Made-in-Germany metal bikemaker Bitter wished a brand new carbon gravel fork for his or her journey bikes, however they have a tendency to go a bit exhausting off-road. So, Bitter created The Enterprise – a fork developed to cross the hardest assessments within the trade so you may trip wherever and so far as journey takes you. Apparently, Bitter’s The Enterprise can be the primary fork to cross unbiased take a look at lab EFBE’s grueling Tri-Check – a 3-part take a look at going far past primary take a look at requirements to raised deal with the best way cyclists push the boundaries with fashionable bikes off-the-beaten-track…
Bitter Enterprise ultra-tough carbon gravel bikepacking fork
On the surface, the brand new Bitter Enterprise fork seems to be fairly commonplace for a well-featured fashionable carbon gravel bikepacking fork. However Bitter sweated the small print much more, to convey journey riders one other stage of energy and sturdiness, so it may well go anyplace you dream to roam.
Why is it known as the Enterprise fork? Nicely, final yr Bitter made a heavy-duty BMX-style metal bikepacking fork for his or her Pasta Social gathering off-road journey 29er – dubbed the Social gathering fork. This new carbon mannequin continues to be adventure-ready, however so much lighter and prone to be ridden fairly a bit quicker… all enterprise.
Why the EFBE Tri-Check?
When an organization needs to essentially see simply how powerful it may well construct a motorcycle or bike part, for nearly thirty years they’ve typically turned to the trusted EFBE take a look at lab. Their benchmark Tri-Check doesn’t cease at standard restricted bicycle testing requirements, however topics a part to more durable fatigue assessments, most load assessments, AND overload assessments – all designed to push a brand new part to the acute and see the way it actually would maintain as much as a lifetime of precise using and abuse. The Tri-Check has really change into the brand new benchmark for design engineers seeking to create the hardest bikes and elements.
The carbon Bitter Enterprise fork was tri-tested to cyclocross & gravel’s situation 2 again in February – passing EFBE’s bending fatigue take a look at, brake mount fatigue take a look at, static bending take a look at, static brake take a look at, and most load/ overload take a look at.
Wish to study extra about what EFBE does? Learn extra at their Tri-Check course of description.
Tech particulars
The complete carbon Bitter Enterprise gravel fork contains a 1.5″ tapered steerer, semi-internal brake line & dynamo wire routing (not by way of the steerer), numerous mounts, and 700c x 55mm max tire clearance. The dynamo routing in the precise fork leg exists by way of a 3d-printed information underneath the fork crown to direct wiring to a entrance gentle and again to the body for a taillight, too.
The mounts embody 3-pack something cage eyelets on every leg, with the decrease of those 3 eyelets going completely by way of the leg in order that it may well assist a low-rider rack along with the mount on the entrance of the crown. That signifies that every cargo cage may carry as much as 7.5kg per aspect, or a low-rider rack linked at 3-points can haul as much as 15kg. The fork additionally will get fender mounts down on the backside too, and a replaceable threaded insert for the 12mm thru-axle.
The fork will get FM160 direct flat mount disc brake mounting for elevated energy, and fewer components that may fail. That does imply that it mounts a typical (sometimes 140mm) caliper by way of the fork leg with out an adapter, very similar to a rear flat mount brake. But it surely does imply you can’t run smaller than a 160mm rotor, and for instance, when you use Campagnolo brakes, it’s good to use the 140mm caliper, not the 160mm direct mount entrance caliper.
The fork has a 403mm axle-to-crown size, and 45mm offset. Bitter claims a weight of 550g – the fork with 300mm uncut steerer examined by EFBE weighed an precise 552.9g in accordance with their testing report.
Bitter The Enterprise fork – Pricing & availability
Technically, the brand new Enterprise fork was meant to be the brand new commonplace carbon fork possibility for Bitter’s 1050€ made-in-Germany Purple Haze gravel body, including simply 250€ on prime of the body, and even together with a headset. A fairly whole lot, I believe.
And Bitter affords a whole lot of painted-to-match and even customized portray choices like on this buyer’s loopy customized bike – be at liberty to debate that cut-in-half-bar clamped right into a wacky customized metal stem within the feedback.
However, Bitter acknowledged that customized body builders and folk already with a extra primary fork, would possibly wish to get an off-road adventure-ready improve, too. So, you may also purchase one separate from a Bitter body for 450€. It’ll be up on their webshop quickly, however within the meantime, you may attain out to them instantly right here to order one.
