What's the deal with Spinner forks?

[masha]

I take it Spinner made a lot of rigid forks for the industry.

Were they ever supplied direct to manufacturers and if so would they have been labelled Spinner at the drop out?

I've had a few original-looking pairs of Kona PIIs over the years, some of which have been branded Spinner.

I even have a Raleigh Torus Ti frame that came with slightly curved Spinners as standard

Just interested to know where this firm sit in the industry. I see they are still producing some suspension forks today, but its the '90s rigid's that I'd be interested to know more about?

 

[KermitGKona88]

Re:

It is my belief that they made quality forks in mass quantity and that they were basically the 'Go to company' for forks in the 90's

 

[masha]

Re:

Yes I can imagine that was how it was - they appear in many brands - mass Taiwanese producer that made any spec. if order quantity was large enough.

M

 

[ishaw]

I think I've seen/had klein spinner forks on my rascal so can't be too poo if klein owners cope with them.

 

[SeeingisBelievingGTMuseum]

Re:

Yes Spinner was one of the largest rigid fork manufacturers in the late 80's to mid 90's. Have some bikes with nice Sopinner forks with investment cast ends prior to most manufacturers going to a drop forged end. Akisu, Enfeel and Lung I were other major fork manufacturers in Taiwan.

 

[masha]

Re:

Thanks for confirming. Ive seen Spinners on Kona, Raleigh and GT myself previously.

 

[WD Pro]

Early Marins got spinners - I am not sure on the Rockstar era ?

I think Merlin used them on the early Ti rigid bikes ?

WD

 

[Skynet]

Marin Rockstars did use them, see this sales thread:

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=104221

Not as light as Ritchey Logics but are meant to be decent.

 

[Black_puma]

Re:

Thanks for confirming. Ive seen Spinners on Kona, Raleigh and GT myself previously.

Yes, GT bikes were fitted with Spinner forks in 1991 according to the catalogue but only for the higher end models from Tequesta upwards.
They may have had them fitted to other bikes later than 1991 but not specified in the catalogues.
I would be very surprised if my '92 GT Bravado's forks were NOT made by Spinner as they're very similar to the forks fitted to my Avalanche.
And if they're fitted to mid to higher end models they're a decent fork.