I have the same problem with an old school Cannondale. A pristine frame. Gorgeous, functional old school components. An absolutely tuned in ride for the riding I do. But a clattering rear shock that is difficult to find and $300 new.
SnooMemesjellies5721 on
I want to do this as well. To go about, do you measure the steering tube diameter and length? What about to make up for the angle(?) not sure where to start.
The bike is from a now defunct company and information if any is hard to come by
riomx on
I got my Manitou fork rebuilt by [Butter Suspension](https://buttersuspension.com/) in the Seattle area a few years ago and it’s been as good as new.
However, I was hoping to upgrade to a modern suspension fork if I could find one that’s compatible. Are there any options for older bikes?
OpenWorldMaps on
You might check around for a used one if you have any shops that work on a lot of older bikes. I just found a steel 11/8 threadless rigid fork at a local used bike shop. Set me back 10$.
3L1JAH on
People also put solid spacers in some of those forks to make them rigid, but keep the OG looks.
prssr on
Rebuild them. You can buy brand new elastomers or swap for springs. RJ the bike guy has a YouTube video on the rebuild process. They’ll never feel as good as modern suspension forks and they’ll always feel different than a rigid fork, but these are workable.
bikinibottomrealest8 on
I had the same fork, it’s pretty cool but didn’t want to buy the elastomer kit for rebuild.. I ended up buying a siezed up judy that was a decade newer and had disc tabs and rebuilt that one
johnpmacamocomous on
We used to drop springs called speedsprings into those, really a great mod. Maybe you could find some.
Also check out a Manitou markhor.
ProfessionSilver3691 on
I changed a couple out to rigid. Those suspension forks are really heavy. Don’t miss them at all.
9 Comments
I have the same problem with an old school Cannondale. A pristine frame. Gorgeous, functional old school components. An absolutely tuned in ride for the riding I do. But a clattering rear shock that is difficult to find and $300 new.
I want to do this as well. To go about, do you measure the steering tube diameter and length? What about to make up for the angle(?) not sure where to start.
The bike is from a now defunct company and information if any is hard to come by
I got my Manitou fork rebuilt by [Butter Suspension](https://buttersuspension.com/) in the Seattle area a few years ago and it’s been as good as new.
However, I was hoping to upgrade to a modern suspension fork if I could find one that’s compatible. Are there any options for older bikes?
You might check around for a used one if you have any shops that work on a lot of older bikes. I just found a steel 11/8 threadless rigid fork at a local used bike shop. Set me back 10$.
People also put solid spacers in some of those forks to make them rigid, but keep the OG looks.
Rebuild them. You can buy brand new elastomers or swap for springs. RJ the bike guy has a YouTube video on the rebuild process. They’ll never feel as good as modern suspension forks and they’ll always feel different than a rigid fork, but these are workable.
I had the same fork, it’s pretty cool but didn’t want to buy the elastomer kit for rebuild.. I ended up buying a siezed up judy that was a decade newer and had disc tabs and rebuilt that one
We used to drop springs called speedsprings into those, really a great mod. Maybe you could find some.
Also check out a Manitou markhor.
I changed a couple out to rigid. Those suspension forks are really heavy. Don’t miss them at all.