Hello

[PhilAdd]

Hello,

My name is Philip and I am new here. I am not sure whether my post is right at this place or not. But now when the winter came I got some time to search for an E-Bike. I always wanted to have one but either I did not have time or not the money needed.
At first I want to go over the different parts on the bike that I can specifically look for the best bike. So which kind of suspension fork do you suggest? Which one is the best and which one i should never consider about? I´ve found some already but I want to hear some peoples opinions first.

Thank you for your help.

Phil

 

[amberwolf]

nevermind, can't help here.

 

[dogman dan]

Heh heh,, the only kind of fork that is best, is the kind you can't afford. I admit I was quite skeptical at first, till I rode off road with a fork worth more than 50 bucks. You get what you pay for with MTB forks, sooo,, how much you got? No upper limit on price.

But lets back up a bit,, fork for what? No price too much for riding up and down rock staircases with 2 foot steps. But for street, a $200 buck rockshocks is fine, taking the sting out of potholes, and shitty paving. For street, you still want both adjustments, pre load and rebound. Any less is just a pogo stick.

 

[Drunkskunk]

Welcome to the forum.


I think Monark forks are the best fork ever!..., for a vintage cruiser. But that's probably not what you meant?
Yeah, we need more info before we can give any meaningful answer. There are just too many choices for too many different types of riders, rides, and riding conditions. If you let us know what you need the bike to be able to do, we can help a lot more.

 

[PhilAdd]

I looked for some bikes and thought I want to go with an electric mountain bike. I want to go with a bike which is worth its money but I don't need a high-end bike but also no low-end bike. The fork I was considering was a Mozo fork which is around $100.
To clear it up, I want to search an electric bike.

 

[Drunkskunk]

Mozo is made by RST. It's the second worst quality brand that can actually get carried by a retailer. The retail price of the fork from Alibaba is $7. Not $700, not $70, but $7. It would have a higher value if it was made of sh!t, as sh!t is a useful fertilizer. Forks like that are meant to look shiny on Walmart quality bike shaped objects (BSOs). they are the kind of thing you give your un-liked bratty step kid for Christmas when you plan to file for divorce January first. It's a fork that shows up on $89 bikes. it's worse than bad. Avoid.

A Rockshox Recon would be a fair entry level MTB fork for light trail riding and single track. you can get them for around $225
DNM OS-RL is a budget fork. it's not rebuildable, but can be had for under $125.

As for full bikes, are you looking for a fully built ebike, or for a kit to convert your own?

 

[DAND214]

Your location might help too.
I still think, location shouldn't be an option.

Dan

 

[amberwolf]

nevermind, can't help here.

 

[dogman dan]

Ok, mid to low price range mtb. I'm not sure the mozo fork is not still a pogo stick. But at least we know your price range now. just try for something that has both pre load and rebound adjustment. Then at least you get some adjustability in the deal. In general, you need to stiffen up because the motor and battery do change the weight of the bike, and where the weight is.

Look for the 4 bar type rear suspension, if you are not going hardtail. 4 bar, like on the genesis at Walmart, makes a shit rear shock feel better. Longer travel on the wheel, for the same crap shock.

 

[PhilAdd]

I see. I also can understand all your complaints. But I am not looking for a 4k up bike. I need a vehicle which carries me to work and back. And for weekends I wanna have some fun with my family outside. I am having an office job in LA and I am sick of being stuck in the traffic or on crowded stinky buses. So mainly I will drive the bike inside the city

 

[arkmundi]

The place to start is with how much you want to spend - your budget. You say "not a $4k bike." Meaning your budget is lower than that, up to $4k? Or really in the range of $2-3k? Also, what is your starting point - do you have a bike your ride now, yes or no? Knowing where you're at and coming from and where you're trying to reach to, we can provide some useful info and advise. Some here have a lot of experience, many with less so. Since you say you have some time, I suggest using it to read up on this forum and elsewhere, to do the research, so all your subsequent decisions are informed.

You asked about suspension in a bike. Expand that to include every aspect of the bike - frame, suspension, seat, gearing, wheels, etc. They are ALL important. The bike must be comfortable for you as just a bike, first. When you add an electric motor, the extra speed will amplify what you feel when you hit the pavement with all the bumps that brings. Suspension is put in three places in a bike: front fork, rear and seat. Some bikes are "hard tails", meaning they have just front suspension. Others have front & rear. And still others are mere bikes without either, putting the suspension in the seat post.

I'm currently finishing off a new build using my old 1986 vintage Gary Fisher Gitchee MTB. It didn't have suspension. Rather than invest in a fork replacement, with suspension, I invested in a Thudbuster seat post.

Happy to have conversation with you - some back & forth.

 

[Dauntless]

Well, are you tall enough fora 26" wheel bike? Some people are happy with these, at first. Then they get ideas of what they really want and move on.

https://www.yescomusa.com/products/26-rear-electric-bicycle-lcd-motor-conversion-kit-48v-1000w

Or if you grew up on BMX you might like the 20" X-Games bike. A real tough bike to work on. Motorcycle like when you're done, but it just about takes a fabricator. It wasn't the kits' fault. Are you ambitious?

http://leafbike.com/products/diy-bike-conversion-kit/20-inch-electric-hub-motor-kit/updated-20-inch-48v-1500w-rear-hub-motor-bike-conversion-kit-986.html

If you live in a hilly area like me, you'll be looking for some power.

Dang, we haven't even discussed battery. How far are you going?

 

[docw009]

Doesn't seem from your posting that you want to build one. There must be lots of bike shops in the LA area that carry ebikes. Just go to a couple stores and test ride whatever is in your price range. At most places, the prices are very negotiable. If you're a casual cyclist already, it will be hard not to get excited by an e-bike.

Whatever the ads say, unless you ride under 14 mph or do some work with pedalling, you won't go much further than 15 miles with the typical battery that comes on a store bought bike.