Single Speed for my FSR

[twain]

right. just built my 98 GC FSR and i'm thinking i want to go for single speed at the back.
i got a single chain ring up front, but thinking whats the best way to go about it for the rear?
apart from spacing the rear chain ring, would re dishing the wheel be needed to pull it in line/strengthen it?
or is it not worth it at all?
its purely experimental, i've seen a freewheel single speed kit from A2Z for about £10, but wondered if this is too cheap a venture, plus it doesnt include a tensioner.
help, advice and general wise comments from experience appreciated

 

[superstu]

Nothing needed for wheel tension. I used a ss kit from superstar products, about fifteen quid for tensioner. Then just get spacers for the feeehub and you're sorted. Wouldn't be worried about a cheap ss kit.

 

[superstu]

Oh, by the way, I run 32 front and 16 rear. Ny brother uses 38-17 and says its hard going.
I like ss, couldn't have it on my main bike but workable on most of my local trails and allows me to get a bike up and running quickly whilst I search for gears!
Worth trying as its cheap, if u don't like it you haven't lost anything

 

[cyfa2809]

I rin 36-16 and yes it is hard going but you become (almost) accustomed to it.
Mine is a cassette type hub and i have spacers on it.

I think trixincon had a set of spacers and cog for cheap?

 

[twain]

ok, thanks for all your help!
sounds like a viable option to try out i have 40T up front though, so may need to go for a larger cog out back to make things easier....
what ratio would you folks recommend for this?

 

[cyfa2809]

18 or 20 or so?

Oh actually 19 or 21 or so. Get and odd number cog so you dont get 'even' wear points.

 

[SiRvInO]

19 tooth rear cog would be good

Make sure the tensioner lines up exactly with your cog otherwise there will be probs, and adjust chain length so its pretty tight

If you buy a more expensive tensioner i.e. Rohloff or NC-17, which are both like half rear mechs, you can adjust the rear cogs by about 6 teeth without changing the chain length, or run a 2 x 2 set up..2 x chain rings and 2 x cogs

Off road single speed ration is 2:1..so 40 up front and 19 rear will be fine off road

 

[twain]

awesome, muchos gracias lads

 

[xizang]

Running a susser ss, you'll need a tensioner like this:

 

[suburbanreuben]

Yup, a Rohloff, Paul Melvin or Shimano will do it, or use an old short cage rear mech with adjusters setting it in line.
You can get a cheap cog for £6 or7, and used spacers for much the same.
It's addictive...