Weird Raleigh fork

[highship]

I have seen a lot of Raleighs but never a fork like this :? You?

 

[ratina]

Looks bent to me, weird that the steer tube is straight though

 

[TheFlyingDingo]

Kota?

 

[dskobckustomz]

i think it s just bent but it doesnt show any destortion so some one ment too lol, have you rode with them they look like the be an intresting ride :lol:

 

[highship]

nope never rode them, I was planning on it though. not only is there no distortion to the metal but the paint dosen't seem at all disturbed either.

 

[user 135]

Looks bent backwards. I doubt Raliegh ever made them that way. There was a fork made that way of sorts.

Bates Diadrant
http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/bu ... ates3.html

 

[socal_jack]

Seems like you see this design pop-up every 20-30 years or so in bicycle history, Raleigh might've made `em like that, look up Bates for a more compact version but I've seen pics of really old stuff as well. I think the thinking was it offered some springy-ness amd softened the ride. Some custom MTB framebuilders, like Willits and Wolfhound are incorporating the idea in their seat stays. Willits has somewhat of the idea in his W.O.W. fork.

 

[scrumblero]

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

 

[icyuod2]

i'd be more inclnded to think somebody bent them intentionally.
that or the factory.

theres no way that happened by accident.

 

[outskirtscustoms]

Looks like someone's very good attempt at making a lowrider fork. :mrgreen:

 

[ifitsfreeitsforme]

didn't we go through this "are they bent intentionally or not" debate with the old Roadmaster that Danimal posted up a while ago? His had forks bent like that too.

 

[stocksucks]

That has to be intentional..

 

[g-ratter]

Hard to tell from the picture but the bend does look to be symetrical so I double it was from an accident. Had to be intendsionally done. Looks like there is some sctatches/rust near the lower bend. Maybe from home bending?
I remember as a kid we use to build choppers out of 2 sets of forks by jamming one set onto another in an S shape. Gave good extension and made it easier to steer.

 

[socal_jack]

Tried to get at it in the last post but found some pics, a British bicycle makes Bates had forks like this(but tighter bend) called "Diadrant Forks" made in the 30s, but I've seen some Pope or Columbias made like this also. Anothe UK company Dayton supposedly had forks more like the above Raleighs. The idea was to increase flex, somebody may have done a home version.

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/builders/bates3.html

 

[thatismytruck]

didn't we go through this "are they bent intentionally or not" debate with the old Roadmaster that Danimal posted up a while ago? His had forks bent like that too.

yes. yes we did.

I still think both came from the factory as shown.

The Roadmaster in Question

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=14188&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=bent+forks

 

[g-ratter]

That fork is cool looking. Going to have to try and make one.
http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/builders/bates3.html

[/quote]

 

[highship]

So did we come to some sort of consenus on this? Stock or "home made"?
I like them and will end up using them on something someday.

 

[user 135]

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.

 

[Unchained]

Cman and scrumblero make good points.

Still, I'm having major deja vu. I feel like I remember a post before about a Raleigh fork just like this. It might have been a post by Wildcat..? I don't know, but it might be worth asking him. I wish I could remember for sure...

 

[Markm]

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