AntiqueOutings

Just wondering if anyone has attempted to add a suspension fork to a vintage Schwinn or Schwinn like frame.

I know it can be done, but it is a little tricky getting the right parts for the headset.

Schwinns have a little bit bigger 1" headset, which is really more than an 1". I have a bike I got off of Ebay that is using a 1 1/8th Suspension Fork and it works. I have seen others do the same thing.

The only place thus far that I have found that uses a headset that will work is called the Retro Ryder Headset from genuinebicycleproducts.com. It allows you do run a 1 1/8th suspension fork on an older vintage frame.

I email the guy I bought my bike from and he says that he filed down the headset on my bike so it would work.

Rather than buying the Retro Ryder Headset, It would be cool to do it myself. If anyone has any tips though, I would love to hear. I am planning on building my wife's bike (Old 68 Schwinn Holywood). Just need to figure out the fork part.

andyfloyd

Im looking to do the same thing to my Univega Alpina 5.5. Its got a 1" steerer and I want to put a 1 1/8" fork in there. I thought about opening up the stock headset to accept the fork but want to not damage the headset in the process. My headset is an 1" AHEADset which is not threaded so it makes it potentially a little easier.

GrayJay

Two DIY options - Chuck your 1-1/8" headset in a lathe and turn it down enough to press-fit in the headtube like the retroryder, or ream the headtube out to 34mm ID to permanently convert the frame to 1-1/8", consider brazing some external re-inforcement rings around the thinned headtube if the walls would get too thin from reaming to 34mm.

andyfloyd

I like the lathe idea a lot more. I think I may do this.

Weirdbikes

Lathe new headset bearing cups that grab on the outside of the headtube.

Steve B.

I doubt a 1-1/8 steerer tube is going to fit inside a 1" head tube.

CliffordK

I'd just hop onto EBay and find the fork you like.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_dca...Plus%7C700C%7C!

For vintage builds, you may also be able to find vintage "Springer Forks".

merziac

Danger, Will Robinson!

Reynolds 531 

Been done a million times.


If you want to start from scratch, the Ritchey headset are easiest to machine.

Bianchi84

I'm just wondering... not being negative or anything, but why do you want to put such a fork on your old Schwinn or Schwinn-type. Are you going to use it off-road,? I can't see a suspension fork doing much for comfort (if that's the reason) if ridden on the road.
Again, I'm not trying to be negative; I'm interested. Long ago I considered a suspension fork swap on a bike and wound up changing to a different fork, but a different rigid fork.

Straightblock

Zombie thread. The OP hasn't been active since 2013.

Bianchi84

oops.

Weirdbikes

i see full suspension bikes with fat knobbies and low air riding on the road all the time for some reason. i have nothing good to say about it and i will be negative.

icemilkcoffee 

keep in mind that they are converting a BMX bike in the video. BMX bikes have a 32.5mm head tube ID as noted in the video. Our familiar road bikes have 30.2nm ID, significantly smaller and that much more difficult to covert.

merziac

Doh!

URCinelliIsFake

There are plenty of great, even legendary, forks with 1" steerers. Find something made for your bike; don't Frankenstein it up.

Weirdbikes

There are very few 1” forks available and maybe none suspension that use disk brakes.


I ended up getting external cups made from stainless steel that I’ll press/glue and use integrated headset bearings. I can’t post a pic but they’re the same as standard headset cups youd press in except pressing on the outside.

Reynolds 531 

Keep in mind the Original Poster says that this conversion is for his wifes Schwinn (32.5 head tube I.D.)

For other bikes, I threw in the bit about Ritchey headsets seeming to be the easiest to machine for other bikes. I agree with you they definitely won't work for everything.