Weird Raleigh fork

[user 135]

seems fsjjak used one similar but I cant find it...

Somebody else's

Danimal?

Pastorbob's New World http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.ph ... urvey-Fork

 

[ratina]

When they got bent real bad, people just flipped them around so the bike could be ridden without buying a new fork

 

[thatismytruck]

they must be bent, they wouldn't have made rear facing dropouts on a fork I don't think.. :roll:

This point is probably the best indicator of them being bent. The dropouts would of been changed to accomodate the bend. The fender strut mount is always behind the dropout so your could not run it like the Bates fork and still have a fender.

once that Raleigh fork is in a head tube it will not be facing backward. It will in fact have a slight forward opening as it should.

 

[c.p.odom]

Still the fender stay tabs will be on the wrong side.
Lovely shot of a Bates fork with a Harden Bacon Slicer Hub (first hub to use cartridge bearings).

 

[socal_jack]

Photo was cropped by my 17" screen couldn't see the fork dropouts had to copy down and resize, that one is just bent as are several above as the trail would be all wrong.

 

[c.p.odom]

Both the Raleigh and the Schwinn New World forks were internally lugged and brazed together at the fork crown. This forces the bending moment down the blades under impact (this does save the steering column for being damaged). I have seen many of these forks bent just like that. Straightening them is problematic as they tend to buckle on the internal lug when pulled back. Not a big deal if you plan on repainting them after a little body work.

 

[deorman]

The angle/direction of the dropouts indicate a non-factory bend, it may or may not have been intentional. :?

 

[ckdesigns69]

I have the same Raliegh forks on one of my road bikes. The ones you have are the same forks but, looks like someone did do a bend job. They may be okay though. As long as your not putting them on a Klunker or something. :wink:

 

[highship]

It's interesting hearing everyones ideas, I appreciate the feedback. To me the bends look to nice to be accidental. I'm a big guy but I don't think I am worried from a structural stand point. If it ever makes it onto something I'll post it here.