Any bike experts?

[megadarkwood]

I just bought a new dirt jumper bike and need to make some changes/upgrades.

 

These are the things I want to do, but don't know how to do it. (Halp)

 

• The bike has disk brakes on the front and traditional brakes on the back, how do I switch them?
• It also has front suspension, how do I make it stiffer?

 

Thanks

[aidenrelkoff]

You want better brakes on the front accually. Not to mention that there might not be a V-mount type brake on the front anyways. Having a better front brake in the front is good because the front wont skid on the dirt, the back wheel willl lock up and slide.

 

Look on the top of the suspension forks, there should be rubber things on the top you pry off with your fingernail or something. Then there should be a screw thing, you turn it to the + arrow, or the - arrow depending on what you want. Now this was for oil filled forks (you should have this type on a dirt jumper) if its a crappy canadian tire bike then they will be spring forks which you cant adjust sadly  

[megadarkwood]

You want better brakes on the front accually. Not to mention that there might not be a V-mount type brake on the front anyways. Having a better front brake in the front is good because the front wont skid on the dirt, the back wheel willl lock up and slide.

 

Look on the top of the suspension forks, there should be rubber things on the top you pry off with your fingernail or something. Then there should be a screw thing, you turn it to the + arrow, or the - arrow depending on what you want. Now this was for oil filled forks (you should have this type on a dirt jumper) if its a crappy canadian tire bike then they will be spring forks which you cant adjust sadly

I'm gonna have to check, if it is a spring, can't I just get a stiffer spring?

[aidenrelkoff]

I'm gonna have to check, if it is a spring, can't I just get a stiffer spring?

very difficult to get the right size, shape, and thinkness. Also i doubt anyone even makes springs for them

[EpicGeekonFire]

You can't just switch the location of the brakes unless there is a a mount for a disc in the back too.

Also to stiffen the front suspension if you lift the rubberized covers for the shocks there should be something to twist the spring to be tighter. It's different on different bikes of course.

Road bikes with no suspension for the win though.

[bob345]

What brand/model dirt jumper? Any branding on the front forks? also, you should be good in the break department. If anything all you could do is a new rear disk conversion. you want better stopping on the front just as you would on a motorcycle or a car. also, hydraulic or cable disk brakes?

[NannerBeans]

For installation I always just go to Performance Bike. It's too important for me to do myself but I bleed my brakes myself. 

[IdeaStormer]

Roadie or nothin B)

 

[techswede]

You can change things on bicycles? 

[NannerBeans]

You can change things on bicycles? 

Yup. You can change anything really. Just gotta know how to do it. 

[ofr057]

adjusting the top wont do that much.

 

you most likly find getting different forks or changing out the spring will be the way to go.

[Birdman]

I miss when I used to ride BMX. Post a picture or model of the bike. 

[Guest]

You want better brakes on the front accually. Not to mention that there might not be a V-mount type brake on the front anyways. Having a better front brake in the front is good because the front wont skid on the dirt, the back wheel willl lock up and slide.

 

Are you sure you know what you're talking about? Neither brake set should be locking up if you're riding correctly. The back brake needs to be the better performing of the two however in an ideal world, both brake should exhibit the same braking force. For the front suspension, it depends entirely upon what type of suspension you're using. Higher end stuff like that from Rock Shox have two part adjustable suspension: an air pressure based hydraulic and a toggle-able locking mechanism. Cheaper units found on generic bikes often is as is meaning that unless you replace the fork, you can't change it. 

[thirdworldking]

Are you sure you know what you're talking about? Neither brake set should be locking up if you're riding correctly. The back brake needs to be the better performing of the two however in an ideal world, both brake should exhibit the same braking force. For the front suspension, it depends entirely upon what type of suspension you're using. Higher end stuff like that from Rock Shox have two part adjustable suspension: an air pressure based hydraulic and a toggle-able locking mechanism. Cheaper units found on generic bikes often is as is meaning that unless you replace the fork, you can't change it. 

most bicycle  breaking systems do lock up and skid on dirt rear breaks of course. Corect me if im wrong but there are no anti lock break systems for bicycles

[Lyons]

You can change things on ?

They're equally as modular as computers. I built this bad boy from the ground up 2 years ago, unfortunately more expensive hobbies prevailed and I had to sell it...

[Guest]

most bicycle  breaking systems do lock up and skid on dirt rear breaks of course. Corect me if im wrong but there are no anti lock break systems for bicycles

That depends highly upon how you ride, you shouldn't be locking your brakes.

[megadarkwood]

Are you sure you know what you're talking about? Neither brake set should be locking up if you're riding correctly. The back brake needs to be the better performing of the two however in an ideal world, both brake should exhibit the same braking force. For the front suspension, it depends entirely upon what type of suspension you're using. Higher end stuff like that from Rock Shox have two part adjustable suspension: an air pressure based hydraulic and a toggle-able locking mechanism. Cheaper units found on generic bikes often is as is meaning that unless you replace the fork, you can't change it.

I just checked the suspension, it can be adjusted. Not 100% sure what type of suspension it is though

Also, I've never been able to lock my breaks, I want the better ones in the back. It feels better personally.

[thirdworldking]

That depends highly upon how you ride, you shouldn't be locking your brakes.

that is very true i know a lot of novice riders which go full speed down a hill and then lock their brakes up at the end and skid off the track

[techswede]

Yup. You can change anything really. Just gotta know how to do it. 

 

 

They're equally as modular as computers. I built this bad boy from the ground up 2 years ago, unfortunately more expensive hobbies prevailed and I had to sell it...

Forgive my ignorance then^^ I've only ever had rusty granny bikes

[aidenrelkoff]

Are you sure you know what you're talking about? Neither brake set should be locking up if you're riding correctly. The back brake needs to be the better performing of the two however in an ideal world, both brake should exhibit the same braking force. For the front suspension, it depends entirely upon what type of suspension you're using. Higher end stuff like that from Rock Shox have two part adjustable suspension: an air pressure based hydraulic and a toggle-able locking mechanism. Cheaper units found on generic bikes often is as is meaning that unless you replace the fork, you can't change it. 

 

i own a mountianbike a dirtbike and i have road both on trails since i was 8. so yes i know. and it is fairly common for a hard-tail mountain bike to have disk in the front and V-mount in the back. However, most dirtjumpers remove the front brake entirety cause they dont want to accedetly grab it. just before a jump .ect

most bicycle  breaking systems do lock up and skid on dirt rear breaks of course. Corect me if im wrong but there are no anti lock break systems for bicycles

yeah, no anti lock on mountainbikes.