DasKapitan's post on the 1900's Pierce has become an inspiration for a fork I want to build. His second pic
gives a great view of the geometry of that fork. Measuring (on my screen) from the center of the fork blade dropouts to the top of the fork crowns the front fork is 95% the length of the rear. The front fork will carry the fender and brakes.
I have two matching forks (except for length) from a pair of 70's road bikes. The shorter (26" or 590mm) is 94% of the longer (27" or 630mm). I also measured the bottom rocker and the top link as equal lengths, although they appear to be at different angles (camera angle?).
I think the shock at the top of the forks looks kinda plain but I want your opinion. If you were gonna build this setup, would you do it as a shock at the top or as a double springer (ala Monarch)?
If I build it as a shock at the top, the steerer of the front would serve as the piston rod. I can come up with some tubing for the cylinder. A spring and Delrin piston inside the tubing like a cheap MTB suspension fork or hide a small shock inside? Or a coilover shock from the rear of a full suspension MTB? The two cheap MTB coilover shocks I have use 650 lb/in springs. The coilovers have the added benefit of being adjustable, too.
I'm leaning toward the Monarch type springer. The forks have a really nice curve like the pic above. Nice lugged crowns. The curve in the matching forks would go right in line with the 90's comfort cruiser I'm building. Think a Huffy Cranbroke's small tube uncle.
So what do y'all think? Hidden shock at the top, coilover shock at the top or double springer?
Ted
gives a great view of the geometry of that fork. Measuring (on my screen) from the center of the fork blade dropouts to the top of the fork crowns the front fork is 95% the length of the rear. The front fork will carry the fender and brakes.
I have two matching forks (except for length) from a pair of 70's road bikes. The shorter (26" or 590mm) is 94% of the longer (27" or 630mm). I also measured the bottom rocker and the top link as equal lengths, although they appear to be at different angles (camera angle?).
I think the shock at the top of the forks looks kinda plain but I want your opinion. If you were gonna build this setup, would you do it as a shock at the top or as a double springer (ala Monarch)?
If I build it as a shock at the top, the steerer of the front would serve as the piston rod. I can come up with some tubing for the cylinder. A spring and Delrin piston inside the tubing like a cheap MTB suspension fork or hide a small shock inside? Or a coilover shock from the rear of a full suspension MTB? The two cheap MTB coilover shocks I have use 650 lb/in springs. The coilovers have the added benefit of being adjustable, too.
I'm leaning toward the Monarch type springer. The forks have a really nice curve like the pic above. Nice lugged crowns. The curve in the matching forks would go right in line with the 90's comfort cruiser I'm building. Think a Huffy Cranbroke's small tube uncle.
So what do y'all think? Hidden shock at the top, coilover shock at the top or double springer?
Ted
