{"id":70161,"date":"2024-10-13T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-13T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/d94099fc-9955-4d38-b19a-b15ddcd2cf53"},"modified":"2024-10-13T11:25:27","modified_gmt":"2024-10-13T09:25:27","slug":"tech-qa-safe-electric-bike-conversion-kits-and-fitting-the-fox-genie-shock-to-other-bikes-your-questions-answered","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/tech-qa-safe-electric-bike-conversion-kits-and-fitting-the-fox-genie-shock-to-other-bikes-your-questions-answered\/","title":{"rendered":"Tech Q&#038;A: safe electric bike conversion kits and fitting the Fox GENIE shock to other bikes \u2013 your questions answered"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"rssexcerpt\">Plus endurance bikes with an upright ride position and uncomfortable cut-down bars <\/p><p class=\"rssauthor\">By Jack Luke\n      <\/p><p class=\"rssbyline\">Published: Sunday, 13 October 2024 at 09:00 AM<\/p><hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\" standalone=\"yes\"?>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><p>In this episode of the BikeRadar tech Q&amp;A, senior technical editors Tom Marvin and Warren Rossiter sit down with Tom Law to cover a pair of road and MTB questions apiece.<\/p><p>We cover Fox\u2019s intriguing new GENIE shock, handlebar compliance, electric bike conversion kits and more.<\/p><p>As ever, if you have a question you can\u2019t find the answer to, email us at <a href=\"mailto:podcast@bikeradar.com\">podcast@bikeradar.com<\/a> and we\u2019ll get back to you.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Tech Q&amp;A \u2013 winter kit, chopped-down bars, comfy endurance bikes and Specialized\u2019s fancy GENIE shock\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/episode\/30OUvEa8cATkMsF2V3brjK?utm_source=oembed\"\/><\/div><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Looking for an endurance bike for long rides that\u2019s not too sporty<\/h2><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Brian Ridley asks\u2026<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Endurance bikes of old had truly upright\/comfortable geometry. <span>Matthew Loveridge \/ Bikeradar<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure><p>I&#8217;m looking for a new bike, preferably for around \u00a33,000 (although I could stretch to \u00a34,000).\u00a0<\/p><p>I want an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/buyers-guides\/best-endurance-road-bikes\">endurance bike<\/a> for long-distance rides, with the option to throw on some bags for a few nights away.\u00a0<\/p><p>However, most recommendations seem to be &#8220;racier but still comfortable\u201d. I\u2019m loving the comfort part but not keen on the racier position.\u00a0<\/p><p>At 61 years old, 6ft and 82kg, I&#8217;m not as flexible as I was in my youth.\u00a0<\/p><p>I\u2019m also considering a suspension stem as the roads here are terrible. Any suggestions?<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">BikeRadar\u2019s answer\u2026<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/05\/Merida-Scultura-Endurance-Rival-Edition-01-0f5c6e8.jpg\" alt=\"Merida Scultura Endurance Rival Edition road bike\" class=\"wp-image-726905\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Scultura Endurance&#8217;s geometry is less extreme than Merida&#8217;s pro-tour race bikes. <span>David Caudery \/ Our Media<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure><p>While endurance bikes have generally become a bit sportier in recent years, there are still options with generous stack out there.\u00a0<\/p><p>Senior tech editor Warren Rossiter suggests the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/reviews\/bikes\/road-bikes\/2024-giant-defy-advanced-pro-2-review\">Giant Defy<\/a> (our 2024 Road Bike of the Year).<\/p><p>While only slightly taller and shorter than the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/reviews\/bikes\/road-bikes\/giant-tcr-advanced-sl-0-dura-ace-di2-review\">Giant TCR<\/a>, it still offers a very comfortable ride. Warren is even considering it as a replacement for his own TCR.<\/p><p>For a more relaxed riding position, Warren recommends looking at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/reviews\/bikes\/road-bikes\/merida-scultura-endurance-rival-edition-review\">Merida\u2019s Scultura Endurance<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p><p>He tested the Rival-equipped bike for Bike of the Year in 2023 and suggests the upright position is more typical of classic endurance geometry. The bike also has generous tyre clearance up to 35mm, which would help smooth out rough roads.\u00a0<\/p><p>As another plus, the Scultura doesn\u2019t have a one-piece bar-stem setup, meaning you could swap in a suspension stem if you want even more front-end comfort.\u00a0<\/p><p>Warren is currently testing the USE Vybe and Redshift suspension stems, so keep an eye out for those reviews on BikeRadar soon.<\/p><p>Another option to consider is the Specialized Roubaix. The Future Shock system does an excellent job of damping vibrations, and with the Hover bar effectively raising the stack height, the riding position is more comfortable than the geometry chart suggests.\u00a0<\/p><p>Warren highlights the current <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/reviews\/bikes\/road-bikes\/specialized-roubaix-sl8-sport-105\">Roubaix SL8 Sport 105<\/a> as a great bike, priced within Brian\u2019s budget at \u00a33,000.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reliable electric bike conversion kits<\/h2><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">BikeRadar\u2019s wonderful podcast editor, Dan asks\u2026<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2020\/09\/Cannondale-Quick-4-Disc-with-Cytronex-06-cc39fa5.jpg\" alt=\"Cytronex electric assistance system on a Cannondale Quick 4 Disc road bike\" class=\"wp-image-557529\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Electric bike conversion kits vary wildly in quality. <span>Russell Burton \/ Immediate Media<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Hi team,<\/p><p>My mum, in her late 50s, is interested in converting her bike to electric for errands, commuting and the occasional casual ride. Any advice on what to look for in an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/buyers-guides\/best-electric-bike-conversion-kits\">electric bike conversion kit<\/a>?<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">BikeRadar\u2019s answer\u2026<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/09\/Skarperourmedia13-56c441e.jpeg\" alt=\"Person installing Skarper ebike unit on bike.\" class=\"wp-image-745072\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Warren has been testing Skarper&#8217;s electric bike conversion kit and the results look really promising. <span>Skarper <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure><p>We\u2019d first recommend avoiding cheap, generic electric bike conversion kits \u2013 these are not closely regulated and often don\u2019t meet safety standards.<\/p><p>Warren recommends the <a href=\"http:\/\/02.purpledshub.com\/bikeradar\/wp-admin\/index.php\">Swytch kit<\/a> as a solid, affordable option. Starting at around \u00a3470, the kit includes a motorised front wheel and a bar- or frame-mounted battery. It\u2019s lightweight and simple to fit, although depending on the bike, you might want to have a local shop handle installation.\u00a0<\/p><p>The range varies from 7 to 20 miles, making it suitable for short commutes or casual rides.<\/p><p>For a longer range, Warren suggests looking at the Cytronex kit. Like Swytch, it uses a motorised front wheel but comes with a bottle-style battery that offers a real-world range of over 35 miles. Cytronex kits start at \u00a3925, and they also offer a fitting service for an additional cost.<\/p><p>If rear-wheel drive is preferred, Warren highlights <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/features\/boost-for-brompton-conversion-kit\">Boost<\/a>, which offers a more natural handling experience compared to front-wheel drive systems. Boost kits start at around \u00a31,000 and come with a 36V battery for a solid range. He is currently testing a 700c disc version, which he found easy to install.<\/p><p>Finally, for a more flexible solution, Warren recommends the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/news\/skarper-ebike-conversion-kit-production-first-impressions\">Skarper system<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p><p>Instead of replacing a whole wheel, the Skarper kit uses a DiscDrive that replaces the rear disc rotor.\u00a0<\/p><p>This enables you to switch quickly between assisted and standard riding, and with an additional DiscDrive, you could even use it on multiple bikes. The Skarper system is priced at \u00a31,395, but is the most versatile option.\u00a0<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why are my chopped-down bars not comfortable?<\/h2><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sally Robinson asks\u2026<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/06\/DMR-Wingbar-MKIV-35mm-1-0f50d5b.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-733966\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">800mm handlebars are increasingly common, but they&#8217;re not for everyone. <span>Mick Kirkman \/ Our Media<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure><p>I recently bought myself some new carbon bars for my bike. They\u2019ve been sold to me as \u201csuper compliant\u201d. They were 800mm when I bought them, but I\u2019ve cut them down to 750mm. <\/p><p>Initial impressions were good but, when riding longer, rougher trails, it felt like my teeth were rattling out of my skull. <\/p><p>Have I done something wrong? Why aren\u2019t they as compliant as all the reviews say?<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">BikeRadar\u2019s answer&#8230;<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/10\/Pivot-FB-2-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Rob Weaver riding Pivot Firebird\" class=\"wp-image-883279\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">All else being equal, a narrower bar will flex less than a wider bar, potentially impacting comfort. <span>Russell Burton \/ Our Media<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure><p>There are two possible reasons for this, although the most likely one is all to do with leverage.<\/p><p>Tom Law explains that placing your hands on a wider bar exerts more leverage, which induces more flex (or, compliance). <\/p><p>By cutting the handlebar from 800mm to 750mm, you&#8217;ve reduced the length by 25mm on each side, which decreases the leverage you can exert on the bar.<\/p><p>This might not sound a lot, but if you consider the central portion of the bar, close to the bar clamp and the angled portions of the bar, are potentially designed to be stiffer, there\u2019s even less length of bar to flex.<\/p><p>Some brands, such as Race Face, are now building bars that come in different lengths, with their comfort dialled in for each width.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4805\" height=\"3203\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2021\/06\/pressure-gauge-19psi-65a4360.jpg\" alt=\"Mountain bike tyre pressure, pressure gauge 19 PSI\" class=\"wp-image-634918\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Before swapping back to an 800mm bar, consider experimenting with tyre pressure and fork setup. <span>Russell Burton \/ Immediate Media<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Tom Marvin points out, too, that there are a lot of other factors going into the front end of a bike\u2019s comfort. <\/p><p>While the bar may have been chopped down, changing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/workshop\/trail-tech-mountain-bike-tyre-pressure-all-you-need-to-know\">tyre pressure<\/a>, for example, will also impact on comfort \u2013 as will how regularly your suspension has been serviced. <\/p><p>If you don\u2019t want to replace the bar you\u2019ve just purchased, have a look at other parts of the front end of your bike, where comfort might be boosted.<\/p><p>Finally, both Toms agree that the bar roll may be an important factor. Some comfy bars are designed to flex vertically, but not horizontally.<\/p><p>So, if you\u2019ve got the bar rolled particularly far forward or back, it may be unable to flex in the direction you need it to. Check your bar roll and centre it to a neutral position in the stem to see if this helps.<\/p><p><script src=\"https:\/\/cdn.jwplayer.com\/players\/DjYNaUzr-KvTfK8W9.js\"\/><\/p><hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fox GENIE shock compatibility<\/h2><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Joshua asks\u2026<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/06\/Specialized-Stumpjumper-15-Shock-2.jpg\" alt=\"Specialized Stumpjumper 15 full suspension mountain bike\" class=\"wp-image-869313\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The GENIE shock is central to the Stumpjumper 15. <span>Justin Sullivan \/ Our Media<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure><p>I currently own a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/reviews\/bikes\/electric-bikes\/specialized-s-works-turbo-levo-sl-ii-review\">Specialized Turbo Levo SL 2<\/a> and I'm interested in upgrading its rear shock. <\/p><p>I have heard positive reviews about the performance of the Fox GENIE shock on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/news\/specialized-stumpjumper-15-alloy\">Stumpjumper 15<\/a>. Would this shock would be a suitable upgrade for the Turbo Levo SL 2? <\/p><p>Specifically, I am interested in understanding how the different suspension designs of these two models might impact the bike\u2019s overall performance, particularly in the context of kinematics.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">BikeRadar's answer...<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/05\/Specialized-Turbo-Levo-SL-II-12-d3daaeb.jpg\" alt=\"Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo SL II lightweight full suspension electric mountain bike\" class=\"wp-image-727979\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The top-spec Turbo SL is one of the best bikes we've ever tested. <span>Ian Linton \/ Our Media<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure><p>As ever, before you go ahead changing anything, do so either at your own risk, or following proper advice from the related brands.<\/p><p>The GENIE is a proprietary Float shock built by Fox for the Specialized Stumpjumper 15 and, as far as we know, can\u2019t be purchased aftermarket. As such, getting hold of one in the first place might be tricky.<\/p><p>Given the new Stumpjumper is available with a coil shock, a standard shock or the GENIE shock, we don\u2019t feel the kinematics of the Stumpjumper\u2019s linkage are inherently connected to the shock itself. <\/p><p>We\u2019re not sure how similar the kinematics of the Stumpjumper and Turbo Levo are, and so a shock tuned for one might not feel \u2018right\u2019 on the other anyway.<\/p><p>That said, in the US, it\u2019s possible to buy a Turbo Levo SL model with a new Fox Float X GENIE shock, so you\u2019re definitely not wrong to believe it might be possible.<\/p><p>As mentioned earlier, though, getting hold of either could be tricky.<\/p><p>If you want a plusher feel, you might be best looking for a RockShox Vivid Air \u2013 a larger-volume shock that should feel great. However, as ever, check compatibility with the frame.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Plus endurance bikes with an upright ride position and uncomfortable cut-down bars <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":70162,"template":"","categories":[1,36],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"8"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/10\/tech-qa-safe-electric-bike-conversion-kits-and-fitting-the-fox-genie-shock-to-other-bikes-your-questions-answered.jpg",2560,1704,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/10\/tech-qa-safe-electric-bike-conversion-kits-and-fitting-the-fox-genie-shock-to-other-bikes-your-questions-answered-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/10\/tech-qa-safe-electric-bike-conversion-kits-and-fitting-the-fox-genie-shock-to-other-bikes-your-questions-answered-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/10\/tech-qa-safe-electric-bike-conversion-kits-and-fitting-the-fox-genie-shock-to-other-bikes-your-questions-answered-768x511.jpg",768,511,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/10\/tech-qa-safe-electric-bike-conversion-kits-and-fitting-the-fox-genie-shock-to-other-bikes-your-questions-answered-1024x682.jpg",800,533,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/10\/tech-qa-safe-electric-bike-conversion-kits-and-fitting-the-fox-genie-shock-to-other-bikes-your-questions-answered-1536x1022.jpg",1536,1022,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/10\/tech-qa-safe-electric-bike-conversion-kits-and-fitting-the-fox-genie-shock-to-other-bikes-your-questions-answered-2048x1363.jpg",2048,1363,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Plus endurance bikes with an upright ride position and uncomfortable cut-down bars","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/70161"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/70162"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70161"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70161"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}