For those of you looking for a headset, I bought the Acor Semi Integrated 44mm Threadless Headset 1.1/8" MTB Bicycle Bike Black and it worked great. I brought the bike to a local bike shop and they installed the new fork with the front spoiler for $65. To me that was well worth it as I did not trust myself to do this. I used all the parts recommend in this video, except for the H185 headset that I couldn't find anywhere. The bike looks great and the difference in the trails is night and day. Just awesome! Thanks Robert!
@@dep9766 Sorry I can't find it again. I bought it from ebay but it has been like 8 months and it is no longer available. If it has all of the following words in the description it should work. Semi integrated 44mm Threadless 1.1/8" You could also ask your bike shop to recommend one. I hope this helps.
Nice video. My preference on fender is to install. With the downward facing key the fender provides some spray protection from puddles and dirt. You might not notice a problem until after a winter layup and all of a sudden the key is hard to turn because of internal corrosion.
Exactly why i think its dumb as fuck for companies to have the key hole on the bottom of the bike unless there is some type of shield. Also the bikes with rear suspension in which the shock is on the bottom also exposes dirt dust water and gritty stuff to eventually work its way into thr shock n screw it up. Yamee, rattan and gds is like that. Friend e bike and Neza f1 has shock behind seat
Robert Blaser Dude, i can’t find H185 headset so i ordered Neco bike Headset 44 44MM ZS44 28.6 30 1 1/8 Semi-Integrated Threadless H146. If they dont fit, i can just uninstall old one and install the new one right? Dimensions are same i think
Excellent vid, I am waiting for mine to be delivered, and will see how it rides stock first. One thing I would point out is torque settings on everything you touched, (in the manual) especially the the wheel nuts, and NEVER use an adjustable wrench, you have nice tools, use them haha... just bustin.. but with steering and front wheel definitely torque them properly
I ordered my Lectric XP stepthru for August delivery. Will be installing a Zoom aluminum seat suspension and bigger seat. I’m interested in this front fork changeover, but really would prefer to use the Lectric folder. If you come up with a compatible solution in your research, please let us know. Anxiously awaiting your good news. Superbly done video! Thanks!
Very structured and detailed vid. Well done! It just showed me NOT to try this on my own. Very cool though. I think it looks weird without the front fender. To each their own.
Got it done, thanks! Do you have any experience in adjusting the suspension fork? The fork raises the front end quite a bit over stock set up, it does not fold near as compact with the longer front end. Can you release some air or something to get closer to stock length?
You can adjust the air pressure, but that just affects how stiff the shock is. I don't think there is any kind of good adjustment that would lower the front end...
Video very well done. I was interested because I see lots of ebikes with and lots without the suspension fork. Ironically your video sort of convinced me to look harder for a bike with the suspension fork since it seems you're going to pay about $150 or so for the part, which makes the Lectric bike $1050 -$1100. I guess I'd like to see Lectric offer the option, they'd still be the best buy as far as I have seen; Thanks.
Unfortunately the link for the Headset is no longer working, and the new one you posted as an answer to someone else, the store is closed due to Coronavirus. In the beginning you say it is "easier" to upgrade with the H185 Headset, can you explain what we can do in case we can't find one? I have looked everywhere. Thanks a lot for a great vid! I have ordered all the other parts :)
The H185 is 'easier' because the H184 (stock headset) and the H185 both use the EXACT same cups. So you don't have to swap the cups in the frame and it's guaranteed to have no issues. If you can't find an H185 headset, its still can be done and you have two options. First option is just to get any 1 1/8" threadless, 44mm, semi-integrated headset and it will work. You'll just have to potentially swap the cups from the frame which is a bit more work...but still very doable. A bike shop could do it in 15min. The second option is to find a headset with similar 44mm cups that uses retainer ball bearings and it might work with the existing cups and you wouldn't have to swap the cups... Long story short, you can make it work with any compatible headset...worst case you'd just have to swap the cups.
I didn't put the front fender back on, I left it off. If you want the front fender back on, you need to make shift some brackets as the new fork doesn't have a mounting hole for the fender
Nice video. How do you like this bike overall? Did you look at any others? I'm trying to decide between this and a juiced scorpion. I know 2 totally different bikes with different price points, but they that this folds, but am concerned about how it will hold up.
I love the bike. I like that I've been able to do a couple quick mods and get the bike to go 28-29 mph easily (the controller setting mod and swapping the freewheel for a 11-34T). It's great for commuting, light off road, etc. The front shock helped with ride comfort as well. I also like the price point which enabled me to get 2 of the bikes which makes rider with someone else a lot funner. The scorpion looks nice too with similar specs (or better). I like that it has a little bit of rear suspension. Mostly...I just like the value the Lectric provides. Great bang for the buck. If you have more money to spend, there are a lot of other great options to consider...
@Robert Blaser yes I agree, great bang for the buck. Im probably going to get his bike. The flywheel and front fork suspension looks a little intimidating.
Hey Robert this is an awesome video could you give me the link to those parts II have a suspension fork but need to upgrade to a 4" instead of 3" because I upgraded my tires Would appreciate the link for those parts thanks in advance
I don't have the exact length and mine would have been slightly different because of the spacer I installed. Just put it together and measure and add an extra inch for the inside of stem collar
is this new fork for off road riding ? Is it needed ..? what If i do not plan on going riding in the back country ? and just on roads and gravel roads ?...will the original fork work just fine ..? Hope you will answer my questions I am an older rider (67) and do not plan on boondocking with this bike !...
Could you tell me what size and type of screw you used to secure the folding stem tube to the star nut? If you bought one online, could you provide me with a link? My air suspension for came with the star nut, but it did not have a screw with it and the folding stem tube didn't have a screw with it either. I looked at the link you referenced above, but didn't see where you had a screw listed. Also, what type of screw did you use inside that socket when you attached the screw through the socket and to the star nut to drive the star nut in the tube? Thanks for your help and making this great video.
The screw came with my headset. But I believe the bolt size is an M6. The length can vary depending on how many spacers you have...I think mine was about 1.5 inches long or so. Wouldn't hurt if the bolt was a touch longer than needed as it would just screw down into the tube.
@@robertblaser9899 Thanks. I just used the one spacer that came with the Neco H185 headset which was the cover. Also, what length of bolt did you use when installing the star nut in the steer tube of the fork? Do you mean that your screw came with your folding stem tube instead? I ordered my Neco H185 headsets from the same Ebay seller you listed and there were no screws included with it.
I should clarify, I don't have any play in the stem and headset bearings. The only slight play I have is in the hinge of the new folding handlebar stem. It just had a looser tolerance than the original
@@robertblaser9899 I think u are getting some play because you didn't change the cup..I just got those forks and ran into the same problem so I took off the original cups installed the new headset with the new cups etc..
@@robertblaser9899 I have an Ecotric 20 inch folding bike i wanna Put the air suspension in BMX handlebars plus go to an 11 Toothpaste BMX pedals But I don't want the handlebars too low
What pressure are you using in the forks and what setting on the red dial adjuster? Thanks. I did this upgrade a few weeks ago after seeing your post on the forum and before this video. I couldn't find a Neco headset, but found a few equivalents with sealed bearings (did not need to change crown race). I had to make plates that replace the wheel spindle washers, so I could mount the fender as there are no mount points on the fork. People should know that an air fork pump is needed if you need to add or reduce pressure. (Amazon $26).
Thanx for the VERY INFORMATIVE VIDEO! I'd like to add a SUSPENSION FORK to my new LECTRIC XP LITE ebike and your video will be a great help. Could you please tell me WHAT BRAND OF FORK did you use for this video as well as the COST and WHERE to buy it. Have you or any friends used ANY OTHER BRAND of fork for a conversion on a LECTRIC XP LITE EBIKE? Thanx again for such a WELL DONE VIDEO!
@@robertblaser9899 The most significant difference is that the tire size is much narrower. The tire size is 20 x 2.6 inches. I'm not certain if the bearings, shims (if any) and folding portion are identical to the original Lectric XP that you changed out in the video are exactly the same as on the new XP LITE. I will definitely contact Lectric Bikes to confirm any changes in the design.
The handle bar neck on my XP broke at the weld. Has anyone else had this issue? I'm considering front suspension to maybe prevent that from happening again in the future. I was just lucky not to be riding it when it fell off.
Heard of a ton of people wrecking this way having nothing to hold on to. Heard about pedal issues aswell, which I would assume they addressed the issues in their 2.0
I find it gratifying that a boob toober under 60 yrs. of age is actually performing a mechanical operation which requires an attention span of more than 2 minutes.. Good for him.......... Disappointing for the rest of you.....
It doesn’t look like there are drilled holes in the fork arms for the front fender arms. If that’s true then how do you attach the fender arms to the fork?
Star but usually comes with the headset. Although I bought two of the forks and one of the forks actually did come with a star nut but the other one didn't
I went on your Link to purchase all the parts and for some reason the headset said it was not available anymore would you be able to link the exact one please cause I see that there are different ones thank you so much
@@robertblaser9899 So I purchased one assuming that it was it and now my bike is all torn apart and now I have to try to find the same exact one and the looks of it it is almost nearly to impossible to find
The fork I used (and most that I've seen in this size) are setup for a threaded steerer tube config. There may be a method to adapt a quill based stem to threaded fork...but I'm not sure on that...
Robert, you say in the video that the star nut needs to be positioned 1/4 to 1/2 inch down in the tube. Do you measure from the top of the tube to the top of the flange of the star nut or from the top of the tube to the top of the threads of the star nut? Also, I have some play in the fork once I assemble it all together. Could it be that my measurement was too long? I'm using the Neco H185 headset. And, do I have to drive the top cone and compression ring down when assembling the fork to the bike's frame? I ask because the assembly has play when it is assembled. Please answer my questions because I need the help.
Top of tube to top of threads. The distance isn't too critical. There shouldn't be any play up and down. You tighten down the screw into the star but just enough to remove all play (not overly tight...but no play). If you've tightened that screw pretty tight and there is still vertical play, then your steerer tube is likely slightly too long. If that's the case then you'd either need to shorten your tube just a little more or put an extra small spacer in there to take out the play
I got my air suspension fork installed. Thanks for your help. I posted a question on the EBR forum for you to answer about hitting a bump every now and then.
@@robertblaser9899 If you have play after installing a new fork make sure the cups are all the way in and both bearings are installed. The crown race must also be all the way down on the fork steerer tube.
If I install and cut the tube like you did for the original folding handlebars can I just take off the folding handlebars later and add bmx handle bars? Or do I need to do mor modifications to the stem?
Hello sir. So another lectric owner told me that you mentioned it is necessary to get a new fold stem when installed the new fork. And the reason is because it’s threadless. I do not understand what threadless mean? And is it “a must” to do?
The existing stem (with quill) is made to be installed on a threaded fork. That means that the fork has threads on the steerer tube and you use a nut to secure the fork to the bike frame. You could take the stem off and the bike fork will remain in tact. With threadless forks, you use a collar to secure the fork to bike frame. And for the folding stem has that collar integrated into the stem. So the general answer is that yes, you need the new stem. Having said that, you could probably find a separate collar and spacers to hold the fork in place and then just mount the original stem into the fork tube using quill...but that's kind of a hack. Not saying it wouldn't work, just that it's not the normal method
For the optional spacer, what mm you purchased? And for the center screw that goes into the star nut; does it comes with the star nut or I have to buy it individually? Thank you.
I got several of the sizes on the optional spacer...but ended up using the thickest one. But any size (or none) could be used. One of my shocks came with star nut and one didn't. Some of my headsets came with star nuts and some didn't...so kind of hit or miss. They are cheap on Amazon if you need to buy star nut separately...
Thank you sir for responding. I was asking the screw goes into the star nut that holds the stem and the suspension fork together; do I have to buy that screw or it came with the star nut?
@@jesshsu4418 gotcha...I guess my answer is still essentially the same. I got the screw along with some items but not others. So it seems inconsistent if you'll get the screw included. Regardless, it's a standard size screw you can get from anywhere
Will this work on the new LT ? I cancelled my order of the 2.0 during pandemic, chose a almost new Kona Rove instead non electric... time for an ebike....
If you buy the unthreaded fork only, it won't work. Check out my list of required parts in the link in description. I have all the parts required for conversion. Basically you need a new headset and handlebar stem that supports unthreaded. With all those components swapped, unthreaded works. So to be clear, the frame of the bike can support either threaded or unthreaded. You just need the appropriate headset/stem/fork combo to support either threaded or unthreaded. Hopefully that answers your question.
Hello Robert great video I'm planning on doing the same thing to my bike...is there any reason you know of why you can't tap new threads on to the new fork after cutting it to the correct size as the original and reuse the original headset and folding stem ? I can't find the non threaded head set...I might try that...
Yeah I finally did that on my xp and I was able to re use the original headset and folding stem...I found a shop that had the correct die that I needed 1 1/8 x 26 tpi and cut new threads on the new fork the installation was pretty straightforward. The new fork really smooths out the ride...
I got a couple H185 headsets. One of them came with a star nut, one didn't. Also...one of my forks also came with a star nut. Neither is guaranteed to come with the star nut...but you can just buy them on amazon. They are cheap. And yes, they are 1 1/8".
@@robertblaser9899 the amazon one that you provided with link, a replacement one. Theres a lot of room, very wobbly, its right where the headset goes, thats where it is loose and when i front break the whole handlebar and stem moves. .looks like the headset wont tighten all the way...
Nice idea with the suspension. However, losing the front fender is a deal breaker. Seems like adding the two lower tabs to hold the fender braces would only add a few pennies to the cost of the conversion.
There have been a few other people that have made it work with other headsets. Look through the comments. Really, any headset will work that has similar specs (threadless, 44mm, etc). Worst case, you'd just have to swap the cups. That's really the only advantage of the H185, it is very similar to the H184 and shares mostly the same parts...so it wasn't necessary to replace the cups.
No, I just used a 1 1/4" PVC pipe. Several methods out there. But I just used the pipe only. I heated the crown race for 10min or so in the oven (200 deg). Then dropped the crown race on steerer tube. Put the pipe over steerer tube resting on crown race. Holding the fork onto pipe, flip everything over and tapped the pipe several times on the ground. Just the weight of the fork when the pipe hit the ground was enough to seat the race quite easily. Just took 2 or 3 taps...
@@robertblaser9899 Thanks, I have the fork and folding stem ordered. Now if I can find a headset that will work I'll be set. I guess they don't make the neco anymore? At least I can't seem to find one?
@@glennfuqua6345 they do, it's just harder to find because Neco is business to business only. So you have to find someone that carries Neco products. I got mine on eBay
While I'd love to do it for you, unless you lived closed...shipping would probably be prohibitive. Would probably be much more affordable to have your local bike shop do it for you
QUICK QUESTION, can u send me a link for a good headset that will work..The NECO H185 headset you have listed is unavailable and so far I've ordered the wrong one twice
You'll just need to ship around and find one with similar specs. Sorry, I don't have a link for a direct replacement without doing a bunch of digging. Good luck!
Really well done video on installing suspension forks to an XP. I think you have inspired many users.I will do it myself once I get my XP. I will tackle this on the off-season. The only question I have is the bearing race on the new fork - did you use the old one or was new one installed and how hard was it to press on? Heat used?
I installed the new crown race that came with the H185 headset onto the new suspension fork. I left the old/stock crown race on the rigid fork. Install was very easy. I put the new crown race in the oven for 10min at 200 deg. Then dropped the crown race on the fork steerer tube. Then used a 4 or 5 foot long 1 1/4 inch pvc pipe and put it onto the steerer tube (it presses nicely against the crown race). Then I turned everything upside down and tapped the pvc pipe firmly onto the ground several times. Just the weight of the fork was enough to set the crown race after a few hits on the ground.
The Neco H-185 headset is obsolete and I doubt Neco sells it anymore. Just look for a 1-1/8" Semi Integrated Threadless Headset with 44mm cups top and bottom. That should do it. The 44mm is the ID of the opening on the bike, top and bottom where the steerer tube of the fork goes thru. The cups are press fit into the opening top and bottom, the bearing goes inside the cups. You won't be able to use the top cup since the old fork is threaded. You might be able to use the bottom cup you will just have to try it.
Hey sir, For the front fork suspension, if I want to get it on amazon, what is the keyword that I should type to get the right size? Or there is no right size for the fork suspension it’s all universal?
Hello sir, Sorry I asked bunch of question. The headset I bought did not work. I even took it to the bike shop and they couldn’t figure it out. I searched on Amazon and type in neco H185 threadless and the first came out with 12 pieces including the star nut and cost 17.60 is that the right one to buy?
Yes, the folding is still the exact same as before with the parts I removed. And yes, you need to cut the steerer tube...otherwise the handlebar stem would sit about 4-5 inches taller and you'd have to fill that with the spacers I linked in the forum post. So you don't HAVE to cut the tube...but it would probably look funny and be too high. Alternatively, if you don't want to keep the folding handlebar feature, I've seen somebody ditch the folding stem and just use a bmx style handlebar and he just used spacers and it looked ok.
We are so sorry for the shipping damage to your shocks. The damage will not affect the integrity of the forks or affect the suspension at all. With that, we have a couple of options: we can refund you up to $50, or order you a free accessory up to $50. We can also replace the fork, but we need you to send us your damaged fork back first, and our warehouse has been backed up and is about 2-3 weeks behind. We would also have made the replacement or take it into a bike shop. This may mean it could be another month before you are able to ride again. Let us know which you would prefer! Again, the dent will not affect your ride at all, but it is noticeable, and we can replace the forks for you if that is the direction you want to go. Best, Joseph
That is a typical reply a vendor will send when a damaged product is received. You don't have to accept it if you don't want to. Ask for a full refund and a return shipping label since you did not receive what you ordered. Challenge the payment with the credit card company or PayPal. Many times the vendor will quickly give in an issue a refund and simply ask you discard the item instead of paying for shipping back to them.
For those of you looking for a headset, I bought the Acor Semi Integrated 44mm Threadless Headset 1.1/8" MTB Bicycle Bike Black and it worked great. I brought the bike to a local bike shop and they installed the new fork with the front spoiler for $65. To me that was well worth it as I did not trust myself to do this. I used all the parts recommend in this video, except for the H185 headset that I couldn't find anywhere. The bike looks great and the difference in the trails is night and day. Just awesome! Thanks Robert!
Glad you are happy with the upgrade!!
can you provide a link to the headset you bought?
@@dep9766 Sorry I can't find it again. I bought it from ebay but it has been like 8 months and it is no longer available. If it has all of the following words in the description it should work.
Semi integrated
44mm
Threadless
1.1/8"
You could also ask your bike shop to recommend one. I hope this helps.
Good slow explanation I like that
video images is clear and good.
Perfect
Nice video. My preference on fender is to install. With the downward facing key the fender provides some spray protection from puddles and dirt. You might not notice a problem until after a winter layup and all of a sudden the key is hard to turn because of internal corrosion.
Exactly why i think its dumb as fuck for companies to have the key hole on the bottom of the bike unless there is some type of shield. Also the bikes with rear suspension in which the shock is on the bottom also exposes dirt dust water and gritty stuff to eventually work its way into thr shock n screw it up. Yamee, rattan and gds is like that. Friend e bike and Neza f1 has shock behind seat
My girl got the xpremium. So I am going to upgrade her original 1.0. Thanks for the video. 1.0 is now mine to do with what I will :D
Thanks for the excellent amount of detail. Great vid!
Best xp fork swap video yet, I gonna try it 👍
Rob id like to see a video review of u riding ur bike with the new fork install bud
Dude! Thx for the awesome video!
You have to make a small clip of you riding it 😀
I have a clip riding on some fun trails...I'll try to get that uploaded.
Robert Blaser
Dude, i can’t find H185 headset so i ordered Neco bike Headset 44 44MM ZS44 28.6 30 1 1/8 Semi-Integrated Threadless H146.
If they dont fit, i can just uninstall old one and install the new one right? Dimensions are same i think
Great video, thank you for the good explanations
Would like to see a video of the ride with the new shocks.
Excellent vid, I am waiting for mine to be delivered, and will see how it rides stock first. One thing I would point out is torque settings on everything you touched, (in the manual) especially the the wheel nuts, and NEVER use an adjustable wrench, you have nice tools, use them haha... just bustin.. but with steering and front wheel definitely torque them properly
I ordered my Lectric XP stepthru for August delivery. Will be installing a Zoom aluminum seat suspension and bigger seat. I’m interested in this front fork changeover, but really would prefer to use the Lectric folder. If you come up with a compatible solution in your research, please let us know. Anxiously awaiting your good news. Superbly done video! Thanks!
Instablaster
The link does work for the H185 threadless
Nice work. Thanks!
Please do a ride review.
Very structured and detailed vid. Well done!
It just showed me NOT to try this on my own. Very cool though.
I think it looks weird without the front fender. To each their own.
At the moment of re assembly I would have changed the stem and bars
Great job on this. I will mention you in my next video.
Nice video and explanation
Great job I want to do the same to my bike thanks for the video
Excellent video
Oh wow u are smart keep the good work up 😃
Got it done, thanks! Do you have any experience in adjusting the suspension fork? The fork raises the front end quite a bit over stock set up, it does not fold near as compact with the longer front end. Can you release some air or something to get closer to stock length?
You can adjust the air pressure, but that just affects how stiff the shock is. I don't think there is any kind of good adjustment that would lower the front end...
Video very well done. I was interested because I see lots of ebikes with and lots without the suspension fork. Ironically your video sort of convinced me to look harder for a bike with the suspension fork since it seems you're going to pay about $150 or so for the part, which makes the Lectric bike $1050 -$1100. I guess I'd like to see Lectric offer the option, they'd still be the best buy as far as I have seen; Thanks.
biktrix charges 800 to add a fork but its one of the best cuz the stock is not bad
We need to see a test drive
Haha, I probably should post a follow up video. It's been a long time and everything is still working awesome!!
Is are there any aftermarket upgrade fork for the 3-inch
Unfortunately the link for the Headset is no longer working, and the new one you posted as an answer to someone else, the store is closed due to Coronavirus. In the beginning you say it is "easier" to upgrade with the H185 Headset, can you explain what we can do in case we can't find one? I have looked everywhere. Thanks a lot for a great vid! I have ordered all the other parts :)
The H185 is 'easier' because the H184 (stock headset) and the H185 both use the EXACT same cups. So you don't have to swap the cups in the frame and it's guaranteed to have no issues. If you can't find an H185 headset, its still can be done and you have two options. First option is just to get any 1 1/8" threadless, 44mm, semi-integrated headset and it will work. You'll just have to potentially swap the cups from the frame which is a bit more work...but still very doable. A bike shop could do it in 15min. The second option is to find a headset with similar 44mm cups that uses retainer ball bearings and it might work with the existing cups and you wouldn't have to swap the cups... Long story short, you can make it work with any compatible headset...worst case you'd just have to swap the cups.
@@robertblaser9899 Awesome! Thanks a lot for your help!!
Can you show where the fender mounts for these forks?
I didn't put the front fender back on, I left it off. If you want the front fender back on, you need to make shift some brackets as the new fork doesn't have a mounting hole for the fender
I''m thinking to have the fork neck tube cut and threaded to match the old one. Maybe go to a machine shop. Thoughts?
I think it'd probably work...??
A decent quality multi use metal tube cutter for copper or aluminum should work. They are not very expensive.
Awesome video
Hi can you supply the part numbers of the front suspension and any extra parts you needed and where to purchase them
Check the link in the description. Should have all the part numbers and links
i know this is years late but there is a washer isn't there from the original?
I'm not sure what you are asking...
Nice video. How do you like this bike overall? Did you look at any others? I'm trying to decide between this and a juiced scorpion. I know 2 totally different bikes with different price points, but they that this folds, but am concerned about how it will hold up.
I love the bike. I like that I've been able to do a couple quick mods and get the bike to go 28-29 mph easily (the controller setting mod and swapping the freewheel for a 11-34T). It's great for commuting, light off road, etc. The front shock helped with ride comfort as well. I also like the price point which enabled me to get 2 of the bikes which makes rider with someone else a lot funner. The scorpion looks nice too with similar specs (or better). I like that it has a little bit of rear suspension. Mostly...I just like the value the Lectric provides. Great bang for the buck. If you have more money to spend, there are a lot of other great options to consider...
@Robert Blaser yes I agree, great bang for the buck. Im probably going to get his bike. The flywheel and front fork suspension looks a little intimidating.
Hey Robert this is an awesome video could you give me the link to those parts II have a suspension fork but need to upgrade to a 4" instead of 3" because I upgraded my tires Would appreciate the link for those parts thanks in advance
All of the parts I used are linked in the forum post I put a link for in the description
@@robertblaser9899 not sure where to look
Did you see my link in the description?
@@robertblaser9899 no
The link is still in the description. Go check it out
Great job on the video. Hope to see a lot more from you.
Robert canu give the exact length to cut on. Fork ty lmk
I don't have the exact length and mine would have been slightly different because of the spacer I installed. Just put it together and measure and add an extra inch for the inside of stem collar
Robert, thanks for the video- really helpful. Just curious about how much height the new fork adds to the bike.
Probably 2-3 inches in the front
I cannot find a headset anywhere, can you send a link or help me out on that.
This is where I got mine: www.ebay.com/itm/162243744397
is this new fork for off road riding ? Is it needed ..? what If i do not plan on going riding in the back country ? and just on roads and gravel roads ?...will the original fork work just fine ..? Hope you will answer my questions I am an older rider (67) and do not plan on boondocking with this bike !...
You'll probably be fine with the original shock. The shock will smooth out any bumps on the road...so still useful for on road, but not a must
Could you tell me what size and type of screw you used to secure the folding stem tube to the star nut? If you bought one online, could you provide me with a link? My air suspension for came with the star nut, but it did not have a screw with it and the folding stem tube didn't have a screw with it either. I looked at the link you referenced above, but didn't see where you had a screw listed. Also, what type of screw did you use inside that socket when you attached the screw through the socket and to the star nut to drive the star nut in the tube? Thanks for your help and making this great video.
The screw came with my headset. But I believe the bolt size is an M6. The length can vary depending on how many spacers you have...I think mine was about 1.5 inches long or so. Wouldn't hurt if the bolt was a touch longer than needed as it would just screw down into the tube.
@@robertblaser9899 Thanks. I just used the one spacer that came with the Neco H185 headset which was the cover. Also, what length of bolt did you use when installing the star nut in the steer tube of the fork? Do you mean that your screw came with your folding stem tube instead? I ordered my Neco H185 headsets from the same Ebay seller you listed and there were no screws included with it.
A question what type/model fork did you use. And where did you buy it.
There should be a link in the description with a list of all items I bought/used
None of those parts are available now. Guess sell your XP 1.0 and get a 2.0
Do you have the parts list? The link doesn’t open anymore
Not sure what happened to the thread on the forum... Unfortunately I don't have the list outside of that forum post
Did you have any play on stem while riding..
Seems like the new stem had a bit more play than the original... But not horrible
@@robertblaser9899 it that possibly because of the threads on the top of the old shocks?
I should clarify, I don't have any play in the stem and headset bearings. The only slight play I have is in the hinge of the new folding handlebar stem. It just had a looser tolerance than the original
@@robertblaser9899 I have bmx style bars just wanted to make sure
@@robertblaser9899 I think u are getting some play because you didn't change the cup..I just got those forks and ran into the same problem so I took off the original cups installed the new headset with the new cups etc..
Can you keep the length if you're putting on BMX handlebars instead of the Scooter handlebars you get
Yeah, just size to fit the style of handlebars you are putting on
@@robertblaser9899 I have an Ecotric 20 inch folding bike i wanna Put the air suspension in BMX handlebars plus go to an 11 Toothpaste BMX pedals But I don't want the handlebars too low
Wow awesome work I got a sondors x fold would that fork will fit on my ebike? Thanks in advance
The fork would likely work, but I'm not sure about the other parts
@@robertblaser9899 can you tell me the dimension on that fork if not to much bother I would appreciate? Can have idea with my tire!
Does the star nut come with suspension?
One of my forks did and the other didn't. So could go either way. They are easy to grab on Amazon if not...
Can you please provide part numbers for all the parts you used and where to buy. Does it come as a kit?
Please see the forum link in my video description above. It has all parts and links...
What pressure are you using in the forks and what setting on the red dial adjuster? Thanks. I did this upgrade a few weeks ago after seeing your post on the forum and before this video. I couldn't find a Neco headset, but found a few equivalents with sealed bearings (did not need to change crown race). I had to make plates that replace the wheel spindle washers, so I could mount the fender as there are no mount points on the fork. People should know that an air fork pump is needed if you need to add or reduce pressure. (Amazon $26).
I am 6'1" and about 210 pounds. I think I have my shock set to about 90-95 psi. The red lever is set to the softest setting.
@@robertblaser9899 Thanks Robert for the reply.
Any reason I couldn't use the original headset top cap if I was to machine away the threads?
Not sure...seems possible??
@@robertblaser9899 If I try that route then I'll post back here letting you know. Thanks
Thanx for the VERY INFORMATIVE VIDEO! I'd like to add a SUSPENSION FORK to my new LECTRIC XP LITE ebike and your video will be a great help. Could you please tell me WHAT BRAND OF FORK did you use for this video as well as the COST and WHERE to buy it. Have you or any friends used ANY OTHER BRAND of fork for a conversion on a LECTRIC XP LITE EBIKE?
Thanx again for such a WELL DONE VIDEO!
All of the details are in the forum link that I included in the description. I don't have an XP lite ...so not sure what is the same of different...
@@robertblaser9899 The most significant difference is that the tire size is much narrower. The tire size is 20 x 2.6 inches. I'm not certain if the bearings, shims (if any) and folding portion are identical to the original Lectric XP that you changed out in the video are exactly the same as on the new XP LITE. I will definitely contact Lectric Bikes to confirm any changes in the design.
The handle bar neck on my XP broke at the weld. Has anyone else had this issue? I'm considering front suspension to maybe prevent that from happening again in the future. I was just lucky not to be riding it when it fell off.
Hasn't happened to me. And that's lucky you didn't wreck when it broke!!
Heard of a ton of people wrecking this way having nothing to hold on to. Heard about pedal issues aswell, which I would assume they addressed the issues in their 2.0
In conclusion: Find the nearest bike shop and ask "how much?".
Really.
Yep. This gramma agrees!
I find it gratifying that a boob toober under 60 yrs. of age is actually performing a mechanical operation which requires an attention span of more than 2 minutes..
Good for him.......... Disappointing for the rest of you.....
Exactly lol, i stopped at 2:30. I'm like "nope, this is too advanced now" 🤣
😂
It doesn’t look like there are drilled holes in the fork arms for the front fender arms. If that’s true then how do you attach the fender arms to the fork?
I didn't attach the front fender. If you want to reattach the front fender, you'd need to make a little bracket to mount be the wheel bolt
Does the star nut come with the forks?
Star but usually comes with the headset. Although I bought two of the forks and one of the forks actually did come with a star nut but the other one didn't
I went on your Link to purchase all the parts and for some reason the headset said it was not available anymore would you be able to link the exact one please cause I see that there are different ones thank you so much
It was a NECO H185 headset. You'll have to search around and see if you can find one anywhere. Sometimes they are hard to find
@@robertblaser9899 So I purchased one assuming that it was it and now my bike is all torn apart and now I have to try to find the same exact one and the looks of it it is almost nearly to impossible to find
It doesn't technically have to be that EXACT headset. Just look around for one that has same/similar specs and bearings, etc
@@robertblaser9899 I tried to find any but I cannot find any that resemble it . Sorry I’m not really familiar with bikes headsets
awesome video! How would i add these forks with a my bmx handlebar setup with a quill adapter and stem adapter? Thank you in advance
The fork I used (and most that I've seen in this size) are setup for a threaded steerer tube config. There may be a method to adapt a quill based stem to threaded fork...but I'm not sure on that...
I cant find the neco h185 on ebay or amazon any suggestions
Robert, you say in the video that the star nut needs to be positioned 1/4 to 1/2 inch down in the tube. Do you measure from the top of the tube to the top of the flange of the star nut or from the top of the tube to the top of the threads of the star nut? Also, I have some play in the fork once I assemble it all together. Could it be that my measurement was too long? I'm using the Neco H185 headset. And, do I have to drive the top cone and compression ring down when assembling the fork to the bike's frame? I ask because the assembly has play when it is assembled. Please answer my questions because I need the help.
Top of tube to top of threads. The distance isn't too critical. There shouldn't be any play up and down. You tighten down the screw into the star but just enough to remove all play (not overly tight...but no play). If you've tightened that screw pretty tight and there is still vertical play, then your steerer tube is likely slightly too long. If that's the case then you'd either need to shorten your tube just a little more or put an extra small spacer in there to take out the play
@@robertblaser9899 Thanks Robert for your help. I'm going to re-measure and cut the tube again.
I got my air suspension fork installed. Thanks for your help. I posted a question on the EBR forum for you to answer about hitting a bump every now and then.
@@robertblaser9899 If you have play after installing a new fork make sure the cups are all the way in and both bearings are installed. The crown race must also be all the way down on the fork steerer tube.
If I install and cut the tube like you did for the original folding handlebars can I just take off the folding handlebars later and add bmx handle bars? Or do I need to do mor modifications to the stem?
Can't say for sure. That would probably depend on the bmx handlebars you want to use, how high you want them, etc
Hello sir. So another lectric owner told me that you mentioned it is necessary to get a new fold stem when installed the new fork. And the reason is because it’s threadless. I do not understand what threadless mean? And is it “a must” to do?
The existing stem (with quill) is made to be installed on a threaded fork. That means that the fork has threads on the steerer tube and you use a nut to secure the fork to the bike frame. You could take the stem off and the bike fork will remain in tact. With threadless forks, you use a collar to secure the fork to bike frame. And for the folding stem has that collar integrated into the stem. So the general answer is that yes, you need the new stem. Having said that, you could probably find a separate collar and spacers to hold the fork in place and then just mount the original stem into the fork tube using quill...but that's kind of a hack. Not saying it wouldn't work, just that it's not the normal method
For the optional spacer, what mm you purchased? And for the center screw that goes into the star nut; does it comes with the star nut or I have to buy it individually? Thank you.
I got several of the sizes on the optional spacer...but ended up using the thickest one. But any size (or none) could be used. One of my shocks came with star nut and one didn't. Some of my headsets came with star nuts and some didn't...so kind of hit or miss. They are cheap on Amazon if you need to buy star nut separately...
Thank you sir for responding. I was asking the screw goes into the star nut that holds the stem and the suspension fork together; do I have to buy that screw or it came with the star nut?
@@jesshsu4418 gotcha...I guess my answer is still essentially the same. I got the screw along with some items but not others. So it seems inconsistent if you'll get the screw included. Regardless, it's a standard size screw you can get from anywhere
Will this work on the new LT ? I cancelled my order of the 2.0 during pandemic, chose a almost new Kona Rove instead non electric... time for an ebike....
Not sure
I'm kind of nervous about the headset part... if the bike comes with a threaded, an unthreaded works? I just don't want to buy the wrong thing
If you buy the unthreaded fork only, it won't work. Check out my list of required parts in the link in description. I have all the parts required for conversion. Basically you need a new headset and handlebar stem that supports unthreaded. With all those components swapped, unthreaded works. So to be clear, the frame of the bike can support either threaded or unthreaded. You just need the appropriate headset/stem/fork combo to support either threaded or unthreaded. Hopefully that answers your question.
@@robertblaser9899 okay awesome! I understand now!
We need an update ride
Hello Robert great video I'm planning on doing the same thing to my bike...is there any reason you know of why you can't tap new threads on to the new fork after cutting it to the correct size as the original and reuse the original headset and folding stem ? I can't find the non threaded head set...I might try that...
You can do that as well. I've seen one other person successfully do it that way...
Yeah I finally did that on my xp and I was able to re use the original headset and folding stem...I found a shop that had the correct die that I needed 1 1/8 x 26 tpi and cut new threads on the new fork the installation was pretty straightforward. The new fork really smooths out the ride...
Nice 👍🏾 how does it feel on the road ?
I love it. Smooths out all of the harsh bumps
Where did the star nut come from? is that needed to be ordered as well? also what size starnut is it? 1 1/8?
I got a couple H185 headsets. One of them came with a star nut, one didn't. Also...one of my forks also came with a star nut. Neither is guaranteed to come with the star nut...but you can just buy them on amazon. They are cheap. And yes, they are 1 1/8".
@@robertblaser9899 Thanks, my suspension fork came with a star nut.
What is the fork you bought called?
I believe it was a pasak
With the new fork, does it interfere with anything when folding the bike?
Nope
Wondering how much a bike shop would charge to do that? I might just buy a new ebike with a fork suspension. Great video.
Expect about an hour labor, so whatever your local bike shop rate is for an hour of labor--could be $35 or $100
Hey buddy, is that a 26 fork?
No, it fits the smaller fatty tires
Any idea why my whole folding handlebar stem is really loose when i break? Could it be that i got the wrong headset?
Which stem are you using? The original or the replacement I used? Or a different one? And where is it loose and how much play is there?
@@robertblaser9899 the amazon one that you provided with link, a replacement one. Theres a lot of room, very wobbly, its right where the headset goes, thats where it is loose and when i front break the whole handlebar and stem moves. .looks like the headset wont tighten all the way...
Where do you get the star nut? Did it come with the forks?
Ok I see now that the forks come with a star nut zip tied to them.
Nice idea with the suspension. However, losing the front fender is a deal breaker. Seems like adding the two lower tabs to hold the fender braces would only add a few pennies to the cost of the conversion.
Yeah, would be easy mod. I just liked the look without front fender
Robert I’ve not been able to find the Neco H185 headset. I’m desperate. Any ideas
There have been a few other people that have made it work with other headsets. Look through the comments. Really, any headset will work that has similar specs (threadless, 44mm, etc). Worst case, you'd just have to swap the cups. That's really the only advantage of the H185, it is very similar to the H184 and shares mostly the same parts...so it wasn't necessary to replace the cups.
Did u use the same folding stem or did u use a different model ?
A different one. See the link in description, I give a list of all parts I used
@@robertblaser9899 I see. For the stock stem, would I still be able to use that if ever I put a new fork
@@whateverdude3080 the stock stem is for threaded forks. You can use it on threaded steerer tubes
@@robertblaser9899 Thanks for the tips sir, Very helpful ! Planning to do mine in 2 weeks if all the parts arrive.
@@whateverdude3080 let me know how it goes. Happy to answer any more questions you have...
for the crown race, did you remove it from the stock lectric xp fork and install onto the new fork or does the new headset come with one?
The new headset I used came with a new crown race. I think most headsets do...
so you changed the folding bar too ?
Yes. The original folding stem mounts onto a threaded steerer tube. So you need a new one that mounts onto a threadless steerer tube.
Where can i find the neco h185? Looks like its been out of stock.
It's been hard to find lately. Ebay was the best place a year ago...but not sure where now
@@robertblaser9899 would this work?
www.ebay.com/itm/Ritchey-Comp-Press-Fit-Semi-Integrated-44mm-1-1-8-Bike-Headset/193614045465
@@robertblaser9899 The old Neco H-185 is obsolete.
Did you actually need a new folding stem or was it just an upgrade
Need a threadless version
doesn't need to be folding, but needs to be threadless. a folding stem supports the bike's original functionality.
@@smfamily2009
And what's the problem using the same
folding stem on a threaded version
@@phazon4 New fork steerer tube needs to be the same length as the old fork if its threaded.,
What's the crown race you already installed? Does that come with it?
The crown race came with the h185 headset and I think most headsets come with one as well...
can I by the fork
Do you need the special tool to install the crown race?
No, I just used a 1 1/4" PVC pipe. Several methods out there. But I just used the pipe only. I heated the crown race for 10min or so in the oven (200 deg). Then dropped the crown race on steerer tube. Put the pipe over steerer tube resting on crown race. Holding the fork onto pipe, flip everything over and tapped the pipe several times on the ground. Just the weight of the fork when the pipe hit the ground was enough to seat the race quite easily. Just took 2 or 3 taps...
@@robertblaser9899 Thanks, I have the fork and folding stem ordered. Now if I can find a headset that will work I'll be set. I guess they don't make the neco anymore? At least I can't seem to find one?
@@glennfuqua6345 they do, it's just harder to find because Neco is business to business only. So you have to find someone that carries Neco products. I got mine on eBay
As of July 7, Ebay is out, so is Amazon. 😩
What would it take to use the stock folder with the new fork?
How much would you charge if I sent it to you to do it?
While I'd love to do it for you, unless you lived closed...shipping would probably be prohibitive. Would probably be much more affordable to have your local bike shop do it for you
Oh wow, I see, where you at
@@mikeyyt737 Utah
QUICK QUESTION, can u send me a link for a good headset that will work..The NECO H185 headset you have listed is unavailable and so far I've ordered the wrong one twice
You'll just need to ship around and find one with similar specs. Sorry, I don't have a link for a direct replacement without doing a bunch of digging. Good luck!
Hey Robert,
Do you have another headset that you can recommend?
I think most any semi integrated 44mm hub will work
whats the point completely dissasemble brake :)
Really well done video on installing suspension forks to an XP. I think you have inspired many users.I will do it myself once I get my XP. I will tackle this on the off-season. The only question I have is the bearing race on the new fork - did you use the old one or was new one installed and how hard was it to press on? Heat used?
I installed the new crown race that came with the H185 headset onto the new suspension fork. I left the old/stock crown race on the rigid fork. Install was very easy. I put the new crown race in the oven for 10min at 200 deg. Then dropped the crown race on the fork steerer tube. Then used a 4 or 5 foot long 1 1/4 inch pvc pipe and put it onto the steerer tube (it presses nicely against the crown race). Then I turned everything upside down and tapped the pvc pipe firmly onto the ground several times. Just the weight of the fork was enough to set the crown race after a few hits on the ground.
@@robertblaser9899 I see. Got it. Thanks.
That air fork is no longer available. Anyone got any suggestions?
Question about the Neco 185 headset. it seems everybody is out of them. is there a substitute or can I re-use the H-184 of the lectrect XP?
The Neco H-185 headset is obsolete and I doubt Neco sells it anymore. Just look for a 1-1/8" Semi Integrated Threadless Headset with 44mm cups top and bottom. That should do it. The 44mm is the ID of the opening on the bike, top and bottom where the steerer tube of the fork goes thru. The cups are press fit into the opening top and bottom, the bearing goes inside the cups. You won't be able to use the top cup since the old fork is threaded. You might be able to use the bottom cup you will just have to try it.
If buy items think bike shop would install it for a fee?
I'm sure most bike shops would install...
were do you get the forks at the new ones or can you use and tripe of forks?
See the link I posted i video description above. That link has all the info/parts needed for the upgrade...
do you have any play in your headset when braking?
No, headset is tight
How much the air suspension cost
It was about $125
Hey sir,
For the front fork suspension, if I want to get it on amazon, what is the keyword that I should type to get the right size? Or there is no right size for the fork suspension it’s all universal?
The correct size is a bit tricky to find. You need a shock that fits a 20" fat tire
Hello sir,
Sorry I asked bunch of question. The headset I bought did not work. I even took it to the bike shop and they couldn’t figure it out. I searched on Amazon and type in neco H185 threadless and the first came out with 12 pieces including the star nut and cost 17.60 is that the right one to buy?
Link?
Great video. I would Love to do that to mine. Can you tell me the total cost please? Thank you
I think it was about 150-180 bucks total
I ordered the same fork
1. Does it still fold no problem?
2. Can I install a fork without shortening it? what's the difference?
Great vid, thanks.
Yes, the folding is still the exact same as before with the parts I removed. And yes, you need to cut the steerer tube...otherwise the handlebar stem would sit about 4-5 inches taller and you'd have to fill that with the spacers I linked in the forum post. So you don't HAVE to cut the tube...but it would probably look funny and be too high. Alternatively, if you don't want to keep the folding handlebar feature, I've seen somebody ditch the folding stem and just use a bmx style handlebar and he just used spacers and it looked ok.
Did you put new cups on ? another guy on you tube that put the same fork on said it needs them .
No. If you can find the Neco H185 headset, the cups are identical and no need to replace... It's been tricky to find the H185 headset lately
Ok, thanks. I'm going to try and get the fork threaded one way or another.
We are so sorry for the shipping damage to your shocks. The damage will not affect the integrity of the forks or affect the suspension at all. With that, we have a couple of options: we can refund you up to $50, or order you a free accessory up to $50.
We can also replace the fork, but we need you to send us your damaged fork back first, and our warehouse has been backed up and is about 2-3 weeks behind. We would also have made the replacement or take it into a bike shop. This may mean it could be another month before you are able to ride again.
Let us know which you would prefer! Again, the dent will not affect your ride at all, but it is noticeable, and we can replace the forks for you if that is the direction you want to go.
Best,
Joseph
That is a typical reply a vendor will send when a damaged product is received. You don't have to accept it if you don't want to. Ask for a full refund and a return shipping label since you did not receive what you ordered. Challenge the payment with the credit card company or PayPal. Many times the vendor will quickly give in an issue a refund and simply ask you discard the item instead of paying for shipping back to them.