Steel or alloy/alluminium forks?

[my.motion]

Hi Team,

Can the alluminium/ alloy forks handle a motorised wheel? There are some suggestions that only steel with no suspension is safe and can handle the more powerful motors. The alloys/alluminium material tend to brake as these forks are not designed to cope with the high speed wheels.

Any input or advise in this matter will be highly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[flecc]

Many of the bikes designed as e-bikes use alloy forks, even with the most powerful motors as in the case of the eZee models, but they are rather more substantial than the usual bike forks, particularly around the drop-out slots.

With standard bikes, steel forks are safer with the most powerful motors, and either way it's best to use an anti-torque plate to stop the motor from spinning in the drop outs, widening them and severing the connections.

Here's an example of a suitable anti-torque arm on ebay
.

 

[my.motion]

There is a bike on ebay with Unicrown rigid trekking fork, the frame is aluminium does this mean the fork are different matrerial? The bike is

Raleigh Pioneer Metro Airlite Gents Hybrid Town Bike

 

[flecc]

I haven't found that one so I can't say what forks they are, I can't even say if they are suspension ones.

If you have a look at the website below, you'll see the first two Raleighs have rigid steel forks with alloy frames

Discount Bicycles
.

 

[Barnowl]

Yes those are steel. You can tell by the rake of the forks. See below from Evans Cycles website for 2007 model - Raleigh Pioneer Metro LX 2007 Hybrid Bike



Frame: AIRLite aluminium gents city frame - Forks: Steel unicrown trekking fork - Gears: 21 Speed Shimano - Shifters: EZ Fire trigger shifters - Brakes: Light-action alloy V-brakes - Wheels: Accedo rustless alloy rims - Tyres: 700c x 28c Trekking tyres - Handlebars: Low rise handle bar - Stem: Alloy height-adjustable stem - Saddle: Selle Royal saddle - Seatpost: Suspension seatpost - Pedals/Extras: Full mudgaurd set and rear carrier

Evans Cycles | Raleigh Pioneer Metro LX 2007 Hybrid Bike | Online Bike Shop

 

[flecc]

I thought that might have been the one Barnowl, but there seemed to be suspension versions of the Metro as well, so couldn't be sure of it.
.

 

[Barnowl]

I checked the bike out on ebay. It does have rigid steel forks. Looks good to me. The steel forks and the curve will make them much better at damping road vibration than aluminium forks which are much less flexible.


PS. When I say looks good I'm referring to the forks and not the ebay item as a whole. The hybrid bike itself is average with what looks like a a few chips and scratches which you would expect. I'm always a bit wary on ebay. Aldby seems to be the expert. The seller does seem to sell rather a lot of bikes and it looks like it's delivery only. Having said that he has got 100% happy customers.

 

[Alex728]

I have a pioneer as my main non-powered bike and I am sure it has steel forks and aluminium frame...my powacycle salisbury does have steel forks (although not front wheel drive) as I checked the forks with a fridge magnet

 

[Barnowl]

Pinging them with finger nail works too. A nice ringing tone is steel. The higher the better (more expensive) the quality of steel is.

 

[my.motion]

thanks all

I have a pioneer as my main non-powered bike and I am sure it has steel forks and aluminium frame...my powacycle salisbury does have steel forks (although not front wheel drive) as I checked the forks with a fridge magnet

Alex, would you say the pioneer is a good bike? Which model do you please? I foundout that the distance between the forks at the dropout is only 95mm is this true with yours? this is not good for the conversion kit as they require atleast 100mm gap

 

[Alex728]

Alex, would you say the pioneer is a good bike? Which model do you please? I foundout that the distance between the forks at the dropout is only 95mm is this true with yours? this is not good for the conversion kit as they require atleast 100mm gap

Pioneer LX Gents 2006 model (non suspension fork)

it was my main bike from 2006 until December 2008 when I bought the ebike, done about 5000 miles on it and I would say its a good medium priced 700c wheeled hybrid.

I haven't measured the distance between the forks though (that said I had considered converting it one day)

incidentally I've heard rumours a Powabyke X series is an electric Raleigh Pioneer though I don't know if powabyke use different forks. I saw a X6 in Ipswich a few months back and it certainly looked similar..