Sus-Fork/Steerer Length Help

[Inigo Montoya]

i recently got a 1991 marin bear valley which i'd like to build up for my brother. i'll go non-retro component wise because i got some quite current parts left and he won't care anyway. although the geometry is not suspension corrected i'd like to put a suspension fork on that frame.
question 1:
which suspension-forks would you recommend (retro or not doesn't matter)?
question 2:
the head tube is 15cm (~6 inches) long.
which steerer length should i look for for an ahead steerer?
which steerer length should i look for for a threaded steerer?

 

[Carsten]

i recently got a 1991 marin bear valley which i'd like to build up for my brother. i'll go non-retro component wise because i got some quite current parts left and he won't care anyway. although the geometry is not suspension corrected i'd like to put a suspension fork on that frame.
question 1:
which suspension-forks would you recommend (retro or not doesn't matter)?
question 2:
the head tube is 15cm (~6 inches) long.
which steerer length should i look for for an ahead steerer?
which steerer length should i look for for a threaded steerer?

ahead steerer needs to be at least 7cm longer than the head tube (35mm for the typical ahead set and at least 35mm for the ahead stem). most ahead stems need a bit more steerer tube though and some ahead sets have less stack height. better look for 23cm or more of steerer tube. yes, those are not very common used...

for a threaded steerer you only need to add the stack height of the head set. 35-40mm, some need a bit more. but be careful, if the steerer is much longer the threaded part might not reach far enough to tighten the adjuster nut. the threads should end around 17cm above the crown, not much higher.


Carsten

 

[Inigo Montoya]

thanks carsten!!!