Difference between suspension and no suspension...
- Thread starter PennyFarthing
- Start date
I fitted a reconned set of Marzocchi Bombers to the front of my elderly Claud Butler and was impressed with the immediate difference in comfort. That, allied with the Fat Arse sprung saddle, makes riding around the pothole-strewn and badly-repaired backroads around here a pleasure.
Horses for courses.
Horses for courses.
Flecc I too was skeptical when i first saw these cantilever things, but by jingo the one fitted to the Flyer i:SY we keep in store for fun (and in case we need to pull some trees up) has out lasted many pairs of shoes here. Good work whoever designed it to have prevented the bean counters from substituting the right materials with the wrong ones, cos that's the true challenge these days!My remarks above are for the conventional in-line suspension posts. There are also cantilever types which can be much better, such as this Cane Creek Thudbuster post:
Ah Scotty, what do you mean about the above? Mine new bike has just arrived with a sprung seat attached but it iswith a wobble - I just presumed it needs tightening but now reading your post am wondering if that is normal? Its a left to right wobble.
I can see that for the grim faced lycra clad hard men I see thrashing around Richmond Park suspension might compromise their journey times through less good steering and inertia and all the other purist things. But a 27 kilo e-bike?
I remember some years ago a motoring mag gave a dozen experienced motoring journalists 4wd and 2wd Audis to test on a wet track, having disguised their drive systems. The results were the same as if they had guessed which system they had.
The explanation? Apart from highly experienced professional racing drivers , a normal driver is not sensitive enough to tell the difference. The difference is on the very edge and few can drive to that extreme edge on a track let alone public roads.
Ditto suspension/ not suspension. I just ride a bike. It is what it is. Suspension is more comfortable on the dreadful roads round my way so I have suspension. If any day to day rider like myself could demonstrate that I could get 10 miles faster on my Tasman without suspension I suppose I'd have to think for 10 seconds before deciding that comfort came above speed for me.
I remember some years ago a motoring mag gave a dozen experienced motoring journalists 4wd and 2wd Audis to test on a wet track, having disguised their drive systems. The results were the same as if they had guessed which system they had.
The explanation? Apart from highly experienced professional racing drivers , a normal driver is not sensitive enough to tell the difference. The difference is on the very edge and few can drive to that extreme edge on a track let alone public roads.
Ditto suspension/ not suspension. I just ride a bike. It is what it is. Suspension is more comfortable on the dreadful roads round my way so I have suspension. If any day to day rider like myself could demonstrate that I could get 10 miles faster on my Tasman without suspension I suppose I'd have to think for 10 seconds before deciding that comfort came above speed for me.
Suspension especially on the front makes a huge difference to steering feel - give me rigids every time! I think all riders would notice it but on an electric bike, especially a heavy one, that is a compromise I think is worth making. I have suspension seatpost which on reflection I think I will remove.
The Kalkhoff was the first bike I've had with suspension (I've been cycling since 1949!) but having read here what an uncompromising ride these aluminium framed bikes have without suspension, it seemed a good idea.
I haven't regretted it.
I don't have front suspension on my Brompton, of course, though there is very effective shock absorption on the rear. But the Brompton is light enough that the effect of rough roads is much less. I've ridden my Tasman with the forks locked but I didn't enjoy it much. The roads round my way are utterly awful, though.
I think that the design and build of the Brompton has that mark of greatness, like the the Fender Stratocaster guitar. You can paint them different colours and change minor bits as technology improves but the initial design was so well thought through that it cannot be surpassed. The Panasonic drive system seems to have some of that too.
I haven't regretted it.
I don't have front suspension on my Brompton, of course, though there is very effective shock absorption on the rear. But the Brompton is light enough that the effect of rough roads is much less. I've ridden my Tasman with the forks locked but I didn't enjoy it much. The roads round my way are utterly awful, though.
I think that the design and build of the Brompton has that mark of greatness, like the the Fender Stratocaster guitar. You can paint them different colours and change minor bits as technology improves but the initial design was so well thought through that it cannot be surpassed. The Panasonic drive system seems to have some of that too.
The brommie is one of those bicycles that is held in enormous affection by their owners so you are not alone. I am sure it is the great design but also the ability to take it with you wherever you go. Money no object I would love one, top of the range of course! They do tend to annoy the train commuters though.
Hi,
If you ride on quite good roads there is no need for suspension, and buying a bike with suspension means that for the same money you could get a better bike with no suspension - for a given price the cost of the suspension is paid for by using cheaper parts elsewhere on the bike.
If you're not sure if you need suspension I would buy the best bike I could with no suspension and then, later on, if I found I could do with suspension, save up and buy a decent quality suspension fork.
A lot of the cheaper suspension forks give poor suspension and add weight to your bike, reducing your speed and range. If you're going to have suspension it needs to be good enough in the comfort it gives to be a worthwhile compensation for the extra weight.
That my tuppence worth, I have ridden a lot of suspension and no suspension bikes over the years.
If you ride on quite good roads there is no need for suspension, and buying a bike with suspension means that for the same money you could get a better bike with no suspension - for a given price the cost of the suspension is paid for by using cheaper parts elsewhere on the bike.
If you're not sure if you need suspension I would buy the best bike I could with no suspension and then, later on, if I found I could do with suspension, save up and buy a decent quality suspension fork.
A lot of the cheaper suspension forks give poor suspension and add weight to your bike, reducing your speed and range. If you're going to have suspension it needs to be good enough in the comfort it gives to be a worthwhile compensation for the extra weight.
That my tuppence worth, I have ridden a lot of suspension and no suspension bikes over the years.
Because I didn't know how to turn my suspension on (I know, I know), I rode my new Wisper last year for a couple of months without front suspension. Having found out which way to turn the on/off knob and ride WITH suspension on some of the worst roads in the UK (NW London), my conclusion is that it makes a difference, but in no way compensates for the corrugated concrete tracks that pass for roads round here (not to mention the pot-holes and other cunningly-disguised traps set for the unwary).
Worth having, but don't expect miracles.
A
Worth having, but don't expect miracles.
A
anyone know what Scotty means? I have an annoying side to side wobble on the seat (not the post) of my brand new bike with seat post suspension. Is that normal?
They nearly all have, or develop, a twisting slackness in the square section sleeve in the stem Penny. With this the nose of the saddle can move from side to side a bit, but it doesn't affect normal riding. In fact for those who suffer thigh chafing, that "give" may relieve the pressures that cause it.
Exactly the same situation with the roads in southwest London. Given the choice, I prefer suspension on my e-bike but as you say, no miracles there.
Oigoi, where do you find those quite good roads? The nearest good roads I ride on these days are 95 miles as the crow flies, starting in Calais.
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