Performance Forte Axis Pro Fork?

It ought to be fine. I doubt that you'll feel much difference bvetween your performance fork or
other pricier one.

Andres

visit my art website at: www.geocities.com/andresmuro/art.html

I have the same fork, stem, and headset. I bought it to put on a cheap aluminum frame and use the
extra drive train components I purchased for other reasons. My plan was to have a second bike for
little extra cost. The little extra cost didn't quite pan out though. And I have not quite gotten
around to building the second bike up yet.

But I have looked at the fork. It is all carbon just like some of the pricier forks. Its just half
the price. Made in Taiwan. I don't know the name of the company and it would not mean anything to me
if I did know it. But I think most/many name brand carbon bike components are made in Taiwan today.

I would not put it on a dream frame. Its pretty garish with the big yellow decals. If I became
stupid and insane all on the same day and bought a Colnago frame without a fork, I would not use the
Performance fork. Or if I bought a Richard Sachs frame and then became stupid and insane and decided
to put a carbon fork on it, I would not put the Performance fork on it. But if I needed a fork for a
frame below the top level, I would use this fork. If the ugliness of the big yellow decals did not
over power the monetary savings. Aesthetics matter.

Are you afraid the product is going to fail because it has the Performance brand on it? I have some
other stuff by Performance, and Nashbar. It usually works OK. Sometimes I don't particularly think
its great quality, or the best design, but I've never worried about the products failing
catastrophically. Or being unsafe to use. Performance has been around for about 20 years. They
aren't going to jeopardize their business by putting their name on unsafe products. They put out
cheap, functional, no name brand stuff without the latest and greatest gee whiz factor. There is a
market for this.

"Kovie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<Acngb.509010$Oz4.360603@rwcrnsc54>...

Quoted message said:

Does anyone know who makes this fork for Performance, and how it rates against other all-carbon
forks for non-competitive use (e.g. club rides, day trips, weekend touring, commuting, etc.)? I
recently purchased one as part of a combo offer from Performance, which included a Cane Creek S2
HS, Forte Pro stem, and Forte carbon spacers, for $190. It seemed like a good fork and deal, and I
had hoped to use it to upgrade my old steel bike (1981 Trek
612). Unfortunately, there are too many issues surrounding upgrading my old bike, so I'll either
have to return the fork combo, or use it to build a new bike. Is it good enough to put on a
modern $500-$700 steel or Ti frame, fitted out with Ultegra triple components? Or would I be
better served getting a somewhat pricier all-carbon fork, or a similarly-priced carbon fork
with metal steerer tube?

Thanks,

Kovie [email hidden]

"Kovie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:Acngb.509010$Oz4.360603@rwcrnsc54...

Quoted message said:

Does anyone know who makes this fork for Performance, and

how it rates

Quoted message said:

against other all-carbon forks for non-competitive use

(e.g. club rides, day

Quoted message said:

trips, weekend touring, commuting, etc.)? I recently

purchased one as part

Quoted message said:

of a combo offer from Performance, which included a Cane

Creek S2 HS, Forte

Quoted message said:

Pro stem, and Forte carbon spacers, for $190. It seemed

like a good fork and

Quoted message said:

deal, and I had hoped to use it to upgrade my old steel

bike (1981 Trek

Quoted message said:

612). Unfortunately, there are too many issues surrounding

upgrading my old

Quoted message said:

bike, so I'll either have to return the fork combo, or use

it to build a new

Quoted message said:

bike. Is it good enough to put on a modern $500-$700 steel

or Ti frame,

Quoted message said:

fitted out with Ultegra triple components? Or would I be

better served

Quoted message said:

getting a somewhat pricier all-carbon fork, or a

similarly-priced carbon

Quoted message said:

fork with metal steerer tube?

Thanks,

Kovie [email hidden]

What do you expect to get by spending more money for essentially the same thing, or the same money
for a fork with a metal steerer tube, but with a brand name?

I suspect that even the brand name forks come from Taiwanese factories like Advanced International
- adgroup.com.twindex.htmOpen ↗ - it's just that Performance, Colorado, and Nashbar
buy direct.

Anybody know if that's not the case?

Thanks for the helpful and detailed response. No, I'm probably not going to make a fool of myself
and buy a $2000-$4000 frame and build a bike around
it. I'm looking at either steel frames in the $400-$500 range, or one of the less expensive Ti
frames for $600-$700, built up with mostly Ultegra (DA STI shifters though, as I hear they're a
lot more reliable), and Mavic Cosmos wheels. I actually don't mind the look of the Forte fork,
so that's not an issue. I was mostly concerned with performance (no pun intended!) and
reliability. I can probably build up a Ti bike this way for just over $1,500, but it would
require the use of some non-brand name components such as the forte.

Kovie

"Russell Seaton" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have the same fork, stem, and headset. I bought it to put on a cheap aluminum frame and use the
extra drive train components I purchased for other reasons. My plan was to have a second bike for
little extra cost. The little extra cost didn't quite pan out though. And I have not quite gotten
around to building the second bike up yet.

But I have looked at the fork. It is all carbon just like some of the pricier forks. Its just
half the price. Made in Taiwan. I don't know the name of the company and it would not mean
anything to me if I did know it. But I think most/many name brand carbon bike components are made
in Taiwan today.

I would not put it on a dream frame. Its pretty garish with the big yellow decals. If I became
stupid and insane all on the same day and bought a Colnago frame without a fork, I would not use
the Performance fork. Or if I bought a Richard Sachs frame and then became stupid and insane and
decided to put a carbon fork on it, I would not put the Performance fork on it. But if I needed a
fork for a frame below the top level, I would use this fork. If the ugliness of the big yellow
decals did not over power the monetary savings. Aesthetics matter.

Are you afraid the product is going to fail because it has the Performance brand on it? I have
some other stuff by Performance, and Nashbar. It usually works OK. Sometimes I don't particularly
think its great quality, or the best design, but I've never worried about the products failing
catastrophically. Or being unsafe to use. Performance has been around for about 20 years. They
aren't going to jeopardize their business by putting their name on unsafe products. They put out
cheap, functional, no name brand stuff without the latest and greatest gee whiz factor. There is a
market for this.

"Kovie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<Acngb.509010$Oz4.360603@rwcrnsc54>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Does anyone know who makes this fork for Performance, and how it rates against other all-carbon
forks for non-competitive use (e.g. club rides,

day

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

trips, weekend touring, commuting, etc.)? I recently purchased one as

part

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of a combo offer from Performance, which included a Cane Creek S2 HS,

Forte

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Pro stem, and Forte carbon spacers, for $190. It seemed like a good fork

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

deal, and I had hoped to use it to upgrade my old steel bike (1981 Trek
612). Unfortunately, there are too many issues surrounding upgrading my

old

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bike, so I'll either have to return the fork combo, or use it to build a

new

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bike. Is it good enough to put on a modern $500-$700 steel or Ti frame, fitted out with Ultegra
triple components? Or would I be better served getting a somewhat pricier all-carbon fork, or a
similarly-priced carbon fork with metal steerer tube?

Thanks,

Kovie [email hidden]

"Russell Seaton" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have the same fork, stem, and headset. I bought it to put on a cheap aluminum frame and use the
extra drive train components I

...

Quoted message said:

I would not put it on a dream frame. Its pretty garish with the big yellow decals. If I became
stupid and insane all on the same day and

How easy/hard would it be to remove the decals? If easy then it might be my next fork.

-Bruce

Not sure, other than a brand name and perhaps higher quality, be it in terms of ride feel,
durability, etc. I guess that's why I asked, as I have no basis for comparison and was relying on
the advice of more experienced cyclists.

--
Kovie [email hidden]

"Grenouil" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Kovie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:Acngb.509010$Oz4.360603@rwcrnsc54...

Quoted message said:

Does anyone know who makes this fork for Performance, and

how it rates

Quoted message said:

against other all-carbon forks for non-competitive use

(e.g. club rides, day

Quoted message said:

trips, weekend touring, commuting, etc.)? I recently

purchased one as part

Quoted message said:

of a combo offer from Performance, which included a Cane

Creek S2 HS, Forte

Quoted message said:

Pro stem, and Forte carbon spacers, for $190. It seemed

like a good fork and

Quoted message said:

deal, and I had hoped to use it to upgrade my old steel

bike (1981 Trek

Quoted message said:

612). Unfortunately, there are too many issues surrounding

upgrading my old

Quoted message said:

bike, so I'll either have to return the fork combo, or use

it to build a new

Quoted message said:

bike. Is it good enough to put on a modern $500-$700 steel

or Ti frame,

Quoted message said:

fitted out with Ultegra triple components? Or would I be

better served

Quoted message said:

getting a somewhat pricier all-carbon fork, or a

similarly-priced carbon

Quoted message said:

fork with metal steerer tube?

Thanks,

Kovie [email hidden]

What do you expect to get by spending more money for essentially the same thing, or the same money
for a fork with a metal steerer tube, but with a brand name?

I suspect that even the brand name forks come from Taiwanese factories like Advanced International
- adgroup.com.twindex.htmOpen ↗ - it's just that Performance, Colorado, and Nashbar
buy direct.

Anybody know if that's not the case?

They appear to be applied beneath the top, clear layer, so I don't know if they can be safely
removed. I personally don't find them to be that offensive, but it's a matter of taste, of course.

--
Kovie [email hidden]

"Bruce" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Russell Seaton" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have the same fork, stem, and headset. I bought it to put on a cheap aluminum frame and use
the extra drive train components I

...

Quoted message said:

I would not put it on a dream frame. Its pretty garish with the big yellow decals. If I became
stupid and insane all on the same day and

How easy/hard would it be to remove the decals? If easy then it might be

my

Quoted message said:

next fork.

-Bruce

"Russell Seaton" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have the same fork, stem, and headset. I bought it to put on a cheap aluminum frame and use the
extra drive train components I purchased for other reasons. My plan was to have a second bike for
little extra cost. The little extra cost didn't quite pan out though.

Quoted message said:

And I have not quite gotten around to building the second bike up yet.

But I have looked at the fork.

I like the way you feel so confident saying so much about this fork based only on the way it looks.

It is all carbon just like some of the

Quoted message said:

pricier forks. Its just half the price. Made in Taiwan. I don't know the name of the company and
it would not mean anything to me if I did know it. But I think most/many name brand carbon bike
components are made in Taiwan today.

I would not put it on a dream frame. Its pretty garish with the big yellow decals. If I became
stupid and insane all on the same day and bought a Colnago frame without a fork, I would not use
the Performance fork. Or if I bought a Richard Sachs frame and then became stupid and insane and
decided to put a carbon fork on it, I would not put the Performance fork on it. But if I needed a
fork for a frame below the top level, I would use this fork. If the ugliness of the big yellow
decals did not over power the monetary savings. Aesthetics matter.

Are you afraid the product is going to fail because it has the Performance brand on it? I have
some other stuff by Performance, and Nashbar. It usually works OK. Sometimes I don't particularly
think its great quality, or the best design, but I've never worried about the products failing
catastrophically. Or being unsafe to use. Performance has been around for about 20 years. They
aren't going to jeopardize their business by putting their name on unsafe products. They put out
cheap, functional, no name brand stuff without the latest and greatest gee whiz factor. There is a
market for this.

"Kovie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<Acngb.509010$Oz4.360603@rwcrnsc54>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Does anyone know who makes this fork for Performance, and how it rates against other all-carbon
forks for non-competitive use (e.g. club

rides, day

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

trips, weekend touring, commuting, etc.)? I recently purchased one as

part

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of a combo offer from Performance, which included a Cane Creek S2 HS,

Forte

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Pro stem, and Forte carbon spacers, for $190. It seemed like a good

fork and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

deal, and I had hoped to use it to upgrade my old steel bike (1981 Trek
612). Unfortunately, there are too many issues surrounding upgrading my

old

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bike, so I'll either have to return the fork combo, or use it to build

a new

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bike. Is it good enough to put on a modern $500-$700 steel or Ti frame, fitted out with Ultegra
triple components? Or would I be better served getting a somewhat pricier all-carbon fork, or a
similarly-priced

carbon

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

fork with metal steerer tube?

Thanks,

Kovie [email hidden]

"GWB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Russell Seaton" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have the same fork, stem, and headset. I bought it to put on a cheap aluminum frame and use
the extra drive train components I purchased for other reasons. My plan was to have a second
bike for little extra cost. The little extra cost didn't quite pan out though.

Quoted message said:

And I have not quite gotten around to building the second bike up yet.

But I have looked at the fork.

I like the way you feel so confident saying so much about this fork based only on the way
it looks.

But I do own the fork. I did spend my own money for the fork. And in about two weeks I will post
again about its ride quality. If I can tell its any different than any other fork I've used. But I'm
not the most sensitive person in the world. I cannot tell when I am using tubulars or clinchers. Or
if my fork has a steel or carbon steerer. Or if the frame is made of aluminum, titanium, steel, or
carbon. I just ride bikes. So more than likely the review will be "I rode a bike with this fork for
XX miles. It worked just fine."

My previous statements are based mainly on the fact you will have a hard time buying any poor
quality, non-functional, unsafe bike or bike components today. You can walk into any bike shop and
buy any bike on the floor and it will be OK. Given the fact the mechanic did not install anything
incorrectly. You can also order any bike component from any mail order place and it will work OK.
Given it is not a random defective item. Which occur at all levels.

I have enough Performance or Nashbar brand products to be confident they do not put their name on
any obviously poor quality, unsafe products.

Ok, time's up so I'll have to answer my own question (after a bit of digging around, of course). It
looks like this fork is made by Kinesis and is called the Saber All Carbon, and generally retails
for a lot more than for what Performance sells it for (although several places sell it for the same
price). See for yourselves:

First, the Performance link:

performancebike.comProfile.cfmOpen ↗

Now the Kinesis link:

kinesis.com.twforksdetail.aspOpen ↗

And finally some retailers' links:

bikeman.commerchant.mvOpen ↗

bikeusa.commerchant.mvOpen ↗
ry_Code=RoadForks_K

airevalleycycles.comproducts.phpOpen ↗

habcycles.comroadfork2.htmlOpen ↗ (select Kinesis Saber All Carbon)

I'm still trying to dig up some reviews, but this is supposedly Kinesis' best fork (or so said one
of these links). Not sure what that means, though, as I don't know how good a rep Kinesis has.
Anyone care to chime in? (And thanks to all who already have!)

--
Kovie [email hidden]

"Kovie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:Acngb.509010$Oz4.360603@rwcrnsc54...

Quoted message said:

Does anyone know who makes this fork for Performance, and how it rates against other all-carbon
forks for non-competitive use (e.g. club rides,

day

Quoted message said:

trips, weekend touring, commuting, etc.)? I recently purchased one as part of a combo offer from
Performance, which included a Cane Creek S2 HS,

Forte

Quoted message said:

Pro stem, and Forte carbon spacers, for $190. It seemed like a good fork

and

Quoted message said:

deal, and I had hoped to use it to upgrade my old steel bike (1981 Trek
612). Unfortunately, there are too many issues surrounding upgrading my

old

Quoted message said:

bike, so I'll either have to return the fork combo, or use it to build a

new

Quoted message said:

bike. Is it good enough to put on a modern $500-$700 steel or Ti frame, fitted out with Ultegra
triple components? Or would I be better served getting a somewhat pricier all-carbon fork, or a
similarly-priced carbon fork with metal steerer tube?

Thanks,

Kovie [email hidden]