Rigid Forks. Identification help.

[DVL]

These forks came off a Merlin (Lancashire mail order place) Team Prestige SE bike from the mid 90's. I was planning on fitting them to another frame as the original was stolen some years ago. Unfortuantely, the steerer is to short, so that put a stop to that idea. So, I need another set, but would like something of similar quality to these, but I need to know whether they are generic forks or something a bit more interesting.
They weigh 850 grams with a 155mm threaded steerer. Hopefully, I've managed to attach some pictures below....

 

[mechagouki]

They are cheap, mass produced, Asian made forks, weight is not terrible, but not great either, plenty of better forks available cheaply. Look for something Spinner branded, or for a few quid more, a Marin Rockstar or even a Kona project 2.

 

[WD Pro]

As the weight is not to shabby and they dont have rack eyes, I would suggest they are at least a 'quality' fork.

A plain gauge tange MTB / Spinner fork is + 100g on what you have there

I actually suspect spinner, cleaning the paint off the outer face of the dropout and / or the front of the steerer should confirm.

WD

 

[DVL]

Thanks chaps. There's no markings on the drop outs at all, and the markings on the steering are quite faint. I can make out:

AKISb (i think it's a K)
996 07
F CR-MO

@WD Pro. I've read your very excellent Marin build and would like your opinion on the Spinner forks you have.

Thanks for your help.

 

[WD Pro]

Thanks for the comments on the Marin

My opinion on the forks :

Ride - I am not one of these folks who's had a lot of bikes to compare to, let alone top end bikes ... The bear valley has always had the type of forks on that it has now (that's why I was so p1ssed when the LBS damaged the originals). BITD when my friends had similar or slightly cheaper bikes I liked them best because of the looks of the front dropouts - if you looked down at them they looked wide / chunky / confidence inspiring The only bikes I rode enough to compare them to was dads - brothers - gf's (soon to be rebuilt) rockhopper with direct drive cro mo = very similar and dads - mums orange = the spinners were nicer. I took the orange for a quick spin the other day and 13.5 stone on slicks and a heavy front brake causes a (scary) amount of rearward flex :shock: A similar test on the Marin (again on slicks) caused considerably less movement ...

Build - the four sets that I have seen / had my hands on have all been fabricated nicely interestingly my OE Marin set and the identical replacements (and the spares) were lighter than the yellow set I got for the Marin with the flat style dropout (pics in build thread) even though they all wore identical tubing decals :?

I think if they were more 'branded' they would be more sought after ... ;-) I think I read on here that some Kleins used them along with some of the early Ti merlins ? if true that must stand for something ?

WD

 

[mikee]

they look like a nice fork
cheap asian made right enough , but nice

spinner x's are great btw , rigid and plush