Murray Fork Assembly

[SamG]

I know I’ve been posting a lot of questions about this bike since bringing it home the other day, but…. It is now disassembled so these are the best pictures I have. But the fork assembly has what appears to be a suspension (the chrome rods extending from the head tube zig zagging to the axil). I’m no engineer but if this is in fact a suspension, I’m not understanding the function. I see where it attaches to the head tube reminiscent of a leaf spring action of sorts, but the forks are rigid to the axil. I see no rocker or pivot point to otherwise allow for travel. Is this a “mock” suspension for aesthetics? Or am I missing something? Is there some flexibility somewhere in the assembly to absorb shock???

 

[Archie Sturmer]

Probably more for show than strength;
I believe that a space bike may look nicer with than without.

 

[Adamtinkerer]

Yes, they created this to jazz up some of their plain models, like truss rods on earlier bikes.

 

[Bryan Akens]

I would guess Your bike is a 60s Murray....and they did have a spring fork during that time period......but the set up on Your bike is just for looks and that is all....I would think that it also would have had a chrome fork cap.....but it is missing?.....

 

[SamG]

There was no chrome fork cap nor what appears that should be a cover at the front of the tank that wraps the head tube.