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rear shock advice


pembo6's picture

By pembo6 - Posted on 20 March 2014

NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.

Hi. I am after some advice re: rear shocks. I have not owned a dual suspension bike before but I am currently looking around for something cheap (older in decent condition).

I will be riding mainly XC style with some easier AM thrown in. I dont like to hit the big downhill stuff.

Considering that I will be riding uphill trails a fair bit, is there anything in particular that I should be looking for in a rear shock? I am mainly worried about pedal bob and losing a lot of momentum when riding up hills.

I know that some shocks have various adjustments or lockout functions. A rear lockout would be handy for uphills, but I doubt that will be in my price range. Will any decently setup shock be OK for uphills? The older spring style? Only air shocks?

Any advise would be great. I cant afford to be too picky, but I dont want to end up with something that is totally un-suitable for my style of riding.

Also, I have seen many rear shocks with an old style spring, but also have a small "piggy back" reservoir of some kind that hangs off the shock. What is this for? Will it add additional adjustments?

Thanks for your help.

Jonathan's picture

Fox rp23 will be a great shock for just about everything you could ever want to do, being an air shock and having low and high speed compression and rebound adjustment you will be able to set it up for what ever style of riding u want and it will grow with you.

Pedal Bob is somewhat dependant on the shock but can also vary a lot with suspension design on different bikes. What bike is it going on?

Ive got an rp23 for am and xc and i've never bothered playing with lockout or descent modes just because it works so well. Zero bob when peddling and nice and plush downhill.

CyclinAl's picture

Pembo6, I wouldn't fret too much about what type of shock as you're not on the market for a replacement shock but a replacement bike.
As Jonathan remarked, shock performance and in particular, pedal bob, varies greatly depending on suspension design and geometry. He's also right in saying you can't go wrong with a Fox RP23.
But you should be paying attention to the bike and its reviewed characteristics. If the bike rides well and corresponds to the type of riding you're looking for, the shock will definitely be the right type, whichever it turns out to be. If the bike doesn't ride well or doesn't correspond, you won't find a shock that'll make it good.
Good luck!

pembo6's picture

Thanks for the comments. Yes, its a whole new bike i am looking for. Not just the shock.
At this stage, due to budget, i will probably end up with springs not air.

Jonathan's picture

If you dont mind me asking what kind of budget are you thinking of? Maybe someone could steer you in the right direction?

Jono.

Cotic Tony's picture

I agree with the guys above, the frame design is far more important than the shock.
Personally I rate the Horst linkage & Dave Weagle VP design as the best for climbing. These are used by Specialized, Pivot & Santa Cruz. There are also a couple of almost patent infringing variants of the above designs like the one that Giant use that are also good.
Trek Remedy's are also good am/all rounders but rely more on a clever specific shock to do it.

I don't know your budget but if you want to go a bit more hardcore go for something with around 130 - 150mm travel like the Stumpjumper, Trance, Bronson, Mach 5 etc.
Shock wise the Fox RP23 & RS Monarch RT3 platform shocks work great.

T

freddofrog's picture

Personally I think you are better off with a decent hardtail than a below par dually, especially if you are doing mainly XC.

pembo6's picture

To be honest, I dont really know what you would call the riding I do. I mainly get up to the Kalamunda circuit. Mainly doing Kamikaze, Metasoma, Scorpion, Rocky, MuffinTops and Horny Devil. I also occasionally do Forsyth Mill, but prefer Kalamunda. I stay away from any black diamond or serious downhill stuff. I dont have the skills, and will never get the skills with only 1 ride a month. Is this riding considered XC? Or AM? Or Trail?

I currently take my hardtail and after about 10kms into the 20+km circuit by butt and 39 year old legs legs are screaming from the abuse, and struggling to keep control. I figure rear suspension will help with this???

Budget will probably be around $1000, but I wont be buying for another month or so (gotta wait for a work bonus coming through soon!!). I know Im not going to get anything that great for that money. Just something several years old. That I will probably need to update suspension as i can afford it.

What are the old Giant AC range like? Heavy? Maybe put on a new RP23 shock?

Discodan's picture

Consider picking up a cheap 26" dually frame second hand and swinging all the parts from your hardtail across to it. Chose your frame carefuly (seat post diameter, headset etc) and it can be very easy. I did that with a Santa Cruz Superlight frame that cost about $500 and it just needed a new gear cable, a headset and the donor bike to make it work

pembo6's picture

great idea discodan. Thats how i built my current hardtail, and gradually upgraded it as I could afford it.
Will certainly keep an eye out for s/h dually frames.

CyclinAl's picture

Pembo6, the best shockie of them all is YOUR LEGS!
And I can confidently add that your admission about your "39 year old legs" that are "screaming from the abuse, and struggling to keep control", would have brought more than a few chuckles out there. Smiling
I would venture that your butt and legs are screaming (in unison, no doubt), not because you're riding a hardtail but because you only put them to good use (pedalling) once a month. Mate, you can't expect to build any sort of mtb fitness on such a lean diet.
I reckon you need to start at the beginning (which sounds very much like where you are right now with your mtbing) and get that elementary piece of machinery sorted out: Your Body!
The good news is: It'll cost you nothing since you've already got a bike. Smiling
The bad news is: It's bloody hard work and you can't upgrade. Sad
I don't mean to put you off getting a dually. I ride one and love it. But I fear that you may end up disapointed and disheartened when you find that there was no miracle, your butt and legs are doing just as much screaming even though you are riding a dually. And that would be a shame when simply riding more is all you'd need to reach new levels of satisfaction and enjoyment of this great sport/pastime.
So I reckon you should stick with your hardtail for the time being, get out there and ride more consistently. You don't need offroad terrain to get your legs fit. In no time, you'll have legs of steel (no, no need to shave them yet), your arse will forget it's even got a crack and the social encounters (hopefully not with your arse...) that will naturally ensue, will bring you such a wealth of knowledge that when you're properly ready for a dually, you won't need to come to this forum asking what type of shockie it should have.
Go, ridin' Man! Smiling

andyfev's picture

What CyclinAl said... Ride more Eye-wink

pembo6's picture

Ha ha. Thanks cyclinAl. I love your comments. I'm definitely a newbie MTBiker.

Although, I am actually pretty fit. Plenty of hill sprints, stair climbs, run about 10-30kms a week. And ride on the road once a week (Singlespeed up hills).

There is just somethin about mtbiking that smashed my legs. Very fatigued after 10km. But the hills are ok (rocky balboa, lube me up etc).

But thanks. Was a good read.

Jonathan's picture

Do yourself a favour and go test ride a 29 hardtail. A lot smoother then a 26 hardtail, and can easily pick one up for 1k.

Basically half way between 26 hardtail and 26 dually. Also a lot of fun to ride (i've been considering one for a while).

Jono.

Cotic Tony's picture

Hey Pembo how tall are you?
From your description we like & ride similar stuff & I ride Kal regularly so if you're around 6' you can borrow one of mine & we can take a ride.
I've a few bikes inc 29ht & 150am
Pm me

T

CyclinAl's picture

Sounds like you're all set!
And don't be surprised about your otherwise fit legs feeling the strain after 10 solid ks of riding. Mtbing uses very specific muscles and only within specific parts of their range. It's quite incredible how you can be a very fit rider and be stuffed after walking up a hill.
But one thing's for sure, your background fitness will help you enormously.
Just be nice and call out before you pass!!! Eye-wink

hawkeye's picture

A dually gives you more control on rougher terrain and saves my lower back some grief by letting me sit down for longer on the flats, but there's not much in it for my legs.

I still need to adopt the attack position (cranks level, bum off saddle) for most rocky descents, if only to keep my weight back so I don't go over the bars.

Agree the comments above. Ride more. Do hill repeats. There's nothign more satisfying than putting your mates in the hurt box. Evil

pembo6's picture

That's probably the main reason I am looking at a dually. So I can sit down a bit more. The last few Kms, my legs and back need a rest. But sitting just hurts every bump!!! My legs are like jelly. I don't believe it is from the pedalling. More from the constant jarring and using my legs as suspension.

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