What shock forks to buy?
 

Hello,

Sorry if this isn't the right section. I plan on riding long distances at least a couple days a week, so comfort is something to consider.

I have an older recumbent bicycle with zero suspension and skinny tires. I am planning on putting shock/suspension forks and fat tires (big apple, marathon supremes, who knows). The front wheel is 20 inches, the fork needs to be 1" threaded. Does anyone have any suggestions for quality shock/suspension forks? I am probably not wiling to spend much more than 100 on the forks.

Thanks!

I think you'll have better luck in the recumbent forum or the Bent Rider Online Forums.

Let me preface this by saying that I like suspension forks. I have 3 bikes with them. But they are all mountain bikes and they get ridden off-road. The suspension forks are also marvels of technology which have damping control, rebound control,and lockouts. They are smooth a silk and make mountain bike riding a dream. All that comes at a price however. These are shocks that are 4 to 7 times your price range.

The problem with a $100 shock is that it's not so much a shock as a pogo stick you attach to your bike. The 20" variety are are even more so. 20" suspension forks are made for the kid's market (mostly) and their quality reflects that market. For $100, you'll get a shock that is a set of springs in a tube that won't have a lockout, won't have any kind of control either in rebound or in compression and will bob with each pedal stroke. That's if you can find an aftermarket one with a 1" steer tube. And all of them are likely to have sufficient heft to have kept the Costa Concordia off the rocks.

I'd suggest trying the wider tires first. If that doesn't work, this RST might work but you'll have to buy the steer tube separately.

$100 quality fork is an oxymoron. Good forks are expensive. Put your money into tires and see how much that improves your ride.

High-volume, low-pressure tires will do a great deal to improve ride quality. Buying a $100 pogo stick will do wonders for destroying it...

anything at that price will probably be stripped from a stolen bike..

PanTour suspension hubs, I'm lead to understand , sell to some
to make up for unsuspended recumbents, but that is past your price point, also.

Changing Tires are It. or just cope as is..

Hah, damn, such a resounding opinion. 100 dollar forks are garbage, oh well. I have put a post up at the bent forum, not much for information there. I'll definitely give the fat tires a shot and see how things go.

A NL custom shop makes a Clever anti dive suspension fork for 20" front wheels on Recumbents

A variation on Speedway Short-track, Racing Motorcycle's forks,
a front swing arm with an Air shock, As used on Full suspension MTB rear ends..
definitely Well over a C note.. by a lot.. [ google-fu Found It, ! ]
http://www.m-gineering.nl/mindexg.htm

Everything else is a telescopic fork like current MTB's but shorter.. Here's one http://www.mountainracingproducts.co...hers-products/
"Rustler 20"

Maybe you can fake it with something cannibalized from a Cheap kids bike with a crude spring fork.

yard sale season is ahead..

shock are only good for mountain bikes on any other bike they will just slow you down

But you can stand on the pedals of a conventional Diamond frame, to roll over bigger bumps.

Not so on a recumbent seat, so there suspension is a winner , particularly for week + long bike tours.

and? what kind o'recumbent? all shapes n'sizes. it might make a difference.

let's say you have a LWB recumbent.....maybe an 8-foot long infinity. you could salvage
a suspension fork off a kiddie bmx bike. but i wonder how a loooong bike, with all the
weight near the rear, would handle. wheelies are not cool.

the front end isn't going to do much for you in terms of comfort. and just why are you wanting
to make changes? upcoming long distances? is the bike comfy now? if not, what's wrong?
how's the seat? hard seat or lawn chair? any padding? adjustable?

or.......you could consider switching out that crappy 27" rear wheel for a big, fat, cushy,
extra plumpy 26" MTB wheel, prolly with a 7-speed rear.

As far as some fat tires to try, I used and love Schwalbe Big Apples, but I also have to warn you that they will feel much slower than 28mm tires feel; much more comfy, but slow. Just be sure you do not exceed the max width recommended for your rim or frame. (BTW, I assume you will put fatties on front and rear as the rear probably gives you more shock absorption than the front.