cheap steel swingarm bikes?
- Thread starter 1KW
- Start date
Just lurking, lemme know if you find one! closest i found to cheap was this http://em3ev.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=209 way more reliable of a source than alibaba/aliexpress!
wesnewell
100 GW
That doesn't qualify as cheap to me. The Mongoose ledge 2.1 is the best I've found so far for under $150. I'm 270lbs and had it over 60mph, but not with the stock tires/wheels.
MadRhino
100 GW
Nowadays, all bikes that have a steel swing arm are cheap and made cheap. Find an old DH bike, when steel was still in use, you will have a better frame to build an better components right from the start.
Baron
100 W
dansir413 said:
That's pretty cheap as far as purpose-built e-bike frames go, in fact I haven't seen one cheaper. 2nd place is vector at something like 630 + shipping. Anyone know of other inexpensive frames of this style?
John in CR
100 TW
MadRhino said:
Easier said than done. I've been looking for 5 years, including asking at a couple of bike shops that specialize in DH bikes (figuring someone must have one neglected and forgotten hanging unused in a garage) and no luck.
Got any suggestions for brands and model years to look for? Do you have one you could let go?
MadRhino
100 GW
In CR, it is a small market and even here there are not so many left. Balfa was the local manufacturer that was manufacturing DH bikes with cro-mo until 2007, and that is very late for the use of steel in DH bikes. Most manufacturers had abandoned steel in the '90s.John in CR said:
Then, it is for a reason that they did. Steel swing arms can't be made stiff enough for bicycle size and weight requirements. Riding DH, many did fail or bent, and riders just did not want them fishtailing bikes anymore.
MadRhino
100 GW
What I prefer to do, is to mod an alu swing arm to adapt bolt-on through axle mounts that are steel. This has the advantage of quick servicing, variable geometry, and different mounts can be made to adapt other motors and wheel size if needed.
rider95
1 kW
Good quality used MT bike are easy to find look for one that will be the easiest to put your battery on ie a frame that your battery will fit into neatly , and it must have Hyd disc brakes . It will or should have steel drop outs that are replaceable do you need FS ?? or for street a hard tail?
dogman dan
1 PW
Actually better off IMO, to just find a reasonable deal on a used aluminum full suspension bike. Possibly a DH type, but not always.
The thing you want is some big thick chunky looking swing arms, so it might be on the lower end of the price scale. But not steel, just lots of aluminum metal back there. 10 years old now mabye, but was $1000 in 2005 or whatever. Pay $500 tops, preferably even less.
Then you have a reasonably stiff frame, a rear end that can take a torque arm pretty easy, and can take a 2000-3000 watt motor with ease.
It will still need upgrades to ride really nice. Brand new shock, brand new fork, both much higher grade than the bike came with.
If that's just way too much, then you are in the steel price range. Stuff like the old mongoose black comb, or more modern mongoose bikes. They will need everything replaced though, junk fork, junk crank, junk seat, etc etc etc. But the frame can be rideable enough for easy trail riding. No good for technical trails, because the frame will sway from side to side like crazy. On the easy trails you can just get used to the frame flex.
The thing you want is some big thick chunky looking swing arms, so it might be on the lower end of the price scale. But not steel, just lots of aluminum metal back there. 10 years old now mabye, but was $1000 in 2005 or whatever. Pay $500 tops, preferably even less.
Then you have a reasonably stiff frame, a rear end that can take a torque arm pretty easy, and can take a 2000-3000 watt motor with ease.
It will still need upgrades to ride really nice. Brand new shock, brand new fork, both much higher grade than the bike came with.
If that's just way too much, then you are in the steel price range. Stuff like the old mongoose black comb, or more modern mongoose bikes. They will need everything replaced though, junk fork, junk crank, junk seat, etc etc etc. But the frame can be rideable enough for easy trail riding. No good for technical trails, because the frame will sway from side to side like crazy. On the easy trails you can just get used to the frame flex.
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