AILS.
3.)
INSPECT YOUR FORKS BEFORE EVERY RIDE. INSPECT THE CROWN, TUBES AND
AXLE SEAT AREAS FOR ANY SIGNS OF FATIGUE, BENDING, CRACKING OR OTHER
DAMAGE. IF YOU NOTICE ANY TYPE OF DAMAGE, DO NOT RIDE ON THEM.
RETURN THEM TO YOUR DEALER FOR A COMPLETE INSPECTION AND NECESSARY
REPAIR OR WARRANTY STEPS. PLEASE REFER TO THE WARRANTY SECTION OF
THIS MANUAL.
4.)
PERFORM ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE ACCORDING TO THE MAINTENANCE
SECTION OF THIS MANUAL. FAILURE TO PERFORM MAINTENANCE COULD
DRASTICALLY REDUCE YOUR FORKS LIFE AND PERFORMANCE.
5.)
WHITE BROTHERS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU WEAR PROPER SAFETY EQUIPMENT
EVERY TIME YOU RIDE, INCLUDING A APPROVED BICYCLE HELMET. NEVER RIDE
AT NIGHT WITHOUT LIGHTS!
* IF SERVICE BECOMES NECESSARY OR REMOVAL OCCURS, PLEASE CALL WHITE BROTHERS CUSTOMER SERVICE
FOR PRODUCT EVALUATION AND DIAGNOSIS.
UD180 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
SECTION ONE
...................
Applications
..............................................
PAGE 1
SECTION TWO
.................
Fork Installation
.................................
PAGE 2 - 3
SECTION THREE
..............
Tuning
.................................................................
PAGE 3 - 4
SECTION FOUR
................
Trouble Shooting
...............................
PAGE 4
SECTION FIVE
...................
Maintenance
.............................................
PAGE 5 - 7
SECTION SIX
......................
Exploded View
..........................................
PAGE 8
SECTION SEVEN
............................
Warranty
.........................................................
PAGE 9
Applications
Thanks for purchasing your new White Brothers Fork. You are in for the best ride of
your life. Our forks are designed to give you the level of performance you need to
ride at your absolute peak.
The White Brothers UD180 fork features a lightweight dual rate coil spring and an
externally adjustable hydraulic damper. This technology is borrowed from motorcy-
cling and offers the best possible suspension action. Steering accuracy is improved
over conventional MTB forks by utilizing dual billet aluminum steering crowns, over-
sized 31.75mm fork tubes, inverted stanchion/slider design and large 20mm axle.
Fork travel has been set at 7 to offer the best performance for downhill racing ter-
rain. A combination coil spring and high-cushion bottom bumper is used to mini-
mize hard bottoming.
Every possible effort has been made to make the White Brothers Fork very light in
weight and perform at a level superior to other forks on the market. To insure peak
performance, proper installation and periodic maintenance is required. Please read
this manual in its entirety to familiarize yourself with the fork and insure your satis-
faction with this product.
White Brothers Forks are designed for offroad use only. They are not equipped with
proper reflectors for on-road use. If you are going to use your forks for road use,
have your dealer or mechanic install reflectors that meet the Consumer Product
Safety Commissions (C.P.S.C.) requirements for bicycle standards. If you have any
questions concerning C.P.S.C. Standards, please talk to your dealer.
When using your forks on public land and trails, please respect the rights of other
users and stay on established paths and trails. By mounting biking responsibly, you
help to insure the future of our sport. 1.)
Remove old forks from the bicycle. See your bicycles owners manual. Measure the diameter and length
of your old forks steerer tube to insure that the White Brothers Pro Forx steerer tube is the correct
diameter and has sufficient length for the installation. NOTE: Add .65 (16mm) to length if you are
upgrading from single crown fork to dual crown model.
2.)
Remove the crown race from your old forks. NOTE: Replace the
bearings if there are any signs of wear or corrosion.
3.)
Press the crown race onto the steerer of your White Brothers Fork
(figure 1).
4.)
Preassemble headset by sliding fork steerer tube through headset
bearings. Then install top headset, top crown, stem spacer
(optional), and steering stem onto fork steerer tube. Refer to
headset owners manual if you have any questions about this
preassembly (figure 2).
5.)
Mark steerer tube at top of steerer stem. Steerer must then be cut
3mm (1/8) below this mark. Consult a dealer or mechanic if you
do not have the proper tools for cutting the steerer tube.
NOTE: The UD180 fork will not work on frames with head tubes
longer than 5 1/2. See step 11 prior to cutting steerer tube.
NOTE (IF INSTALLING WB MX BAR MOUNTS): Preassemble
headset by: Sliding fork steerer tube through headset bear-
ings. Then install top headset, top crown and 5 to 10mm stem
spacer. Mark steerer tube at top of stem spacer. Steerer must
then be cut 3mm (1/8) below this mark. Consult a dealer or
mechanic if you do not have the proper tools for cutting the
steerer tube.
6.)
The special star fangled nut must now be installed into the steerer.
We recommend dealer installation of this nut since a special tool
is required.
7.)
Clean and grease all headset bearings and races to prepare them
for assembly.
8.)
Now assemble headset as done in Step 4.
9.)
Install the top steering crown. Install the steering stem (threadless
type is required) and handlebars. Set your bars to your desire
height.
10.)
Install the threadless mounting cap. Tighten the top threadless
stem bolt until there is no play in the fork tube. The forks should
rotate freely in the head tube. Secure the pinch bolts on the
steering stem. Consult the installation instructions for your
threadless bearing set to insure correct installation and tension
of the headset.
11.)
TIRE CLEARANCE: The fork tubes can be adjusted up or down in
the fork crowns to adjust ride height and steering geometry.
NOTE: At full extension of the fork, a minimum of 7 1/2 (190mm) clearance must exist between the tire
and the bottom of the steering crown. NOTE: UD180 Fork has approximately 3/4 negative travel. Pull up
on fork to fully top out fork to make this measurement.
WARNING: Any less clearance than this will allow the tire to contact the bottom of the crown when
the forks are fully compressed. This could stop the wheel from revolving throwing the rider and
causing possible injury or death. Next check to make sure the top of the fork tubes fit all the
way through the top steering crown. If insufficient clearance exists, you must switch to a smaller
diameter front tire. Tighten upper and lower crown pinch bolts to secure fork legs into position.
Fork Installation
White Brothers UD180 Fork features a 1 1/8 threadless steerer tube. If you have a threaded
type fork on your bicycle, consult your dealer for the appropriate upgrade parts
necessary to convert to a 1 1/8 threadless steerer tube.
NOTE: Some frames are not adequately reinforced to handle loads applied by stiffer dual crown
forks. Check with your frame manufacturer to verify dual crown fork compatibility.
2
lower race
steering stem
spacer
(optional)
bicycle head tube
headset bearings
figure 1
figure 2 12.)
Install your front brakes and adjust following the manufacturers specifications. See additional instruc-
tions below. NOTE: Only disc type brakes can be used with the White Brothers UD180 Fork.
13.)
RIM CENTERING: See your dealer or professional wheel builder to have the rim of your choice laced to
your downhill hub. The wheel builder will need to lace rim so that it is directly centered between the
fork legs, If you are using a 110mm hub you will need to supply your wheel builder with the 10mm
axle spacer (supplied) to achieve correct wheel alignment.
14.)
WHEEL/BRAKE INSTALLATION: The White Brothers UD180 Fork is designed for a downhill type hub uti-
lizing a 20mm axle. Install front wheel with disc rotor next to left side of fork. Slide axle all the way
through. Make sure disc rotor doesnt contact left fork axle seat when axle is tightened fully. If it
does, a custom spacer will have to be fabricated to space hub/rotor away at least 3mm from left fork
axle seat. At this time the brake caliper should be mounted and alignment checked with the disc
rotor. Follow the disc brake manufacturers installation instructions to insure correct brake rotor,
brake caliper alignment.
15.)
FINAL WHEEL INSTALLATION: Lightly grease front axle and install front wheel to forks. Tighten axle
completely. Now tighten both left and right fork axle seat pinch bolts. Follow the disc brake manu-
facturers installation instructions and recommended torque for mounting brake caliper to left fork
leg.
16.)
Route hydraulic brake cable up to the brake lever. Make sure that cables is routed so that it cannot
foul on tire, fork crowns, or steering stops through full up and down fork travel and side to side steer-
ing radius.
17.)
Check to see that your brakes are adjusted and working.
18.)
STEERING CLEARANCE: Due to the White Brothers UD180 double crown design, the fork tubes or fork
steering crowns will contact the bicycle frame at full steering lock to the left and right. To eliminate
the chance of damage to the fork or frame, a cushion stop must be fabricated to eliminate metal to
metal contact. Fork bumpers, elastomers or thick pieces of rubber will work fine. Secure in place to
the frame or fork with zip tie or glue. WB offers optional neoprene velcro dual crown fork cushion
stops pn 97-897.
Tuning
To get the most from your White Brothers Pro Forx it is important that you tune the forks to fit your style
of riding and the conditions you ride in.
Initial break-in period
Your new fork is designed to break-in over a period of 10 hours or more of riding. As all of the parts bed
into each other, the stiction (friction) of the forks will red