Thorn Cycles Forum

Technical => General Technical => Topic started by: Philq on June 10, 2019, 08:05:12 pm

Title: Mercury fork options
Post by: Philq on June 10, 2019, 08:05:12 pm
Hi all

I've had my Mercury for a couple of years now and while it's a great bike the carbon disk forks are unbelievably stiff and unyielding. Clearly thorn's 853 forks would solve this but not only would I have the cost of the forks I'd also need a new front wheel and brakes so I'm thinking with the advent of all these new gravel bikes there must be a more comfortable disk option available.... any suggestions?
Title: Re: Mercury fork options
Post by: PH on June 10, 2019, 10:38:34 pm
IMO you’re not going to go from unyielding to comfortable with a change of forks. The differences are more subtle than that.  The 853 V brake fork I have is very nice and I like the look of it.  But it isn’t hugely different in feel to the hi-ten one on my hybrid and that complete bike cost less than the Thorn fork! I wouldn’t run the hybrid on high pressure 28 mm tyres, but there’s no need to
Apologies if it seems rude, but if you’re finding the Mercury uncomfortable, it’s likely to be something other than the fork - tyres, pressure, bar height, riding position...
If you really do want to swap forks- then a carbon steerer if yours is alu will make a small difference and lighter will have a bit more give, though the flex you can build into carbon is limited.  I test rode a Spa Elan which was a comfortable bike, you could check what fork they use, I haven’t ridden the Thorn ones to compare.  There’s a few options in steel, including Thorns own, I haven’t ridden any of them, though I’d be surprised if the difference was ever more than going up a tyre size and down a few psi
Title: Re: Mercury fork options
Post by: Mike Ayling on June 10, 2019, 11:52:49 pm
I support the wider tyres, lower pressure option.

My Mercury has 36 X 622 which I usually run at 60 to 65psi which I find quite comfortable.

Mike
Title: Re: Mercury fork options
Post by: Philq on June 11, 2019, 07:08:42 am
Thanks both.

Perhaps I should have been clearer in my original posting. The bike is very comfortable except when descending at speed over rough surfaces when the forks are harsh.

I agree about larger tyres and I will be looking for greater clearance to enable this as the current 30c that I'm running (tubeless) are the max size that will fit.

I've also got a Raven and a titanium road bike with easton carbon forks so I feel reasonably well able to comment on these forks which even Thorn in their brochure struggled to recommend!