Which suspension fork for road bike?

[Jim]

Having no experience with mountain bikes, I need some help with this idea;
I'd like to install a 700c suspension fork (with lockout) on my old Miyata
1000LT touring bike, so I can descend our poorly maintained mountain roads
without all the jarring. I'd like to use this bike because it has a
compliant steel frame & 1.5" wide wheels with 38mm tires. The Miyata uses a
1" fork tube. Any favorite forks? I'd also like to upgrade the Dia Compe
cantilever brakes. Can I use Shimano V brakes? Are they much better?
I've got a bad neck, so any reduction in front fork pounding or in brake
lever effort really extends my ride time.
Thanks,
Jim

 

[M-gineering]

Jim wrote:
> Having no experience with mountain bikes, I need some help with this idea;
> I'd like to install a 700c suspension fork (with lockout) on my old Miyata
> 1000LT touring bike, so I can descend our poorly maintained mountain roads
> without all the jarring. I'd like to use this bike because it has a
> compliant steel frame & 1.5" wide wheels with 38mm tires. The Miyata uses a
> 1" fork tube. Any favorite forks? I'd also like to upgrade the Dia Compe
> cantilever brakes. Can I use Shimano V brakes? Are they much better?
> I've got a bad neck, so any reduction in front fork pounding or in brake
> lever effort really extends my ride time.
> Thanks,
> Jim
>
>
A suspensionfork will be much longer: this gives you a laid back
seatangle and will do funny things to the steering. Wider tyres will
help, (if they fit) or else you'll need a suspension corrected frame. Or
consider a flexstem from Ebay

--
---
Marten Gerritsen

INFOapestaartjeM-GINEERINGpuntNL
www.m-gineering.nl

 

[Jim]

Uh Oh... that's not good news; the Miyata already has laid-back angles,
which already cause the front wheel to wag while I'm crawling up the
mountain.
The project bike's got to have front suspension & a triple, so now I guess
I'm looking for either a used Cannondale Headshok SX 800 or a mountain
bike.
Best Regards,
Jim
"M-gineering" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Jim wrote:
> > Having no experience with mountain bikes, I need some help with this
idea;
> > I'd like to install a 700c suspension fork (with lockout) on my old
Miyata
> > 1000LT touring bike, so I can descend our poorly maintained mountain
roads
> > without all the jarring. I'd like to use this bike because it has a
> > compliant steel frame & 1.5" wide wheels with 38mm tires. The Miyata
uses a
> > 1" fork tube. Any favorite forks? I'd also like to upgrade the Dia
Compe
> > cantilever brakes. Can I use Shimano V brakes? Are they much better?
> > I've got a bad neck, so any reduction in front fork pounding or in brake
> > lever effort really extends my ride time.
> > Thanks,
> > Jim
> >
> >
> A suspensionfork will be much longer: this gives you a laid back
> seatangle and will do funny things to the steering. Wider tyres will
> help, (if they fit) or else you'll need a suspension corrected frame. Or
> consider a flexstem from Ebay
>
> --
> ---
> Marten Gerritsen
>
> INFOapestaartjeM-GINEERINGpuntNL
> www.m-gineering.nl

 

[Simon Cooper]

"Jim" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:QkiIf.32708$jR.25167@fed1read01...
> Uh Oh... that's not good news; the Miyata already has laid-back angles,
> which already cause the front wheel to wag while I'm crawling up the
> mountain.
> The project bike's got to have front suspension & a triple, so now I guess
> I'm looking for either a used Cannondale Headshok SX 800 or a mountain
> bike.
> Best Regards,
> Jim

My LBS has a couple of NOS headshok frames that they don't see as being easy
to sell. Why not call and see if they'll do you a deal?
http://www.halterscycles.com

 

[Alex Rodriguez]

In article <7mdIf.32691$jR.14014@fed1read01>, [email protected] says...
>
>
>Having no experience with mountain bikes, I need some help with this idea;
>I'd like to install a 700c suspension fork (with lockout) on my old Miyata
>1000LT touring bike, so I can descend our poorly maintained mountain roads
>without all the jarring. I'd like to use this bike because it has a
>compliant steel frame & 1.5" wide wheels with 38mm tires. The Miyata uses a
>1" fork tube. Any favorite forks? I'd also like to upgrade the Dia Compe
>cantilever brakes. Can I use Shimano V brakes? Are they much better?
>I've got a bad neck, so any reduction in front fork pounding or in brake
>lever effort really extends my ride time.

You may want to also consider a suspension stem. Much simpler and lighter.
I've ridden a couple of suspenion forks for road bikes and IMHO, they are not
worth it.
--------------
Alex

 

[Andrew W]

Alex Rodriguez wrote:
> In article <7mdIf.32691$jR.14014@fed1read01>, [email protected] says...
> >
> >
> >Having no experience with mountain bikes, I need some help with this idea;
> >I'd like to install a 700c suspension fork (with lockout) on my old Miyata
> >1000LT touring bike, so I can descend our poorly maintained mountain roads
> >without all the jarring. I'd like to use this bike because it has a
> >compliant steel frame & 1.5" wide wheels with 38mm tires. The Miyata uses a
> >1" fork tube. Any favorite forks? I'd also like to upgrade the Dia Compe
> >cantilever brakes. Can I use Shimano V brakes? Are they much better?
> >I've got a bad neck, so any reduction in front fork pounding or in brake
> >lever effort really extends my ride time.
>
> You may want to also consider a suspension stem. Much simpler and lighter.
> I've ridden a couple of suspenion forks for road bikes and IMHO, they are not
> worth it.
> --------------
> Alex
......or a suspension hub. I'be had excellent experiences with the
suspension provided by a Pantour hub when riding on loose gravel (i.e.
ironing out vibtation rather than potholes or rocks). Lets you ride
with hard tyres on the road without being shaken to bits on less even
surfaces. I'm less enthusiastic about the bearing seals, but they've
changed that part of the design since I bought mine.

see http://www.pantourhub.com/

 

[Adam Rush]

I hope Rube Goldberg isn't alive to sue them.

 

[Jim]

I think I'll try Pantour wheels; this might solve the problem!
Jim
"Adam Rush" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I hope Rube Goldberg isn't alive to sue them.
>