Hard front fork on Kudos Eco.

[Mike63]

Hi...you may know that I am seriously interested in a Kudos Eco.
I'm looking to get to see one but being unable to travel to Kent it's unlikely I'll be able to try it.

My main concern is the hard front fork, if you've got this type of fork do you find the lack of suspension a problem/disadvantage ?

If I bought the Eco and couldn't live with this type of fork would I be able to change the hard fork for a suspension fork ? ...I cannot see it being much of a job...am I right ?

I've just thought of this...would the dealer be able to do it at point of purchase ?

.....I don't suppose anyone actually has an Eco...answer a few questions.

.....Thanks....Mike

 

[Jimod]

I've got the Kudos Tourer with no suspension. The forks don't bother me. I've done a 37 mile trip and not been bothered. If you get the seating position correct then you might be OK. Doesn't the ECO have adjustable handlebar thingy? It's best to try it though if you're worried. What works for me might not suit you.

 

[flecc]

You can also solve any hardness problem with Schwalbe Big Apple tyres, sold as "suspension for bikes". They do an excellent job of making bikes comfortable and we have some members who swear by them. There are two widths in the different sizes so one can usually be chosen to fit ok:

Schwalbe Big Apple tyres

 

[eddieo]

just look up spec of forks for reviews and price. Most cheap forks not worth the extra weight. Your going from one cheap bike to another..... a bit pointless IMO

 

[indalo]

Mike, if you are used to riding a bike with a solid front end, it won't bother you. If, on the other hand, you have been riding bikes with sprung forks, you probably won't like it.

All four of my bikes have suspended forks but I occasionally ride one of my partner's machines with a solid fork and I just find it uncomfortable. I suppose I'd get used to it if I rode it for long enough but I'm 63 years old and I really don't know if I've got long enough for that!

Unsprung bikes, in my view, are the province of the athlete, whether amateur or pro. Since suspended forks became popular, they have made cycling far more comfortable for leisure cyclists. It occurs to me that, if someone actually needs an electric bike, then they very probably need front suspension too. Cycling without is a bit hair-shirt really.

Just by way of an after-thought, you may have read, as I have, that some utilise those big, fat tyres which give some cushioning effect and absorb the worst of the road shocks. I haven't tried those and they may not fit all wheels on all bikes but it could be a compromise. Schwalbe do the "Big Apple" ones.....I think that's what they're called.

Indalo

 

[indalo]

Further to my last, Eddieo makes a fair point as cheapo forks probably aren't worth having and those are what usually come on cheap bikes.

Our posts crossed.

Indalo

 

[Scottyf]

Also you can change the front forks and its a pretty easy task.
With threadless headsets being the modern use its a cash of fitting a crown race and cutting the stem to fit the desired length of your frame / height.

I fitted new forks not lon ago and used a pipe cutter to trim it to fit.

Look at videos on you tube. There's plenty of decent explanations of how to do it.

 

[overlander]

To be honest anything under £1000 the forks are useless anyway, the situation will be 80% worse on an electric bike as most the cost is in the electrics. I would steer away from suspension at that cost, nothing wrong with a good solid fork, many a bike has toured round the world with one, i;m sure its up to the job of your commute.

 

[Scottyf]

Suspension Tech has come along way I think in most designs on bikes and even though I only have a budget Manitou fork its miles better than anything i've had previously in the past.
An its still considered to be pants.

You can get some decent fork quite cheaply now and second hand for peanuts.

Road commuting you can get away with a solid fork but I wouldnt discount it.
Unfortunatly though its almost an upgrade part on most electric bikes unless you buy a decent off road bike...

 

[eddieo]

my wife's Wisper 705 SE was solid front, I changed the grips to ergonomic ones, used padded fingerless gloves, and if we had kept it would have added Big Apples. I feel sure it would have been good enough if I had added the tyres, but I bought the KTM Bosch instead....

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Bikes with non-suspension forks are OK as long as you don't want to go far. By the time you've done about 8 miles, your wrists start to hurt. Big Apple tyres are better than nothing- as are cheap suspension forks. Luckily, you can get really nice forks on Ebay for not too much money, and most can be fitted in about 5 minutes.

Having said that, the steering head on the ECO looks quite long, so used forks (with a cut down stem) might not fit. New forks always have a long enough stem that most people (like Scotty) have to cut down, but you might not need to. Expect to pay over £200 for decent ones. Also, check with Kudos what size the stem is. Inch and an eighth is standard. If it's an inch, there's hardly any decent forks - new or used.

 

[Mike63]

Thanks for all that people...some rally interesting stuff there.

I've checked the forks on my UM and as far as I can tell they don't seem to "bounce" at all,
...I suppose being a cheap bike same as the Eco the forks will be cheap...but it's been ok.

Some interesting reading on the Schwalbe big apple tyres...might be worth tryng,
...I'd have to change the tyres to Marathon Plus anyway and as long as I've got the same puncture protection, the suspension element could be a bonus.

If I buy the Eco, which appears likely, I'll stick with the hard forks initially, see how I get on,
...rarely do more than 10 miles nonstop anyway and I too wear padded gloves.

thanks again ....Mike

 

[overlander]

Food for thought, maybe i'm a Luddite but i have never done any distance on a bike with suspension. But one thing for certain is, you will not find any touring/expedition bike with suspension, only in very rare case you might. But then again for commuting i might try it. mmmm we'll see.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Food for thought, maybe i'm a Luddite but i have never done any distance on a bike with suspension. But one thing for certain is, you will not find any touring/expedition bike with suspension, only in very rare case you might. But then again for commuting i might try it. mmmm we'll see.

My touring/expedition bike has top quality air suspension and it's brilliant! I would say that if you want to do journeys of 50 miles or more, it's essential.

 

[flecc]

I think suspension is very much a personal preference thing. I prefer the lighter bike and precise feel without suspension, really hating rear suspension, and after my retirement in my 50s and 60s often rode between 50 and 60 miles a day without any ill effect. Obviously I grew up cycling without suspension so am thoroughly used to that. Younger people whose early cycling years were in the mountain bike era tend the other way probably because that's what they got used to early on.

 

[Scottyf]

I love the single speed or fixie with one front caliper brake and nothing else.
No gears, no complecations, super light with a rigid bike frame and large thin wheels.

Its much easier to throw about and get up to speed. Really awesome for riding in the city with and its just simple.

Wouldn't want to do distance on it through. Any more than 2 mile I start to sweat and becomes uncomfortable. For getting to meeting friends on the other side of the city nothing beats it.

Electric bike is a hardtail. But I can see the apeal of comfort for a full suspension setup on an electric bike since your not affected as much by pedal bob.

 

[flecc]

I love the single speed or fixie with one front caliper brake and nothing else.
No gears, no complecations, super light with a rigid bike frame and large thin wheels.

Yes, they do have a lot of appeal, many bike couriers using them.

The nearest e-bike equivalent is the eZee Quando. Just twist the throttle, it takes off and powers without pedalling over most hills, so no need to do much else, just sit back and admire the scenery!

 

[oigoi]

I have found it quite comfortable to ride long distances (50 miles plus) on a rigid bike providing I've got some comfy tyres. At the moment I am using Michelin Country Rock:

Michelin Country Rock 26" x 1.75mm Cycle Bike Bicycle MTB Tyre Tyres City Town | eBay

Which I find to be very good, lightweight, comfortable and grippy on a variety of surfaces. I agree with what a lot of others have said here - when I have had cheap suspension forks I have found they do very little and just add weight. Better off trying comfy tyres and if that is not enough for you getting a decent suspension fork later.

 

[overlander]

My touring/expedition bike has top quality air suspension and it's brilliant! I would say that if you want to do journeys of 50 miles or more, it's essential.

I think it depends on your view of touring, if it was in western Europe the i guess suspension would be ok except you lose the front luggage, i know you can get racks but they are compromised. Now if it was India etc no way would you use forks, thats why none of the touring bike manufacturers ever recommend forks. Same goes with disc brakes, aluminum frames the list goes on. There are too many company's selling "touring" bikes with all the bling, but you just do not need any of it, and the middle of nowhere you want none of it. Ok my koga has got an aluminum frame, just not sure about it, thinking of getting a ridgeback panorama and going back to the steel frame, we will see.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I think it depends on your view of touring, if it was in western Europe the i guess suspension would be ok except you lose the front luggage, i know you can get racks but they are compromised. Now if it was India etc no way would you use forks, thats why none of the touring bike manufacturers ever recommend forks. Same goes with disc brakes, aluminum frames the list goes on. There are too many company's selling "touring" bikes with all the bling, but you just do not need any of it, and the middle of nowhere you want none of it. Ok my koga has got an aluminum frame, just not sure about it, thinking of getting a ridgeback panorama and going back to the steel frame, we will see.

OK, point accepted. I was thinking more about summer ride-outs type touring. The main point is that going a long way on a bike with good suspension makes it a hell of a lot more comfortable. I did several journeys over 80 miles in a day last summer without getting a sore bum and wrists. Before I had decent suspension, I used to get really uncomfortable just riding the 15 miles to work.