Whisky Parts Co. showed off a large collection of launch products at Interbike. Like their sister company, Foundry Cycles, the Whisky components are all carbon and all muted black with minimal logos. The exception is that there are both gloss and matte finish options on most items.
The forks, of which there are seven distinct versions (14 SKUs if you count both finish options), are the first to hit retail and should be in stock before September is a memory. The handlebars and seatposts, also on display, along with carbon bottle cages and stems are all on tap for November. Apparel, bar tape and grips will roll out in May 2012.
Given the emphasis most carbon rigid fork makers put on 29ers, it’s almost refreshing to see a brand new 26″ carbon rigid fork hit the mainstream, and Whisky’s got one. UPDATE: Actually, they’re saying both forks are designed primarily for 29ers. They also have disc and canti forks for cyclocross and tapered and straight forks for road bikes, too. Click through to see it all…
Whisky’s components will have a two-tiered naming scheme to identify whether it’s a carbon or alloy part. No. 7 refers to carbon and No. 5, when they come out, will be alloy. So, everything you’re seeing here is a No. 7.
The No. 7 Mountain Disc Fork model is in the foreground with the sloping crown, and it actually has a taller axle-to-crown measurement of 470mm and is listed as working for both 26″ (UPDATE: If you want it to ride like it has a 120mm fork on it) and 29er. Weight is 577g (claimed) with a 39mm rake. You may just want to run some skinnier 29er tires with it.
The No. 7 Mtn 29 Disc Fork has squared off shoulders with bulbous crown haunches and fat, round legs. Axle to crown is 465mm with a 39mm rake. Weight is 669g.
Both are pretty stout looking and are available only with tapered steerers. Note the subtle logo on the inside leg of the matte carbon fork. The 26/29er model retails for $345 and the 29er for $375.
The cyclocross forks are available in a 1-1/8″ to 1-1/2″ tapered-only cantilever version (491g, $325, 398mm a-to-c, 45mm rake) and two disc brake versions, one with a straight steerer and one tapered 1-1/8″ to 1-1/2″. Those share the same measurements, pricing and weights are $295/690g (alloy steerer) and $345/459g (carbon steerer), respectively.
Road forks are available with straight or 1-1/8″ to 1-1/4″ steerers. Measurements are 370mm axle-to-crown and 45mm rake. Weights/prices are 366g/$295 and 375g/$295 respectively.
Flat, riser and road carbon bars will be offered. All three are made of UD carbon fiber with OS 31.8mm clamp sections. The No. 7 Mountain Flat Bar has a claimed weight of 138g with a 5º sweep and 660mm width. $130.
The Lo-Rise Bar is 186g with a 15mm rise, 5º upsweep, 9º backsweep and 740mm width. Also $130.
The road bars will come in 38, 40, 42 and 44mm widths with a 70mm reach and 125mm drop. Weight is 191g for the widest bar and they’ll retail for $230.
The seatposts use bonded alloy two-bolt heads. They’ll be available with either a 0mm or 15mm setback, 350mm and 400mm lengths and 27.2 and 31.6 diameters. Weight is claimed at 226g for the 350mm/27.2 post. Retail is $100.
