Electric Bike Suspension Guide

Do you really need an electric bike suspension system?

Installing electric bike suspension could be paramount for some riders but not for others. Downhill bike riders and others who do a lot of technical terrains can’t live without dual suspension. That isn’t the case with commuter bike users and those of you who only use a bike in the city.

Your desired comfort level also determines whether you can or cannot live without a suspension.

Table of Contents

Suspension Systems for E-Bikes

I know there are a few alternatives, and each one of them varies depending on the bike. Here are some options for short and long travels (this concept will be explained further down this guide):

Front suspension for hybrid electric bikes

DFS Carbon Air Fork – 90mm travel

✅ The locking system can be adjusted remotely with the added wire.

X: The structure could bend more than expected.

– This Chinese fork brand was designed to provide enough suspension for people with hybrid e-bicycles with 26″ to 29″ tires.

It could be a good fit since it is very lightweight; however, the installation seems more for experienced people.

– Then comes the solo air spring, which you can tune whichever way you want.

– Equally useful is the Oneloc remote that lets you lock out the suspension remotely.

– Remember to buy a suitable air pump to adjust to the desired compression.

Rock Shox – 110mm travel

✅ It fits well with any braking system and would greatly upgrade your e-bike.

X: The steerer tube may be too long for old bike models and only for 26″ tires.

– The RockShox packs many amazing features.

– Foremost among them are its bottomless spacers that let you adjust the suspension to suit your riding style.

– The spacers are also the reason why it is a must-have for aggressive riders, as they prevent it from bottoming out after a huge bump.

– They increase the surface area that connects the former with the latter by strengthening the connection between the fork dropout and the hub.

– As veteran riders might tell, it allows the fork to offer better control and feedback to the rider.

Full-suspension electric mountain bike

Bucklos Lutus Air – 120mm travel

✅ The rebound is not too complex to adjust.

X: Some people say the 120mm travel is not reachable.

– This Bucklos Lutus e-MTB is perfect for tackling more aggressive terrains. This is not all, as the 120mm apparent travel air-adjustable will give a bit more space for the shafts to move.

– One thing to consider is that the fork is suitable for disk brakes only. On the good side, it can be fitted for 26 to 29″ tires.

– Consider the additional weight (1.6 kg), which is not ideal for an electric mountain bike that could be already heavy.

RockShox Monarch RL – 44mm stroke

✅ Lightweight compared to other brands.

X: Only two (2) locking compression adjustments.

– RockShox is giving us another great rear suspension system.

– The Monarch RL model counts with two (2) compression adjustments. A third one would’ve been great, but you can use the motor to reduce the lack of an uphill feature.

– As with any other air shock, it is also prone to leaks, so testing it out in low-complex terrains is recommended.

– Be mindful of the eyelets connection before buying it, as not all frames may fit well – at least, we know most Giant frames do.

Suspension Factor Considerations

Multiple factors influence the decision to include a shock-absorbing system. What do you need it for?

The first factor is the type of e-bike you have. For instance, an electric mountain bike rider will definitely require a full suspension system (front and rear), whereas a city person with no suspension could be just fine.

A second factor is how much comfort you are after. Lastly, the third factor concerns the budget you have.

This is where you would classify each eBike:

E-hybrid bikes will have a front suspension.
Top e-MTB could have either a single suspension (also called hard-tail) at the front or a double, including one at the bike’s rear or middle.
Most city commuter e-cycle versions, such as the Pegasus Premio Evo 10, would have none.

Terrain characteristics

An electric bike with full suspension is a must-have for off-road enthusiasts and those who do a lot of technical terrains. It can easily dampen most of the vibrations and shocks before they can reach your body.

You’d, therefore, experience less fatigue and tiredness at the end of the day. That’s not all.

Bikes that come with front and rear suspension systems also allow you to maintain more speed and control when going downhill.

Meanwhile, city commuters mostly opt for hard-tail or no suspension. Most of them feel, with good reason, that the vibrations coming off the road wouldn’t impact their ride quality.

Despite the above, I know that some of our fellow readers suggest that the lack of suspension is a flaw, especially when getting old.

Electric bike suspension maintenance

Yet another factor that convinces them to ignore dual-suspension electric bikes is their high maintenance. As expected, it requires a regular oil change, replacement of dust wipers, rubber seals, etc. You, therefore, have no choice but to spend more time and money to keep them going.

Look at the good side. You will get to know the shock system and learn from it.

Desired comfort

Let’s start with your desired comfort.

Those of you who aren’t fans of body aches would do well investing in electric bike suspension alternatives. They can quickly dampen the intensity and save you from experiencing the full force of every pothole your tires will roll over. Such a comfort level is something you can take for granted if you use your e-bike for commuting purposes.

But those of you whose weekend plans involve pedaling through the hills know they can’t count on the terrain to keep things easy.

Budget factor

Let’s turn our attention to your budget. For instance, specialized full-suspension electric mountain bikes cost a fortune.

I have seen a few costing around $3,000. Even the cheap e-bikes offering front and rear suspension are expected to set you back between $1,500 and $2,000.

Manufacturers have to basically make two (2) small frames, each requiring as much effort as a single hard-tail one when coming up with a full-suspension electric bike.

Throw the extra hardware needed to connect high-quality pieces into the mix, and they have enough reason to jack up the prices.

I would say that paying such a price is worth it when safety and integrity are important.

Desired speed

Dual-suspension e-bikes are absolute speed warriors going downhill. They do such an excellent job of absorbing shocks that you can effortlessly maintain a high speed on the more technical sections of your trail. Obviously, it won’t be the case if you’re riding a single-suspension model.

Hard-tail electric bicycles with the same features (wheels, brakes, etc) took almost 12 seconds more to cover a rough terrain. Source: Bikeradar.

But don’t get fooled. When thinking about commuting, the lack of suspension contributes to maintaining more speed while going uphill as the energy transmitted while pedaling goes to the rear tire.

Suspension weight

On the weight side, their extra speed comes at the cost of extra weight, for obvious reasons. The added pounds may not bother you that much, and it should be the case because you have a motor to assist with. But it might concern you if your rides include lots of climbing.

The added weight will put more pressure on the motor and battery, reducing range.

E-Bike Suspension Types

The following are two (2) types of suspension systems for electric bicycles:

Rear Suspension Overview

Also known as rear shock or simply ‘shock,’ the rear suspension is mostly found inside the main frame triangle.

One of its ends is connected to the pivoting rear triangle, and the other is attached to the main triangle itself.

The rear suspension provides many benefits to professional e-MTB riders.

Let’s discuss some basic terminology:

Stroke travel indicates how much the shaft itself will travel when the shock is loaded or unloaded.
Wheel travel length refers to how much the rear wheel will move at its pivot point after the shock is fully compressed.
The spring system absorbs the impact by using either air or a coil.
Rebound damping relates to how fast the rear shock will return to its full extension after compressing. A high graduation will cause the shock not to recover fast, and a low graduation will potentially unbalance the jumps.
Sag: this is the term used when the shock compresses naturally when the rider sits on the e-bike. This is where the graduation has to be done.

Some high-performance rear suspension systems offer two (2) or three (3) adjustment levels.

2 levels will be ascending/descending; 3 levels will add a neutral position.

Follow the manufacturer’s guides to properly pair the stroke travel and the SAG before the first ride.

Front Suspension Overview

Although there are many types of front suspensions, the most common is what experts call the “fork.”

As for the terminology, it is basically the same as the rear configuration, nevertheless the stroke travel will be the same as the wheel travel.

In addition to the above, some features are also useful for this type of suspension:

The lockout gives you the alternative to lock (as in no compression) or unlock the suspension system. Some fancy brands offer three (3) options: open, medium, and lock. Read the detailed explanation of the Giant Trance E+ 3 Pro 2020 Review, full suspension e-bike section.
Preload (coil system) refers to how much the coil will compress without putting any load.
Damping helps to moderate how fast the rebound and compression of the fork are.

As for suspension travel, there are two (2) classifications: short and long travel.

Short travel suspension (below 100 mm)

The short travel refers to front suspension systems that offer a 30mm to 120mm compression when getting a hit.

Typically:

30 mm to 50 mm is expected in electric bikes for kids.
60mm to 100mm are seen for cross-country versions. In other words, for hybrid and city commuter e-bikes (if fitted).

Long travel suspension (over 120 mm)

This suspension is mostly available with what the manufacturers choose to call ‘all mountain’ bikes. They are designed to handle extremely rough trails without hurting the bike’s performance too much.

Know that 120mm to 160mm travel will be good enough for most electric mountain bike activities; however, such as “Freeride” or serious downhills would suit a 160 mm to 200 mm travel better.

NOTE

It is important to note that a front or rear suspension system using air compression as an impact absorbent will require the use of a special air pump, as shown below – you can’t use a standard tire one, unfortunately.