Amp Research

[upcruiser]

I'm looking to convert my old hardtail into a single speed and am looking for help in the suspesnion department. The bike is a '93 Mongoose IBOC Team. I bought it 2 days after graduating highschool with my graduation money.:D It was/is an awesome ride. To this day, I've yet to find a hardtail that is as scalpel precise as that bike. Anyway, when I originally bought it, it was spec'd out with an Amp research fork. I still have it along with a bunch of others as well. Over the course of that bikes first life with me I went through 4 new forks with it. Each fork getting 1 to 2 rebuilds along the way. I'm looking to revamp my amp fork for the single speed project. Problem is, I need to rebuild it again (its already been rebuilt twice!) and I cannot find the rebuild kits anywhere for it. Anyone have any insight as to where I might be able to source one? I really want to use the fork since it is so feathery light and cool in a retro tech kinda way.:bowdown:

[slooowr6]

Is it the one that has linkage and a single shock in the middle? If it's that one then it's going to be hard to find a rebuild kit for it.

[MountainBiker]

I'll give you my fork if you pay for shipping. It has been hanging in the garage for 9 years, along with the broken Mongoose/AmpResearch full suspension frame.

AR claims to still provide support:
http://www.amp-research.com/build/bikes.asp

Here is the parts list, just in case you don't have it:
http://www.amp-research.com/pdf/F3XCF4BLTPartsList.pdf

[upcruiser]

It has a single spring in the middle with a damper on one side. A downhill version had more travel and dual dampers. Here's shot of the x country fork. Mine is an earlier version with the chromoly fork blades....

http://www.bikepro.com/products/forks/jpgs/amp_full_front_15.jpg

http://www.bikepro.com/products/forks/jpgs/amp_side_det_15.jpg

[slooowr6]

cool fork, like MountainBiker post above, AR is your best bet. If you like the fork you should take MB for his offer.

MB, that's a cool offer! :bowdown:

[DaveInDenver]

Call Amp Research. They're still around, although I don't think they are selling any MTB stuff anymore. But a guy I ride with occasionally got some parts to refurbish his forks recently (about a year ago). Supposedly they are still pretty core riders and they still machine parts to keep their bikes going. Pretty sweet stuff.

[FJ Cruiser]

yeah, they are around. They are the ones that make the bed extender and the auto retracting side step.

[upcruiser]

I'll give you my fork if you pay for shipping. It has been hanging in the garage for 9 years, along with the broken Mongoose/AmpResearch full suspension frame.

AR claims to still provide support:
http://www.amp-research.com/build/bikes.asp

Here is the parts list, just in case you don't have it:
http://www.amp-research.com/pdf/F3XCF4BLTPartsList.pdf

Wow, that's a great offer. What version do you have and what steerer tube diameter? Check your PM's. I think I'd be interested no matter what.

I did not realize they were still providing service, thanks for the links, that's great value there.

[MountainBiker]

Wow, that's a great offer. What version do you have and what steerer tube diameter? Check your PM's. I think I'd be interested no matter what.
It is one of the earliest versions. It has the ChroMo tubes, painted black. I'm pretty sure the steerer tube is 1-1/8", although it was cut a bit short by the bike shop that built up the bike. It was purchased new in 1995 IIRC.

BTW, I grew up in the mitten state (SW corner), and I love visiting the UP, but haven't done so in many years.

[upcruiser]

Call Amp Research. They're still around, although I don't think they are selling any MTB stuff anymore. But a guy I ride with occasionally got some parts to refurbish his forks recently (about a year ago). Supposedly they are still pretty core riders and they still machine parts to keep their bikes going. Pretty sweet stuff.

The site says that they are not still manufacturing bike components but are offering service for upkeep. I'm going to email them to ask about part availabilities.

[upcruiser]

It is one of the earliest versions. It has the ChroMo tubes, painted black. I'm pretty sure the steerer tube is 1-1/8", although it was cut a bit short by the bike shop that built up the bike. It was purchased new in 1995 IIRC.

BTW, I grew up in the mitten state (SW corner), and I love visiting the UP, but haven't done so in many years.

Sounds exactly like mine. I've got another bike frame I've been looking to build up as a super light x country bike. I was going to use a rigid fork, but this would be better. I'm riding a Specialized Epic which is nice and comfy but I want somthing light again.

[ZooJunkie]

I love those old school AMP forks!!

It's old school cause it's when the mtn bike really got started with all these front forks!

drool.

[upcruiser]

Got the fork yesterday, looks great. I think the bushings and everything are much tighter in it then mine. Also noticed the red spring in it, I'm thinking it has the heavier spring in it which I probably need since I was a gangly 150lber when I was riding my Amp fork last and now I'm 200lbs.

Now I just need to post a thread about finding a nice Ritchey frame... ha ha :ylsmoke:

[MountainBiker]

Got the fork yesterday, looks great. I think the bushings and everything are much tighter in it then mine. Also noticed the red spring in it, I'm thinking it has the heavier spring in it which I probably need since I was a gangly 150lber when I was riding my Amp fork last and now I'm 200lbs.
I think it was the heavier spring, since I weighed ~175 when I spec'd the bike. I only used the fork for about 2 years, until the frame broke. And most of that time was in San Diego, so pretty dry conditions.

I'm glad it found a home other than in the landfill!

[Kermit]

Single speed, eh?

I have an old VooDoo Nzumbi (pronounced zombie)

I tried going fully ridgid, but, my wrists can't take the beating out here in the rocks.

[upcruiser]

Single speed, eh?

I have an old VooDoo Nzumbi (pronounced zombie)

I tried going fully ridgid, but, my wrists can't take the beating out here in the rocks.

I'd like to do a single speed and give that a shot for a bit to see if I like it. I like the idea of it being super mechanically simple. No chain skipping and the such. I don't know though, I think I'd like a nice simple vintage steel rigid bike with maybe a flex stem (allsop) or something similar. Are you looking to get rid of your Voo Doo?

I spotted this on ebay the other day.. http://cgi.ebay.com/SPECIALIZED-STUMPJUMPER-TANGE-STEEL-VINTAGE-RETRO_W0QQitemZ220086351971QQihZ012QQcategoryZ9808 3QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item22 0086351971

Call me crazy but the finesse it takes to ride a rigid bike is more fun to me then just blasting over rocks without much thought to line. Even in small rocks you need to choose your line and use a fair amount of skill to work your way through technical sections. My Epic is pretty comfy to spend time on and fast too, but sometimes I feel it just has too much crap on it.

[mountainpete]

Hijjack for the sake of trivia time:

Anyone still remember what the IBOC stands for on the Mongoose IBOC line?

I had one the first IBOCs released. A 1989 IBOC Pro if I remember correctly :shakin:

Trivia winner gets respect.

Pete

[upcruiser]

Hijjack for the sake of trivia time:

Anyone still remember what the IBOC stands for on the Mongoose IBOC line?

I had one the first IBOCs released. A 1989 IBOC Pro if I remember correctly :shakin:

Trivia winner gets respect.

Pete

International Bicycle of Champions

Pay up sucka! ha ha

Yeah, my old frame is an IBOC Team that was one of the frames set aside for the factory team riders that a buddy of mine that owned a bike shop managed to score me. At the time it was special since it had the geometry designed for front suspension which the standard retail version didn't have.

[DaveInDenver]

International Bicycle of Champions

Pay up sucka! ha ha

Yeah, my old frame is an IBOC Team that was one of the frames set aside for the factory team riders that a buddy of mine that owned a bike shop managed to score me. At the time it was special since it had the geometry designed for front suspension which the standard retail version didn't have.
A friend of mine had one around 1991 or so. It had the triangle top tube and looped chain/seat stay, although his wasn't one of the suspension corrected frames. Cool bikes.

[upcruiser]

A friend of mine had one around 1991 or so. It had the triangle top tube and looped chain/seat stay, although his wasn't one of the suspension corrected frames. Cool bikes.

Yeah, mine has the triangular top tube. It made for an incredibly stiff frame but man, its like a cleaver when you fall and rack yourself on the top tube.:Wow1:

[mountainpete]

Respect goes to Kristian :beer:

The only fancy features mine had was a wishbone rear, straight forks and cool purple paint!

[Kermit]

Are you looking to get rid of your Voo Doo?


Never getting rid of that bike....:)...I might throw a Fox fork on it one of these days...or a Ti ridgid....if my wrists would hold up.

http://inlinethumb06.webshots.com/2693/2141974740093498191S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2141974740093498191ggyUzy)

King hubs and head set

MRP Steely Dan 180 cranks

Moots Ti post

Easton carbon bar

to name some of the good stuff...

I do have some friends who ride fixies off road....now those guys are nuts!

Of all of my bicycles this single speed is my favorite....(click on picture to see different views).

http://inlinethumb28.webshots.com/2907/2730036650093498191S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2730036650093498191XRCiWE)

[slooowr6]

Never getting rid of that bike....:)...I might throw a Fox fork on it one of these days...or a Ti ridgid....if my wrists would hold up.

http://inlinethumb06.webshots.com/2693/2141974740093498191S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2141974740093498191ggyUzy)

King hubs and head set

MRP Steely Dan 180 cranks

Moots Ti post

Easton carbon bar

to name some of the good stuff...

I do have some friends who ride fixies off road....now those guys are nuts!

Of all of my bicycles this single speed is my favorite....(click on picture to see different views).

http://inlinethumb28.webshots.com/2907/2730036650093498191S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2730036650093498191XRCiWE)


Sweet VooDoo!!! Nice SS.