96er wheel flop
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 654
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Bikes: vintage Raleigh
96er wheel flop
The only way I can describe it is "wheel flop". I recently converted a 26 in. mtb into a 29 in. front, 26 in. rear 96er (or 69er, which ever way you want to look at it) and noticed that in slow turning the front wheel seems to want to pull down more into the turn, whichever way you are turning. Now is this due to the different diameter wheels or the fact that the front end is now higher (more relaxed head tube angle), and just needs to be used with a shorter crown to axle fork length to eliminate this wheel flop feel? Thanks.
#2
MFA
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,186
Likes: 0
From: Denver
Bikes: 1973 Italvega Nouvo Record; 1965 Hercules; 1982-83 Schwinn Mystery MTB
It's because the fork rake is now shallower than it used to be. The wheel is laying over more instead of twisting. Think of what a chopper wants to do during a turn.
Last edited by jjvw; 01-06-07 at 03:12 PM.
#6
Paste Taster
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,392
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento, CA
Bikes: , Jury Bike, Moto Outcast 29, Spicer standard track frame and spicer custom steel sprint frame.
you would need to modify your frame to correct this entirely but I would try a non suspension corrected fork and or with no rake
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,737
Likes: 10
Originally Posted by bfloyd
The only way I can describe it is "wheel flop". I recently converted a 26 in. mtb into a 29 in. front, 26 in. rear 96er (or 69er, which ever way you want to look at it) and noticed that in slow turning the front wheel seems to want to pull down more into the turn, whichever way you are turning. Now is this due to the different diameter wheels or the fact that the front end is now higher (more relaxed head tube angle), and just needs to be used with a shorter crown to axle fork length to eliminate this wheel flop feel? Thanks.
#9
yo yo yo yo yo
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,518
Likes: 0
From: delaware
Originally Posted by NormanF
If you use a 29" fork, that changes the fork rake drastically. The solution is to fit a 29" wheel into a 26" fork so your geometry remains the same as before. And you may have to lower the stem to compensate for the bigger wheel now in the front.
#11
looks like dirtrag writes magazine articles specifically for you:
https://www.dirtragmag.com/print/arti...egory=features
https://www.dirtragmag.com/print/arti...egory=features
#12
yeahh, becky
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,395
Likes: 0
From: DC
Bikes: 1990 Kotter Albuch, 2005 Empella Spaar Select Cross, 2007 Ridley Aedon
I did this with a road fork to create the ugliest cross bike you've ever seen. Somehow, the handling came out unaffected. It's definitely a rake/trail issue, and I got lucky.




