Front rack on Novara Buzz
02-20-09 | 04:53 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Dirty old man in training
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 455
Likes: 0
From: Cary NC
Bikes: 2007 Novara Randonee, 1991 Raleigh Olympian, 1988 Nishiki Ariel
Front rack on Novara Buzz
I have a 2007 Novara Buzz (rigid fork hardtail "urban MTB"). The fork is cro-moly and has 2 sets of eyelets at the dropouts, a hole through the fork crown for fender/reflector mounting, but no braze-ons mid fork. The fork is disc brake only, it does not have studs for cantis/V-brakes.
Can I safely mount a front rack using the eyelets at the dropouts plus P-clips mounted mid-fork? The rack I am considering is the Jandd Extreme. I don't have a good weight estimate of what I would be carrying but I don't imagine it would be more than 25lbs on the front fork.
Can I safely mount a front rack using the eyelets at the dropouts plus P-clips mounted mid-fork? The rack I am considering is the Jandd Extreme. I don't have a good weight estimate of what I would be carrying but I don't imagine it would be more than 25lbs on the front fork.
02-20-09 | 09:31 PM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
From: Seattle, WA
Bikes: Yellow Nashbar fixed gear conversion, Cannondale T800, Surly Cross Check
It's pretty common for people to put front racks on even if they don't have low-rider braze ons. That works fine. My concern would be fitting the rack around the disc brake calipers. I would say that you should take the bike to a shop that has the rack you want and see if it will even fit.
02-21-09 | 12:37 PM
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,300
Likes: 115
looks like a solution, btw how do you like the bike? I was thinking it would be a good low/mid cost touring design
https://www.oldmanmountain.com/Pages/FAQ.html#5
https://www.oldmanmountain.com/Pages/FAQ.html#5
02-21-09 | 03:52 PM
#5
Thread Starter
Dirty old man in training
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 455
Likes: 0
From: Cary NC
Bikes: 2007 Novara Randonee, 1991 Raleigh Olympian, 1988 Nishiki Ariel
LeeG, I love my Buzz, it's a fun bike to ride. However I did not have touring in mind when I bought it, I wanted an inexpensive update of my 20 year old MTB but w/disc brakes to use for towing a trail-a-bike or Burley kid trailer on bike paths, riding rail trails, beer runs, basically a bike to screw around on on the weekends. Riding solo, I feel like I'm a little kid on that bike.
IMO it isn't geared low enough for towing heavy loads. The stock gearing on mine is 38/28 on the crank with an 11-34 cassette. The SRAM X-5 front derailleur on the 07 model can handle a triple crankset. I have been cheap and just swapped out the small chainring out for a 24T and that is OK for pulling a TAB/trailer up the few short steep sections on my local MUP. One of these days I will stop being cheap and probably swap out the crankset for a 44/32/22. The max I have towed is probably 120lbs (8yr old on TAB, or 3yr old + 5yr old in trailer). Riding solo I have never carried more than maybe 10lbs on the rear rack.
Be advised there is not a lot of clearance for a front fender on the 07 model. With the stock Vittoria tires I can fit a 45mm width Planet Bike Freddy Fender on the fork and a 60mm width Planet Bike Freddy Fender on the rear.
I have never bike toured, my riding is bike commuting, hauling the kids around on the weekend, and the occassional weekend solo ride. I got my Buzz on clearance last March, I guess I have maybe 500 miles on the bike (no bike computer). I can't comment on how the Buzz handles with a lot of weight on the bike. If you swap out the crankset or small chainring for lower gearing and can live with the tire clearance it's fine for towing a trailer. I love the disc brakes, even with 120lbs behind me she stops fine.
I have to admit the black paint job (Ninja bike) always caught my eye when I saw a Buzz in the store. However if last year's Safari had a better looking color than that ugly tan I probably would have gotten it instead.
IMO it isn't geared low enough for towing heavy loads. The stock gearing on mine is 38/28 on the crank with an 11-34 cassette. The SRAM X-5 front derailleur on the 07 model can handle a triple crankset. I have been cheap and just swapped out the small chainring out for a 24T and that is OK for pulling a TAB/trailer up the few short steep sections on my local MUP. One of these days I will stop being cheap and probably swap out the crankset for a 44/32/22. The max I have towed is probably 120lbs (8yr old on TAB, or 3yr old + 5yr old in trailer). Riding solo I have never carried more than maybe 10lbs on the rear rack.
Be advised there is not a lot of clearance for a front fender on the 07 model. With the stock Vittoria tires I can fit a 45mm width Planet Bike Freddy Fender on the fork and a 60mm width Planet Bike Freddy Fender on the rear.
I have never bike toured, my riding is bike commuting, hauling the kids around on the weekend, and the occassional weekend solo ride. I got my Buzz on clearance last March, I guess I have maybe 500 miles on the bike (no bike computer). I can't comment on how the Buzz handles with a lot of weight on the bike. If you swap out the crankset or small chainring for lower gearing and can live with the tire clearance it's fine for towing a trailer. I love the disc brakes, even with 120lbs behind me she stops fine.
I have to admit the black paint job (Ninja bike) always caught my eye when I saw a Buzz in the store. However if last year's Safari had a better looking color than that ugly tan I probably would have gotten it instead.
