Our goal has always been to build the best possible bike for each individual rider. That pursuit started in 2011 with custom geometries, tube selection, finishes, and components. Over time, we have added to our toolbox with new technologies like our adaptive butting process, custom tapered head tubes, our proprietary 3D printed chainstay yoke, constantly evolving finishing techniques, and our own line of Ti components.
Now, after more than three years of development, our new Ti forks are perhaps the most significant addition to our custom capabilities since we started.
Building our own forks means:
- Custom fork offsets from 43-57mm, to the mm, allowing us to fine tune handling characteristics better than ever.
- Custom fork lengths so that we can match the length of an existing fork, meaning customers can swap in our fork without altering their bike’s fit or geometry.
- A noticeably smoother ride quality than comparable carbon forks, while still being stiff enough for precise handling and a responsive ride quality.
- A wider array of fork options on a wider array of models. For example, right now every carbon fork with rack mounts and dynamo routing is at least 395mm and can fit 50mm+ tires. We’ll be able to build forks like that too, but will also be able to build Road and Road Plus forks with those options that will be lighter and better matched to narrower tires for riders who don’t need so much tire clearance.
- Building every fork in house means we have total control over the construction quality, which means more precise alignment, offset, brake mounting, and finish.
- Speaking of finish, building Ti forks means we can finally extend the custom graphic work we’re known for, including custom anodization, to the fork.
- More work for us. Seriously. We like making things! The more of the bike we can make, the more fun it is for us and the more connected we are to the final product.
The key to the entire project is 3D printing. We worked with our long time partner Josh Ogle to design 3D printed Ti fork crowns and dropouts for Road, Road Plus, and Gravel models, covering a huge range of riding from road to gravel to bikepacking, with tire clearance options from 700 x 32mm to 700 x 55mm and 650 x 57mm. Those 3D printed parts are shaped to match perfectly with ovalized Ti fork legs and tapered carbon steerer tubes, allowing us to build forks that are light, fast, and strike the right balance of ride quality characteristics: stiff enough for precise handling and braking, never harsh feeling, and nearly as light as full carbon forks.
The advantages of 3D printing extend beyond the surface too. We are taking full advantage of the 3D design with internal routing in the fork crown for simple brake routing on all models, and innovative dynamo wire routing in Road Plus and Gravel fork crowns, including split routing for both lights and steerer tube-mounted chargers like the Sinewave Beacon.
See full specs for each model below, and email kevin@fireflybicycles.com for more information and to order yours.
