rider2501

Looking to purchase a hybrid bike. I've tried the Schwinn Sporterra Sport, Trek 7000, and Giant Escape 2. I like the Giant Escape 2 and I may purchase this bike. I was wondering if front suspension could be added to this model as a future upgrade. Is this possible? Or is it easier to just buy a bike with a front suspension fork already, like the Trek 7100 or 7200? Thanks.

SlimRider

Welcome To Bike Forums, Rider 2501!

Front suspension bikes, or bicycles with suspended forks at lower price points, historically have proven to be more of a hindrance than a help. They must be used appropriately and proper maintenance is imperative. Most bicycles that have suspended forks and aren't mountain bikes, are usually not needed. Therefore, after five or six years of continual use, or after sitting in the basement for three or four years after a couple of years of occasional use, the forks are rendered as useless and/or inoperable.

In that case, a replacement fork can become very expensive. However, as stated before, most bikes that aren't MTN bikes, don't really need suspended forks. Therefore, they end up being just a bunch of extra moving parts, waiting to fall into disrepair. The old cruisers flew down the unchartered rocky mountain sides of California, quite successfully, without any suspended forks. Hybrids don't really need suspended forks. However, if you're going to insist upon having a suspended fork on either a hybrid or a MTB, then at the very least, get one with the lockout feature, so that you can extend the life of your fork.

Stay away from inexpensive bikes that have suspended forks! This goes double for any Walgoose bike!

The Escape 2 is the best bike of the three...

The Schwinn Sporterra Comp is one of the best hybrid deals on the planet!

rider2501

I was hoping that was the case. At $390.00 the Escape is the cheapest of the three. The Schwinn Sporterra Sport was $480.00 and the Trek 7000 was $400.00. I figured the Giant would be bottom in terms of quality but it seems that is not the case. A suspension fork it not necessary, but I would like to get a bike that it could be added to if I wanted to in the future. If I can do this to the Escape 2 sometime in the future then I will. Thanks for the input.

EDIT:
What makes the Escape better than the other bikes? My buddy said that Trek is best but I seem to remember that Giant made bike for Trek at some point. Does Giant have better components?

SlimRider

No. Trek is at the bottom for certain. The Schwinn has an aluminum alloy fork. The Giant has a hi tensile steel fork. IMHO a hi tensile steel fork rides better than an aluminum fork. That said, the Schwinn is a better bike, if the ride is smoother. It will be left up to your own personal ability to judge...

dsiegel5151

I used to only ride Haro mountain bikes for trail riding, so when I decided on getting a hybrid for commuting, I thought a suspension fork would be great. I was wrong. They are heavy, and when you lock them out they are not smooth. Fortunately, they make a ton of rigid forks that are suspension adjusted, so it's easy to find a rigid fork for a bike designed for a front suspension. I don't know for sure, but I bet it's pretty hard to find a suspension fork designed for road bike geometry. This would probably be one of your only options, and this really isn't the kind of suspension fork I think you are thinking of:

https://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/...es-and-fixies/

ps. Unless you are going carbon, I agree with SlimRider. Steel rides noticeably smoother than aluminum.

Bunnicula

I know your question is whether or not a suspension fork can be added, but in most cases a suspension fork is totally unneccesary on a hybrid, and is just added weight that will slow you down. If you ride on pavement at all this added weight becomes a burden. The steel fork of the Giant, or better yet, a carbon fork, will serve you better and help to absorb road vibration and bumps. For what it would cost you for a new suspension fork you might be able to pick up a used hardtail mountain bike on craigslist. At the last swap meet I was at in June the hardtails were a dime a dozen, and many were reasonably/cheaply priced. Hybrids without suspension can handle most dirt and gravel MUPs just fine. So unless you're going to do single track, where a hardtail would serve you better anyway, I'd not add a suspended fork to a bike that's going to do pavement or MUPs.

The Escape is a nice hybrid choice.

jbooker82

I ride my D.S. on wash board gravel roads so a suspension fork is nice.