Rigid Forks. Identification help.

DVL

Dirt Disciple
These forks came off a Merlin (Lancashire mail order place) Team Prestige SE bike from the mid 90's. I was planning on fitting them to another frame as the original was stolen some years ago. Unfortuantely, the steerer is to short, so that put a stop to that idea. So, I need another set, but would like something of similar quality to these, but I need to know whether they are generic forks or something a bit more interesting.
They weigh 850 grams with a 155mm threaded steerer. Hopefully, I've managed to attach some pictures below....
 

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They are cheap, mass produced, Asian made forks, weight is not terrible, but not great either, plenty of better forks available cheaply. Look for something Spinner branded, or for a few quid more, a Marin Rockstar or even a Kona project 2.
 
As the weight is not to shabby and they dont have rack eyes, I would suggest they are at least a 'quality' fork.

A plain gauge tange MTB / Spinner fork is + 100g on what you have there :wink:

I actually suspect spinner, cleaning the paint off the outer face of the dropout and / or the front of the steerer should confirm.

WD :D
 
Thanks chaps. There's no markings on the drop outs at all, and the markings on the steering are quite faint. I can make out:

AKISb (i think it's a K)
996 07
F CR-MO

@WD Pro. I've read your very excellent Marin build and would like your opinion on the Spinner forks you have.

Thanks for your help.
 
Thanks for the comments on the Marin 8)

My opinion on the forks :

Ride - I am not one of these folks who's had a lot of bikes to compare to, let alone top end bikes ... The bear valley has always had the type of forks on that it has now (that's why I was so p1ssed when the LBS damaged the originals). BITD when my friends had similar or slightly cheaper bikes I liked them best because of the looks of the front dropouts - if you looked down at them they looked wide / chunky / confidence inspiring :D The only bikes I rode enough to compare them to was dads - brothers - gf's (soon to be rebuilt) rockhopper with direct drive cro mo = very similar and dads - mums orange = the spinners were nicer. I took the orange for a quick spin the other day and 13.5 stone on slicks and a heavy front brake causes a (scary) amount of rearward flex :shock: A similar test on the Marin (again on slicks) caused considerably less movement ...

Build - the four sets that I have seen / had my hands on have all been fabricated nicely :D interestingly my OE Marin set and the identical replacements (and the spares) were lighter than the yellow set I got for the Marin with the flat style dropout (pics in build thread) even though they all wore identical tubing decals :?

I think if they were more 'branded' they would be more sought after ... ;-) I think I read on here that some Kleins used them along with some of the early Ti merlins ? if true that must stand for something ?

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WD :D
 
they look like a nice fork
cheap asian made right enough , but nice

spinner x's are great btw , rigid and plush
 
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