It looks like there’s a new option on the horizon for riders with a creaky fork. Well, as long as your creaks are coming from the junction of the steerer tube and fork crown. Introduced as a joint effort between Intend Suspension and Lemon Shox, the Stiffler steerer tube replacement is meant as a stiffer replacement that may just take care of your issues.
Compared to the standard steerer (above), Intend states that this is the same steerer that comes stock on their own suspension forks. The steerer is made in Austria and along with having an increased wall thickness, it’s also shotpeened for a better connection at the crown. The result is a steerer that they claim is about 7% stiffer, and when combined with a special Loc-Tite for press fit applications, they guarantee it to be free from creaking for half a year. Intend answers to why it’s just half a year on their site.
The steerer tube also includes what they call a Stiffcap which claims to eliminate further flexing of the steerer under heavy inputs, but also prevents dirt from entering the steerer.
Maybe just as useful as eliminating creaks, the Stiffler could be added if you happen to cut your steerer a bit short. The Stiffler is 240mm long, but you have to subtract the height of your crown (20-25mm) to get the effective steerer tube length. Due to the increased thickness, the steerer tube is also a bit heavier than stock, around 210g instead of ~160g. However, Intend points out that standard starnuts will still fit, as does the OneUp multi tool.
The Stiffler is only available in tapered 1.5 – 1.125″ steerers, and should fit Rock Shox, Fox, Öhlins, X-Fusion, DVO, Marzocchi, and more. To get the Stiffler installed on your fork you can send in either the crown/steerer/stanchion unit to Lemon Shox in Germany and they’ll install it for €159. Or, you can send in the entire fork and they’ll charge you €159 plus the normal service prices to tear apart the fork and give it a fresh rebuild. The Stiffler is not available as an individual service item.
