Bike Setup: Bianchi XL Boron (2001) Ultegra 9 speed
Summary: The EC90SL is the best fork available in a 1" diameter. Ultra light weight, stiff, good damping, and very durable. The straight blades look great too.
Strengths: Light weight, very strong, good damping. Very stiff with excellent steering feel. Expanding spacer works better than expansion sleeve and nut devices to tighten headset.
Weaknesses: be careful clamping the carbon dropouts with a velo-vise type car carrier or skewer, the 'lawyer lugs' can break off
High price (but you get what you pay for)EC90SLX not available in a 1" steerer
Similar Products Used: Bianchi Componenti full carbon fork (2001)
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Bike Setup: Airborne Zepp with 9-speed Dura Ace and Mavic Ksyrium SSC-SL
Summary: What a difference compared to the old Profile BRC I was using. There is less lateral flex and it does seem to absorb more vibrations better probably due to the carbon steerer tube/ all carbon design. Very light weight fork and well built. Got a great deal with the "fork it over" program Easton had.
Strengths: * No lateral flex
* Very light weight
* Nicely built
Weaknesses: None so far
Similar Products Used: Profile Design BRC
Other chromoly forks
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Bike Setup: 1992 Waterford/Schwinn Paramount OS
Campy Record
Ritchey Comp stem
Ritchey bars
AC seatpost
SSM Era K
CK headset
FSA Carbon Team crank
Speedplay X/2s
Bontrager Race X Lite wheels
Summary: Nice. Went to CF fork hoping to damp some of the vibes and ease the pounding on my broken many times arms. Seems relatively stiff, while damping the higher frequency stuff from the road. Only real flex noted is under heavy breaking while hitting larger bumps. Nice and light.
Strengths: Helps damp the higher frequency stuff from the road
Stiff
Nearly identical to my Paramount OS fork, in dimensions, that it replaced.
Light
Weaknesses: Veltec only had the straight legged version, so maybe the fork looks slightly outta place on a 12 year old lugged frame, but so what?
Similar Products Used: Plastic salad fork
Mikasa dinner fork
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Bike Setup: '94 Cannondale R600 2.8 frame. Easton EC90 fork and seatpost, Sh'no Flightdeck gruppo, Bontrager RaceXlite wheels and bars, 3T forgie stem, FSA H'set, Speedplay Ti peds, Fizik aliante saddle, love those Michelin AxialCarbon tires.
Summary: I purchased the EC90 fork after riding my stock '94 R600 C'dale for for 10 years. My old body was simply getting weary of the jarring of a non-carbon fork... not to mention a full aluminum setup. I enjoyed the quickness of a full aluminum ride, but as years go by, comfort becomes key. This is where the carbon comes in.
This fork cuts like a knife in the twisties and headwinds yet is a mattress on the bumps. This and the carbon seatpost are the best upgrades I've ever made. I've now got the responsiveness of the 'old' C'dale frame with the ride of a new $3k+ racer. The Fizik Aliante is the gravy. The EC90 fork has been superb during our miles together.
Strengths: Supple ride, Stiff enough to sprint, forgiving enough to set a line and carve. Good looks (I think all carbon forks look good). Price. I suppose I would raving about the Reynolds Ouzo Pro too, but the EC90 is 1/2 the price.
Weaknesses: None yet. But I'm keeping my eye out for the 'delamination' cited by several other reviewers.
Similar Products Used: Stock Cro-Moly and Aluminum forks from C'Dale and Specialized. C'Dale HeadShok on my MtnBike...
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