[AtTheGates]

I stopped racing XC a few years back and haven't kept up with new products since. I am writing paper about steerer tube materials for an engineering class. The older SID WC had a carbon steer, but the new 32mm model does not. I've read a couple of articles that note that the new steerers are Al, but no reason is given for not using CF. Doe anyone know the reason RS stopped using carbon steerers?

 

[slimshady]

I stopped racing XC a few years back and haven't kept up with new products since. I am writing paper about steerer tube materials for an engineering class. The older SID WC had a carbon steer, but the new 32mm model does not. I've read a couple of articles that note that the new steerers are Al, but no reason is given for not using CF. Doe anyone know the reason RS stopped using carbon steerers?

Well, actually, the new 2010 Rebas and SIDs will have carbon steerer and crown as an option. I believe SRAM has labeled them as "XX", to match their new (and first) complete group.

 

[nim388]

I can't speak for RS. I found that fork to be flat out dangerously flexible and replaced it with a reba. I believe the combination of the carbon crown and smaller sized stanchions made the fork torsionally ineffective.

 

[oldfart]

I can't speak for RS. I found that fork to be flat out dangerously flexible and replaced it with a reba. I believe the combination of the carbon crown and smaller sized stanchions made the fork torsionally ineffective.

I have heard that from a local bike mechanic. We were discussing how the Easton cross fork shudders badly under hard braking as do many of the really light cross forks. He said the previous Sid did that too but the latest model is better but still shakes a bit. Too light I suppose.

 

[Lelandjt]

I believe the combination of the carbon crown and smaller sized stanchions made the fork torsionally ineffective.

The carbon steerer/crown was stiffer than their alloy crown. It was the small diameter, thin stantions and outdated lowers that were really flexy.
The carbon crown was dumped due to cost and that's why it is an option, rather than standard, now.

Even though the new Sid is bigger and stiffer it still feels flexy compared to a most mainstream AM forks. Besides, you're supposed to be running semi-slicks and flexy wheels with a Sid so you won't notice flex and shudder

 

[James]

The carbon steerer/crown was stiffer than their alloy crown. It was the small diameter, thin stantions and outdated lowers that were really flexy.
The carbon crown was dumped due to cost and that's why it is an option, rather than standard, now.

Even though the new Sid is bigger and stiffer it still feels flexy compared to a most mainstream AM forks. Besides, you're supposed to be running semi-slicks and flexy wheels with a Sid so you won't notice flex and shudder

When I went from my SID SL to the SID WC with the carbon crown/steerer, I noticed a big difference in control and confidence. That said, when I put my Reba on, it was night and day. I have a Reba WC on my bike now, with the carbon crown/steerer, and it's the best of both worlds.
The new SID XX is a race fork, not a trail fork, seen from that point of view, it's about the best choice out there, in my opinion anyway.