Fork taper, in the context of bicycle forks, refers to the design of the steerer tube, which is the part of the fork that passes through the head tube of the bicycle frame. As described by bicycle manufacturers, a fork with taper has a steerer tube that changes diameter along its length.
Specifically, a tapered steerer tube has a larger diameter at the top where it connects to the stem and handlebars, and a smaller diameter at the bottom where it interfaces with the lower headset bearing and the fork crown. This tapered design offers increased stiffness and strength in the fork and head tube junction compared to traditional straight steerer tubes, while potentially saving weight.
This design, known as the Tapered Steerer Fork, was first introduced into production bicycles in the early 2000s. It gained significant popularity, largely driven by bicycle manufacturers in Europe, particularly those based in Italy and Germany.
