Re: Would like to offer a new engine mounted chain tensioner to the motorbike communi
I got the Sunlite Deluxe fork! I'm definitely impressed with the quality. I already own the more common Monark Type II reproduction springer fork, but can say with confidence that this Sunlite fork has a better design in several areas.
Couple things I like:
1) It's TIG welded chromoly.
2) It has a mount for disc brakes and a bracket to hold onto the brake arm on a drum-type hub.
3) Here's what really awesome, and no one seems to mention this.
The hub axle, and brake mounts (both for disc and drum) are mounted on the front fork. This means that the hub axle and brake mounts are in a fixed relation to each other.
The more common Monark reproduction has the axle mounted on the rocker arm. Nothing wrong with this, as the original Monark was designed the same. But, this means that the axle is constantly changing it's relationship to either fork.
What happens is, when you install a drum brake hub on the Monark repro, and you rigidly attach it to either the front or rear fork, it locks up the entire fork - no compression of the springs whatsoever. In fact, if you did this and hit a big bump, I feel that the hub would crack/break. This is because the relation of the axle to either fork constantly changes, due to the axle being mounted on the rocker arm. It's something you would almost have to see to appreciate, but when you compress the front fork on a Monark repro, you can watch the drum brake arm swing back and forth.
To get away with using a Sturmey drum hub on a Monark repro, I welded a bracket to the rear fork which still gives the brake arm something to brace itself against, but allows swing room for the brake arm, as the springs compress and rebound.
But this is not needed with the Sunlite fork! Being that the hub axle position and brake mounts are fixed in relation to each other, you can mount the brake arm rigidly to the fork, with no binding issues or the like.
There is a reason that both Felt (discontinued now), and Sportsman Flyer (similiar design, but much heavier duty) use this design.
I'm using this fork in combination with a Sturmey Archer XL-FD 90mm drum brake (LOVE this hub, great braking power).
These pics are not the best, but they give you an idea!
Note the additional spacers on top of the springs to accomodate different steerer tube lengths. I removed these in order to work with my bike.
Also note the small tube welded to the front fork for a cable to be routed through (only on the disc brake side).
