Do members think rear suspension a good idea on a pedelec?

[Kudoscycles]

There are a number of full suspension e-bikes starting to become available. Just wondering whether members like the idea of a soft tail rear end?
Dave
KudosCycles

 

[flecc]

I dislike rear suspension since it adds weight, compromises rigidity and can be very inefficient through absorbing pedal energy if badly designed. I think it unnecessary for road cycling.

The most inefficient is the direct acting type like that on this Tonaro

The best for efficiency is the cantilever type like that on this Haibike, though there are other good cantilever arrangements with possibly even better efficiency.

 

[Burgman]

Look at buying a good sprung seat post . I do 12 mile round commute each day by towpath on Kalkhoff with sprung front end and recent addition of same has been a great aid to comfort !

 

[Jimod]

I've never had a bike with suspension, font or rear. I think suspension might suit me though as Im getting softer as I get older. It would, however, need to be good quality as I'd hate to buy a bike then find out it didn't work or wasn't reliable. I guess that would probably increase the price by a fair bit although now that I've had an e-bike and liked it, I would be prepared to pay more for a different/improved one.

 

[20ston]

coming from a mountain bike background, i would say that the haibike is the best looking and probably the best in use if you were looking for a pedelec with suspesion.
and if you are planning on ndoing any serious lengths of offroad riding it is the kind of bike to buy.
i rode 2 long offroad sections a while ago, the length of Rooley Moor road a crossing of Salter Fell.
i did this on my kalkhoff pro connect disc with no suspension front or rear (i ditched the cheaply sprung rst forks 1 week after purchase. a cheap spring fork with no adjustment on a 50lbs bike is a complete waste of time) and the ride was very very uncomfortable and slow, with having to try and pick as smooth a line as possible.

 

[jerrysimon]

Had to post this

Jerry

 

[neptune]

I reckon it is horses for courses. If a bike is reasonably light, and used on the roads most of the time, then suspension is probably an unecessary expense, and extra weight. It might have a place on a heavy old SLA bike, particularly if your local roads are as potholed as the ones around here. I do not have the experience to comment on off-road use.

 

[indalo]

Having a selection of bikes from which to choose, ranging from solid through front suspension only to full-sus MTBs, my experience is that rear suspension is unnecessary in all circumstances in which I ride a bike.

I do however like the softening effect provided by a sprung seatpost and for most of my riding, front suspension screwed up fairly tight ameliorates the road harshness just enough for comfort. A well-engineered solid frame can ride fairly softly too but I'm always glad of the shock absorption at the front when I hit unseen potholes and crevices.

Indalo

 

[jerrysimon]

Again its horses for courses but I think small wheeled bike benefit greatly from suspension, more so on the rear than the front.

Never tried a sprung seatpost.

Jerry