Thread: Fork_dimension
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Old 08-05-21 | 10:15 AM
  #13  
Jaaniic
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Joined: Aug 2021
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From: Riga
Originally Posted by Ironfish653
I don't mean to pile on, but that bike isn't meant for a suspension fork. It's more of a 'fitness hybrid' or 'flat-bar road bike' It might have a straight handlebar and disk brakes, but it's more of a road bike than an MTB or even a trekking bike.

The 'best' fork for your bike would be something like the Suntour NEX, which is intended for '28" hybrids and trekking bikes; However, it's not really found on the kinds of bikes people upgrade a lot, so it might not be easy to find used (although, it's pretty inexpensive new)

The biggest thing you'll find is that when adding a suspension fork onto a rigid bike, it will typically raise the front end of the bike an amount equal or more than the forks' travel; 50-63mm for the NEX, and 100+ mm for a typical MTB fork. This will change the way you fit on the bike, and also change the way the bike handles. This was something we learned in the 1990's when the first forks appeared in MTB, and it accounts for why 90's 'NORBA' bikes don't look like anything that came before or after them.

I actually like a suspension stem on a road bike-based 'path bike' Redshift and KINEKT are the two best options right now. The Redshift is lighter, and less obvious, but the KINEKT has more travel and better tuning options.
Thanks. I know it is not intended for a suspension fork and that it may make my bike handle worse, but if I do the change and it is very bad - I can always switch back and resell the fork (one of the reasons I don't want to buy new). I was looking at the Suntour NEX myself....that is what Merida fits on their tourism series like standard crossway 20d. My fork extension seems to be 240mm. Can't add photos as a newbie, but the distance from where the fork goes in the frame to the top of the steering wheel. Should be +/- correct
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