Alt Bike Culture - gravity bike: Mtb fork a no-no?

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View Full Version : gravity bike: Mtb fork a no-no?


StokedSince88
06-23-11, 05:39 PM
in all the pictures it seems like people use bmx forks or motorcylce components. are there any downsides to using 20" wheels in a fork made for 24s?

speed wobbles? height?

obviously mounting brakes will be a challenge.(actually maybe not! see the mounts on the front fork near the edge of the tire?)

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/4394/dscn1952x.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/534/dscn1952x.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)


lz4005
06-24-11, 08:53 AM
I'd think ride height and brakes would be the major problems.

crazzywolfie
06-24-11, 09:34 AM
i used 20" tire in forks meant for 26" tire. ever time i have scrapped a set of suspension forks since i usually cut the brake think off so that i could weld them where they would work.
heres a picture of the forks. you can see the brake system on it fairly easily.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W1x2plDqyCE/TfjCpZ5BosI/AAAAAAAABSU/ldmokPoAjpY/s640/IMG_2589.JPG


StokedSince88
06-24-11, 02:41 PM
i just added a pic for reference. it actually appears to have v-brake mounts in approximately the right spot; maybe i won't need to modify anything.

i'm mostly concerned with how it feels at speed. if anybody has any experience riding one, please chime in. i already expect the handlebars to want to fall away at slow speed, i'm wondering how it will feel cornering while 40+ mph.

Wordbiker
06-27-11, 11:09 PM
in all the pictures it seems like people use bmx forks or motorcylce components. are there any downsides to using 20" wheels in a fork made for 24s?

speed wobbles? height?

obviously mounting brakes will be a challenge.(actually maybe not! see the mounts on the front fork near the edge of the tire?)

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/4394/dscn1952x.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/534/dscn1952x.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

The biggest problem I see is with smashing your face into the stem.

Have you considered mounting the grips directly to the fork and using a simple clamp for a top cap?

Also, if you can arrange the position to use your knees for lifting your body...it could really save your nads.

jockotobling
06-30-11, 07:39 PM
Keep at it brother. You're doing fine.

Wordbiker
07-10-11, 07:22 PM
Just so you don't think I was mocking you, coasting bikes are something I've given thought to over a very long time. Here's a picture I drew when I was roughly 11-12 years old:

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l156/Wordbiker/CoasterBike001.jpg

As kids we used to hitchhike up Chantry Flats road to coast down. After a while we installed rear axle pegs, banana seats so you could lay on your belly, miniBMX bars that were flipped upside-down as clip-ons, and we'd bring a crank puller and a strap to get the cranks and pedals out of the way.