...I'm thinking again !