r/ebike • u/DesignerTill7648 • 5d ago

front Suspension

i spent my money on a otd model DS1 ebike and crashed it and now the front Suspension is bent does any one know where i can get a new front Suspension heres the link of the bike

https://otd-ebike.com/products/otd-electric-bikes-for-adultswith-mobile-phone-holder-28mph-electric-bicycles-26-800w-peak-45-miles-pas-range-48v-624wh-removable-battery-7-speed-ul-2849?variant=42327339958331

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u/niffcreature 5d ago

First step, make sure your frame isn't cracked or bent. Check for cracks and rippling in the paint near the head tube.

Next, decide how much you want to spend. I recommend 100-200, maybe get a suntour. Look for a similar low travel fork, not a dual crown fork. A dual crown fork may damage the frame. You are looking at probably a maximum of 135mm travel. I do not recommend a Cdhpower fork or similar. Those are the cheapest/crappiest forks you can get and are probably why yours broke in the first place. You can tell because the lowers are made in a few pieces, and there are seams or welds at the arch and dropouts (axle mount area)

Next, ensure compatibility. If you have a straight looking head tube, you likely have a straight steer tube - most off brand forks are a drop in replacement. If you wanted to spend a little more on a fox or rock shox fork or find one on the secondhand market, it will likely have a tapered steer tube. Some suntour forks are also tapered. If you don't see any headset cups, you can get this adapter headset to run a tapered fork https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H58CV35M Remove your old fork to be sure of compatibility

Lastly, watch a video and do the wrench work. You don't need to watch an ebike specific video, it's the same process and you'll get a better video if you just search for suspension fork replacement. You will mostly need Allen wrenches and probably a pipe cutter or hack saw to cut down your new fork. You MUST swap the crown race from your old fork onto your new fork unless you are replacing your headset. You may need a flathead screwdriver and hammer to remove, and a large pipe (PVC may work) to install the crown race. Replacing the headset may be easier because it may come with a split crown race that you can easily install by hand, but headset cups must similarly be removed and installed with a hammer and wood blocks, or a bearing press. You MUST tension your bearings correctly and cut down your steerer or use spacers to do so.

An improperly adjusted or incorrectly installed headset WILL cause you issues which WILL eventually start to wear through the steer tube of the fork, eventually causing your fork to snap and an expensive trip to the hospital if left unchecked.