dps Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 Hi guys. Not sure if this has been asked before. Im considering putting a rigid fork on my full suspension 29er. Main reason to shave off some weight and make bike simpler from mechanical point of view. Might put a fatter tire up front (2.4?) to compensate. Doing the 36one challenge so need to balance comfort and weight. Anyone tried this before?
Pieter1 Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 There has been a thread. Do a bit of a search.
popcorn_skollie Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 Well as long as you replace the rear suspension with a stick I don't see a problem. Jokes aside. Lets admit that it may not be the best idea.But then again... http://fcdn.mtbr.com/attachments/general-discussion/935769-how-long-have-fs-bike-been-around-est.jpg what do I know?
the nerd Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 Yeah been discussed before, but for your benefit I will summarise it for you... Don't do it. The End.
SCD Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 Let's just apply the evolutionary approach. Assuming that most essential things, no matter how silly, have been tried out and then continued or aborted based on merit.So now we have quite an established mix of rides. Fully rigid for the purist weight weenie, hard tails for the XCO racers and full suspension bikes for the Marathon racers or people how love comfort, and long travel fullsus for the folks who need control to survive.Rear suspension and rigid forks are not part of that list. There might be a reason for this. After having said all this, experimentation is lots of fun! Let us know how it went!.
dps Posted February 13, 2015 Author Posted February 13, 2015 Haha. Thanks guys. Not!! Found the prior thread on this. Still dont think its such a bad idea for long distance gravel / jeep track. I realise the 1-2kg saving might not sound significant but figure that on a 360km / 20hr ride it might be appreciated? From comfort point of view i think rear sus more relevant than front. Dont have guts for hardtail over this distance. Maybe with big tekkies? Will let you know if i go through with it.
tunariaan Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 if you dont have guts for a ht then dont do it*** you are going toHT,, soft tail or SS it a long time in the saddle en jou poepsak raaak maar seer
Cycle Worx LBN Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 Its not a good idea. back in the 90's you could get a Girvin Flex-stem, couple this with a rigid frame/fork, you could survive the vibration. You may as well ride with your fork locked out all the way. Saving 1-2kg, is not worth the cost both in your pocket and on your body, you are going to need some flex during the length of the ride and a rigid fork will not do it for you.
martinsnyman Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 Go on a diet and loose 2kg, keep the suspension fork
DJR Posted February 14, 2015 Posted February 14, 2015 ................From comfort point of view i think rear sus more relevant than front. .................Nope WRONG! Your hands and your arms will be toast long before your legs!
Wyatt Earp Posted February 14, 2015 Posted February 14, 2015 Seems like the OP is sorted ,mind made up and all that jazz.Yeah ,do it .
Captain Fastbastard Mayhem Posted February 14, 2015 Posted February 14, 2015 Haha. Thanks guys. Not!! Found the prior thread on this. Still dont think its such a bad idea for long distance gravel / jeep track. I realise the 1-2kg saving might not sound significant but figure that on a 360km / 20hr ride it might be appreciated? From comfort point of view i think rear sus more relevant than front. Dont have guts for hardtail over this distance. Maybe with big tekkies? Will let you know if i go through with it.Rigid fork will NOT save 1 to 2 kilos. Not one that will last, anyway. 700g to 900g max depending on your fork and the rigid fork you choose. Plus it's not your but you have to worry about. It's those endless corrugations and the effect they have on your shoulders arms and hands. Especially on a 24 hour race.
PhilipV Posted February 14, 2015 Posted February 14, 2015 Worst idea ever. But yeah, go ahead, do it.
Odinson Posted February 14, 2015 Posted February 14, 2015 Go for it. In the words of Jeremy Clarkson: "What's the worst that could happen?"
tombeej Posted February 14, 2015 Posted February 14, 2015 Worst thing I ever did was put a rigid carbon fork on my HT. And it's at it's worst on the corrugations of a dirt road. Back to suspension again - lesson learnt. To this day I still have issues with my left wrist. Besides that, for me, putting a rigid front end on a FS bike goes against what it was built for. Like dropping the suspension of a bakkie, or putting a towbar on a Ferrari GTO. What for?
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