Kestrel EMS Pro™

Price Paid:  $129.00 at Nashbar

Favorite Ride:
Bunch rides on rolling hills

Bike Setup:
2 bikes: 1994 Bianchi EL with Shimano 9-speed Dura Ace.

Custom-built Hollands (Reisterstown, MD) (EL-OS). Shimano 9-speed Dura Ace.

Summary:
I got this fork because I was sick of losing a filling everytime I cornered my Bianchi (Columbus EL), which came with a really lame fork (unicrown with EL blades).

The Kestrel EMS Pro fork (1 inch, threadless) is responsive, lighter (of course), stiff, yet it really dampens the chatter I was experiencing on the old fork.

Thumbs up!

Strengths:
Affordable, light, absorbs vibration and "road chatter," yet stiff and responsive.

Weaknesses:
The safety tabs are kind of annoying. And the oversized blades could cause a problem mounting a sensor for your computer.

Similar Products Used:
Custom-built fork (Reynolds 531 on Henry James crown, VERY Nice!)

Bianchi's el cheapo production fork (Columbus EL on a unicrown) - THE WORST!

Price Paid:  $199.00 at Two Wheel Transit, S

Favorite Ride:
Long hills

Bike Setup:
Bridgestone Neo-Cot Medium (54cm), 8-speed DA & Ultegra, and 9-speed DA STI levers and Derailleurs.

Summary:
There were/are not many carbon forks with threaded stem available on the market. These New EMS Pro forks just released on the market when I decided to replace original CrMo forks. And Kestrel is still making both 1' CrMo with/without thread and 1 1/8' Aluminum. Price and patented one-piece design were attractive even though these forks were not aero. Moreover, you will get lifetime limited warranty even though these forks are made in Taiwan. EMS Pro absorbs road shocks well, and provides stiff and stable handling. Great value for money.

Strengths:
Price and Wide variety

Weaknesses:
Finish, Not aero

Similar Products Used:
None