I just replaced my Reynolds Pro Ouzo stock fork on my 2002 LS Ghisallo with an Easton EC90 SL and I must have done something horribly wrong. During a short test ride the steering feels like it is ‘sticking’. I noticed that the reynolds had a big metal ‘washer’ at the junction of the fork and the steere tuble that the Easton doe not. The bars seem to trun easily when there is no pressure and I’m not riding, but once my weight is on the bike things go batty.
I’m also wondering if all of this is being caused by a possible difference in rake. I’m not able to locate the 2002 geometry but the 2003 is 44mm and the 2004 is 40mm. The easton is a 43mm and I have never changed fork rakes before to know how drastically it might effect the handling.
Don’t know if this is your problem but I changed from a spec’d 45mm to a 43mm on a Lemond steel/carbon spine frame. Was shocked at how much 2mm negatively affected the handling. Swapped to a different 45mm fork form the origianal spec and the handling was normal again.
I agree that it sounds like you don’t have the crown race installed on your new Easton fork. Without it the head tube is sitting directly on the crown of the fork when you put weight on it. The crown race will provide the correct interface/height so that the metal ring (crown race) contacts the bearing of the headset. Head down to your LBS with both forks so they can pull it off for you. I wouldn’t recommend doing it at home without the proper tools since you don’t want to damage either the crown race or your new fork. It takes less than 5 minutes do the swap.
I had a few handling issues with my 2005 litespeed ghisallo. I had a 2004 which I sold and that was great, but the new one was a shocker. It was definitely the real design fork - and I would recomend anyone who has one to get something else - it will make a huge positive change to the bike. I first went to a kestrel fork (I was desperate!), then got the easton EC 90 SL - and it has been just great. So I would concur - it is probably an installation error rather than a fork issue…
Don’t know if this is your problem but I changed from a spec’d 45mm to a 43mm on a Lemond steel/carbon spine frame. Was shocked at how much 2mm negatively affected the handling. Swapped to a different 45mm fork form the origianal spec and the handling was normal again.
I recently bought a Bianchi with a 43mm raked fork, and the handling is much twitchier than my Lemond with a 45. I suppose it would be great if I was riding in circles, but on long descents I miss the Lemond.
It looks liek the old crown race is bonded to the fork (which is why I did not remove it the first time). Do reynolds forks come with this piece bonded to them or was this done special at the factory? Should I be able to locate a crown race at my LBS?
It’s probably not bonded - they are press fit, but you pretty much need the right tool to remove it. Any bike shop should be able to remove it and transfer it to your new fork. Crown races are somewhat specific to your headset, so you could also just get a new one if you know what model headset you have…
The crown race is a part of the headset that is mounted on the fork. it needs to be there(on the fork being used). Get y’er self to the lbs for a removal and installation.
Worst case, you can just buy a new headset, or a new crown race if they’re available separately for your headset. If you don’t have a good LBS, that’ll probably be easier and simpler than trying to DIY remove the old race without the right tools.
Oh and this might be obvious, but stop riding the bike 'till you fix this!!!