MTB technology has evolved rapidly over the last decade. A bike purchased just six years ago might already be considered obsolete by today’s standards regarding geometry and design. The hardtail you buy today might no longer be your go-to bike for challenging trails a few years down the road. However, when equipped with a rigid fork, it can still offer significant utility—whether as a daily commuter or a bikepacking rig. This very concept served as the inspiration behind the development of the "Future Proof" fork.
When paired with a rigid fork, your MTB remains a useful tool for years to come. Just consider all those 30-year-old hardtails with 26-inch wheels that have been revived for daily use in recent years. The Dark Star, fitted with a rigid fork, operates on this same principle—yet offers significantly more riding fun and agility. After all, modern MTB geometries and technologies are true masterpieces of engineering.
Furthermore, the "Future Proof" fork features an axle-to-crown measurement of 501 mm. If you take a 120 mm suspension fork (with an axle-to-crown height of 531 mm) and subtract 25% of its travel (30 mm) to account for sag, you arrive at exactly 501 mm. For us, therefore, this 501 mm figure represents the ideal reference point, both for optimizing the bike's handling characteristics and for ensuring the perfect length for a compatible rigid fork.
Features:
- Suspension-corrected for frames with 120/130 mm of travel
- Segmented construction
- 29 x 2.8″ tires
- “Three-pack” mounting points
- Mid-blade mounting point
- Mounting points for fenders and racks
Technical Specifications:
- 501 mm Axle-to-crown
- 44 mm Fork offset (Rake)
- Straight 1⅛″ steerer tube
- Steerer length: 350 mm
- Boost standard: 15 mm thru-axle x 110 mm spacing
- Weight: 3 lbs
Product safety information
Manufacturer information:
Jeffrey G. Frane
2900 E 42nd St
Minnesota
Minneapolis, Vereinigte Staaten, 55406
WildeBikes@gmail.com
https://www.wildebikes.com
