New Forks / Head Tube Size

"Muzz" <no> a écrit:

Quoted message said:

The head tube on the frame seems to measure 1 1/4 , although the old
forks are more like 1 1/8 ? Maybe I have had the wrong forks all these
years, hah that's why I have been through so may sets of bearings.

Quoted message said:

The frame is a 1996 Kona Cindercone, can anyone tell me for definate
what size the head tube is before I order the new forks ?

When talking about headsets, stems, forks, even head tubes, it's common to
refer to them all by the external diameter of the steerer tube of the fork.

Your Kona needs a 1 1/8" fork.

James Thomson

"Muzz" <no> a écrit:

Quoted message said:

Alright, so is the size initially determined by the frame then ? I mean
head tubes on frames can be different sizes and you must get the
correct headset fot that frame and then the correct forks for the headset?

Quoted message said:

I'm trying to rule out the possibility that frame headtubes are a standard
size and that you can fit cups into them to determine the 1 1/8 or 1 1/4
size?

Generally, all the parts need to be sized to go together. A frame that's
designed for a 1 1/8" fork, like yours, has a head tube that's sized to fit
over a 1 1/8" steerer with clearance for the headset cups, and a specific
internal diameter at the ends to allow a 1 1/8" standard headset to be
pressed in. Likewise, a 1 1/4" fork goes with a 1 1/4" headset in a frame
sized to suit.

There's a good table of dimensions for the various standards here:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_ha-i.html#headset

There are adapters available that allow you to fit a standard 1 1/8" headset
and fork in a non-standard (1 1/4" or larger) frame.

Just to reiterate, your Kona is designed for a 1 1/8" fork and headset. Kona
did make some mountain bikes with 1" forks in the early days, but by the
time your Cinder Cone was produced they'd been 1 1/8" for a good few years.
My 1994 Kona Kilauea is 1 1/8".

James Thomson

Muzz said:

My old Rockshox had seized up yet again and whilst attempting to fix them I
think the elastomers may have got thrown away !
I have finally conceded that it may be time to buy new forks. The head tube
on the frame seems to measure 1 1/4 , although the old forks are more like 1
1/8 ? Maybe I have had the wrong forks all these years, hah that's why I
have been through so may sets of bearings.

The frame is a 1996 Kona Cindercone, can anyone tell me for definate what
size the head tube is before I order the new forks ?

Kona never used 1 1/4, so if it's not 1 inch (and no top-brand MTBs were
1 inch by 1996), it's 1 1/8. 1 1/4 was just Fisher and Cannondale AFAIK.

Nerd fact: 1 1/4 is called "Evolution" by Fisher and 1 1/8 is called
"Avenger" by Tioga, its inventors. Chris King sell the amusingly named
"Devolution" headset to convert the former to the latter.

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

Quoted message said:

"Muzz" <no> a écrit:

Quoted message said:

Alright, so is the size initially determined by the frame then ? I mean
head tubes on frames can be different sizes and you must get the
correct headset fot that frame and then the correct forks for the
headset?

Quoted message said:

I'm trying to rule out the possibility that frame headtubes are a
standard
size and that you can fit cups into them to determine the 1 1/8 or 1 1/4
size?

Generally, all the parts need to be sized to go together. A frame that's
designed for a 1 1/8" fork, like yours, has a head tube that's sized to
fit
over a 1 1/8" steerer with clearance for the headset cups, and a specific
internal diameter at the ends to allow a 1 1/8" standard headset to be
pressed in. Likewise, a 1 1/4" fork goes with a 1 1/4" headset in a frame
sized to suit.

There's a good table of dimensions for the various standards here:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_ha-i.html#headset

There are adapters available that allow you to fit a standard 1 1/8"
headset
and fork in a non-standard (1 1/4" or larger) frame.

Just to reiterate, your Kona is designed for a 1 1/8" fork and headset.
Kona
did make some mountain bikes with 1" forks in the early days, but by the
time your Cinder Cone was produced they'd been 1 1/8" for a good few
years.
My 1994 Kona Kilauea is 1 1/8".

James Thomson

Thanks again for the info. New forks ordered, and a new stem but don't tell
the wife.

"Zog The Undeniable" <[email hidden]> a écrit:

Quoted message said:

Kona never used 1 1/4, so if it's not 1 inch (and no top-brand
MTBs were 1 inch by 1996)

Bontrager and Ritchey were still clinging on, I think.

Quoted message said:

it's 1 1/8.

It's 1 1/8".

James Thomson