ebike Shocks (Rear & Front)

[markz]

What is the best value budget coil (or air) spring for a 315lb rider - Riding curbs, stairs, roots, logs, washed out gravel roads at 35mph(55kph) - No jumps nor drops. Rear motor is 20.7 lbs or 9.4 kg.

Same for the fork.

 

[Baron]

That depends on the bike, and the length of the fork/shock on the bike. Need a little bit more info.

I have found good value in used downhill forks and shocks on ebay, just make sure to test everything you buy within the return window. You could also try craigslist, once I found a veteran downhiller who unloaded a bunch of used but still good gear to me for dirt cheap.

 

[litespeed]

What Baron said and don't forget Pinkbike.com, most probably the greatest bicycle resource for both bikes and parts on the planet.

Good value new stuff is the DNM Volcano 8" fork and RCP 3 rear shock. http://www.dnmshock.com/products-list.php?fid=6&sid=19 I believe a better new rear shock may be the Fastace BDA53RC http://www.fastace.com/pro.php?m=d&pid=79 for a heavy rear hub and big guy.

Tom

 

[dogman dan]

I have found some decent sales on a few items, at Chain Reaction Cycles. Might be a demo fork, or whatever.

In any case,, they have some choices there. Good place to explore what prices are.

 

[markz]

I was thinking this rear shock here - Fox Vanilla Float RC
because its cheap used (~$50)and recumpence used it on his $12,000 custom ebike thats for sale.
$100 to $150
2012 Fox Van R 9.5x3.0
needs rebuild 2010 FOX DHX Air ($50obo) and two Fox DHX RC2 & DHX 3.0 for $140
has been rebuilt DT Swiss SSD 210L $100

all cad

 

[WoodlandHills]

Before you shop for a suspension fork, you need to decide on what size tires and rims you will be using. The fork has to be compatible, depending on axle type, the front hub may be an issue too.

 

[dogman dan]

To buy a good new fork,, you might need a bike with tapered head set tube too.

 

[MadRhino]

For a heavy guy to ride the stairs, there is only one cheap fork option: A good old Monster T.
Find it in good condition on Pinkbike for 300$, sometimes less off season. Easy to service, as simple and robust as a fork can be.

For the rear it is more complicated. The frame is built with a suspension travel ratio, in relation to the shock travel. That is the major factor and does require quite some work to mod. Let's say your suspension moves 3 inches when the shock compresses 1 inch, you have a 3:1 travel factor and it is way too much. 2:1 is too much already for good tuning when the rider is heavy, let alone the 20 lbs hub. You need a frame that has a low factor of rr suspension travel, or mod the suspension linkage on yours to achieve 1.5:1. Then you can start considering shock options, and most will do fairly good.

 

[WoodlandHills]

To buy a good new fork,, you might need a bike with tapered head set tube too.

The Cane Creek EC44/40 will let you install a tapered steering tube into a straight head tube. I've use them twice with no issues, once to add a Bluto and once to add a $94 Chinese carbon fork.