20 year old Mongoose Mountain bike 26 inch
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20 year old Mongoose Mountain bike 26 inch
Hello,
My 20 year old Mongoose mountain bike needs new shocks or better shocks. Any ideas where to find them? They currently are Rock Shox with caliper breaks.
Any leads would be appreciated.
Chris
My 20 year old Mongoose mountain bike needs new shocks or better shocks. Any ideas where to find them? They currently are Rock Shox with caliper breaks.
Any leads would be appreciated.
Chris
#2
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How attached are you to this bike? I've learned that trying to replace a suspension fork on an older 26er is problematic in both time and money.
The ideal is to find the original fork in NOS condition, say from the large auction site. Expect to pay $$$, because there are plenty of others who want one for the same reason.
You might be able to find the original fork in used condition. If you do, you'll still pay a pretty penny, though not as much as NOS. One approach is to get a membership here and post a wanted ad in the classies.
If you can't find the original, this is where the problem lies. Any non-original fork will likely have different handling characteristics than the original, and those may not be to your liking. But you won't know until you put it all together and test it.
Sometimes you might be able to find a rebuild kit or a retrofit kit for your specific fork. Worth a search or a WTB ad, but sometimes even these are expensive, and it's DIY.
If at all possible, I'd recommend going to a rigid fork. Better handling and no moving parts to wear out.
The ideal is to find the original fork in NOS condition, say from the large auction site. Expect to pay $$$, because there are plenty of others who want one for the same reason.
You might be able to find the original fork in used condition. If you do, you'll still pay a pretty penny, though not as much as NOS. One approach is to get a membership here and post a wanted ad in the classies.
If you can't find the original, this is where the problem lies. Any non-original fork will likely have different handling characteristics than the original, and those may not be to your liking. But you won't know until you put it all together and test it.
Sometimes you might be able to find a rebuild kit or a retrofit kit for your specific fork. Worth a search or a WTB ad, but sometimes even these are expensive, and it's DIY.
If at all possible, I'd recommend going to a rigid fork. Better handling and no moving parts to wear out.
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Bikeman Carver Bikes Steel Rigid Mountain Fork, 1-1/8'' 440mm
Here's a ridgid replacement fork that likely may fit. We need more info though. True replacements that are new may be harder to find.
Here's a ridgid replacement fork that likely may fit. We need more info though. True replacements that are new may be harder to find.
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I still ride old 26” mtb’s with suspension forks. As noted above older NOS, or even excellent, forks a not cheap. My choice has been Marzocchi oil bath Bombers since they are pretty bulletproof.
That said, you “might” be able to find an SR Suntour with a 1-1/8” steerer and rim brake compatible. They are cheap bare bones, but better than nothing.
There are some import 26” straight steerer forks, but they are disc only. You could use a mechanical disc brake for the front, but you would need a new front hub/wheel.
John
That said, you “might” be able to find an SR Suntour with a 1-1/8” steerer and rim brake compatible. They are cheap bare bones, but better than nothing.
There are some import 26” straight steerer forks, but they are disc only. You could use a mechanical disc brake for the front, but you would need a new front hub/wheel.
John
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Rock Shox was a popular brand and there are aftermarket rebuild kits for many of their models.
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Check the serial number on the fork. Some RockShox Judy and Jett models from around 2000 and 2001 were recalled. See https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2001/CP...-Bicycle-Forks . Unfortunately, the photos depicting the serial number location/appearance are not loading. I had a RockShox Judy on a 2001 Specialized HardRock, and if I recall (no pun intended), the serial number was punched into the top portion of the fork. Yours may be punched, or it may be a label. In any event, if you're in the United States, since it's a US Federal government recall, it doesn't expire. I was able to get a brand new fork from SRAM (which now owns RockShox) on this recall as recently as 2018.