Mountain Bike Frame Recommendations

[clealog15]

Hi,

I have a Mxus 3k turbo V3 hub motor designed for 142 mm dropouts. The bike I currently have is too narrow to accommodate the motor. What are some good mountain bikes that have the 142 mm spacing? (Preferably V-brakes).

 

[Balmorhea]

7mm is not too much to spread a normal bike frame. If it's a steel frame with relatively ordinary sized tubes, consider widening it. Aluminum frames can be widened, but it's risky. Carbon plastic frames, not at all.

 

[clealog15]

It is a steel frame. I think I will cold set it to widen. The only thing is that the forkends will probably no longer be parallel and I don't have tools to check for and adjust that. Do most bike shops have tools for that?

 

[john61ct]

Talking rear, right?

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/forkend-alignment.html

 

[clealog15]

Yes, rear. Thanks for the link, I like the improvised tools.

 

[Balmorhea]

The only thing is that the forkends will probably no longer be parallel and I don't have tools to check for and adjust that. Do most bike shops have tools for that?

Bike shops have tools, colloquially called "H tools", that are designed to gauge and align dropouts and fork tips.

 

[dogman dan]

Bend out the fork stays, then use a vise grip pliers to bend the dropout plates back in. Eyeball it good, making sure you don't bend out only one side. When done, both will need equal bending back of the plate. I just stand on one plate, and pull on the other. A scissor jack works good too though.

Too wide by a few mm is fine, but if you bend them out to only 140mm then the motor will be hard to mount, every time you fix a flat.