lossfound

Hey all - I have a Downtube VIII with front suspension that's going on three years now, and I can no longer resist the call of the Sturmey-Archer. As much as it would cost to buy and retrofit one to my VIII, I'd rather just get a new / second Downtube and have a backup or matching buddy ride.

I still think my old VIII rides very nicely but it's always bugged me that I lose a bit of efficiency uphill with a front shock. This is really my only bike at present, though, so I have nothing to compare it to aside from the horrid Giant hybrid it replaced (which also had a front shock, and sucked much worse at hills). I also think maybe it's silly to worry about such things as efficiency and speed when I'm choosing to ride on 20" wheels in the first place.

I've been going back and forth between the 8HN and 8H for... longer than I'd like to admit, let's put it that way. It's gotten stupid. I'm concerned the 8HN might be a little too harsh for some of my riding conditions and, um, OK, vain though it might be I kinda worry about the robin's-egg color. It's not just that I'm not exactly crazy about it. Here in Oklahoma, a man could get shot just fer riding a bike in that color, ah reckon.

Actually, here there's a good chance of getting shot just for riding a bicycle to begin with, but I digress. Can someone with a 2008 8H, who's spent some time tweaking the shock, comment on the preload-ability? Can the front suspension get pretty close to locked out with adjustment? If so, that'll clinch my long-running, tortured decision and I will be very grateful.

BTW, heavyish rider here.

bokes

I don't know if you can add a suspension fork to the 8HNS frame, but I know you can add a rigid fork to the 8H frame. I'd go with the greater number of options. Also, I like how the 8H has a longer wheelbase, but it might be a bit tougher to fit in a suitcase.

lossfound

Yeah, and the other option I've been thinking about is swapping in a rigid fork to my old VIII. I need to figure out how to do that.

Thanks

JosephLMonti

Check out my post (#1627) in the thread titled "downtube folding bike":

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...t=#post5656997

I bought a rigid fork from downtube to replace the shock on my 2007 IX front susupension model and have been very pleased with the results

JosephLMonti

Many people have confirmed (through posts and private messages) that the NS has a shorter wheelbase than the front suspension model (regardless of whether its spec'd with a derailleur or SA). Is there anybody with both models that wouldn't mind posting a pic of the two bikes side-by-side?