06-24-2011, 10:11 PM
[attachment=2569][attachment=2568][attachment=2567][attachment=2566]Upgrades installed on the softcruise bike.
I had been drooling for a front (disc) brake set-up but the springer fork presented some problems. I did find two suppliers for an attaching bracket that allows disc brakes on the springer (popular with the motorized bicycle folks) but the downhill tires were just too wide for the springer forks.
After a long search I found a company that offered threaded (1”) MTB forks for less than a hundred bucks. They’re not pro-quality but very responsive (better so than the springer’s even though that old technology worked fairly well).
I haven’t been appreciated as a customer at bike shops (due to my no-name ride) but was surprised to see my local shop owner get right to work at installing the new fork. I still needed the caliper and brake lever/ cable but he had those items on-hand and I left the shop happy to pay the $80 bucks (parts and labor).
The rake angle is a bit shallower with the new fork but the bike is still very stable at low speeds and more manageable in rough terrain. The modern forks buffer more of the bumps but I’ve found the dual suspension robs power when the bike is cranked off-seat. It’s a fair trade-off since my lower back appreciates not feeling pot holes so much. I also added a new seat that surprised me with a new level of comfort even though it’s a cheap add-on. This doubled my ride time alone.
Weight is this bikes biggest flaw. Steel is tough but heavy. My endurance has increased but it’s clear the softcruise is meant for flat/ beach environment. Had the bike been made from an alloy the cost would have been out of my range but the hills would have been less menacing (the resistance is still a benefit for my cardio anyway).
It may be a tank but it handles rugged terrain like a champ and even capable of tight turns at questionable speeds. A benefit of the tires and change in rake I suppose. The retro styling gets a lot of attention but without the springer fork, half of its personality is lost. This is the trade-off for the modern forks and additional braking power.
In the future I may opt for 3” riser handlebars and perhaps a lay-back seat post but for now I’ll cover as many summer miles as I can.
I had been drooling for a front (disc) brake set-up but the springer fork presented some problems. I did find two suppliers for an attaching bracket that allows disc brakes on the springer (popular with the motorized bicycle folks) but the downhill tires were just too wide for the springer forks.
After a long search I found a company that offered threaded (1”) MTB forks for less than a hundred bucks. They’re not pro-quality but very responsive (better so than the springer’s even though that old technology worked fairly well).
I haven’t been appreciated as a customer at bike shops (due to my no-name ride) but was surprised to see my local shop owner get right to work at installing the new fork. I still needed the caliper and brake lever/ cable but he had those items on-hand and I left the shop happy to pay the $80 bucks (parts and labor).
The rake angle is a bit shallower with the new fork but the bike is still very stable at low speeds and more manageable in rough terrain. The modern forks buffer more of the bumps but I’ve found the dual suspension robs power when the bike is cranked off-seat. It’s a fair trade-off since my lower back appreciates not feeling pot holes so much. I also added a new seat that surprised me with a new level of comfort even though it’s a cheap add-on. This doubled my ride time alone.
Weight is this bikes biggest flaw. Steel is tough but heavy. My endurance has increased but it’s clear the softcruise is meant for flat/ beach environment. Had the bike been made from an alloy the cost would have been out of my range but the hills would have been less menacing (the resistance is still a benefit for my cardio anyway).
It may be a tank but it handles rugged terrain like a champ and even capable of tight turns at questionable speeds. A benefit of the tires and change in rake I suppose. The retro styling gets a lot of attention but without the springer fork, half of its personality is lost. This is the trade-off for the modern forks and additional braking power.
In the future I may opt for 3” riser handlebars and perhaps a lay-back seat post but for now I’ll cover as many summer miles as I can.
2011softcruise
“Striker, listen, and you listen close: flying a plane is no different than riding a bicycle, just a lot harder to put baseball cards in the spokes.”
Airplane (1980) – Rex Kramer (Robert Stack)
“Striker, listen, and you listen close: flying a plane is no different than riding a bicycle, just a lot harder to put baseball cards in the spokes.”
Airplane (1980) – Rex Kramer (Robert Stack)