Convert fixed-fork road/hybrid ebike to front suspension trail ebike?

[Sailorbass]

Hi everybody,

I've moved my Tongsheng mid-drive motor from my ageing MTB to my ageing Specialized Sirrus Elite hybrid/road bike, with carbon front forks and rim brakes. First impressions are of an unhappy marriage. Riding on the road, the bike is twitchy, crashy over grids and potholes, and difficult to brake one-handed while hand-signalling at junctions. I'd like to make it easier, more forgiving and less scary to ride. I'd even thought about trying to make it into a canal-towpath/ bike-trail bike. My thoughts:

1. Wider tyres and/or wider wheels. Current wheels are badged: Alex rims AT400. Tyres are Continental gatorskins, badged 6061H-T6 622X14. Possible to keep wheels with wider tyres?

2. Upgrade the rim brakes. Current brakes are un-badged V-brakes. I think they're the original Shimanos, but can't be sure. I'd like disc brakes, but there are no disc-brake mounts on the bike, and I don't fancy those bolt-on frame adaptor thingies. Would also have to buy new wheels, obviously. Hydraulic rim brakes??

3. Swap out the carbon front forks for some short-travel front suspension forks to smooth out road potholes and gratings, maybe even cope with canal towpaths and bike trails. Good idea? Would it upset bike geometry too much? Any suggestions for possible (cheap 'n' cheerful) forks that might work?

All suggestions and ideas gratefully received.

 

[sjpt]

Several others don't agree, but my experience with hydraulic rim brakes hasn't been that good; Magura HS11 on an early Raleigh Motus hub.

They are a pain to adjust, and even when adjusted properly don't seem that much better than good V brakes.

 

[guerney]

I've only ever had V-brakes and older types of rim brake - my V brakes work great! You might need to buy new silicone inserts for your noodles for lower brake cable friction, if they're sold independently of new noodles. Here's a tyre size chart from Schwalbe, so you can measure or otherwise work out max width of tyres for your rims

 

[Nealh]

Very happy with the rear Magura hs33's on the Swizzbee's

 

[guerney]

Very happy with the rear Magura hs33's on the Swizzbee's

Your Swizzbee is epic in all kinds of ways - are you still keeping an eye open for any more additions to your Swizzbee stable?

 

[Nealh]

No more Swizzbee's, in fact I'm trying to reduce numbers. Except I now have the Ute cargo bike which is another and I still haven't added a kit yet.

The Norco has been stripped , my Cube AMs has been stripped and soon the Boardman mx will be stripped down.

 

[guerney]

No more Swizzbee's, in fact I'm trying to reduce numbers. Except I now have the Ute cargo bike which is another and I still haven't added a kit yet.

The Norco has been stripped , my Cube AMs has been stripped and soon the Boardman mx will be stripped down.

Don't wait till the bees wake up to electrify the Ute! Else you won't have time before all those jars fill up with the good stuff, ready for delivery by Ute Express Next Day

 

[Nealh]

The Tongsheng is still on the drawing board to be fitted, I used the Cotic Roadrat last week to tow the modified Carry Freedom with my bulky and heavy hand tools to carry out a job for someone. So for now the Cotic is very capable just lacks a little carrying ability in itself compared to the Ute.

 

[Nealh]

Getting back on topic of the OP's sketchy handling bike.
1. If the rims are 19mm then one can fit wider tyres, if the fork widths allow then up to 42mm will fit on the rims, something like Panaracer SK Gravel kings or specalised 2 bliss pathfinders. The latter having a narrow raised smooth strip for roads and treaded outers for tracks/trails.

2. Hydraulic rim brakes would be better then currently ones for stopping, though if the rim wear line isn't visible new ones will be needed any way.

3. Sus front forks are heavy and the basic cheaper one sub £100 as already alluded too add 2.5 kgs or so, one will better with a better wider tyre and maybe a nice set of disc steel forks like the Surly DT's.

4. I would go a bit farther and look at the riding set up on the front, straight bars with those rubbish horns are so 80's and do not add any comfort or add to nice handling.
I'm a total convert to swept bars and gp grips with thumb palm support.

 

[Sailorbass]

Getting back on topic of the OP's sketchy handling bike.
1. If the rims are 19mm then one can fit wider tyres, if the fork widths allow then up to 42mm will fit on the rims, something like Panaracer SK Gravel kings or specalised 2 bliss pathfinders. The latter having a narrow raised smooth strip for roads and treaded outers for tracks/trails.

2. Hydraulic rim brakes would be better then currently ones for stopping, though if the rim wear line isn't visible new ones will be needed any way.

3. Sus front forks are heavy and the basic cheaper one sub £100 as already alluded too add 2.5 kgs or so, one will better with a better wider tyre and maybe a nice set of disc steel forks like the Surly DT's.

4. I would go a bit farther and look at the riding set up on the front, straight bars with though rubbish horns are so 80's and do not add any comfort or add to nice handling.
I'm a total convert to swept bars and gp grips with thumb palm support.

Thank you - that's all very helpful.

 

[Nealh]

A too far forward and wide handle bar stance esp with hose horns will give amore frenetic tense riding stance, with ones weight always stretched out forward and over the front wheel axis, I find swept bars are far more relaxing with a slightly straighter more upright riding style doesn't detract from a nice riding experience.
With some changes the ride feel can be made better and tyres is one way to go.

 

[guerney]

Even going from 1.5 inch to 1.75 inch tyres made a huge difference to the ride quality of my bike - I had to buy new wheels to do it, but well it was worth doing so (replaced wheels decades old) because I now have the option of 2.125 Big Ben Plus on the new wider rims. The move to balloon-like tyres doesn't feel necessary, despite having no suspension or suspension possibilities whatsoever for my bike - I only pedelec roads.

 

[I893469365902345609348566]

There's definitely less strain on the wrists with a more upright riding position