Adding Front suspension forks to a non-suspension bike

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the_twin
Posts: 70
Joined: 11 Mar 2018, 9:01pm

Re: Adding Front suspension forks to a non-suspension bike

Post by the_twin »

Cheap suspension forks are generally pretty horrible and fitting them is likely to be a job for a shop. The best bet would be some bigger tyres run at suitable (low) pressure. Also some more squashy handlebar grips would help. Neither of these options would cost a lot and could be moved to a better bike in the future. There’s a limit to how much you’d want to spend to try to upgrade a cheap all steel bike.
gregoryoftours
Posts: 2234
Joined: 22 May 2011, 7:14pm

Re: Adding Front suspension forks to a non-suspension bike

Post by gregoryoftours »

I think you might have a job finding a suspension fork that will fit your bike, and that will work out cheap. A fork for your bike needs to have a 1" threaded steerer of the correct length, (it is very unlikely that you will find a threadless fork with this steerer diameter, and if you did you'd also have to buy and fit a new stem and headset) or a new one that has enough thread on the steerer to be able to cut it down to the length you need. This may fit the bill but you'd have to find out if the steerer is long enough and how far down the thread is cut:

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.SR-Suntour-XCT ... YQAvD_BwE#

This is about as cheap as you are going to get, plus £30 ish pounds for fitting if you can't do it yourself, at which point you'd be better off spending a bit more and getting a more suitable bike.

A cheaper alternative is as people have said sponge grips eg Richey foam grips and wider tyres at a low ish pressure as long as there is clearance for them on your bike, and a suspension seatpost, even a cheap one might help, but make sure you get one of the correct diameter, it's possibly quite a narrow one for a cheap steel bike, maybe 26.8mm. even the cost of a pair of tyres, grips and a suspension post can add up really quickly, especially if you can't do all of the work yourself. Rather than throwing too much money into a really cheap quality bike (which will also ride a bit funny with the front end raised with suspension)you might end up being better off getting a bit more expensive one that is suitable from the get go. As a stop gap if you can't afford much at the moment you could just try running your tyres at low pressure and ride carefully to avoid pinch flats. Unfortunately puncture protected inner tubes (with slime in) won't work to protect against pinch flats.
Last edited by gregoryoftours on 17 Jun 2018, 7:27pm, edited 2 times in total.
gregoryoftours
Posts: 2234
Joined: 22 May 2011, 7:14pm

Re: Adding Front suspension forks to a non-suspension bike

Post by gregoryoftours »

If, by any chance your fork does have 1 1/8" threaded steerer I have an old flex stem that people have talked about that you can have for the cost of postage, but I'm pretty sure your bike is 1" steerer.
Eyebrox
Posts: 581
Joined: 5 Aug 2015, 8:56pm
Location: Ayrshire

Re: Adding Front suspension forks to a non-suspension bike

Post by Eyebrox »

You will have the added problem of fitting a bike wheel with axle rather than QR to a suspension fork. The dropouts will be different.
gregoryoftours
Posts: 2234
Joined: 22 May 2011, 7:14pm

Re: Adding Front suspension forks to a non-suspension bike

Post by gregoryoftours »

I can also get hold of a 1" flex stem pretty cheaply if you want to try it.
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