Hollow fork crown = more stiffness?

[Geir Anders Rybakken Orslien]

I'm considering one of the new Rock Shox Reba forks, and notice that
the Team model has a hollow crown as the single upgrade over the Race.
This makes the fork about 45 grams lighter, but for my part that
doesn't justify the extra cost.

Is this weight saving really the only benefit you get out of a hollow
crown? Or is the hollow crown noticeably stiffer, e.g. when handling
heavy braking forces?



Geir Anders
Oslo, Norway

[Werehatrack]

On 13 Dec 2004 02:09:35 -0800, (Geir Anders
Rybakken Orslien) wrote:

>I'm considering one of the new Rock Shox Reba forks, and notice that
>the Team model has a hollow crown as the single upgrade over the Race.
>This makes the fork about 45 grams lighter, but for my part that
>doesn't justify the extra cost.
>
>Is this weight saving really the only benefit you get out of a hollow
>crown? Or is the hollow crown noticeably stiffer, e.g. when handling
>heavy braking forces?

It's likely that there is a difference in the materials used as well,
either in their composition or their treatment. A solid die-cast part
might not be anywhere near as strong as a hollow forged part, for
instance.
--
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[jim beam]

Geir Anders Rybakken Orslien wrote:
> I'm considering one of the new Rock Shox Reba forks, and notice that
> the Team model has a hollow crown as the single upgrade over the Race.
> This makes the fork about 45 grams lighter, but for my part that
> doesn't justify the extra cost.
>
> Is this weight saving really the only benefit you get out of a hollow
> crown? Or is the hollow crown noticeably stiffer, e.g. when handling
> heavy braking forces?
>
>
>
> Geir Anders
> Oslo, Norway

the section properties for the hollow crown are better, on a per weight
basis, than a solid with the same exterior dimensions and same material.
the solid will however be stiffer. it's a trade - frequently, the
cheezy material is used in the solid and the good stuff in the hollow,
so what you may lose in stiffness, you can gain in yield strength &
fatigue properties. i'd go with the hollow.

[Alex Rodriguez]

In article >,
says...
>
>
>I'm considering one of the new Rock Shox Reba forks, and notice that
>the Team model has a hollow crown as the single upgrade over the Race.
>This makes the fork about 45 grams lighter, but for my part that
>doesn't justify the extra cost.
>
>Is this weight saving really the only benefit you get out of a hollow
>crown? Or is the hollow crown noticeably stiffer, e.g. when handling
>heavy braking forces?

Assuming they crowns are the same size, the solid crowns will be stiffer
than the hollow ones.
-------------
Alex