Hello. I built a 3000w 72v hub motor e bike (converted it from a mountain bike) im curious if anyone has front fork upgrade reccomendations or if thats even nessasary? The bike tops out at around 60 mph. But im mainly doing around 30-40. I was looking at a rockshox judy gold? So yeah itd be great to have some reccomendations!!
What front fork to get for e bike?
- Thread starter jlm
- Start date
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Some people run around and chop the head of an innocent female university employee with an axe. No one informs the police in advance.
Some other people ride 3 kW illegal e-motorcycles at 60 mph and no one seems to notice it, either.
You are a potential murderer, Jim.
Some other people ride 3 kW illegal e-motorcycles at 60 mph and no one seems to notice it, either.
You are a potential murderer, Jim.
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Mr. Coffee
Well-Known Member
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- USA
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- A Demented Corner of the North Cascades
I'm kind of doubtful that any hardtail mountain bike is going to be very stable or safe at 60mph. Or will even stay in one piece for very long.
Mr. Coffee
Well-Known Member
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- USA
- City
- A Demented Corner of the North Cascades
Where I'm at on this one:
i say it goes 60 because it does. In reality tho i really only do maybe 45. I just want a fork that i can kind of rely on. Its stupid but i dont ride like that on the streets (private property)
Mr. Coffee
Well-Known Member
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- USA
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- A Demented Corner of the North Cascades
Seriously dude, what you are talking about is pretty damned dangerous.
Bicycle wheels aren't really designed to take 3000W and move a bike at 30+MPH. I'd recommend that you have a super-beefy wheel build (probably with 48 spokes and possibly a symmetric wheel as opposed to a dished-in one) and that you inspect it frequently. The risk is that the wheel might catastrophically fail very quickly at high stress and high speeds, which could easily cause serious injury to anyone riding the bike.
Bicycle wheels aren't really designed to take 3000W and move a bike at 30+MPH. I'd recommend that you have a super-beefy wheel build (probably with 48 spokes and possibly a symmetric wheel as opposed to a dished-in one) and that you inspect it frequently. The risk is that the wheel might catastrophically fail very quickly at high stress and high speeds, which could easily cause serious injury to anyone riding the bike.
juggernaut1
New Member
- Region
- Australia
Given your speeds I would suggest a fork with 38mm stanchions that is rated for a 220 mm brake disc. My 60 volt 1800 watt 60 klm/hr limited mountain bike came with a RockShox Zeb which fits this bill. The Zeb range comes in various specs and travel.
Catalyzt
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
Stefan! I'm not sure this is the right approachl if you actually want to convince him to slow / power down. However...
This.
Can we find out more about the bike? Its weight, your weight, how wide your tires are, if it's a 29er or 27.5, what kind of terrain you ride on-- how steep it is, dirt or pavement and gravel both generally and when you're doing over 40. Please include anything else you can think of. And please tell us why you are nervous about the fork-- just on general principle, or because it's behaving... oddly? Because it's a cheap bike with a cheap fork? Or rank the reasons in order of what makes you most nervous.
I ride an XCish 46ish pound Class 1 FS eMTB with a 250 watt motor and 34mm Suntour middle-of-the-road front fork.
I also break 30 MPH fairly frequently and occasionally break 40 MPH. But I do that only very briefly on pavement that is smooth. On the trail I'm usually on novice trails with intermediate segments, and occasionally on intermediate single track with a few very short advanced segments. So I don't worry much.
Use case scenario is important.
But we're also going to try to talk you out of going much over 30 MPH on flat ground on, basically, a modified bicycle. It may be that part of the reason you came here is because you needed people to do that.
There are some things some people need to do once because they just were compelled to do so, or felt they had to do them just to say they'd done them.
Doing over 60 on a converted bicycle is probably one of those things, it may be time to start thinking of it that way.
And folks, if you can, see my other "what fork should I get" weight weenie thread, because the 34 vs. 36 or 38mm issue is very much on my mind.
It does seem like $300 might be a bit low, but I've just started fork shopping myself.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
It is like helping a murderer choosing the right weapon.
Sometimes bad guys die from their own weapon though.
Which I do not wish anyone.
Catalyzt
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
No. There are so many things wrong with that analogy, I wouldn't know where to start.
If I'm working with someone who drinks and drives, I don't lecture them about how many people they are going to kill or how dangerous it is. That approach is doomed to fail.
There is a playbook for how to do approach this kind of situation. Scare tactics and shaming does not work. Not like, it doesn't work sometimes, it never, ever works.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
And people get killed because you allow it.
Mr. Coffee
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- A Demented Corner of the North Cascades
I think there is a huge differences in the effective forces on a drive wheel going downhill at 30+MPH and under power at those speeds. And the forces on the rear wheel increase rapidly as the speed increases.
Pro cyclists on flat terrain rarely manage much faster than about 28MPH, and can sprint for very short distances at up to about 48MPH. Pro cyclists also go through drivetrains and wheels at a pretty remarkable rate.
This whole thread is a Darwin Award that just hasn't happened yet.
Chazmo
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Central Massachusetts
Hmm… That’s probably too little for a good fork, jlm. You might want to consider upward of that, but I’m really only familiar with high-end equipment for MTBs, and my knowledge is out-of-date with them. If nothing else, cruise the Rock Shox web pages for a good assortment and maybe look for other, similar stuff. Avoid crappy, Chinese manufacturing (apologies, everyone, this is not intended to be xenophobic as I have first-hand experience with metal fatigue) and pop for something with good reviews… Good luck.
Catalyzt
Well-Known Member
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- USA
Stefan, I've known you to be pretty harsh before, but accusing other board members of being murderers is a new low for you. This is aggressive behavior. I don't know who I'd be more worried about sharing the road with right now-- the OP or with you!
You also know I'm a health care provider, that I try to stop people from committing suicides or homicides, and I often work with law enforcement. I don't practice psychotherapy with folks on this board, I'm not mandated to report dangerous behavior by someone who is not my client, but generally, folks who work in public safety do not appreciate being insulted in this way!
Impulse control is super important, Stefan. I was going to write a much more critical post, maybe report you for violating the TOS. But you know what? I waited five minutes and thought about it before I posted. Do you think you could show me the same courtesy and respect?
Because after five minutes, I realized, 'Stefan's a pain in the ass, but he's got a good heart. I wonder what's going on with him.'
Is everything okay? I can only imagine things are very difficult in the part of the world where you live and ride. I hope all is well with you, your friends and family.
DaveMatthews
Dave's not here. Cheating since 2018
- Region
- Canada
I would like to see the bike in question, with specs. The speed in question scares the crap out of me...
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