Suspension fork to mtb like hybrid?
09-04-18 | 02:00 PM
#1
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Suspension fork to mtb like hybrid?
Hello,
I was just playing around with a thought if it was possible to fit a 80-100 mm travel suspension fork to my hybrid bike (a hybrid which has a lot in common with mtb!) without making it's geometry undriveable. The roads are pretty rough here plus I'd like to do some xc riding and I like to do relatively small jumps over curbs and easy "trails". So the aluminium fork isn't too ideal... My friend and I thought it might work, but I'm not sure. What do you guys think. Would the bikes geometry be too messed up? The bike is WHITE SC LITE FF 18 and you can find all the specs, pics and geometry information from manuafacturers website (whitebikes > bikes > Hybrid men's > sc lite ff 18). (Sorry I am not allowed to post links or even attachments??)
Any thoughts about this crazy idea?
I was just playing around with a thought if it was possible to fit a 80-100 mm travel suspension fork to my hybrid bike (a hybrid which has a lot in common with mtb!) without making it's geometry undriveable. The roads are pretty rough here plus I'd like to do some xc riding and I like to do relatively small jumps over curbs and easy "trails". So the aluminium fork isn't too ideal... My friend and I thought it might work, but I'm not sure. What do you guys think. Would the bikes geometry be too messed up? The bike is WHITE SC LITE FF 18 and you can find all the specs, pics and geometry information from manuafacturers website (whitebikes > bikes > Hybrid men's > sc lite ff 18). (Sorry I am not allowed to post links or even attachments??)
Any thoughts about this crazy idea?
Last edited by Dyniel; 09-04-18 at 02:09 PM. Reason: Fine tune
09-05-18 | 05:50 AM
#2
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Looks like the fork you have is 402mm. Handling is subjective, but I think over 20mm increase you may see a difference. By 30-40mm it would handle quite differently.
A typical 80mm fork is going to be at least an 80mm increase. For example the Tock Shox XC 30 is 490mm in 80mm travel mode. That is almost 90mm increase.
Not only would that rasie the front end, but all the geo angles on the bike will be something like 5 degrees slacker. A slacker head (from 70 to 65) angle drastically changes the steering handeling, and with a 67 deg seat tube angle moving the seat post back, you may not be able to slide the saddle far enough forward. And you will raise the bb height (and this the height ypu ride at) at least an inch.
And all this in addition to the fact that this frame was not intended to run a long fork and do the type of riding that you are talking about. That frame does NOT appear to be a re-purposed MTB frame. The angles are all road bike.
A typical 80mm fork is going to be at least an 80mm increase. For example the Tock Shox XC 30 is 490mm in 80mm travel mode. That is almost 90mm increase.
Not only would that rasie the front end, but all the geo angles on the bike will be something like 5 degrees slacker. A slacker head (from 70 to 65) angle drastically changes the steering handeling, and with a 67 deg seat tube angle moving the seat post back, you may not be able to slide the saddle far enough forward. And you will raise the bb height (and this the height ypu ride at) at least an inch.
And all this in addition to the fact that this frame was not intended to run a long fork and do the type of riding that you are talking about. That frame does NOT appear to be a re-purposed MTB frame. The angles are all road bike.
09-05-18 | 06:27 AM
#3
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From: Munising, Michigan, USA
Bikes: Priority 600, Priority Continuum, Devinci Dexter
What tire pressures are you running? Are you able to fit wider tires into the frame? Are you able to run your current tires at a lower pressures?
09-05-18 | 07:17 AM
#4
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From: MC-778, 6250 fsw
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Not to burst your bubble, but just because it has flat bars and an XT derailleur, doesn't make it an MTB.
Back in the early days of suspension forks, the 50mm units we were fitting to our 'NORBA-standard' 26" MTBs made a noticeable difference. That's why you see 90's MTBs with those 150mm 0*-rise stems on them. Modern MTB geometry takes in to account the 80-140mm of travel that is available in current-generation forks.
Like [MENTION=454965]Kapusta[/MENTION] said, going by the numbers your bike is far more road bike than MTB. The fact that '700c' and '29er' wheels are all 622 ERD kind of blurs the line between 'hybrid' and MTB. That said, though, it does look like a bike that would be fun on groomed trails and unpaved MUPs. 40mm is a decently wide multi-use tire, and it looks like you have decent clearance, if you wanted bigger tires. Upgrading to a high quality tire, and optimizing your air pressure would also improve the riding experience.
As far as curb-hopping and clearing smaller obstacles, work on your bike-handling skills, especially the bunny-hop / wheelie-hop and practice the art of 'riding light'
My townie / path-bike is a repurposed road bike with 32mm tires, and I have no problem on gravel or going over curbs; I have lots of practice from the days before suspension.
Back in the early days of suspension forks, the 50mm units we were fitting to our 'NORBA-standard' 26" MTBs made a noticeable difference. That's why you see 90's MTBs with those 150mm 0*-rise stems on them. Modern MTB geometry takes in to account the 80-140mm of travel that is available in current-generation forks.
Like [MENTION=454965]Kapusta[/MENTION] said, going by the numbers your bike is far more road bike than MTB. The fact that '700c' and '29er' wheels are all 622 ERD kind of blurs the line between 'hybrid' and MTB. That said, though, it does look like a bike that would be fun on groomed trails and unpaved MUPs. 40mm is a decently wide multi-use tire, and it looks like you have decent clearance, if you wanted bigger tires. Upgrading to a high quality tire, and optimizing your air pressure would also improve the riding experience.
As far as curb-hopping and clearing smaller obstacles, work on your bike-handling skills, especially the bunny-hop / wheelie-hop and practice the art of 'riding light'
My townie / path-bike is a repurposed road bike with 32mm tires, and I have no problem on gravel or going over curbs; I have lots of practice from the days before suspension.
09-05-18 | 08:29 AM
#5
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From: NW,Oregon Coast
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Need a bike with a frame designed around having a suspension fork ,
For example: a Trek DS Dual Sport, vs a Trek FX fitness crossover..
because of the frame, being designed to have the shorter, no travel fork ,
one with travel will raise the frame headtube, reducing the head tube angle..
drastically altering the steering geometry/ Trail..
N+1 add a new bike.. N-1, sell the one you are dissatisfied with..
...
For example: a Trek DS Dual Sport, vs a Trek FX fitness crossover..
because of the frame, being designed to have the shorter, no travel fork ,
one with travel will raise the frame headtube, reducing the head tube angle..
drastically altering the steering geometry/ Trail..
N+1 add a new bike.. N-1, sell the one you are dissatisfied with..
...
09-05-18 | 09:07 AM
#6
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Thanks for the answers. I did some research after posting this thread and I came to same conclusions as you guys. A hybrid cannot fit a suspension fork. I understood it immediately when I did some calculations with geometrycalc and compared my bike's geometry to a proper mtb. And you guys confirmed it.
As you suggested, I have been thinking about putting on wider tires. Actually I have been thinking of it a long time, but I have never bought them. But now I will. I think the frame can fit something between 50-55 mm tires so I have been thinking about Schwalbe's Big Apples or Big Bens. But I still do not know what is the difference between balloon tires and normal tires as wide as them. I also drive in the wintertime and there is a lot of snow in the wintertime here in Finland, so i'd like that the tires would handle some snow also.
I probably will practice those things [MENTION=424051]Ironfish653[/MENTION]
Actually I think my bike would be pretty optimal for that cause it's pretty light and easy to handle.
[MENTION=197614]fietsbob[/MENTION] I'm overall satisfied with the bike so no need to sell it. It is perfect for everyday riding and rigid fork is good in the wintertime.
If i get into trailriding, I'll buy another bike (a proper mtb), but I don't think it is going to happen in near future.
Thank you guys
As you suggested, I have been thinking about putting on wider tires. Actually I have been thinking of it a long time, but I have never bought them. But now I will. I think the frame can fit something between 50-55 mm tires so I have been thinking about Schwalbe's Big Apples or Big Bens. But I still do not know what is the difference between balloon tires and normal tires as wide as them. I also drive in the wintertime and there is a lot of snow in the wintertime here in Finland, so i'd like that the tires would handle some snow also.
I probably will practice those things [MENTION=424051]Ironfish653[/MENTION]
Actually I think my bike would be pretty optimal for that cause it's pretty light and easy to handle. [MENTION=197614]fietsbob[/MENTION] I'm overall satisfied with the bike so no need to sell it. It is perfect for everyday riding and rigid fork is good in the wintertime.
If i get into trailriding, I'll buy another bike (a proper mtb), but I don't think it is going to happen in near future.Thank you guys
