Softrider - fork not 'suspended'

wordy

Member
I've just purchased a Softrider and assembled it. The front fork is solid (doesn't spring) and I can't see what, if anything, I should have done differently. Any clues?
 

trapdoor2

Zen MBB Master
From what I can glean on this site, the Softrider suspension should have ~40mm of travel but the spring is noted as "extra stiff" so perhaps you may need to put a good deal of weight on it to see any movement. I've no idea if it has a preload setting (as many do). Also, the moving bits in shocks tend to get "sticky" whilst sitting up and often need to be broken free. The Rockshox i-shock I purchased off of ebay recently needed quite a bit of weight applied and then suddenly 'broke free'...and works properly now.

40mm is not a lot of travel (compared to a mountain bike shock) and I would not expect it to "go to the stops" without some serious force. If you're not 20 stone (like me) you may not get much movement at all.

standard caveats apply: I've never seen a Softrider except in pictures. I do not represent the company, its heirs or assigns. Best I can offer is an educated guess and a bit of a chat. Everyone else seems to be on holiday...
 

wordy

Member
Thanks Marc - how come you don't get a holiday then!

I'm not at all familiar with suspended forks. I can't see any sign of a spring on this one, but if it's like the Cannondale it may be internal. I've sat the bike upside down and put my full weight on the front wheel and I've tried thumping the front wheel down.
The fork tube seems to be one solid piece right through to the top and logically for it to work there'd be an elastomer or spring above the crown.

I wouldn't be shocked of there was a bit missing, because the dealer has supplied the bike without a seat mount, rendering it unrideable, which is about the most frustrating thing that can happen to the purchaser of a 'new' bike two weeks before Christmas! I'll withhold judgement on that pending the response but with the dealer several thousand kms away it makes for a bigger problem than I need right now. If I catch up with 'Murphy' he's in BIG trouble !
 

trapdoor2

Zen MBB Master
Here, all holidays suspended until further notice...or Christmas shows up. ;) No telling what kind of holidays they have in OZ, their heads being below their feet and all. :lol:

Just from the looks of the shock on the Softrider, I would say it has a spring up in the head-tube much like my Rockshox i-ride (nee Cannondale). The Rockshox has some preload adjustment via a hex screw (4mm?) accessed through the top cap.

Seems like I've read somewhere that one can push the star washer (which is internal to the head-tube) so far down that it interferes with the shock internals...I imagine that might cause a lockup. Otherwise, you're going to need expert help.

Sorry you're having problems with your dealer! I'm having shipment problems on the final bits and pieces of my conversion. If the UPS truck doesn't come by soon, I'll probably start gnawing on the tires.
 

Doug Burton

Zen MBB Master
Hi Wordy,

Sorry, out of town on business...

When the shock is unloaded (static, without a rider) the shock "bellows" type cover should be about 1.5" to 1.75" tall.

The shock is pretty stiff, so you may not be able to compress it until you're actually riding.

Keep me posted on anything else you encounter...

Thanks
 

wordy

Member
Thanks Doug. The cover is indeed right in the ball park at 1.25 inches. Stiff ain't the word for it - putting my full weight on the bars has zero effect and that's 176 lbs straight down. I would have expected it to flinch or something! Is it possible to mess up something in assembly? The long tensioning bolt seemed to screw down an awful long way and there was NOT 1/2 inch of slot showing above the pivot clamp.

I confess the bike frightens me at the moment! I haven't met a learning curve like this one for a long time - but on the positive side, I got my feet up and pedalling in less than 5 minutes of riding. The very noticeable part of learning to ride is the 'violence' of the wheel flop. I think it's like an aircraft - you've got to keep it in the stability envelope or it will bite.

Later:

I've dismantled the stem and exposed the fork. The star nut is in the right position. If anyone has any suggestions on how to test or free this beast, I'd appreciate them. This is a new bike but probably an 07 build if the serial number is any clue.

There are four set screws on the barrel in pairs at 180 degrees, 2 small, two larger. The larger are marked FKE 10.9
I won't touch them unless I know what I'm doing. I'll cross post this query on BROL - someone there may have knowledge of suspended forks.
 

trapdoor2

Zen MBB Master
Hmmm. I suspect (as Doug said) that you haven't enough mass to activate (or break free) the fork. On my Rockshox, I'll bet I had to surpass 200lbs to get it to break free...but once it was moving, it now takes much less to actuate. When you have the fork out of the bike, invert the fork and place the headtube on a block of wood (to protect it); now find a fat guy to do 'push ups' on the fork... :D

An alternative would be to visit your local automotive shop and borrow time on their "H" frame press. A few blocks of wood and a minute or two on the press ought to either show that it does indeed move or break it free (or simply break it...be careful!!).

After looking at some info on repair for the Cannondale fork, I would leave those side screws alone! Looks like it might need a special set of spanners to disassemble...and those side screws may hold in a set of needle bearings.

I enjoyed your ride report. I found the learning curve to be steep but quite short and was riding confidently in mere minutes (I built a conversion kit). Much easier to learn to ride than my low-racer (no blood loss...yet!). :lol:
 

wordy

Member
Re: Softrider - fork - all is well - fork in good health

trapdoor2 wrote: Hmmm. I suspect (as Doug said) that you haven't enough mass to activate (or break free) the fork. On my Rockshox, I'll bet I had to surpass 200lbs to get it to break free...but once it was moving, it now takes much less to actuate. When you have the fork out of the bike, invert the fork and place the headtube on a block of wood (to protect it); now find a fat guy to do 'push ups' on the fork... :D

....snip....:

Thanks for that - did what you suggested and it started sliding up and down smoooothly. Now my body weight easily operates it and I am haaaappy 'cos I like to know that the mechanicals are doing what they're supposed to.
Of course now I know it WOULD have started operating after the first decent bump - just as the dealer said!

It does have a strong preload and short travel - travel very much like the Cannondale headshok. The Headshok needed grease maintenance of the slides but on this one it's all nicely tucked away.
 

trapdoor2

Zen MBB Master
Suspense no more, suspended!

Woo-hoo! Glad it works. Hope you get out and get pedalling...'cause I can't until the weather gets better. They're predicting snow tonight...
 

wordy

Member
Fork OK now it's raining for a week!

EVERY time I buy a new bike it rains for a week and it's true to form this time! We've had two inches of steady rain over the last 24 hours with more to come.

It appears that the reason the fork is so stiff ON the bike is that the front triangulated frame pivots are a little stiff.
With a high preload and stiff linkage on the new bike, the fork doesn't respond to my body weight. With a little riding, they'll free up.....when the rain stops!
 

JonB

Zen MBB Master
Re: Fork OK now it's raining for a week!

wordy wrote: EVERY time I buy a new bike it rains for a week and it's true to form this time! We've had two inches of steady rain over the last 24 hours with more to come.

It appears that the reason the fork is so stiff ON the bike is that the front triangulated frame pivots are a little stiff.
With a high preload and stiff linkage on the new bike, the fork doesn't respond to my body weight. With a little riding, they'll free up.....when the rain stops!
You know, it is possible to bike in rain, just watch out for broken potholes.

Rain_Man_on_Bicycle.ashx"
 
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