1” Girvin Vector Forks
- Thread starter justablur
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Re:
The vector 2 Forks that came off a 656 were 1 inch with a shim to 1 and 1/8". But I think the crown race on the forks were 1 1/8". As the shim only changed the top bearing cap. I had to use 1 inch aheadset spacers when I fitted the vector 2 Forks to other bikes.
The vector 2 Forks that came off a 656 were 1 inch with a shim to 1 and 1/8". But I think the crown race on the forks were 1 1/8". As the shim only changed the top bearing cap. I had to use 1 inch aheadset spacers when I fitted the vector 2 Forks to other bikes.
2manyoranges
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I've got a Proflex 855 frameset with Vector forks sitting at the back of the barn. I bought the bike new from Magic Cycles in 1994. Give me a bit more detail of what measurements you want and what you are wanting to achieve and I can get the frame and vernier out and give you some measurements.
The Proflex in its mid to late 90s versions is an incredibly capable bike. Very very under-rated. Few in the mtb world knew about suspension at that time, so no bikes were set up with sag. Since I had MX background I knew how to set bikes up, and installed elastomers which were way softer than shops recommended. This gave 25-30 sag, which of course now is exactly what we put on contemporary bikes. The cry was always 'you're losing travel' which of course was nonsense in terms of how you want suspension to perform. Set up with the right sag, these bikes just hurtled everywhere. They were heads and shoulders above anything else - mine weighed 25lbs, was incredibly rigid (in the right way) and the suspension was set up to dig in on climbs - up up and awaaaaay. Those who didn't set up sag in Proflexs were just bouncing around all over the place, and thought the bikes were rubbish. If you set up a VW Golf with zero sag, it would be off at the first corner.
In fact the bike was so fast and so light and so capable the problem was brakes. My 855 had LX cantilevers on it, which seemed to reduce speed by wishful thinking. Since I had gorgeous and rare XT integrated levers and shifters (very light for the time) I wanted to retain those. With the small clearances I installed Critical Racing cantilevers - ti hardware and aztec blocks - and these were stunning - as good as the XT Vs which came out a couple of years later. By this time the bike was tuned and fettled and a very very capable bike.
BUT.........then came elastomer rot. I put the Proflex to one side for year or so to concentrate on other things, and when I pulled it out the elastomers had gone rock hard. And Proflex had gone as a brand. So the bike was broken down and wrapped and stored. And that's how it's been for over two decades. I've seen the elastomers coming up now, but only in medium. The Proflex needs combinations of durometer elastomers to get the tuning right. The design was impressive, since you could run different combinations on the long elastomers stacks to get a very tuned spring rate, sag and rebound. They are a VERY under-rated design in my view. They were not a side-stream in design or dead-end as some people think. They are a mainstream part of the development of suspension in MTB, and bloody good.
I remember a summer solo ride on the South Downs. I was just coming out of Southease and up Itford Hill. It's a bugger of a climb - really long and sketchy with an endless, boring and thigh sapping grass section at the top. There were three people ahead and I just went past them with a nod and then on up, digging in. Didn't really pay much attention to them since there was a lot on my mind at the time. As I got to the top I looked behind - and one of the group had left his friends and was working to get up to me. I shrugged and continued the five or so minutes to the top, where I always stop and sit on the cumulus, to take in the view and have a Mint Sauce moment. He was maybe a minute behind, and came over to where I was sitting. He was on one of the latest top model Specialised FS. His reaction when he came close was a surprised and disappointed '...Oh...I thought you were on something new and special....'. What I thought was '...no I am just on an old but sorted 855 and faster than you on your all-the-gear-and-no-idea....' but what I said was '...well..they are actually rather good..'. Which they are.
The Proflex in its mid to late 90s versions is an incredibly capable bike. Very very under-rated. Few in the mtb world knew about suspension at that time, so no bikes were set up with sag. Since I had MX background I knew how to set bikes up, and installed elastomers which were way softer than shops recommended. This gave 25-30 sag, which of course now is exactly what we put on contemporary bikes. The cry was always 'you're losing travel' which of course was nonsense in terms of how you want suspension to perform. Set up with the right sag, these bikes just hurtled everywhere. They were heads and shoulders above anything else - mine weighed 25lbs, was incredibly rigid (in the right way) and the suspension was set up to dig in on climbs - up up and awaaaaay. Those who didn't set up sag in Proflexs were just bouncing around all over the place, and thought the bikes were rubbish. If you set up a VW Golf with zero sag, it would be off at the first corner.
In fact the bike was so fast and so light and so capable the problem was brakes. My 855 had LX cantilevers on it, which seemed to reduce speed by wishful thinking. Since I had gorgeous and rare XT integrated levers and shifters (very light for the time) I wanted to retain those. With the small clearances I installed Critical Racing cantilevers - ti hardware and aztec blocks - and these were stunning - as good as the XT Vs which came out a couple of years later. By this time the bike was tuned and fettled and a very very capable bike.
BUT.........then came elastomer rot. I put the Proflex to one side for year or so to concentrate on other things, and when I pulled it out the elastomers had gone rock hard. And Proflex had gone as a brand. So the bike was broken down and wrapped and stored. And that's how it's been for over two decades. I've seen the elastomers coming up now, but only in medium. The Proflex needs combinations of durometer elastomers to get the tuning right. The design was impressive, since you could run different combinations on the long elastomers stacks to get a very tuned spring rate, sag and rebound. They are a VERY under-rated design in my view. They were not a side-stream in design or dead-end as some people think. They are a mainstream part of the development of suspension in MTB, and bloody good.
I remember a summer solo ride on the South Downs. I was just coming out of Southease and up Itford Hill. It's a bugger of a climb - really long and sketchy with an endless, boring and thigh sapping grass section at the top. There were three people ahead and I just went past them with a nod and then on up, digging in. Didn't really pay much attention to them since there was a lot on my mind at the time. As I got to the top I looked behind - and one of the group had left his friends and was working to get up to me. I shrugged and continued the five or so minutes to the top, where I always stop and sit on the cumulus, to take in the view and have a Mint Sauce moment. He was maybe a minute behind, and came over to where I was sitting. He was on one of the latest top model Specialised FS. His reaction when he came close was a surprised and disappointed '...Oh...I thought you were on something new and special....'. What I thought was '...no I am just on an old but sorted 855 and faster than you on your all-the-gear-and-no-idea....' but what I said was '...well..they are actually rather good..'. Which they are.
2manyoranges
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Okey doke, I'll dig out the frame later today and measure the steerer....will require a wee bit of spannering so will be a bit later today....
Duxuk
Retro Guru
I expect that a 1" version was made, though tracking one down may be the hard part! I bought a very original Proflex Attack LE last year. It came with dreadful RS Q5s. I looked around for some Girvins (1 1/8") but the prices were more than I paid for the bike so being of a thrifty nature I made some forks which I call "No Bob Girvins" (Get it???) I covered the build and ride impressions in my blog. I've now perfected any problems and find I can ride the bike without having to make allowances for it's vintage. It's not as quick as a modern bike but not far behind and a pleasure to ride.
https://mountainbiker.online/2019/10/29 ... made-bike/
https://mountainbiker.online/2019/10/26 ... disbelief/
https://mountainbiker.online/2020/04/24 ... intenance/
https://mountainbiker.online/2019/10/29 ... made-bike/
https://mountainbiker.online/2019/10/26 ... disbelief/
https://mountainbiker.online/2020/04/24 ... intenance/
Duxuk
Retro Guru
I've just remembered being offered a Girvin Vector by forum member Jimo746. I may be wrong but I seem to remember it was a 1" version with a 1 1/8" spacer. It may have been another set of fork parts which had already gone that had the 1" steerer but unless age has got to me one or other was definitely 1".
2manyoranges
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Hmmm....finally managed to dig out my 855 F&F and bad news is that the ‘95 forks used a 1 inch headset top and 1 and eight below. Steerer is 1 inch but with a larger circumference at the crown race. A machined lip which I guess could be removed but would be a major piece of fettling.
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