Shock compatibility

"H.Pinard" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I recently picked up a 1991 Klein "Rascal" at a local
Goodwill store and would like to change out its stock Cro-
mo front fork which has a 1" steerer for a margin- ally
highend front suspension fork (Marzocchi, Rock Shox,
Manitou, and etc.?) that will fit this bike well enough
without compromising its handlng ability, speed, or
safety. Is there such a product available? If so, what
brand and model am I looking to find, and where might I
find it? Please inform. Thank you.

I don't know if new 1" forks are available, but there are
still some good older ones floating around. My son bought a
Rox Shock Judy XC and put it on an older Specialized
Rockhopper. While it did raise the front end nearly 2
inches, the handling was still quite acceptable. That frame
has a fairly steep angle on the fork so the change in angle
from the elevation still left it within a reasonable range.

He eventually sold the fork for $50 when he came across a
Schwinn Project Underground carbon and titanium frame. Now
he has a 22 1/2 pound bike that he has $175 total in..

Speaking of older Kleins, I just built up a Synchros I
bought on eBay and I LOVE it! With a whole new drive train,
I have $210 in it. While mine had a 1
1/8 headset, the head angle is steep enough that it
could stand the lift from a taller fork and still ride
just fine.

The techies out there will probably correct me because
raising the head tube changes every angle on the bike, but
building good bikes out of bargain frames usually means
some kind of sacrifice. Right now there a lots of great
frames available for great prices if you are willing to
forego having rear disk brakes. Cool as they are, you
really only need them if you race down hill or ride in lots
of gooey mud.

Personally, I think starting with a 2.9 lb frame from a
major maker and making good use of discounted and used parts
is the way to go to get a good bike for minimal $. Once you
have your basic set of parts, you can always trade your way
up as we did, replacing heavy or obsolete components as you
go. Swap meets, eBay, used bike stores, and the instincts of
a horsetrader can make it very cheap to get the parts you
need, and sell the ones you don't. By the time you subtract
the money I made selling the two "donor bikes" that I robbed
many of the bits and pieces I needed, my Klein cost me less
than $50 out of pocket. and my son's Schwinn cost him just
over $100.

We are quite willing to allow those whose bikes cost way
more than ours have the smug satisfaction of having
spent too much.

Have fun with your project!

bmaytum

Thank you for the nice email. I really appreciate that you
were so quick to let me know that my thoughts were helpful.

Since you live in my area, I will be glad to keep my eyes
open for a 1" fork from my second-best source of used
shocks. First is my middle school son's friends who have a
remarkable array of older shocks at great prices, but we
already picked up the only 1" fork they had. Second best is
working my network. I know there is nothing out there right
now, things have a tendency to show up if I put out the
word. Of course you will be under no obligation until you
have had a chance to see the fork and decide you want it.

Is there a used bike store in your city? Or used (pawn
perhaps) store near the Campus? Also, most bike shops have a
bulletin board where you can put up notices. Making direct
contact with the techs in the bike shops can sometimes flush
out items in their personal supply of old parts. Joining a
club will also put you in contact with a network of
cyclists. Swap meets are also great places for those obscure
older parts.

A WTB notice on all the bike boards will also reach
thousands of bikers, some of whom will have your fork.
Beware of excessive cross-posting.

Don't neglect eBay. Sellers with at least 50 feedback points
and 98%+ positive ratings have a reputation to maintain and
a track record to prove customer satisfaction. PayPal also
offers a buyer protection plan. Find out if your purchase
qualifies. NEVER pay with anything but PayPal or a credit
card. Read the descriptions CAREFULLY, look at the pictures
and ask questions if you are not sure. Watch out for
shipping costs. $15-$20 seems typical for forks, but what
ever it is, just figure it into the cost and bid
accordingly. You can also look up what past auctions have
yielded so you can bid appropriately. Bid late to avoid
needlessly running up your cost by getting into a bidding
war early on. Decide what your maximum bid will be in
advance and don't go over it in the heady desire to win. The
eBay stores often have good deals as well. Most sellers will
give you a break on shipping if you buy more than one item
at a time.

Considering the fact that I was able to pick up a Klein
Synchros on eBay in essentially new condition for $78, you
may want to sell your existing frame and get a newer one
that won't tie your hands equipment wise. If you bought it
at the Salvation Army, you may be able to make some money
on the sale. I know of a Cannondale that takes a 1 1/8"
steer tube for about what I paid. Since I wasn't looking
for a frame, I didn't look at it very hard, but if you are
interested, I would be willing to check it out. I don't
know the size.

BTW, if I were to sell the left over frame and suspension
fork from the second donor bike, I would actually have made
money on my Klein project! I'm hanging onto it because I'm
thinking of building it back up for my wife with better
componentry. If my son were to sell off his extra parts, his
project would drop to near $0 as well. It is our goal to
have enough parts on hand to build another complete bike
just in case a frame we can't refuse falls in our lap. Like
the brand new Yeti full suspension frame with rear shock for
$100 that popped up at Performance a couple of weeks ago. If
it hadn't been two sizes too big, I would have grabbed it
instantly. Sorry it is already sold, I pointed it out to
another customer standing next to me and he grabbed it.

I hope this is useful.

Good Luck on your project.

Brian Maytum

"B Maytum" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"H.Pinard" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I recently picked up a 1991 Klein "Rascal" at a local
Goodwill store and would like to change out its stock
Cro-mo front fork which has a 1" steerer for a margin-
ally highend front suspension fork (Marzocchi, Rock
Shox, Manitou, and etc.?) that will fit this bike well
enough without compromising its handlng ability, speed,
or safety. Is there such a product available? If so,
what brand and model am I looking to find, and where
might I find it? Please inform. Thank you.

I don't know if new 1" forks are available, but there are
still some good older ones floating around. My son bought
a Rox Shock Judy XC and put it

on

Quoted message said:

an older Specialized Rockhopper. While it did raise the
front end nearly 2 inches, the handling was still quite
acceptable. That frame has a fairly steep angle on the
fork so the change in angle from the elevation still

left

Quoted message said:

it within a reasonable range.

He eventually sold the fork for $50 when he came across a
Schwinn Project Underground carbon and titanium frame. Now
he has a 22 1/2 pound bike that he has $175 total in..

Speaking of older Kleins, I just built up a Synchros I
bought on eBay and

I

Quoted message said:

LOVE it! With a whole new drive train, I have $210 in it.
While mine had a

1

Quoted message said:

1/8 headset, the head angle is steep enough that it
could stand the lift from a taller fork and still ride
just fine.

The techies out there will probably correct me because
raising the head

tube

Quoted message said:

changes every angle on the bike, but building good bikes
out of bargain frames usually means some kind of
sacrifice. Right now there a lots of

great

Quoted message said:

frames available for great prices if you are willing to
forego having rear disk brakes. Cool as they are, you
really only need them if you race down hill or ride in
lots of gooey mud.

Personally, I think starting with a 2.9 lb frame from a
major maker and making good use of discounted and used
parts is the way to go to get a

good

Quoted message said:

bike for minimal $. Once you have your basic set of parts,
you can always trade your way up as we did, replacing
heavy or obsolete components as you go. Swap meets, eBay,
used bike stores, and the instincts of a horsetrader can
make it very cheap to get the parts you need, and sell the
ones you don't. By the time you subtract the money I made
selling the two "donor bikes" that I robbed many of the
bits and pieces I needed, my Klein cost

me

Quoted message said:

less than $50 out of pocket. and my son's Schwinn cost him
just over $100.

Have fun with your project!

bmaytum

"H.Pinard" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I recently picked up a 1991 Klein "Rascal" at a local
Goodwill store and would like to change out its stock Cro-
mo front fork which has a 1" steerer for a margin- ally
highend front suspension fork (Marzocchi, Rock Shox,
Manitou, and etc.?) that will fit this bike well enough
without compromising its handlng ability, speed, or
safety. Is there such a product available? If so, what
brand and model am I looking to find, and where might I
find it? Please inform. Thank you.

How about this? tinyurl.com2x6wrOpen ↗

...not too much travel for your frame.

Dave