The v2100 is one of the more popular bikes to convert due to two reasons: Full suspension and dirt cheap. Even after hundreds in upgrades it is still one of the most cost effective ways to go full suspension.
Total cost $2100 total
Cost breakdown:
After everything was removed from the BB, I slid the BBSHD in and found it was a tight fit. Required two people to get it in, one to hold the bike and another to twist it back and forth into the BB. Once in, I found everything was not as flush as it could be. There was a gap of 1.3mm.
It was important that this be flush before screwing in. I found some 1mm washers that already had a notch cut out so I did not have to cut them with a dremel to make them fit.
The combo shifter/brake corresponding to front derailer/brake needed to be replaced with the ebrake from the kit since the front derailer was removed.
To remove the handlebar grip I followed these instructions which recommend sticking a screwdriver coated in furniture polish under the grip to loosen it up. Worked nicely.
Other upgrades: Some parts on a V2100 absolutely should be replaced, the most obvious being the wheels. The low quality stock spokes have to go as does the rim, which is only single-walled.
The tubes were thin as well as needed upgrading to a larger size to accommodate the wider tires, a nice pair of crazy bobs.
The stock hubs had a lot of resistance even after messing around with the bearings and trying various adjustments. Replacing these was not a necessity but I figured might as well since I was already dissassembling the wheel. The Shimano hubs were reasonably priced and have quick releases which is nice. The hex bolts on the front disc were such poor quality metal they stripped and had to be cut off with a dremel, but the disc itself is good so it was kept, though the caliper is being replaced. The hex bolts were also replaced, with Torx bolts.
Surprised I do not want to keep this “Purk†brand caliper? Yeah me neither. It has the stopping power of a stick of butter. It was replaced with a Shimano. In the end the only wheel parts that were kept was the reflectors, the front disc rotor and the rear spoke guard.
Unfortunately this type of rim only takes Presta tubes, so the bike requires adapters for regular pumps and gauges. I would have drilled them out to use schrader but the tubes cost less than the drill bits. Great rim for the price though.
The cassette posed an interesting dilemma. The new hub is 8 speed, but the rear shifter/brake is 7 speed. Rather than spending more money to replace it I had two options. I could either use a 7 speed cassette with a spacer in place of the 8th gear or I could use an 8 speed cassette and limit it to the 7 gears with the limit screw. I went with the spacer but I think if I could do it again I would go with the other option, since the spacer leaves a wide gap the chain could fall into if the derailer got damaged. If the chain fell in there while the bbshd was powering along I am concerned it may chew up the hub.
Added suspension seat and post since it is quite enjoyable on my non-fs bike. This is probably unecessary on a full suspension bike and I am considering putting the seat on a regular post so I can lower it more. The combo has always very nice on my front suspension bike though so figured I would give it a shot.
Total cost $2100 total
Cost breakdown:
- $700 BBSHD
- $600 (2) mighty mini batteries for a total 14ah
- $65 mighty mini chainring (edit: converted to eclipse)
- $120 2016 100mm Rockshox 30 Front Fork
- $160 bike (free frame after stripping all original parts and selling them off)
- $75 DT Swiss spokes (36 260mm for front, 18 264mm for left rear, 18 263mm for right rear)
- $44 Alexrims 26†DM24 rims (ultrawide, double-walled, heavy duty built for ebikes)
- $60 (2) Schwalbe Crazy Bob tires (2.35†width, the biggest that will fit this frame)
- $28 Shimano Deore rear hub T610
- $21 Shimano Deore front disc hub M525A
- $21 Shimano BR-M375 Disc Brake Caliper
- $16 (2) Sunlite presta tubes (26 x 1.90 - 2.35" / 32mm)
- $14 7-speed cassette (later upgraded to 9spd KMC X9)
- $22 C9 suspension seat
- $22 XLC suspension seatpost
- $6 kmc missing link
- $5 4.5mm cassette spacer
- $5 VKTech Presta to Schrader bike valve adapters
- $5 Torx bolts
After everything was removed from the BB, I slid the BBSHD in and found it was a tight fit. Required two people to get it in, one to hold the bike and another to twist it back and forth into the BB. Once in, I found everything was not as flush as it could be. There was a gap of 1.3mm.
It was important that this be flush before screwing in. I found some 1mm washers that already had a notch cut out so I did not have to cut them with a dremel to make them fit.
The combo shifter/brake corresponding to front derailer/brake needed to be replaced with the ebrake from the kit since the front derailer was removed.
To remove the handlebar grip I followed these instructions which recommend sticking a screwdriver coated in furniture polish under the grip to loosen it up. Worked nicely.
Other upgrades: Some parts on a V2100 absolutely should be replaced, the most obvious being the wheels. The low quality stock spokes have to go as does the rim, which is only single-walled.
The tubes were thin as well as needed upgrading to a larger size to accommodate the wider tires, a nice pair of crazy bobs.
The stock hubs had a lot of resistance even after messing around with the bearings and trying various adjustments. Replacing these was not a necessity but I figured might as well since I was already dissassembling the wheel. The Shimano hubs were reasonably priced and have quick releases which is nice. The hex bolts on the front disc were such poor quality metal they stripped and had to be cut off with a dremel, but the disc itself is good so it was kept, though the caliper is being replaced. The hex bolts were also replaced, with Torx bolts.
Surprised I do not want to keep this “Purk†brand caliper? Yeah me neither. It has the stopping power of a stick of butter. It was replaced with a Shimano. In the end the only wheel parts that were kept was the reflectors, the front disc rotor and the rear spoke guard.
Unfortunately this type of rim only takes Presta tubes, so the bike requires adapters for regular pumps and gauges. I would have drilled them out to use schrader but the tubes cost less than the drill bits. Great rim for the price though.
The cassette posed an interesting dilemma. The new hub is 8 speed, but the rear shifter/brake is 7 speed. Rather than spending more money to replace it I had two options. I could either use a 7 speed cassette with a spacer in place of the 8th gear or I could use an 8 speed cassette and limit it to the 7 gears with the limit screw. I went with the spacer but I think if I could do it again I would go with the other option, since the spacer leaves a wide gap the chain could fall into if the derailer got damaged. If the chain fell in there while the bbshd was powering along I am concerned it may chew up the hub.
Added suspension seat and post since it is quite enjoyable on my non-fs bike. This is probably unecessary on a full suspension bike and I am considering putting the seat on a regular post so I can lower it more. The combo has always very nice on my front suspension bike though so figured I would give it a shot.
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