Suspension fork for road/hybrid bicycle?
05-20-21, 10:02 PM
#1
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Suspension fork for road/hybrid bicycle?
Did anyone try this forks sold in china for around $75 any feedback on them? I wonder what suspension system is hiding under the rubber boot.
05-21-21, 12:26 AM
#3
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I just wonder how much greater is the maximum and minimum distance between the top of the tire and the bottom of the frame, if I fitted this fork, and what this would do to the handling of the bike - and would I feel more like Peter Fonda in Easy Rider using it?
05-21-21, 09:50 AM
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Personally I wouldn't touch this for a number of reasons:
It's redundant - unless you're bouncing up and down curbs, a road bike or hybrid doesn't need suspension - it adds weight and complexity, and robs efficiency - and this this likely won't even be good suspension - decently wide tires are as much suspension as you need.
Not wild about a no-name fork where the steerer-fork crown interface is (i) not solid, and (ii) hidden behind a rubber gaiter. Others on this forum can attest to the fact that steerer-fork failure is a life-changing event
What will the add-on of an extra 1-2" between the fork crown and the steerer do to the bike's geometry?
What the hell is "Mag Leg"? I'm assuming that the fork legs aren't magnesium, so what are they? Steel? (good) Aluminum? (no thanks)
The combination of QR and disks is questionable - I did OK with cable-operated BB7s with QR - they required the occasional tweak to align the calipers after wheel reinstallation, and the BB7s made this pretty straightforward, but I don't know if hydro brakes are as amenable.
05-21-21, 11:38 AM
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Raising the front of the bike reduces the head angle, while the fork offset remains the same. This will increase trail, the distance between the intersect of the steering axis with the ground and the tire contact point. This makes the steering more responsive to lean but less responsive to handlebar input. So much so that it may be difficult to straighten the bike after a turn.
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05-21-21, 01:40 PM
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I have seen those and quickly opted to not consider them.
A cheap rigid fork is $50. A functional cheap suspension fork will cost $200. I have no faith that a functional and reliable suspension system can be built into a rigid fork for an extra $25.
A cheap rigid fork is $50. A functional cheap suspension fork will cost $200. I have no faith that a functional and reliable suspension system can be built into a rigid fork for an extra $25.
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05-21-21, 03:49 PM
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+1. Unless the OP gets a response from someone who owns one I would also avoid that fork. It can get tricky designing a suspension setup like that and still be strong, reliable and work well for $75 even from China and if the suspension stops working are parts available or will the fork be scrap?
05-21-21, 07:50 PM
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i just went through this with my old '98 hybrid. i'd seen those china forks, as well. sketchy, i think. so, i went with a new but older model suntour ncx light with 6cm travel, lockout, and disc or v brake. ya'll mention rigid forks, but might i comment that a hybrid that already comes with a suspension fork will need a suspension corrected fork. maybe PimpMan's bike doesn't have one. In that case, any suspension fork will have the peter fonda effect...haha
