Press Release: Bombtrack / Seido MGV Adventure Fork - "This one can handle heavy-load"

“Many riders out there have been asking us for a carbon fork that can support a lowrider rack. Ignoring this significant demand wasn’t an option, so we sat down and developed a fork from the ground-up, with focus on a lowrider-rack compatibility. For the MGV Fork we have revised the way of how thread inserts in forks are being secured. Usually these are so-called “rivnuts” that are installed into the fork after the actual curation or “baking” of the carbon.” – Bombtrack

“On the MGV Fork however we embed the thread inserts directly into the carbon fiber layup. Since these embedded inserts are then cured together with the fork, it basically creates a one-piece like part and results in a very strong thread insert that can take the high loads that a loaded rack can cause.”

“Talking tire clearance and geometry: the MGV is able to accommodate both: 650B and 700C tires. It can take up to 58mm wide tires on 28” wheels, and a whopping 64mm wide tire on 650B rims. The breakdown for both imperial and metric-ETRTO folks: 58 – 622 (29″ x 2.25″) / 64 – 584 (27.5″ – 2.5″). Even when using the biggest 58-622 tire, there is still plenty of space above it to attach full-length mudguards. To make all this possible, the geometry of the fork, especially the Axle-To-Crown had to be carefully chosen.”

“We have settled with a 410mm Axle-to-Crown and a 53mm Offset. This way the fork is compatible with many contemporary adventure / gravel frames including our own, of course. Even though the A-C is slightly higher than on our current HOOK range it will still result in an almost identical steering geometry on those bikes with only marginal changes in trail due to the 53mm offset. It is also a perfect match for our BEYOND and you won´t have to leave your front panniers behind with this fork, as it perfectly supports a lowrider rack.”

“Most gravel or adventure bike forks these days are using the “Flat Mount” style to attach the brake calipers. However, with this design the sizes for the brake rotors are more limited when compared to the established MTB-style “Post Mount” standard. Almost all current Gravel- and Adventure forks on the market use those “Flat Mount 140” dimensions though, which results in the minimum rotor size of 140 mm. By flipping the adapter, a 160 mm rotor can be used, but that’s really about it.”

“Enter “Flat Mount 160” at our MGV: This offers the needed spacing for bigger rotors, changing the range of rotor sizes from 160 – 180 mm. It is basically a derivative of the same “Flat Mount” standard that can accommodate 140 – 160 mm rotors, the mount just sits slightly further away from the hub center. This means that it´s compatible with the same calipers and adapters. With “Flat Mount 160“ our MGV fork can be run with either a 160 or 180 mm disc rotor, this reduces the required actuation force of the brake system and improves heat dissipation, which is a big advantage, especially for loaded bikes that go down hill. Whereas a 140 mm rotor is good for conditions like in Cyclocross racing where the braking situations tend not to be too intense, but more for the need for consistent and modular braking power; the 160 and 180 mm rotors are far better suited to solve the needs for gravel and adventure bike riders.”

“To accommodate the higher leverage that bigger rotors imply, the mount on the MGV fork received reinforcements accordingly, making sure to keep safety a top concern in our minds. By doing so our upcoming MGV fork was even able to pass the same ISO tests that a mountain bike fork would need to go through without any sign of fatigue or failure.”